Enthusiasts keen to get former island bus on roads

The Albion bus is in Scotland, where it has recently been bought by a company that is dedicated to renovating old heavy vehicles.

Stuart Walker of SS Walker Recoveries bought the vehicle from fellow Scot Chris Logan.

Mr Logan himself had been renovating the former Guernsey bus after buying it about seven years ago.

But he decided to sell it when he got to the point where he did not think he would have the spare time to continue working on it.

After his story about looking to sell the bus was published, he said he heard from a Guernsey Facebook group, Guernsey Buses and Coaches Past and Present: ‘These guys were very keen in enquiring about it,’ he said.

The bus was eventually sold to Mr Walker, whose recoveries firm is located in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire.

Mr Logan said he was pleased that it had gone to Mr Walker since he already had a number of large vehicles. ‘He keeps them in great condition,’ he said, ‘they’re all garaged.’

‘He’s had a great welcome from the Guernsey Buses Past and Present group.’

And since the bus is being kept close to his home, Mr Logan said he will be able to continue to keep in touch with its renovation. ‘I’ll probably end up driving it myself,’ he said.

Mr Walker has already started work on getting the bus back to its former glory and has managed to source a variety of suitable spares.

‘We’ve started rubbing down the roof inside the bus,’ he said.

The biggest problem he is facing is restoring the seats: ‘We need to get the maquette,’ he said.

The colour might not be exactly as it was, but he hoped it would be close. ‘They were originally done in an art deco style,’ said Mr Walker.

‘It’s super,’ he said of the vehicle.

‘I’ve had a lot of old buses in the past but this is a pretty unique one.’

Once completed, the bus will be taken to various shows, such as the Castle Fraser Steam Fair, which is set to take place in June in Royal Deeside, Scotland.