Hiya,
Can anyone tell me anything about what happened to BD1 after the fire at Treales?
Was the shell saved or has it gone for ever?
I know you guys were interested in it, but i'm not sure what happened to it after that.
Thanks
Graham
(Grandson of Les Rawstrone)
rawy@blueyonder.co.uk
Hello Graham,
It was felt that BD1 was too badly destroyed to warrant being rebuilt,particularly as the BD3 had been restored by Jack Hornby, so sadly the body was scrapped and the engine, gearbox, radiator and axles retained for spares.
As a part owner in BD1 from 1981 to 1989 I was saddened to see it after the fire.
The first photo shows it freshly painted back in Ribble Red in Skipton returning from the 1981 Trans-Pennine rally along with Bamber Bridge Motor Services AEC Regent and a former Ribble PD3 that was converted into a recovery vehicle in 1980 prior to BD1 being acquired in April 1981. It travelled to rallies far and wide taking part in the London- Brighton run(as a tender vehicle) and the Dunbar Rally in Scotland several years in succession.
I always preferred drivng this to the AEC and would quite happily drive it from Lancashire down the A49 then A5 to the outskirts of London usually done overnight on the Friday. [
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The second photo shows it on arrival at Freckleton[
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Keith Severn is currently writing an article for the newsletter about these converted PS2's dealing with both the breakdown vehicles and the open toppers converted by Southport Corporation.
As well as BD3 being preserved, it would appear that BD2 is with an operator in Cornwall and has just been retaxed to June 2009. Does anyone have any photos of this one ?
Chris Fenner