With the great success of our previous DVD programmes filmed at this excellent event, the independent transport videos cameras have returned to record the event again in 2022. The Annual Running & Open Day is organised by the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust and was postponed in recent years due to the worldwide coronarvirus pandemic. As usual this event is centred on the Trust’s premises on the Kirkby Industrial Estate near Liverpool, Merseyside.
As always we start our filming early in the morning as the vehicles are positioned and the visiting vehicles arrive for the day’s action. There is always a large variety of buses and coaches for you to see and enjoy. This year is no exception - companies present include local independents, SELNEC/GMT, Crosville, Midland Red, MPTE, Merseybus, Liverpool Corporation, Wallasey Corporation, Birkenhead Corporation, St Helens Corporation and Widnes Corporation as well as Ribble, Arriva, Stagecoach and many, many more! There is even a ‘bendy’ bus recently retired by Cardiff Bus that proved very popular with the travelling enthusiasts. With the Leyland National celebrating 50 years since its introduction there was a good selection of ‘Nationals’ including three from the former J. Fishwick and Sons company of Leyland. Our first bus ride of the day is on board 0317 (R317 WVR), a former MTL North Volvo Olympian with a Northern Counties Palatine II 77-seat body. We travel on this bus on service 544 to Liverpool city centre, terminating at Queens Square bus station and then back to Charley Wood Road in Kirkby.
More action is filmed along Charley Wood Road where the Trust’s premises are situated. Filming also takes place on Lees Road adjacent to the NWVRT site as our cameras witness a number of the buses operating the 93 service that is the Kirkby Industrial Estate circular service. We sample this service when our cameras take a ride on board 42 (TTE 282D), a former Widnes Corporation Leyland Titan PD2 with an East Lancs 65-seat body. With more action filmed on Charley Wood Road we then join 1204 (XKC 831K), a former MPTE Leyland Atlantean PDR2/1 with an Alexander H80D body smartly painted in a ‘what could have been’ livery. The bus is painted in a reversed cream and green scheme similar to the one that was introduced on the ‘one-man’ operated Bristol REs and Leyland Panthers, but no double-deckers were treated as such. We travel on this bus on service 90 to nearby Prescot railway station and then back to Charley Wood Road.
Filming is concluded on the NWVRT site and on Charley Wood Road where there is plenty of action as the visiting buses leave for home. We would like to thank the NWVRT for organising this excellent event and we hope you enjoy watching our film.
Produced by - Independent Transport Videos
Duration - 75 minutes
Region - 0 (worldwide) PAL
Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Widescreen
DVD only
Released - July 2022
