Hold very tight please – bus rally gets into gear!

The GWR's third Bus Rally, taking place alongside the Summer Diesel Gala on Sunday 11^th July, is shaping up to be a spectacular event once again. 

At the latest count over 35 buses aged from 1949 to 2009 are expected to cram the car park at Toddington station - visitors being directed to park in the field opposite platform 2 at the station.  Amongst the visitors will be an open-top vehicle which given the fine forecast, is likely to be a popular choice for a ride!  Also present will be two Bedford VAL three-axle coaches with their distinctive two front steering axles and distinctly 1970s styling.

During the day there will be free round trips to Broadway, departing Toddington every 20 minutes between 11.00 and 16.40.  So this will be a great opportunity to take a classic bus ride to take a look round this picturesque Cotswold town and catch a later classic bus back again. 

Owners will be very happy to talk about their vehicles, many of which have been carefully restored and presented in wonderful condition.  Memories will be in abundance too - if previous rallies are anything to go by there will be plenty of nostalgic recollections about going to school or town by bus or of club and school outings to all sorts of destinations - to say nothing of the odd adolescent romance growing in the cosy seats on a long coach journey!

There'll be plenty of opportunity too, to browse a range of transport-related stalls offering books, models, DVDs and so on.  While there, don't miss the opportunity to ride on the diesel-hauled trains.  Many of the locomotives working date back to the 1950s or 1960s so this is a perfect marriage of diesel power on road and rail!