A Playbus and the Real Thing.

6 years ago

The volunteers in the Oxford Bus Museum’s workshop have completed a new model bus to go in the play area within the museum. It is based on the one of eight AEC Reliance single decker buses acquired by The City of Oxford Motor Services in 1960, which is preserved in the museum, taken to bus rallies and often gives the public rides to experience bus travel in the 1960s. In total 45 were bought between 1952 and 1963 and used mainly on country services in Oxfordshire and the old Berkshire within a 30 mile radius of Oxford. The underfloor engine bus was particularly important to Oxford, as one man operation was needed to relieve an acute shortage of staff, resulting from the higher pay and more social hours for those working at the Cowley car plant.

John Bayliss, who designed the bus and led the project and did much of the work himself, said “It was a challenge but a lot of fun creating the bus from nothing and I hope the youngsters will use their imaginations and get their own enjoyment from it. Now I intend to go back to restoring my full-size 1962 Duple ‘Britannia’ luxury coach which was run by Chiltern Queens”.

The museum provides brass rubbing activities as well as toys, especially model buses, to keep children happy. In case parents get bored whilst their children play with the toys, the museum has created a quiz for them: Do you know your road signs?

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Oxford Bus Museum tells the story of bus and coach travel around Oxfordshire over the last 130 years. Our exhibits include historic preserved horse-drawn vehicles, buses, coaches and a wide selection of artefacts (bus stops, ticket machines, timetables, posters, staff uniforms) and lots of fantastic photos illustrating our diverse public transport history.

Since 2004 we've also been home to the Morris Motors Museum, which charts the story of how these classic British cars and commercial vehicles were produced at Cowley, in the city. Our impressive collection of vintage Morris vehicles represents those produced during William Morris's life.

We also have a unique collection of 40 vintage bicycles. It wouldn't be Oxford without bikes!

The museum is a charity and run entirely by volunteers. There is free parking and a café.

LOCATION

The museum is 70 yards from Hanborough Railway Station just off the A4095 in Long Hanborough. The full address is Old Station Yard, Main Road, Long Hanborough, Witney OX29 8LA

MUSEUM OPENING TIMES

From 10.30am until 4.30 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year and on Saturdays from 2 June to 25 August 2018 and Bank Holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

STATUTORY INFORMATION

Registered Company Number: 4228899 Registered Charity Number: 1088389 Museum Registration Number: 1667.

Registered Office: Old Station Yard, Main Road, Long Hanborough, Witney OX29 8LA

PRESS CONTACTS

Chris Butterfield 01296 337622

Frank Collingwood 01993 811003

Attached Media

About Oxford Bus Museum

The museum is located at the Rail Station Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire OX29 8LA and contains 35 vintages buses and coaches, the earliest dating from 1913, a collection of Morris cars dating from 1925 to 1977, a horse drawn tram and a collection of 40 mainly nineteenth century bicycles. The museum is open between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year, on Saturdays in July & August, most Bank Holidays and New Year's Day but is closed from 19 to 31 December 2019 inclusive. There is a cafe and shop. The museum is run entirely by volunteers. Entrance is only £5 for adults, £3 for children 5-15, under 5s free and family ticket £13