The Whitby Steam Bus
As you’d perhaps expect, running a steam bus on a daily basis has its fair share of thrills and spills, and Vernon keeps Vintage Spirit readers abreast of all that’s happening with Elizabeth in a monthly column in the magazine.
Below you'll find a short exerpt from Vernon's column each month.
To keep up with Vernon and the Whitby Steam Bus, make sure you read Vintage Spirit every month. You can save 24% on the cover price when you subscribe, simply call 01283 742970 or click here to subscribe online.
Diary of a Whitby Steam Bus
February 2012
The biggest job on the wish list was a trip to the health farm near Colchester for the front axle. As usual, engineering guru Dr Percy came up with the goods and returned said component in as new condition; at the time of writing all is back in place. In fact, optimism abounds just now as, but for a few engine parts, we are ready for some tentative steps.
January 2012
Worrying about the van was one thing, but more so the vital water supply it was carrying. Some quick thinking saw me run up the gatehouse of the MOD property where I was, met with a submachine gun-carrying, rather disgruntled guard. Struggling to get the words out before I got shot, I explained our plight and that we’d best not explode on their property, which triggered a quick phone call and out came the fire tender, complete with crew, who topped up the tank amid some happy banter.
December 2011
Well here is the time of year when even Elizabeth and Charlotte get a little time off, though the same cannot be said of yours truly or Viv. All that toil over a very long working season means that lots of TLC is needed for our wonderful old ladies to keep them fit to fight another year.
November 2011
Elizabeth has enjoyed much attention recently, bearing in mind her imminent travels. Renold, the chain manufacturer, has kindly given us a new drive chain for the big journey and fitting took place just prior to writing this. What a difference in noise levels and smoothness of drive. The really nice thing is that Renold was the supplier of choice to Sentinel, so we now have approved spare parts!
October 2011
The sickness list is quite small this month with only minor ailments to report. Elizabeth's water pump has needed its glands re-packing and her mechanical lubricator for the engine held a wildcat strike, but after improved terms it went back to work...
September 2011
Just a few days before completing this 'Captain's Log', Elizabeth decided to spit out a substantial piece of a back cylinder joint. Age and experience has taught her that to do the same with a front cover would be futile as it could be replaced within 30 minutes, whereas its aft counterpart is a full day's job. She also knows that any other time than the high season would lessen the impact and my blood pressure wouldn't rise nearly so much...
August 2011
One snippet of good news is that our intrepid charabanc, Charlotte, waged her annual battle with the mighty rolling road and won - bless her. Now complete with a new Class 6 MOT, she continues to venture out whenever the weather is kind to her...
July 2011
Early Tuesday morning saw me on the phone to Owen Springs in Rotherham and the firm kindly agreed to repair the faulty spring in 24 hours. As I’d already decided that both springs ought to be overhauled, it was arranged that they would both be ready in time. To cut the story short, Owen was as good as its word and I collected both springs that looked like new on the Wednesday afternoon. Elizabeth was back on the road first thing Friday...
June 2011
Elizabeth has managed to be good-natured for the most part. She seems to relish all the attention and praise she gets. The brakes continue to be a problem, but the solution draws ever nearer. Their steam supply has been regulated in a very scientific fashion, using coins with various holes in them, then measuring brake drum temperature - who said I'm not analytical!...
May 2011
Having told you that Charlotte, our lovely charabanc, was waiting patiently for her turn to work, she has thrown a tantrum in a big way. It seems that her transmission brake has come adrift, meaning you cannot get her into gear. Also, there is a terrible drag when you are moving and trying to change gear...
April 2011
Sometime soon, likely this year, Elizabeth will be moving house and although it will be on the same site, she does carry some baggage. Although this will be a nightmare short-term, there will be the luxury of finding all the things we have lost over the last few years, when the shelves are stripped...
March 2011
On the domestic front, Viv did drag me away for a week and very nice it was too. Having returned not a bit refreshed, the front end of the engine is now stripped down and the new cylinders are being prepared for their turn of service. All the valves are now lapped and fitted, and many of the large number of studs are in place. The plan is to fit them in the next couple of days, along with a new set of piston gland packing sets...
February 2011
The new boiler top I campaigned for is now fitted and should lead to better steaming as it is a much better fit. The new brake operating rods, forged by our local blacksmith, are now in place, in fact the underneath is looking decidedly respectable...
January 2011
This year is to be the biggest ever for us and we have to do our utmost to give our grand old lady the very best while she's at the health farm. You already know about the visit to Manchester Airport, but let me tell you there are a number of other bookings at the provisional stage that will announced as they are firmed up. Prepare for Elizabeth on tour!
November 2010
In terms of operation things have been relatively smooth, though we did have a spot check visit from VOSA recently. The result was a very happy examiner who had no advice to offer and was very pleased with the way we do things...
October 2010
Elizabeth's diet remains as cosmopolitan as ever, happily consuming the fruits of Poland, Russia, Columbia, and we haven't told her yet, but she's about to get some Yorkshire, yes, Yorkshire coal!...
September 2010
For long enough, there has been a problem associated with the bogie and one that has been the root of many disturbing and expensive symptoms. Until very recently, we have only ever dealt with the latter, not realising there was a hidden illness...
August 2010
The charabanc, Charlotte, played an important part in a grand reopening of the park in town recently and was particularly in keeping as the theme was the 1920s. Both she and her sister are much loved by the local children and adults alike, so it was wonderful for her to be there for the day...
June 2010
Having racked up nearly 70 days in traffic this year, many gremlins have manifested themselves and in the most awkward of places. Having had the engine out fairly recently, there is an ongoing need to tighten up some fastenings, like the half shaft and horn plate nuts...
May 2010
In the coming months I hope to share with you some of the incredible highs and lows that go with running a steam engine up to 280 days a year, as well as an 80 year old charabanc, which from this year will get her job back on the seafront, so in the main season, both ladies will be on parade...
More about the Whitby Steam Bus
THE WHITBY STEAM BUS After just five years of providing daily tours of Whitby, converted Sentinel waggon No. 8590 Elizabeth has become as much a symbol of the town as fish and chips, Captain Cook and the gothic abbey. Operated by husband and wife team Vernon & Viv Smith, the steam bus has proved hugely popular with tourists and enthusiasts alike, and has brought the preservation movement to a far wider audience in the North East.
History of Elizabeth Sentinel DG6 Waggon No. 8590 was supplied new in November 1931 to Cement Marketing Co Ltd of London and was used for haulage purposes. In 1948, she was sold to Bituminous Road Products Ltd of Middlesbrough who named her Joyce and fitted her with tar spraying equipment. At some point in the 1950s, she passed on to W & J Glossop at Hipperholme, and continued to be used as a tar sprayer.
In 1962, the waggon was saved from being scrapped by FC Lambe of Bromsgrove who bought her for £50. Over the following years, she passed through a number of hands before being bought by Vernon in 2003.
In April 2005, Elizabeth made her last trip in the guise of a dropside lorry, before heading into the workshop for her reconstruction to a steam bus. The period bus body was built in just six months, and was craned onto the rear of the waggon; as it is essentially ‘bolt on’ the Sentinel can be returned to its original chassis cab form in a matter of hours.
While the bus body was being completed, Vernon & Viv were facing the enormous challenge of trying to change the law in order to allow Elizabeth to legally provide a commercial steam bus service. After contacting the Secretary of State, they eventually succeeded in their aim, and in December 2005, Elizabeth performed her first commercial trip in the town.
More Information For the full story on Elizabeth, pick up a copy of Vintage Spirit Issue 93 / April 2010. You can also visit the bus’s website: http://www.whitbysteambusandcharabanc.co.uk