1878
6th October 2006
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Fleet No 1878
Reg No LOI 1878
Company Ulsterbus Ltd
Chassis No 455852
Body No ??
Type Bedford YLQ
Body Alexander (Belfast) X type B45F+20
Engine Bedford 500 blue seris
Gearbox 5 speed manual

New 20/01/1977
Newry 20/01/1977 - Reserve 31/01/90
Converted to Towbus For use at Newry 7/02/90
Withdrawn for disposal 24/02/95
Reinstated as Towbus at Armagh 7/06/95
Renumbered 4878 20/07/05
Withdrawn for disposal 25/08/06
Acquired for preservation by Richard Shannon 09/06

One of the longest surviours of the type with Ulsterbus when withdrawn from service in January 1990, 1878 has been completely restored from a tow-car back to original bus condition by Richard.

Delivered new in 1977 to Newry depot and one of a batch of 44 vehicles of the YLQ chassis, previous Bedford deliveries having been the YRQ chassis variant, 1878 spent its whole bus service days in Newry, after withdrawal it became a towbus at the same depot and lasted in this role until February 1995 with scrapping looking very likely. Luckily in June the same year Armagh depot were needing a replacement towbus and it was reinstated there and was to go on to spend another 11 years serving Armagh. Withdrawal finally came in 2006 and a decision was taken to save it as there no surviving Bedfords from the Ulsterbus fleet.

A substantial restoration has seen it recieving a partial repanel and full repaint externally, internally it has had a new floor fitted at the back and new lino throughout, the boot rebuilt and seats acquired and fitted as to original bus standard spec. Mechanically the front brakes have been completely overhauled and an exhaust manifold sourced and fitted. Other jobs have seen a new head gasket fitted and the cylinder head overhauled. Future jobs pending are renewing of the road springs and chassis painting. As the only restored example of a few survivors 1878 makes a unique and valued addtion to the ABPG.
Radiator cowling glossed and fitted to the radiator and ready for fitment onto 1878
Radiator cowling glossed and fitted to the radiator and ready for fitment onto 1878
ABPG_854.jpg
2009-03-31 20:13:32
 Radiator cowling red leaded
Radiator cowling red leaded
ABPG_853.jpg
2009-03-23 23:12:37
 Like new, fully refurbished with new core
Like new, fully refurbished with new core
ABPG_852.jpg
2009-03-23 23:12:23
After overhauling the cylinder head the now past its best radiator was badly needing refurbished
After overhauling the cylinder head the now past its best radiator was badly needing refurbished
ABPG_822.jpg
2009-03-17 20:19:09
ABPG_027.jpg
2008-12-24 23:26:05
ABPG_026.jpg
2008-12-24 23:16:48

ABPG_024.jpg
2008-12-24 22:00:27
ABPG_023.jpg
2008-12-24 22:00:11
 Bottom of the cylinder head showing twelve new valves and the head skimmed.
Bottom of the cylinder head showing twelve new valves and the head skimmed.
ABPG_011.jpg
2008-12-19 22:39:14

ABPG_010.jpg
2008-12-19 22:36:25
ABPG_009.jpg
2008-12-19 22:37:04
 New head gasket in place ready for refitting of the cylinder head.
New head gasket in place ready for refitting of the cylinder head.
ABPG_008.jpg
2008-12-19 22:05:27
8.2 litre 6 cylinder engine block.
8.2 litre 6 cylinder engine block.
ABPG_007.jpg
2008-12-19 22:04:19
 With the cylinder head removed the engine block surface was cleaned of any dirt and remains of the old head gasket. The engine itself showed very little wear apart from the usual build up of carbon.
With the cylinder head removed the engine block surface was cleaned of any dirt and remains of the old head gasket. The engine itself showed very little wear apart from the usual build up of carbon.
ABPG_006.jpg
2008-12-19 22:04:07
ABPG_078.jpg
2008-08-08 19:44:33

ABPG_077.jpg
2008-08-08 19:43:15
 The finished interior.
The finished interior.
ABPG_431.jpg
2008-04-27 17:47:09
 The finished interior.
The finished interior.
ABPG_430.jpg
2008-04-27 17:46:49
The finished interior.
The finished interior.
ABPG_429.jpg
2008-04-27 17:46:29
 The restored interior complete. The seat frames and fibreglass back are mostly from leopard 213, the squabs coming from a mixture of RELL's and leopards over the year's.
The restored interior complete. The seat frames and fibreglass back are mostly from leopard 213, the squabs coming from a mixture of RELL's and leopards over the year's.
ABPG_428.jpg
2008-04-27 17:46:11
 Irish Transport Trust Rally 2008
Irish Transport Trust Rally 2008
ABPG_427.jpg
2008-04-26 17:59:06
Irish Transport Trust Rally 2008 posed alongside Ian's Flexibus 51 also part of the group.
Irish Transport Trust Rally 2008 posed alongside Ian's Flexibus 51 also part of the group.
ABPG_424.jpg
2008-04-26 17:55:22
 ITT Rally 2008
ITT Rally 2008
ABPG_420.jpg
2008-04-26 17:48:44
 Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
ABPG_347.jpg
2008-02-23 16:12:49
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
ABPG_346.jpg
2008-02-23 16:12:30
 Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
ABPG_345.jpg
2008-02-23 16:12:16
 Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
ABPG_344.jpg
2008-02-23 16:11:45
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
Finished product representing her in the late 80's before being converted to a towbus.
ABPG_343.jpg
2008-02-23 16:11:26
 Repainting finished. This is the stage where you see all your hard work pay off with the vehicle taking shape.
Repainting finished. This is the stage where you see all your hard work pay off with the vehicle taking shape.
ABPG_217.jpg
2007-08-08 13:53:11
ABPG_216.jpg
2007-08-06 16:16:35
Final top coat applied with lights an mirror's to be refitted and vinyl's to be applied.
Final top coat applied with lights an mirror's to be refitted and vinyl's to be applied.
ABPG_215.jpg
2007-08-06 16:14:45
 painting finished and looking very bare without lights or fittings.
painting finished and looking very bare without lights or fittings.
ABPG_214.jpg
2007-08-06 16:14:19
 How a Bedford might have looked if they had survived into the Translink era!
How a Bedford might have looked if they had survived into the Translink era!
ABPG_195.jpg
2007-07-21 14:10:07
Undercoat white and blue applied waiting the top coat's
Undercoat white and blue applied waiting the top coat's
ABPG_193.jpg
2007-07-21 14:09:32
ABPG_192.jpg
2007-07-21 14:09:06
 White undercoat going on.
White undercoat going on.
ABPG_185.jpg
2007-07-15 19:53:48
Repainting in progress, the ivory bare section's were done first in white undercoat.
Repainting in progress, the ivory bare section's were done first in white undercoat.
ABPG_183.jpg
2007-07-15 19:52:46
 The roof was also taken back to bare metal as it was found the paint to be flaking off all over, would have taken forever to sand down. With only having a thin layer on the roof it all came off very easily.
The roof was also taken back to bare metal as it was found the paint to be flaking off all over, would have taken forever to sand down. With only having a thin layer on the roof it all came off very easily.
ABPG_181.jpg
2007-07-14 13:00:53
 Rubbing down. This took quite a while as you have to be very thorough and deff can not be rushed.
Rubbing down. This took quite a while as you have to be very thorough and deff can not be rushed.
ABPG_180.jpg
2007-07-14 13:00:30
Rubbing down in progress in preparation for painting. Accident damage along the roof took some time to sort out, it seem's at one point to have hit the inside of a shed or a low bridge and this had caused every roof join to have a considerable amount of bashing.
Rubbing down in progress in preparation for painting. Accident damage along the roof took some time to sort out, it seem's at one point to have hit the inside of a shed or a low bridge and this had caused every roof join to have a considerable amount of bashing.
ABPG_179.jpg
2007-07-14 13:00:15
 Back seat area with lino fitted looking more like it should.
Back seat area with lino fitted looking more like it should.
ABPG_066.jpg
2007-05-06 19:28:04
 Lino all applied waiting for the glue to set.
Lino all applied waiting for the glue to set.
ABPG_061.jpg
2007-05-06 19:27:01
Floor lino being laid.
Floor lino being laid.
ABPG_060.jpg
2007-05-05 22:08:48
 Back seat area showing the dome and seat all painted and the fibreglass seat section's fitted. These came from a withdrawn Leyland Leopard.
Back seat area showing the dome and seat all painted and the fibreglass seat section's fitted. These came from a withdrawn Leyland Leopard.
ABPG_057.jpg
2007-05-04 16:52:23
 New floor fitted and back seat in.
New floor fitted and back seat in.
ABPG_053.jpg
2007-05-04 16:51:39

1878.11.jpg
2007-10-23 18:17:33
1878+235.jpg
2007-10-23 17:59:11
DSC00924.JPG
2007-08-07 17:07:55
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