ECRC Tilling-Stevens double decker

The Ipswich Transport Museum have now launched a Crowdfunder campaign to restore our early 1920's Eastern Counties Road Car Co Tilling-Stevens petrol electric open top double decker, which carries a body built by Ransomes , Sims & Jefferies here in Ipswich.......
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/1922-petrol-electric-motorbus-restoration
The project currently has about £46K in the coffers, but the opportunity has now arisen to have the body framing professionally rebuilt off-site, thus shortening the restoration process by 2-3 years, so additional funds are being sought.

 

A wooden mock up of the staircase was assembled yesterday. As we have no drawings to hand, it was a case of trial and error in producing the parts and rather amazingly it fits rather well !
The same method was used when producing the staircases for our horse and electric tram cars when they were restored.
We are still hoping to raise sufficient funds for the vehicle to depart from the Museum in the Spring to have the main structural bodywork completed off-site.

 

An update......
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/192...mAqSv3Z_JoF4_aem_isVAAQrO9kSpoMO55U1K9A#start

All being well, the vehicle will depart the Museum in March for a start to be made on the professional restoration of the main body framing.

 

Current state of the vehicle before it departs for the south coast at the end of next week for restoration of the bodywork to start............



Whilst it is away, the rear solid tyres will also be replaced with new examples.

 

Loaded up yesterday afternoon for the trip down to Southampton and was due to leave here at around 04.00 this morning, so should be well into its journey now........