Below: Here are a couple of views showing the first undercoat being applied to the B-Type bus.  Whilst lighter than the top coat of Saxe Blue, it gives a good idea of what the finished result will look like.  As far as I know there are no preserved buses in this livery (but I would be glad to hear otherwise) as used by Newcastle Corporation Transport in between applying the tramcar livery (as seen on 114) and the later dark blue scheme that appeared in the late 1920s.

The mudguards and frame will be black, the waist panel beading in dark blue with some very discreet black pinstriping between colours.  We don’t have an exact prototype to follow, so are using a selection of photos of this early 1920s livery to give us an idea of how the coachpainters of the day tackled each bus shape.  The results should be very smart indeed and with the mechanical overhaul, re-upholstered seats, a new canvas roof cover )nothing being fitted previously) and a very attractive paint finish, I hope that this Cinderella of our fleet will become one of the stars and ensure that the visitors enjoy as good an experience on our buses as they do on the trams.  The drivers will be pleased too – no more showers as water engulfs them from a leaking roof!

Below: It may seem that I am labouring the point that the gallopers are under heavy overhaul, but it perhaps emphasises just how much work goes into keeping old (and previously fairly minimally maintained) fairground equipment.  Here Tony, Michael and Ian grapple with the steps, which are being set up to enable marking off for the red hatching on the risers – something that needs to be done in coordination with both sets of steps and panels left and right.

Below: Gordon and David hard at work flattening down the rounding board rails, which will be repainted.  The lettering (complex signwriting) is due to begin at the weekend, but on removable panels that will be screwed to the rounding boards.  This is because the rounding boards need further heavy overhaul next winter, as the panelling is in very poor shape and has had some fairly unpleasant hardboard repairs in the past.  The frames, though, are sound and generally can be re-used.  From the ground the joint will be almost invisible and this method will enable more expeditious maintenance of otherwise very expensive paintwork to be carried out in years to come.