It’s been a while coming but the wait is surely worth it!  The B-Type bus has now entered the final stages of its overhaul and repaint and today broke cover for the first time to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.  Following a mechanical overhaul, electrical inspection, repaint, re-roof and re-upholstering, the bus is now being commissioned in anticipation of re-entering service at Beamish shortly.

The livery looks stunning and we are very pleased with it!  To my knowledge, no other bus carries the early 1920s Newcastle Corporation Transport scheme, an interim livery of Saxe Blue and Ivory, replacing the livery similar to that carried on Newcastle Tram No.114 and preceding the later dark blue NCT colours.

The precedent of using a London bus design is not new, and whilst this is a replica, it sits well in the NCT livery and is not so far removed from a batch of buses supplied from London for use in Newcastle.  All being well it should now be fit for many more years service at Beamish.

Below: A selection of images showing the B-Type baking in the afternoon sunshine following preliminary testing.  Nice isn’t it?!

Below: Painter Phil Anderson puts the finishing touches to the B-Type after it was pulled into the open for the first time since its repaint was completed.

Below: One from the archive – a reminder of what the bus, then known as ‘the General’ looked like before its overhaul and repaint begun.