John Braga - DMS 130

After Service

I have been trying to track where the coach was since being withdrawn in 1971 and being bought by Preservabus in 2002. 31 blank years! But some clues are emerging. If you know more, please let me know.

Paul Richman, of Congleton, contacted me to say he sold the bus to Preservabus in 2002, and that he bought it in from a someone in Gosport, who, as far as he could remember, owned a bicycle shop. Does that ring any bells with anyone?

Then Peter Findlay contacted me (November 2005) with some photos (see below) of the bus probably taken in late 70s when it was owned (to the best of Peter's recollection) by Barry Coom and Neil Parrott, both believed to be based in Southampton. Can anyone tell me where these two gentlemen are now? Are they still in bus preservation? Do they have any more photos or details of A104?

February 2006. Today I received an email from Barry Coom (see above) and later spoke to him by phone. He confirmed that he and Ian (not Neil) Parrott worked on the bus in the early 1970s, although Nigel Wheeler was the true owner. So I now have very nearly the full chain of owners!

Click on any photo for a full-size version.

		Richard Gray of Aston Manor Transport Museum kindly sent this photo from his collection. The probable date is 1971 when the bus was withdrawn.
Peter Findlay		According to Peter Findlay who kindly sent me these photos, this shows A99 in Gairn Terrace Garage, Aberdeen, forlornly a waiting disposal.
Is this after being rescued from the Scottish "graveyard"?		Peter Findlay
In early stages of preservation?		Peter Findlay
Peter Findlay		Presumably the sister photo of the one above?
Where and when was this taken?		Peter Findlay
According to Richard Gray, DMS 130 was at some time owned by "Rogers of Gosport" and "Chapman, Congleton". A Paul Richman of Congleton has since contacted me to say he owned the bus before Preservabus, so I think "Chapman" is "Richman!" Can anyone out there identify "Rogers of Gosport?"		A104 in preservation, but where? Which show is it going to? When I contacted Paul Richman, he told me that he took these 2 colour photos in Gosport, just before acquiring the vehicle.

Questions! Can you help with any of the following? Who acquired A104 for preservation? What is its history between 1971 and being acquired in 2001 by Preservabus? Where was it kept? Are any photos in existence? At some point A104 has lost its fog-light (see left). Does anyone know of a suitable replacement?