12th Excellent visit to the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Dumfermline, where I admire some of the 180 vehicles they have on their large site. Above is just one of several sheds. The facilities are excellent, and make me very envious.

The next day I return to meet some of the staff who work there full time rebuilding vehicles (mostly owned and paid for by owners, not the museum). They are very helpful and give me lots of ideas for my own vehicle. They also pull vehicles out of the way to let me examine some Alexander-bodied coaches in detail.

Wish I lived 300 miles nearer...

13th. Click the picture on the left to view some of the splendid vehicles I saw at SVBM.

14th. I collect the pillar sections which my tech-college friend has kindly produced. I now need to unfasten some of the old pillars from where they are bolted to the roof and nag Bob the Blacksmith to weld the new sections in place.

The bearers rest on the chassis and support the floor and the rest of the body. Most are in good condition (as here on the left)

The ends of the bearer between bays 1 and 2 has rotted away (see right) and I therefore will need to replace the complete bearer, or weld on replacement sections.

15th. Of course, to replace or repair the bearer means removing parts of the floor, so I make a start with the front section adjacent to the step. (see left)

This section is removed fairly easily. At least I can now silver another part of the chassis (see right).

This closeup view of the top of the bearer (see left) shows a sound section. I will probably need to cut it to the right of the picture and insert a section about 18" long.

17th. More demolition reveals most of the front of the suspect bearer.

19th. After removing the bolts holding the step to the frame, I was able to fully expose the end of the suspect bearer (left).

21st. Calamity! When painting the exposed bulkhead interior, I inadvertently trod on the exhaust pipe which promptly shattered! Rather to my surprise, I was able to unbolt the broken section and remove it (left).

21st. Exhaust with section removed (right)