All aboard for nostalgic ride at rally

Buses from yesteryear arrived in Burntwood for the bus rally at Chasewater Railway Station.

Buses travelled from as far as Nottingham, Chesterfield and Slough to take part in the event, with vehicles dating as far back as 1954 on show at yesterday’s rally.

The rally went on all day and saw free hourly bus services operating between Chasewater Heaths Station and both Lichfield and Hednesford bus stations allowing for connections with London Midland rail services.

Organiser Phil Mullarkey said the nostalgic event attracted a wide range of passengers. “It was a really broad spectrum,” he said, “We had lads of 10 or 11 right up to people in their 80s.”

“I think it’s the nostalgia that appeals to people – the younger boys wanted a drive on the kinds of buses they used to travel to school on, and we had a couple of older men who used to be bus drivers and wanted to have another trip.”

Families were able to board around 15 different buses at the rally.

Mr Mullarkey said: “In the past we’ve just had the buses drive in a circle around the railway. This is the first time we’ve done scheduled stops at Lichfield and Hednesford and it went very well.

“If people wanted to have a beer or a meal in Lichfield then they could and pick up a bus back to the rally later on.”

The organiser said that the rally, which is run every year, was a great way to encourage people to use public transport.

Mr Mullarkey said: “It is a good way of promoting public transport, buses and trains.

“Hopefully people who came on the day might think: this is a nice way to travel, I’ll do it more often.”

Mr Mullarkey commented that transport companies were now feeling the effects of rocketing fuel prices.

“We had one driver come all the way from Slough for the rally,” he said, “That’s three and a half hours each way. And his biggest gripe was how much fuel is costing these days,” said Mr Mullarkey.