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Show Two-Decker English Bus Brings Bit of Isle to Southern Utah iA - ' fe:f ' ii IpIO- 4 K u rD ..q gh kz ) j-,- i :.. . . -';'' ;- ... 1 h nit ii- i''ra S'i".Wtaiii friifr-fi-''iliTiin rTrii '-m w-i-i-triri mm n iMti iri m irninniiiinii mi mm ilin i Many thousands of miles separate Oxford Circus In London from Panguitch, Utah yet many poignant and bittersweet memories were recalled as OVL471, a two story London bus, lumbered through Panguitch Thursday on its way to Jackson Hole from Los Angeles. Many American veterans remember the old double-deckers with their cigar snuffers mounted onto the back of each seat. Many recall the softly rocking boat-like motion of an uper deck ride and the vistas opened up. Remembered also was the ominous feeling as the bus navigated a sharp corner, convincing con-vincing passengers that the cumbersome cum-bersome coach was about to lie over on its side, while World War II Yanks held tightly to their bird ( girl ) , a bottle of f izzley and a bag of chips. Charlie Walker of Jackson Hole, Wyo., the owner of the "memory bus", bought two of the vehicles from London transit and had them shipped to New York in 1970. The coaches were then driven to Jackson Hole where they have been used for transport. The changing tourist picture there has Walker shopping for a buyer for one of the quaint old busses. The coach is 26 fet long and 13 feet 6 inches high. Along a 2,000 mile run, the lowest bridge encountered was 14', so the bus had a comfortable flinch fl-inch clearance. The body is from Bristol Body Works and the engine is a big five-cylinder five-cylinder Gardner, getting 11 miles per gallon. The engine is strong enough to power a big diesel rig, but since it only carries 60 passengers, it loafs along. The coach, weighing 18,600 lbs., was one of the largest buses in use in London and Australia. All original advertisements ad-vertisements are still in place in- Beautifully restored British double-decker slowly and softly chugged through Panguitch evoking oohs and ahhs of admiration bringing faded memories back to many. side, and the old-time door buzzer "get off" signal still works. The coach has been equipped with a stereo and public address system and with a small bar, cooler and sink in the rear end of the lower deck. Also at the rear is the quaint and nostalgic spiral stairway that curves upward to the upper deck. As old 471 rolled quietly through Panguitch, many hearts turned to times long gone by and many, many miles away. |
