Emily Whitlam reports from Statfold Country Park, where classic buses ran a series of local trips until after dark in mid-February
On Saturday 15 February, Stafold Country Park hosted ‘Statbus at Night,’ a bus rally held in conjunction with Transport Museum Wythall. Vehicles in attendance ranged from Guy Arab III FA 9716 – new in 1950 to Burton-upon-Trent with Davies bodywork and subsequently rebodied to a H33/28R configuration by Massey – to a pair of much more modern ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident 2s, manufactured in the 2000s.
Attendees were given access to Stafold’s museum, in which over 20 historic locomotives reside, mini golf facilities (although the weather on this occasion didn’t tempt many players!) and train rides along the park’s 2-foot and 12 ¼ inch gauge miniature railways. The museum itself had attractions for all the family, including a sweet shop, diner and children’s play area.Vehicles were running scheduled countryside tours and free shuttle buses into Tamworth town centre, stopping outside the town’s railway station to facilitate onward travel further afield. Free parking was also available for those arriving by car.
In terms of bus and coach exhibitions, there were several notable visitors to the site, one of which was MD-72-37, a 1981 Volvo B10M with UTIC bodywork that was imported from Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, in 2024. The vehicle had previously been operated by Rodoeste, however was taken into the hands of preservationists, as the arrival of new vehicles to take its place was imminent.
Another vehicle recently returned to the rally scene wearing a fresh coat of paint was B190 BLG, also present at the running day. This ECW bodied Leyland Olympian was new to Crosville in February 1985, however was wearing Midland Red livery in reference to its more recent career in Leicester.
The event concluded with tours running into nightfall, with the congregation starting to disperse at around 1800hrs, when the
last shuttle – operated by a 1983 Olympian registered EEH 902Y – departed for Tamworth.
