Welcome to The Toy Box

Duple Bedford OB — Classic Duple-bodied Bedford OBs in The Toy Box. *NICK LARKIN*

Nick Larkin delves into the treasures that can be found in Lodge’s Toy Box

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[/wlm_nonmember] [wlm_ismember] Renowned Essex coach and bus operator Lodge’s has a fleet of 26 vehicles, including the highest specification modern Setra and Mercedes-Benz coaches, used on a vast range of work from continental tours to schools and day excursions. There’s also a long established local service to Chelmsford.

But now the family-owned firm, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, welcomes you to the latest innovation at its state-of-the-art High Easter premises – The Toy Box! This separate building houses Lodge’s collection of magnificently restored classic coaches plus classic cars, a World War Two Jeep, a 1935 Austin taxi and even a replica of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Just about every vehicle has its own space in the building, which has just opened, but these are far from static exhibits. All are available to hire for everything from weddings to film work – and bookings have increased considerably over the past year.

Anyone visiting The Toy Box might actually (or mistakenly) think they’re in a museum. There’s a great collection of transport memorabilia, from old signs to a vast wall display of photographs of every vehicle operated by Lodge’s.
The Toy Box and surrounding land are available for group visits by appointment and vehicle club meetings and rallies can also take place. An excellent café, open to the public, is on site.

So why the name? Andrew Lodge, one of three directors of the firm, explained: “We began the project three years ago. Before that people were coming to view our vintage fleet for private hire in what was basically a dingy shed. We wanted to display them properly along with memorabilia etc. We had a friend look round and he said this is Lodge’s Toy Box. He was spot on, and that was it. We had the name.”
Andrew added that the policy when building up the vintage fleet had been to try to put together a collection of most vehicle types Lodge’s had operated over the years.

Joseph Lodge and Charles Mead had begun operating a former War Department Ford Model T, registration HK8180 between High Easter and Chelmsford in 1920. The vehicle was known locally as ‘The Rabbit Hutch’ due to its bodywork. A replica is being constructed ready for the Lodge centenary.

The two partners split in 1929, each running their own bus services. A few years later Charles bought a local shop and sold his bus service to Joseph.

Chevrolets, Commers and Bedfords were operated in the 1930s, and are represented in The Toy Box. The Bedford Duple combination remained the backbone of the Lodge fleet for decades, with new and secondhand examples purchased. Later, Leyland Tigers, Volvos and Scanias have dominated the fleet at various times.

The vintage fleet began after Andrew decided in the 198os that he would love to restore a vintage coach. A 1956 Bedford SBG Duple Super Vega coach, MJB481, was bought from Abbeyways of Halifax in 1989. New to Chiltonian Motors of Chilton Foliat, Berkshire in July 1957, it later migrated to West Wight on the Isle of Wight. The coach was transformed over a 10 year period, and started to attend rallies and pick up private hire bookings.

Then came LTA752, an ex-Western National Duple-bodied Bedford OB which had been converted to ‘toast rack’ open side specification by Lincolnshire Road Car for use on Skegness tours. Two further Bedford OBs with Duple bodywork are in the fleet. TMY700 was new to Essex County Coaches of Stratford while CFV851 began its career with Wood of Blackpool in 1948.

Not yet finished is FFS867, a Bedford OB new to SMT in 1947 which received a full-front Burlingham ‘Baby Seagull’ body in 1953. It later operated for Highland Omnibuses and came from Glasgow preservationists.

There’s also a 1926 Chevrolet X, with a replica body. A major project underway (all work on the vehicles is done in-house) is BXM568, which is a 1935 Bedford WTL with Duple bodywork, new to Blunt of Mitcham.

Then there’s EDD685C, a 1965 Duple-bodied Bedford SB13, ex- Wiltshire of Staple Hill, and most importantly YM555S, a superbly presented Bedford YMT with Duple bodywork new to Lodge’s in 1978.

As well as private hires, Lodge’s vehicles have been used in numerous films, TV productions and commercials. Lodge’s has also worked with Chris Evans in fundraising for Children in Need, donating the use of vehicles for projects that have raised more than £600,000. “We are proud to have been able to help here,” said Andrew. He added that The Toy Box vehicles were in constant demand. “It’s really taken off over the past year especially,” he said.