Star Attraction To Visit Big Bus Day

This September’s Big Bus Day event has a star attraction – a First World War ‘Battle Bus’ from London’s Transport Museum.

The newly-restored 1914 vehicle is the oldest bus ever to visit Big Bus Day, and is sure to be a hit with the crowds who flock to the event.

The Battle Bus started life in London as a civilian bus, before being commandeered by the War Department to transport troops to the front line in Europe. The vehicle took over a year to restore to its former glory, and is now one of the London Transport Museum’s most famous exhibits.

Jointly organised by local bus company East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) and Hull Museums, Big Bus Day attracted well over 7,000 people last year, and featured on the Channel 5 documentary ‘On The Yorkshire Buses’.

The family friendly event, which is free entry, takes place on Saturday 19 September, 10am – 4pm, at the Streetlife Museum of Transport on Hull’s High Street.

Attractions include free open-top bus trips around the city, a display of vintage and modern buses, a children’s trail and bus-related games and activities, the award-winning EYMS Brass Band, stalls selling bus models, photos and memorabilia, facepainting, and much more.

Ideal for both families and bus enthusiasts alike, there’s also the opportunity to look around the fascinating displays of the Streetlife Museum.

Peter Shipp, chairman of EYMS, said:

“We are delighted to have the London Transport Museum’s wonderfully restored Battle Bus at this year’s event – it has never visited Yorkshire before, so it’s a great chance for people in the area to see an exhibit which they’d normally have to visit the capital for. In complete contrast, we will also have on display a very new bus which gets its power from a rather unusual source!”

Robin Diaper, Curator of Maritime and Social History at the Streetlife Museum said:
“Big Bus Day is a great event with so much on offer. It really is a fun day out for all the family. And free!”

Admission and most activities are free, although donations will be collected in support of the local NSPCC.