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ChesterBus Fest 2
The independent transport videos studios are proud to present to you a video record of the second excellent running day event organised by Matthew Davies, a life long enthusiast of the buses of ‘Chester Corporation’. This event featured preserved Chester City Transport buses ranging from Guy Arab No.1 to Dennis Dart No.52. Four Crosville buses also participated, including KG147, a Bristol L, DFG65, a Bristol FSF, SNL816, a Leyland National and EOG207, a Leyland Olympian.
The event took place in the city of Chester on a very sunny spring day, Easter Monday 6th April 2026. The buses covered a number of ‘Corporation’ and Crosville routes with most services beginning and ending at Chester Railway Station, which was near where the ‘Corporation’ bus depot was situated back in the day. Chester is not a large city, the ‘Corporation’ ran routes that covered the areas of Blacon, Lache, Vicars Cross, Boughton and Christleton, whereas Crosville covered parts of Hoole and Upton as well as all the ‘out of town’ areas. Our video programme begins at the Railway Station as some of the buses arrive to take up their duties. Our cameras take a number of rides during the day as well as filming at locations around the city and suburbs where the buses are seen in action. Our first journey is on board Guy Arab IV No.1. Built in 1953 with a Massey H56R body we have affixed a camera to the front bulkhead window for a superb view of the route, capturing some of the other buses as we travel along the city’s ancient streets. We also have a camera in the lower saloon for the passengers’ experience. The ride takes us to Vicars Cross on Green Lane covering route number 10. We return to the Railway Station on No.1 for further filming.
Our next location is the Black Friars Bus Stand on Nicholas Street where we join former Crosville KG147 (LFM 728), a 1950 Bristol L5G with an ECW B35R body for a ride on the C40 Upton Circular. Again we have placed a camera on the front bulkhead window and film the journey to Upton-by-Chester village and along Mill Lane to the Bache railway station. We see the bus with Upton Drive in the background where your cameraman grew up! This time we return to the Chester Bus Interchange for more filming there and continue along Frodsham Street and Foregate Street before a ride on board 80 (TMB 880R), the 1976 Leyland Leopard with a dual-purpose Duple body finished in the smart two-tone blue and cream livery, unique to this bus, on the 10 route to Vicars Cross. We travel back to Chester Railway Station. We then take a ride on 50 (JFM 650J), the 1971 Northern Counties-bodied Daimler Fleetline on route 1 to Blacon Old Station and back to Chester Railway Station with cameras in the lower saloon.
Our final rides of the day are on 52 (J52 EDM), a 1991 Dennis Dart with Plaxton Pointer bodywork on route 10 to Green Lane, Vicars Cross and connecting with and returning to Chester station on board 35 (FFM 135C), the superbly restored Guy Arab V with a Massey H73F body dating from 1965. The end of a perfect day. We would like to say “Thank you” to all that took part and organised this stunning event.
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| Filmed : | 2026 |
| Duration : | 200 mins |
| Price : | Within UK - £16 |
| Rest of world - £18 | |
| Format : | DVD -R |
| Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
| Order Ref : | D506 |
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