Eight preserved vehicles from the long established Lincolnshire independent fleet formed the focus of the Delaine Heritage Trust’s inaugural running day on 30 September, the first heritage event staged at the Delaine depot in Bourne for 20 years.
In glorious sunshine, the well-supported event saw the five members of the Delaine Heritage fleet — which includes a Leyland Titan PD2/20, a Titan PD3/1, Atlantean AN68/2R, Leyland Tiger and Volvo Olympian — each operate three return journeys along the 12mile heritage service route between Bourne and Stamford.
After a nine-year absence, returning to service on its 30th anniversary, was Duple Dominant-bodied 1987 Leyland Tiger 100 (E100 AFW), which was a popular choice with visitors. The event also saw 19-year-old Victoria Delaine-Smith, who attained her PCV licence aged 18 in 2016, make her heritage debut behind the wheel of 1995 East Lancsbodied Volvo Olympian 116 (M1 OCT).
After some mechanical attention on arrival, former Delaine 60 (DTL 489D), a 1966 Willowbrook-bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2, operated the heritage tours between Bourne and Rippingale at hourly intervals during the afternoon. This was the first time 60 had carried passengers for many year…
