Avon Bus Collection

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Avon Bus Collection We preserve buses from the former First Bristol and First Somerset & Avon (First BSA) OpCo.

Follow 42728, 66726 and friends through their restoration and travels.

Time for a reader submission! Here we see Barbie Dart at Weston Island in 2001.Many thanks to Andy Mitchell for sharing ...
20/10/2026

Time for a reader submission! Here we see Barbie Dart at Weston Island in 2001.

Many thanks to Andy Mitchell for sharing this with us, and allowing us to share šŸ™‚

A friend gave me a box of photos of what seemed to be only Badgerline and City Line buses, but nestled within the stack ...
16/10/2026

A friend gave me a box of photos of what seemed to be only Badgerline and City Line buses, but nestled within the stack was a very familiar bus! Here we see Barbie Dart when she was brand new, seen on Orange Grove, Bath, whilst working the 13 to Elmhurst.

Thereā€™s some interesting shots of other Badgerline buses from the 90s, in the photos I was given. If thereā€™s interest Iā€™ll share them here too šŸ™‚

It was with great sadness that we learnt of Jonathon Jones-Prattā€™s passing. Jon was a pillar in the bus and train scene,...
13/10/2026

It was with great sadness that we learnt of Jonathon Jones-Prattā€™s passing. Jon was a pillar in the bus and train scene, with a very keen eye for detail. Earlier this year he fast tracked Badgers into his workshop, with no task too large for him producing a stellar result. He will be sorely missed.

Jon, I would say rest in peace, but I have no doubt youā€™ll be tinkering with some form of heritage transport up in the sky. Godspeed brother. Youā€™re in our thoughts.

A pleasant lineup at the outstation last weekend.
29/09/2026

A pleasant lineup at the outstation last weekend.

Today is the 40th anniversary of Badgerline, being formed by a management buyout of the Bristol Omnibus Company in 1986....
23/09/2026

Today is the 40th anniversary of Badgerline, being formed by a management buyout of the Bristol Omnibus Company in 1986. Badgerline would go on to merge with GRT in 1995 to create the FirstBus we all know and love today.

Today we welcome the support vehicle for our fleet! This 1987 Ford Transit Mk3 was new to John Lewis Department Stores i...
21/09/2026

Today we welcome the support vehicle for our fleet! This 1987 Ford Transit Mk3 was new to John Lewis Department Stores in Cambridge, delivering those must have items to shoppers. After seven years with JLP it was passed to Richard Bateman Commercials, where it was bought by a friend to be used by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group, which it served them for 32 years! After many years at hinting to my friend that I wanted it, he recently decided to sell. With us, itā€™ll be used to shuttle parts and tools around for the buses, and itā€™ll soon carry John Lewis Partnership branding. Hopefully itā€™ll attend a few shows too! Weā€™re very much looking forward to enjoying this van šŸ˜

We have a new vehicle joining the fleet tomorrow, but itā€™s something a little different. Itā€™ll certainly be very handy f...
20/09/2026

We have a new vehicle joining the fleet tomorrow, but itā€™s something a little different. Itā€™ll certainly be very handy for us. I wonder what it could be, and what its history is? šŸ‘€ Tune in tomorrow to find out - Iā€™ll give you one clue šŸ˜

With the news that Badgers sister 66728 wouldnā€™t be returning to the road, weā€™re spending the evening gutting it for spa...
15/09/2026

With the news that Badgers sister 66728 wouldnā€™t be returning to the road, weā€™re spending the evening gutting it for spares in aid of Badgers. A shame it wonā€™t hit the road again, but not everything can be saved.

Another Saturday night of driving to keep my fleet on the road, and I had 47640 for two and a half hours. I donā€™t care i...
13/09/2026

Another Saturday night of driving to keep my fleet on the road, and I had 47640 for two and a half hours. I donā€™t care if Iā€™ll get hate for this, but it was actually a really nice bus to drive! Itā€™s been VOR for almost a year, and is practically a new bus underneath as a result. Its acceleration was stellar, actually outrunning other traffic. A potential preservation candidate perhaps? I should probably stop before I get cancelled šŸ˜‚

It was strange visiting Wells yesterday without Badgers! Owing to a driver shortage at Wells, I was offered overtime on ...
19/08/2026

It was strange visiting Wells yesterday without Badgers! Owing to a driver shortage at Wells, I was offered overtime on the 376. It was great to see Wells depot celebrating their history, with pictures of both Badgerline and Bristol Omnibus vehicles operating around Wells posted around the depot.

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