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270 KTA: January 2014

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Sunday, 12 January 2014. This time last year. I was biting my nails. I'd already broken the only resolution I make every year, but given our friend's plight at the time, I was nibbling with good reason. For 270 KTA, 2013 began with a major gearbox overhaul. To find the source of some nasty noises. Achieved with the help of hydraulic legs, our friend spent two months up in the air. While two grown men fussed over his innards at opposite ends of Southern England. The reward was to have my little monster.

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270 KTA: April 2014

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Thursday, 24 April 2014. You know that sinking feeling when friends insist on showing you their holiday snaps - a collection of photos that mean everything to them and nothing to the world outside their all-inclusive hotel? During previous attempts, we've accumulated plenty of shots of 270 KTA in lay-bys on the A30, so this one is a particular trophy from the year of success. Here, our friend was not only running well, but had pulled over to allow friends to. On the journey down to West Cornwall. Flanked...

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270 KTA: August 2013

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Saturday, 24 August 2013. This week saw 270 KTA's third victorious journey for MOT testing, a little later than usual due to major domestic upheaval (a house move that turned out to be more like relocating a transport museum). To refresh your memory, since our last foray there's been major work. To rebuild the gearbox, clutch and gear linkage amongst other things. And on Thursday, in the words of MOT tester Dave Guscott, "it all worked". Another growing tradition of MOT day is the eventful journey to and...

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270 KTA: December 2013

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Sunday, 1 December 2013. One for the Animals. Ken Jones's dog, an avid reader of this blog, writes. Do I have to step in to write an update for 270 KTA, whose blog has not been updated since October? I want to dispel immediately that young David has another love in his life and is up to some hanky panky.". Here's what's kept our friend busy in the last month or two. Of anything except the coach and the tank. I often forget how, in a short space of time, our friend has progressed from a dead vehicle to on...

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270 KTA: Playing Ball

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Wednesday, 9 July 2014. Big, international events like the World Cup may pass some of us by. But Exeter Coach Station's 50th Birthday Party isn't the kind of bash you can miss if you own a West Country coach, especially as the place probably won't be there for much longer. As a coach that would have passed through a lot in service, we'd been specially invited by the organisers, and agreed to go long before the throttle packed up. 270 KTA's slave cylinder fought back valiantly in the second half, refusing...

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270 KTA: October 2013

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Thursday, 3 October 2013. It's been a busy fortnight for our friend. Following the Kingsbridge Branch Line commemorations. At the beginning of September, we launched straight into the annual highlight of 270 KTA's calendar: the Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day. This year, 35 appropriate vintage vehicles operated an intensive bus service around the South Hams, centred on Kingsbridge Bus Station, the original home of 270 KTA. Here, in pictures, are some highlights. Anything not look right, here? The Kin...

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270 KTA: September 2013

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Wednesday, 18 September 2013. Turned out nice again. On the wettest day of the year so far, our commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the final train to Kingsbridge turned out to be a very British affair. We had a lovely time, and paid tribute to our ancestors in a way that befitted their own 'last train' celebrations fifty years ago. It was anything but dry. We'll be doing Gara Bridge again on Saturday, by the way, at the Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day. You're welcome to come along and watch.

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270 KTA: Reflections

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Thursday, 25 September 2014. Nowadays, I'm almost starting to take these for granted. Five years on from when our friend first barged into my world - bringing chaos like this. It could be easy to forget the work that has brought us to a situation where the great Dave Guscott not only issues an MOT certificate without advisories, but also ends his inspection with a compliment: "It's in lovely condition these days". So let's do the latter now. Since the phoenix-like return of 270 KTA's throttle. Alongside ...

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270 KTA: November 2014

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Wednesday, 19 November 2014. They say that pride cometh before a fall. A proverb with its roots in biblical times, essentially it means that if you allow yourself to become too proud of your SU, you're certain to end up with a head-gasket failure. And look how proud I am here. 270 KTA's appearance at the South Devon Railway's superb Diesel Gala received a characteristic warm welcome from all, and afforded much cause for pride. I've yet to confirm it properly, but I suspect the ancient proverb has come tr...

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270 KTA: Colouring In

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Thursday, 22 January 2015. Since we last spoke, the bleak mid-Winter has been brightened by many hues and colours. This hideous, but at least bright emulsion is what I released from 270 KTA's sump just before Christmas, following our suspected head gasket problem. Needless to say, the issue was instantly confirmed by both colour and volume of the contents, an unhappy mix of oil and coolant. Good job we stopped when we did. And so, the Winter blues. Be careful what you wish for. Oh yes - and some late aut...