Lack of entries list on buses at rallies

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

Was going to post this on the IOW Beer and buses thread but as this covers all rallies then I thought I'd make a separate thread.

The thing I love about the IOW Beer and Buses is the vehicles booked to attend the event list on the site. Now I know it can never be 100% perfect but then again it's never completely wrong so I can get a good idea on whats turning up and makes it exciting especially as I can see what I'd like to go on.

Some other rallies on the other hand seem to be secret. I was toying with the idea of going to the Cobham Transport Fest on Sunday just gone in the hope of getting some vehicles in the book on the 462 Weybridge runs. Funds were tight anyway but I may have been tempted if there was something I really wanted but for a 200 mile round trip with no information on what was there, I didn't go so they didn't get my £13.50.

Some others just have opening times and state free rides and thats it. BVBG is the same but as thats a short drive to Brislington I can turn up and see. But for these ones that involves a long drive I'd like to have a rough idea what will be about.

Heritage railways with steam and diesel galas give you a list of locos attending and this always makes it tempting to turn up and hand over cash, ok you know a loco might fail and pull out but you still get the idea.

For airshows you get a list of aircraft on static and flying. Imagine RIAT just saying 'open from 0900, there will be planes on static and some flying' and leaving it as that.

Maybe its just me that would like to see more info for bus rallies? (With exception to the IOW Beer and Buses, are there others that list vehicle entries?)

 

[richw]

Penzance list entries online and programs available to mail order about a month ahead. Same for Kingsbridge which is same group who organise

 

[Smethwickian]

Any list of entries based on prior registrations or expressions of intent will always be subject to sweeping caveats along the lines of '''subject to availability on the day".
Never forget that vehicles may be coming from volunteer-run or charitably founded museums, dependent on the availability of funds, fuel and willing hands on the day. Or the buses may be privately--owned, with their drivers subject to the same last-minute personal or family crises as the rest of us when planning a day out. And of course the vehicles themselves are venerable and temperamental old dears, which owners may have to coax into life and may not wish to risk travelling with if a problem is detected at the last minute.
So by all means ask the event organiser if there will be a list but please, please be understanding and accepting that even if you've travelled a long way to see specific buses, you might end up with variations in the line-up.

 

[carlberry]

And of course the vehicles themselves are venerable and temperamental old dears, which owners may have to coax into life and may not wish to risk travelling with if a problem is detected at the last minute.

The venerable and temperamental also applies to some of us owners!!!
The Gosport rally is another one that's good at publicising what's going, plus Showbus (except for the week before the rally when it decides to go all GCHQ!)
As with anything it's down to having the volunteers that can do it. As an example I used to provide the webspace for a group and ended up updating the site when the previous webmaster had lost interest and nobody else wanted to just so it would include details of the groups's open days. (Dates I'd had to find from the classic bus site despite being a member!).
I've often though about trying to develop a simple website where organisers could easily list vehicles that were coming to events, and also provide the ability for owners to enter details of vehicles (which becomes a chore sometimes!) however it's likely to quickly get bogged down with security issues and, nowadays, GDPR. Plus it would need organisers to actually use it and most of them have too much to do already!

 

[PeterC]

The venerable and temperamental also applies to some of us owners!!!
The Gosport rally is another one that's good at publicising what's going, plus Showbus (except for the week before the rally when it decides to go all GCHQ!)
As with anything it's down to having the volunteers that can do it. As an example I used to provide the webspace for a group and ended up updating the site when the previous webmaster had lost interest and nobody else wanted to just so it would include details of the groups's open days. (Dates I'd had to find from the classic bus site despite being a member!).
I've often though about trying to develop a simple website where organisers could easily list vehicles that were coming to events, and also provide the ability for owners to enter details of vehicles (which becomes a chore sometimes!) however it's likely to quickly get bogged down with security issues and, nowadays, GDPR. Plus it would need organisers to actually use it and most of them have too much to do already!

I have seen people start sites like that in other fields. Invariably they die the death in about 18 months. Clubs and promoters slap in their details and diaries in a fit of enthusiasm and nothing is ever updated. Any sort of central listing service has to be actively curated.

 

[Birdbrain]

The one advantage we have for IW Beer and Buses is that the vehicle owners have to book and pay for their ferry crossings and accomodation a long way in advance. This means we know what our entry list is by around July and can then publish it on our website and plan the vehicle allocations. If something does breakdown between then and the event the vehicle owners usually find a replacement bus as they have already booked and paid for their ferry and accomodation.

I can understand how this is not possible for other events that bus owners drive to in one day and don't book accomodation for.

 

[James Wake]

Some other rallies on the other hand seem to be secret. I was toying with the idea of going to the Cobham Transport Fest on Sunday just gone in the hope of getting some vehicles in the book on the 462 Weybridge runs. Funds were tight anyway but I may have been tempted if there was something I really wanted but for a 200 mile round trip with no information on what was there, I didn't go so they didn't get my £13.50.

Heritage railways with steam and diesel galas give you a list of locos attending and this always makes it tempting to turn up and hand over cash, ok you know a loco might fail and pull out but you still get the idea.


Maybe its just me that would like to see more info for bus rallies? (With exception to the IOW Beer and Buses, are there others that list vehicle entries?)

Amersham and District normally have their allocations in the programme, at Cobham on 462 was RTL139, LT1000, RML3, WVL1, Southern Transit CityMaster 2, RTL453, a Stagecoach London green Enviro 400 MMC, along with a couple of others I can’t remember off the top of my head. ST922 was also giving tours.

 

[Busaholic]

Penzance list entries online and programs available to mail order about a month ahead. Same for Kingsbridge which is same group who organise

Penzance appears to be a little bit unusual though in that it all takes place in public areas, even the Bus Station core remaining open for public services. The public pay nothing for entry and can ride at will for free. The programme for each year has an historical article or two as well, and not only are the entries listed but a detailed timetable as to which bus is to appear on each scheduled journey on a small variety of routes is published, which in my experience is pretty much adhered to. It's enjoyed by many who aren't particularly bus fans and who wouldn't pay for attending a rally site: they are prepared to buy the programme on the day, however.