The Aberdeen and District Transport Preservation Trust will hold its annual open day on Sunday 30 July between 1100-1600hrs in the grounds of the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. It follows a successful event in 2022 and will see a variety of vintage vehicles, both from the Trust’s collection and those visiting, on display and offering rides.
Entrance to the Trust event is free and it will also involve sales stalls “and a great deal more,” says Trustee and former First Aberdeen Managing Director George Mair.
The Trust has its own facility to store vehicles on the site. While the event is staged by the Trust, Mr Mair adds that the Grampian Transport Museum will also be open on the same day.
“We are in contact with the museum discussing the possibilities of some form of ticketing option that may help to reduce the cost of visiting the museum, while our open day remains free entry,” he says.
Mr Mair notes that 2022’s Trust event – the first since before the pandemic – proved to be highly popular with around 800 visitors. “We very much hope to build on that success with our 2023 open day,” he continues.
As many Aberdeen and District Transport Preservation Trust vehicles as possible will be used to give free rides at the open day alongside examples from the First Group Heritage Trust and visitors.
Subject to availability, that could extend from an Albion that dates from the 1930s, to a Mercedes-Benz O405G articulated bus with Alexander Cityranger bodywork that was previously in the Grampian Regional Transport fleet and new in 1992.
Others that may feature are the Leyland National, Leopard, Tiger, Atlantean and Olympian; AEC Swift and Reliance; and a Daimler CVG6. “These are a few of the vehicles that will be used and on display, as well as yet to be confirmed visiting examples,” adds Mr Mair.
The Grampian Transport Museum is located at Montgarrie Road, Alford, AB33 8AE.
