The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum, also referred to as The Isle of Wight Bus Museum, was founded in 1997 in Newport on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.

The museum is a registered charity and run completely by volunteers. The vehicle collection is currently housed in the former bus depot at Ryde, Isle of Wight.

The museum hosts two bus rallies of its own. The May Running Day, branded as Rydabus, emphasises local heritage with a selection of operational vintage buses recreating authentic Isle of Wight routes from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. In contrast, the October Wightrider event adopts a broader national perspective, inviting heritage buses from across the United Kingdom to join displays and running services alongside the museum's own collection.

Vehicles on display

Bus Registration Year Owner Bristol K5G / ECW FLJ538 1954 Museum Bristol K5G EDL657 1947 Museum Bristol MW6G / ECW PDL515 1958 Museum Bedford SB / Duple ADL459B 1964 Museum Bristol FLF6G / ECW CDL479C 1965 Museum Bristol MW6G / ECW FDL927D 1966 Museum Bristol RESH / Duple Commander KDL885F 1968 Museum Bristol RELL / ECW TDL563K 1971 Museum Bedford YRQ / Plaxton VDL264K 1972 Museum Leyland Leopard / ECW B51 RDL309X 1982 Museum Dennis Dart / Duple G526VYE 1990 Museum Volvo B10B / Northern Counties K125BUD 1993 Museum AEC Matador / SVOC GXX785 1945 Museum Daimler CK / Dodson DL5084 1927 Museum Cheverton Stage Coach 1880 Museum Merc / Robin Hood NDL 600W 1982 Museum Bedford SB / Duple ODL400 Museum Leyland National MDL880R 1976 Museum Dennis Dart HW52 EPX 2002 Museum Ford Transit B259 MDL 1984 Museum Bedford OB / Duple FDL676 1949 On Loan Bristol LD6G / ECW PDL519 1958 Museum Dennis Ace / Harrington DL9015 1934 Private Bristol LD6G / ECW SDL268 1959 Private Bristol VRT-SL2 / ECW SDL638J 1971 Private Bristol LD/ ECW MDL 954 Private Leyland Olympian / ECW A700DDL Museum Bristol RESL / ECW HDL 23E Museum

The Isle of Wight Bus Museum currently has 21 vehicles on display at its new premises at Ryde.

Relocation

By the end of 2010, the museum was planning to relocate and construct a new purpose-built unit to house an Island Road Transport Museum.Information from the Isle of Wight Bus Museum leaflet 2008 The move was necessary due to the building it used being demolished as part of redevelopment of Newport Quay. The plan was to purchase a two and a half acre area of farmland adjoining Havenstreet Railway, with the new site covering twice the floor area that the previous base offered. The plans would require £120,000 to be raised to fund the move. Supporters were invited to purchase £250 shares in the project with monies being returned if the plan failed. However, in addition to funding issues, the field formed part of the Isle of Wight AONB, which could have led to a battle for planning consent over redevelopment.

Since 2015 the museum has been based at a former Southern Vectis depot, located in Park Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight. which houses and displays the museum's collection of buses and coaches.

Photo gallery

References

External links

VIP Ghost Investigations: Isle of Wight Bus Museum