The Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society (ADBPS) has been dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of public transport in the North East of England since its humble beginnings. What started as a small group of passionate enthusiasts has grown into a recognised charitable organisation, accredited museum, and an important educational and cultural hub for the community.

The Society’s journey began with the acquisition of a 1958 Bedford coach, closely followed by the donation of an ex-Hartlepool Leyland double-decker from a local Round Table group. These early additions laid the foundations for what would become a growing and significant collection of historic vehicles.

On March 31st, 1981, the Society made one of its most important acquisitions—a 1964 Daimler CCG5 double-decker bus, formerly operated by Darlington Corporation Transport, and registered as AHN 451B. This vehicle remains a cherished centrepiece of the collection to this day.

In September 1982, the Society became a registered charity, formally recognising its mission to protect and share local transport history. Later, in August 2014, it was granted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status, allowing for further development and a stronger public presence.

By 2021, membership had grown to 42 active members, each committed to the Society’s aims of restoration, education, and community engagement.

In 2012, the Society achieved Arts Council England Accreditation, officially recognising it as a museum. This accreditation was successfully renewed in May 2022, highlighting the ongoing importance of the collection and its educational value.

Today, the museum houses seven historically significant vehicles: five buses, a coach, and a tow truck. Notably, six of these were once operated by United Automobile Services, an iconic company that served the North East from the late 1940s to the 1980s. The seventh is the Daimler CCG5 from Darlington Corporation Transport.

The Society also maintains a growing archive of timetables, maps, photographs, uniforms, ticket machines, and other artefacts that paint a vivid picture of the region’s transport heritage.

Central to the Society’s mission is telling the story of public transport in Newton Aycliffe—one of the UK’s first New Towns, established after the 1946 New Towns Act to relieve post-war urban overcrowding. United Automobile Services played a crucial role in its development, providing essential transport links for the growing population. The museum showcases this unique history, helping visitors understand how transport shaped local life, employment, and community development.

Like many organisations, ADBPS faced major challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, as the country went into lockdown, the Society was also required to vacate its premises at Whitworth Drive. This sparked a major relocation effort during uncertain times.

After extensive searching, the Society secured a new base at Langton Business Centre on Aycliffe Business Park, signing a three-year lease and officially opening the new premises on 1st March 2021. By August 2021, the transition was complete, marking a new and exciting chapter.

The new museum space includes:

• A fully operational workshop for mechanical and woodworking restoration

• Display areas for our single-decker vehicles, coach, and tow truck

• An outdoor compound showcasing our double-decker buses

• A wide range of memorabilia and interpretive exhibits

• A small museum shop offering themed merchandise

Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibits, view the restoration process, and ride aboard our heritage buses during open days—bringing transport history to life in an immersive way.

Some of the highlights in our collection include:

• The oldest surviving double-decker from United Automobile Services

• A rare Darlington Corporation Daimler

• “The Heartbeat Bus”, featured in the popular TV series

• A tow truck, uniquely converted from a double-decker at United’s Darlington Works

• The Newtonian, one of only four ever built