ABOUT ZERO2
ABOUT ZERO2
Welcome to Zero2 Great Yeldham Bus Museum, a fun day out for everyone!
So what is there to see and do?
Well, firstly of course there is our collection of buses! Around 60 in total, ranging from a 1932 double decker that was new to Jersey to a 1988 double decker that was new to our own former Company Ensignbus.
Most are displayed in their restored condition, but some are under restoration, and you can see how much work is necessary to reach the high standard that is attained. It truly is wonderful to see; a true labour of love.
Buses have to be maintained to a high standard, and you can go ‘behind the scenes' to see how this is achieved. What you see is not staged - it’s a working maintenance base for our buses with all of the latest equipment supplied by Totalkare.
Then there is a display showing how the way you pay your fare has changed over time, ranging from the simple Bell Punch machine with its range of coloured tickets carried in a rack by the conductor to the very latest electronic ticket machines manufactured by Ticketer. We follow Ticketer's story from the beginning and it is fascinating to see what the latest machines are actually capable of doing - it’s far more than issuing tickets!
Another display shows how you are able to see where a bus goes and the places it serves. It begins with the wooden sign written boards that were placed on the horse buses, trams and early motor buses. We then follow the story of Hanover, the leading provider of electronic destination equipment, from their beginning to the very latest full colour electronic destination display.
We haven’t finished yet though!
There’s another section which illustrates the history of this village and our site, there are all sorts of things to turn and switches to push. The kids (and adults too) can sit in some of the bus drivers cabs, with one of our staff explaining what everything does. Of course with photo opportunities galore!
Bus rides out into the countryside and through some of the villages run throughout the day in one of our vintage buses so listen for the announcements!
Then there is the model bus, coach, tram and trolleybus collection to be viewed. If you are expecting a nice, interesting display of several hundred models then be ready for a big surprise - we have around 10,000 on display, from all over the world. Truly an exhibition in its own right.
Finally there will be refreshments and food available and on most days a soft play area for the junior members of the family staffed and provided by Little Legs Buses.
There is plenty to do, see and participate in so come along and leave yourself plenty of time as you will need it!!
OUR STORY
OUR STORY
Our family vintage bus collection began in 1979 when we acquired our first bus, which was RT 3232, an AEC Regent ex London Transport.
At that time the family owned Ensign Bus Company Ltd, based in Purfleet, Essex, and over time the fleet grew to around 60 buses and coaches.
But they didn’t just sit in a shed - they were used to do what they did best - carry passengers! It could be a Wedding Party, a Celebration, a Corporate event, travelling the streets of London helping out on service when there was an emergency- a whole host of things!
Our buses appeared in countless films and television productions, and you would be surprised at how many times you may have seen our buses on screen and not realised it
We sold Ensignbus to First Bus in March 2023, but the sale did not include the vintage bus collection and the family decided to build a Bus Museum to house them all. The idea was to create a place where everyone can come to admire our wonderful collection, with buses and coaches dating from 1932 to 1988.
We want it to be fun for all of the family, with plenty of things to occupy everyone from 2 to 102.
We are a family with a passion for buses, and everyone has played a part in bringing this dream to reality.
There are many friends of the family who help and assist, and they are all part of the larger ‘family’.
So come along and enjoy your time with the family !
LOCATION
LOCATION
Poole Farm in Great Yeldham in Essex has a history tied to the Whitlock family and their agricultural enterprises including chaff works and later Whitlock Bros, a prominent agricultural engineering firm. The Farm was a significant hub for processing hay and straw into chaff which was then transported to London. At its peak, it employed 100 men and shipped over 100 tons of chaff to London weekly.
Whitlock Bros eventually became known for manufacturing agricultural machinery including Dinkum Diggers, Dumpers and Dredgers. The Company grew to employ approximately 600 people at Great Yeldham.
Following takeover in 1972, the factory closed in 1975.
A later development on the site was the Poole Farm Feed Centre which began 35 years ago with a small operation selling horse feed and eventually expanded to supply a wider range of animal feeds. The business was later taken over by the current owners.