*BEAST* Ride on Isle of Man Transport 5 - PG53 YCT - DAF Lowlander - Shuttle Run

Six months ago, I finally got a DAF (OK, VDL technically by the time that one was made) Lowlander on the channel after years of saying that they’re my favourite buses. That was Kent’s 6238, but unfortunately, it was filmed on a private road of a showground at 5mph. Boring. Here’s another one. It’s not Arriva, but it’s probably a bit closer to ours mechanically (and it’s got the same rear lights that ours had) as it was built in 2003, and it’s from the fleet that probably had the best examples seeing as Arriva failed to look after theirs which is why none are left. This is an Isle of Man Lowlander, specifically their #5. It was only restored into its original livery a few months ago, but already, this was its third event since then. This time, it’s on proper roads, showing what it can do on the A59 and the A56 as it heads towards Barnoldswick. This was filmed as far as Thornton-in-Craven, as I thought we were stopping there for a photoshoot when was just to let two people off. Just as I remember ours. It was quick, it was smooth, it didn’t rattle or make a horrendous racket, though it was quieter than I expected. I assumed it’d be loud like our DB250 Geminis. Nonetheless, it really was a trip down memory lane, and a reminder of why I am where I am today, as it was ours that got me into buses from a very young age over 2 decades ago, specifically 4701-4716. Originally registered GMN-616-E, #5 was new to the Isle of Man in May 2003 (so it should have been given an 03 plate rather than a 53 plate when it came here really), and it operated on the island until 2014, when it was brought to the mainland. It was sold to Southdown PSV in West Sussex, and they ran it for five years before selling it to Autocar in Kent. It was withdrawn in 2022, and after a few years of uncertainty, it was preserved in late 2025 (just as the last one of ours left for the scrapyard) by the Town & District Transport Trust in Great Harwood, Lancashire. There was a rally at Great Harwood Showground last month, but not being sure if this would be attending, I didn’t go, and when I found out it did attend, I was fuming, and with the season coming to a close, I feared I’d have to wait till next year to try and get it. The Y-XJFs, FE51s, FD02s and PN52s may all be history now, but there’s plenty of these Isle of Man Lowlanders still knocking about. Midland Fox in Coalville have at least one, and Orbit additionally have a YJ04 which has some Arriva furnishings as it was directly supplied by Arriva Bus & Coach. Another YJ04 like that still exists in Manchester. Additionally, there were two from 2001 listed for sale earlier this year, and I had an idea of preserving one and putting it in a custom fancy spec and livery (probably mostly black with some silver, like how I like my cars), and to pay tribute to ours, giving it a cherished reg on the same sequence, either Y7 XJF, Y700 XJF or Y777 XJF. I couldn’t afford it on my own, and I don’t have a PSV licence (and I’ve no intention on getting to do the job as I’ve already got a career I love and I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in a cab of one of today’s buses all day), so it’d have to be a joint project. Would anyone be up for that if one was to be listed again?