For those interested in old buses (and coaches)

[SRman]

Interesting that both of the Merlins had the earlier low driving position that the drivers so disliked. I can remember when Rockhampton City Council (in Queensland) got their first two AEC Swifts that all the drivers commented unfavourably on sitting "down among the cars". 

[bingley hall]

Probably a Golden Rover if you used the Green Line coaches to and from Central London.  Nice little collection there.  The 336A went around some very rural lanes indeed into highly unlikely territory where even in 1972 everyone seemed to own two cars and several horses.  If I remember correctly there were two GSs on the final run as Garston had expected a modest turn-out of last-riders and enthusiasts.  Not only for the last 336A but the last GS in service.  And after the 336A at least one is recorded as having run an impromptu 309A back to Garston Garage with passengers aboard.  

 

Thanks for the clarification re the Golden Rover.

 

Correct re the 309A - we were on it 

Edited September 26, 2017 by bingley hall

[Rugd1022]

Another golden oldie - an AEC Regent III as seen in the 1964 film 'Séance On A Wet Afternoon'...

 

 

 

[leopardml2341]

Interesting that both of the Merlins had the earlier low driving position that the drivers so disliked. I can remember when Rockhampton City Council (in Queensland) got their first two AEC Swifts that all the drivers commented unfavourably on sitting "down among the cars".

 

The Bedford 'VAL' was a bit like that too, even the dash instrument panel looked like it came out of a contemporary Vauxhall car. Edited September 27, 2017 by leopardml2341

[RANGERS]

The Bedford 'VAL' was a bit like that too, even the dash instrument panel looked like it came out of a contemporary Vauxhall car.

The VALs low driving position was largely down to the low frame height from its 16" wheels, it sat about 6" lower than conventional coach chassis. It should have made a very good service bus but sold in only penny numbers for that.

 

The trend in the 80s for low driver coaches was largely driven by the desire to offer passengers a better forward view. It spawned some dreadfully cramped cab areas though, a trait which passed on to the overdeck and double deck designs, none of which will ever figure in drivers favourites lists.

[Rugd1022]

Another gratuitous spot from the small screen... from the ITC 'Strange Report', shot in 1968 in Hampstead, North London...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RANGERS]

Another gratuitous spot from the small screen... from the ITC 'Strange Report', shot in 1968 in Hampstead, North London...

 

ITC #100.jpg

Lovely atmospheric shot of an RT in typical 60s condition.

 

The 159 is notable not only as one of London's longest lived routes, its also regarded as the typical example of a London bus route. The current Marble Arch to Streatham route is simulated on the test track for the purpose of testing of all new models introduced into London to validate their environmental credentials (commonly known as the 159 test). The 159 also brought the curtain down on Routemaster operation on Dec 9th 2005.

[Gwiwer]

IIRC the 159 hada Sunday-only variant the 59 which reached Old Coulsdon deep in leafy territory and making it London's longest daytime bus route. One or two of the "nighters" may have been longer such as the epic N98 Victoria - Romford

 

The 159 was the last full route worked by Routemasters though "heritage" short workings on the 9 and 15 were retained. The latter still runs today, every 15 minutes (subject to traffic) between Tower Hill and Trafalgar Square requiring six RMs of which some are now looking pretty second-hand rather than being kept in good order. Oystet / contactless fares apply with the conductor using a mobile card reader. Services are curtailed or suspended in the event of heavy traffic and sometimes only run as far as Aldwych. Otherwise you can still hop on a Routemaster between around 10.00 and 18.00 every day.

[Legend]

I was in Glasgow today. There were two vintage buses on display in Buchanan Street reminding people it's the GVVT weekend on 6th and 7th October. They run a service from Glasgow centre and I think the Riverside(transport) Museum to the garage in Bridgeton. I've been a few times. Well worth a visit . Nice to see them out promoting the event.

[Rugd1022]

More oldies for your expert perusal gentlemen...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

Nice shot of the American Embassy's Daimler there too.

 

Mike.

[PhilJ W]

I'll be going to this.

http://www.castlepointtransportmuseum.co.uk/annual-show-2017

[Rugd1022]

Random bus shot found in the hard drive whilst rummaging for musty old Rover P5s and P6s...

 

 

 

[Gwiwer]

Random but very varied.  Bodywork by (at least) Plaxton, Harrington, Eastern Coach Works and Duple.  Greasy bits by Bristol and probably Leyland.  

[RANGERS]

Random but very varied.  Bodywork by (at least) Plaxton, Harrington, Eastern Coach Works and Duple.  Greasy bits by Bristol and probably Leyland.

 

No Duples among that selection but a very eclectic mix. I'd say the pic was around 1979, the ex Royal Blue RE passed out of the National fleet in about 1977/ 8, it could possibly be later. By that time, the Harringtons and Plaxton Panoramas were becoming scarce.

 

Chassis wise, Gwiwer is correct with Bristol and Leyland for the Harrington and ECW, The Plaxton to the left is a Bedford J2 and Id guess the one to the right is a Bedford VAM.

[Horsetan]

More oldies for your expert perusal gentlemen...

 

Route 13 runs through to North Finchley now. I remember Routes 2 and 2B also ran to Golders Green.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Horsetan

[PhilJ W]

Random but very varied.  Bodywork by (at least) Plaxton, Harrington, Eastern Coach Works and Duple.  Greasy bits by Bristol and probably Leyland.  

 

 

No Duples among that selection but a very eclectic mix. I'd say the pic was around 1979, the ex Royal Blue RE passed out of the National fleet in about 1977/ 8, it could possibly be later. By that time, the Harringtons and Plaxton Panoramas were becoming scarce.

 

Chassis wise, Gwiwer is correct with Bristol and Leyland for the Harrington and ECW, The Plaxton to the left is a Bedford J2 and Id guess the one to the right is a Bedford VAM.

The double decker is an ex-Standerwick Bristol VRL.

[Dave47549]

.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Dave47549
Removed pointless guff

[John M Upton]

Very interesting selection there, the Harrington bodied Leyland Leopard with its back to the camera is of course ex Southdown, the Brighton area 'CD' registration number is a dead giveaway.  Those Standerwick Bristol VRL's had an interesting history, they fell rapidly out of favour after some sort of nasty accident if I recall and soon found themselves scattered across small operators, indeed a couple still survive I believe.

[37114]

Those Standerwick Bristol VRL's had an interesting history, they fell rapidly out of favour after some sort of nasty accident if I recall and soon found themselves scattered across small operators, indeed a couple still survive I believe.

One rolled over on the M1 killing 3 people and injuring 30, the rest of the VRL were very quickly withdrawn

Edited October 5, 2017 by 37114

[SRman]

Very interesting selection there, the Harrington bodied Leyland Leopard with its back to the camera is of course ex Southdown, the Brighton area 'CD' registration number is a dead giveaway.  Those Standerwick Bristol VRL's had an interesting history, they fell rapidly out of favour after some sort of nasty accident if I recall and soon found themselves scattered across small operators, indeed a couple still survive I believe.

 

A couple of them came to Melbourne (Australia) and were seen in a red livery with black windows for a few years, but I don't have details of which ones they were or what happened to them subsequently.

[Gwiwer]

One of those VRLs turned up on our university hall-to-campus shuttle most days for a while after the Leopard first supplied proved too small. Nice ride, though hardly at motorway speeds through London! The operator, International Coach Lines of Thornton Heath (who now have numerous Routemasters) bought quite a few. I also recall that some reached the distant shores of Melbourne where they were in the company of some pretty beaten-up Lodekkas. I believe at least one of the latter - an FS - still runs there.

Edited October 5, 2017 by Gwiwer

[Jon Fitness]

Theres a fully restored Standerwick VRL example up at Freckleton just across the yard from my bus. It's currently off the road at the moment awaiting an "engine out" repair to a rather massive oil leak. (Main crankshaft seal I think!)

JF

[John M Upton]

Is that the ex Arun Coaches of Horsham one?

[SRman]

One of those VRLs turned up on our university hall-to-campus shuttle most days for a while after the Leopard first supplied proved too small. Nice ride, though hardly at motorway speeds through London! The operator, International Coach Lines of Thornton Heath (who now have numerous Routemasters) bought quite a few. I also recall that some reached the distant shores of Melbourne where they were in the company of some pretty beaten-up Lodekkas. I believe at least one of the latter - an FS - still runs there.

 

Yes, they were all pretty run-down. After the ex-Standerwick VRLLs, there was a Bristol LD Lodekka done up as a fake London Transport Routemaster, at least one FLF and one FSF, and later on, some ex-Reading VRL 'Jumbos'. For a while they had a storage yard at the corner of Centre Road and Warrigal Road, taking a corner off the Ventura depot - Ventura now have the whole lot of that land.