Inspector Morose

As an ex owner of a Bristol L with that same gearbox, I can thankfully say that there is a ‘neutral’ just below fifth so you only coast embarrassed to a halt before ferreting around to select first again and repeat said procedure. It was described by someone else as a sonata in several movements by unaccompanied gear box. They nailed it there. Other bus related boxes were the BMMO C5 with all of the right ratios but not necessarily in the right order. It was known as a ‘W’ change box and gears were not where you’d expect them to be. Late in life these motorway coaches were used on bus service. My god, after driving one for about 20 miles, the thought of one of these on an ten hour shift on stop start work would fill me with dread. other notable mentions were the original MCW MetroRider which were manual gearboxes. The idea that a manual box in a minibus around the houses was bad enough but for added fuckwittery the gate was backwards and the linkage slack meaning obtaining fifth usually involved climbing out of the driving seat and heading towards the entrance door, gearstick in hand. That leaves us with Fords. Six ratios were offered yet the linkage betwixt lever and box meant that of the six offered, it was random chance that the one selected was any where near the one requested. Oh yes, may I interject with the Wilson preselect? A wonderful device that in fully manual form could break ones left leg if the selector pedal was sharply pressed and released without fully making sure that the quadrant was properly in gear.. When I say quadrant, some buses didnt use a quadrant to preselect the next gear, oh no. Guys used a gear lever like a manual box just to confuse matters. The Wilson direct acting preselctive gearbox mentioned above was a mere pussycat compared to what drivers had to endure beforehand. On the subject of Guy buses, there was available at the same time a sliding mesh gearbox and a constant mesh gearbox, both ‘crash’ i.e with no synchromesh. The difference was that one was backwards gate (with the gear pattern reversed so fist was wheee tnird was etc; and one was normal gate. The only difference was that one had a red gearknob and the other black. After a few years in service, the knobs were mixed around so you could never get in a Guy and confidently pull away in first, first time. Bastard things. Back to cars (well this is a cr sige after all, isn’t it?) Honourable mention must be given to the Cotal gearbox. A car version of the above picured semi-auto with its own version of a miniature gear-lever mounted upon the steering column. Exactly like the later bus box but about 30 years earlier. I’ll shut up now.

Was trying to work out whether it was one of our old ones at North Birmingham Busways but I don’t think it was because the final destination screen is too small. Aluminium framed body (you can tell by the front windows) make it a late one (after 81-82 at least). Shame, with all built at that time, the chassis will be totally buggered sitting in the grass like that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The buses are by Saurer by the way . I just happen to have a model of the lower one somewhere in the house. edit: I’ve never driven a Saurer motorbus (yet) but I did get its electric cousin under my belt in 2000.

I’d be up for that. Better do something with the green gremlin up at yours this winter then. I haven’t abandoned a car in France yet.

But equal on cylinders.

What you two need is CONVERTED PACER RESCUE!

EFA.

See https://twitter.com/TomTheDoodler for more.

Northern.

Crikey SirVival lives! I’ve got a picture of that in one of my obscure books somewhere with it in a goldish colour. edit: here’s a bit about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Vival

There’s still at least one of these on uk roads. Borgward Hansa 1800 diesel. 43 bhp. 0-60 in 27 seconds.

Excuse me for sullying this thread with another picture of a bus but this was really the one that got away that I regret not buying the most. For the uninitiated, what you are looking at is a BMMO S23, a service bus built and operated by Midland Red and this was one of the last built by the company before ending bespoke production and buying from the regular manufacturers. They were a little different to the usual fare that was available on the market at the time in that they featured independent front suspension, front disk brakes, full power hydraulic braking and much more, all wrapped up in a fully integral body using much fiberglass componentry all at a time when the bus world was fixed on drum brakes, rigid axles and a beefy chassis. This particular example was offered to me for three grand, a hefty sum but not outside my meager bank balance and was fully roadworthy and original. I turned it down for no other reason than that I couldn't be bothered after suffering personally from other bus preservationists bile and bitterness. I wish I'd just bought it and just kept it for myself now.

Wandering around the web, I've noticed that the Great Central Railway is holding their diesel event that very weekend. It's about an hour from the auctions but many wondrous machines will be running, including a Warship, a Hoover (Just right for Beko then), an early Duff and a couple of Rats. For the more sedate amongst us, a DMU should be there too. There will also a heritage bus service using buses from the local Leicester Transport Heritage Trust who own lots of 70s and 80s goodness amongst other things. The downside to this plan is that to get a reasonable time there, an early finish at the auctions would be advisable which would skew the auction game somewhat. If it's a no-go for Saturday, I probably will go either Friday or Sunday instead. Attendees, it's over to you!

I’ll try for more than five minutes this time.