Bus Shite

[Dick Cheeseburger]

RMA 10.

About a week ago I put a few pictures of RMA 10 on some of its days out on the one shite picture thread. Dick Longbridge added this fabulous shot...

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And added that it appears to have been scrapped around 1996. I said I thought it went to Finland but as we're not allowed to talk on One Shite Picture I'd elaborate over here.

Firstly, going back to the picture above I never new it was a Mortlake bus. Mortlake was legendary for the condition of its buses. This would have been used as a staff bus at this point taking workers to Aldenham and Chiswick Works and taking them home again at the end of the day. Particularly useful for Aldenham as it was a bit of an awkward place to get to. But even as a staff bus it looks in lovely condition there.

My friend Colin had a small private hire company in the early nineties with two RMs and this RMA based in Watford. Used to do all sorts of work. Weddings, school buses, rail replacement for both BR and Underground, anything that came along basically. But the RMA was particularly useful for longer distance work as it had the high speed diff, though by this time it had lost its big engine so lots of first gear was needed but once up to speed it was happy cruising about 55.

Hastings was always a popular destination. So here's a couple of pics from nearby Winchelsea.

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This was a staged shot at the crossing at Winchelsea station with some Thumper action.

And this must be a year later as the standard RM blindbox has been added.

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But is only a mile or so from the previous picture. Winchelsea beach is behind that bank.

Obligatory pez station shot.

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But Colin packed up the buisiness after a few years deciding it was a lot less hassle to just drive buses for other people. He sold the RMA to Roger Brown of Shaftesbury and District.

Where it replaced this.

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RMA 37. Which oddly went the other way to Dave Pring's St Albans based Timebus. I believe it's still there, I know Timebus are still running. Odd because Colin and Dave used to share work when they were both two bus operators.

But I had this Finland thing in my head because I remember Colin being annoyed a few years later because he'd asked for first refusal if Roger sold it on but it went to Finland. To be fair I don't think he was in a position to buy it back but wanted at least to asked.

So when Dick Longbridge said it appeared to have been scrapped I started wondering if my mind was making things up again but a brief perusal of t'internet found this.

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Okay so this is six years ago but if it's lasted that long in Finland I'd like to think it's still around.

Intriguing reading, Yosemite. Thanks for sharing.

As for the mention of RMAs being nigh-on indestructible and perceived by some as ‘boring’, I couldn’t disagree more. If I had the space, skills and depth of pockets...

[Yoss]

They look odd in LWB.

Yes, have to agree there. The wheelbase looks far too long. Other buses that long tend to have the front wheels further back.

[cms206]

Ten years ago today I drove this for the last time; the result of that last drive was me passing my PSV test at Bishopbriggs test centre. It was the last test out of Bishopbriggs before revisions which saw the withdrawal of the gear change excercise from test.

 

Ten years. Shit me.

 

 

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[Guest Hooli]

No pics of what I learned to drive in, but it was a C reg? Volvo of some type. Maybe the other bus licker who worked at Stagecoach in Worthing will remember more details. That'd have been april 2004.

[busmansholiday]

^^^^^^ 40 years now since I passed my test on a Regent V (and you had to be at least 21 then). Where have the years gone?

[Eddie Honda]

Ten years ago today I drove this for the last time; the result of that last drive was me passing my PSV test at Bishopbriggs test centre.

Only three and a half weeks after me at same place, and I've managed to avoid driving the things for ten years - until now and the misery bus.

 

I got Andy McVey for my test. You?

[cms206]

 

 

Only three and a half weeks after me at same place, and I've managed to avoid driving the things for ten years - until now and the misery bus.

 

I got Andy McVey for my test. You?

It was indeed Andy McVey; nice fella, very fair.

 

I failed my first test about six weeks earlier, but unlike you I never managed to escape driving them.

 

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[Eddie Honda]

It was indeed Andy McVey; nice fella, very fair.

 

I failed my first test about six weeks earlier, but unlike you I never managed to escape driving them.

 

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Cunt shouted "TAILSWING!" at me five minutes into the test when I was turning left on a green filter past an 8 legger tipper. I thought that's me bollocksed.

 

In the end I think three minors and another 1st time pass.

 

I was reliably informed that he had the highest pass rate in there. Also had him the following week for my artic test, again passed with a couple of minors, despite early on quizzing me about going round a bus setting down between two traffic islands. (I wasn't going to sit behind it when I could see a good few waiting to get off)

 

So on reflection, sound as a pound.

 

Head Examiner Alan Dickson gave me 12 minors when I did my rigid test the month before. Well harsh.

[cms206]

Alan Dickson failed my first PSV test before I left the test centre but still took me out... got back to the Briggs after the best part of 90 minutes then started bollocking my instructor on the concourse because the vehicle presented wasn't fit for test.

 

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[catsinthewelder]

Nine years this month since I passed my D1, I've driven them most months since.

 

I passed in a fairly new coach built Iveco owned by Minsterly Motors that I can't find a picture of anywhere.

[mk2_craig]

Flipping heck, fifteen years since successful test in an E reg Lothian Leyland Olympian, I forget which one, but like a spaceship compared to the P reg Atlanteans that I had for the first fortnight of instruction, not even power steering on those bastards.

 

Both of them were still sitting in that nutjob Dr. Michael Grimes' Kells Transport Museum near Cork last I heard, presumably completely derelict by now.

[2MB]

A couple of pics from Morley today

 

Took my son on the Black Prince as he’s never been on a bus (!). It’s owned by a lad who was a couple of years above me at primary school, he said even then he was gonna have his own bus.

Bonus car park shite

[busmansholiday]

Been there myself. Doubt Mayor Khan would agree with the stickers on the back of the Black Prince vehicles.

[Soap Distant]

 

 

I may also have been there.

 

 

 

Morley, the childhood home to Ernie Wise and a place I hadn't visited since the end of Black Prince way back in 2005. With the running day brought to my attention on these very pages, I thought it was high time that I re-acquainted myself with the town just outside Leeds that held my fascination and took quite a lot of my time in the 1990s, when red and yellow Ailsas ruled the roads.

Sadly there were no Black Prince Ailsas screaming up the hill on Sunday, the only one in Black Prince livery is the impostor that is the low height, ex Derby example but there were some real ex-BP buses in the shape of two Mercedes/Optare Prismas and an Optare Vectra, which I seem to have missed photographing for some reason! Some welcome interlopers in the scene were the Leeds Atlantean 331 in the one man livery resurrected by Black Prince in the 2000s for its fleet of Alexander R type Scanias, bought to replace the trusty but superannuated Ailsas. The second bus was a nice surprise; West Riding Lynx 2 in the livery of its last owner, Midland Rider. This machine holds a significance for me as when it was with Midland Rider, a company next door to my employer at the time, I used to borrow it for school services when we were short of motors. I have driven this machine many times! Anyway, enough of my reminiscing and waffling, here's some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

What's the chunky snout about on the Lynx?

 

I remember these thundering along my road when I lived on the 18 route. The only thing louder than one driving past was actually being on one. So much vibrating metal and plastic!

[Soap Distant]

Mk2 Lynx were slightly different to the mk1s WMT had. Amongst many "tweaks" was that snout so that an intercooler could be fitted at the front for the Volvo engine that was to be standard for production.

Also it was to be available as an under frame for bodying by outside builders. Yup, that didn't happen either. The only other bodied lynxes in the UK were the Irish Alexander (Belfast) bodied ones that Stevensons had.

[dollywobbler]

Front-mounted intercooler on a rear engined bus? Crikey. That must involve some pipework.

[rml2345]

Matched the front mounted radiator Ian, same as a Bristol RE, National 2 and a few decker chassis. Generally the 60 feet of pipework was felt to be an acceptable trade for having the radiator in natural airflow.

[Yoss]

Mk2 Lynx were slightly different to the mk1s WMT had. Amongst many "tweaks" was that snout so that an intercooler could be fitted at the front for the Volvo engine that was to be standard for production.

Also it was to be available as an under frame for bodying by outside builders. Yup, that didn't happen either. The only other bodied lynxes in the UK were the Irish Alexander (Belfast) bodied ones that Stevensons had.

I always wondered that too. Now I know. Thanks.

 

In other news my RM passed its last ever MOT today! When I arrived they'd just finished doing this.

 

 

1967 King Alfred Atlantean which also just passed its last MOT. Talking to the tester about wether they'd still offer a pseudo test and they probably will but even he didn't know exactly what yet. He suggested every two years would suffice on something like mine with the use it gets. Although I'm thinking 18 months might be better as January is never a great time to be messing around with buses. Especially ones with 53 year old diesel engines that have no glow plugs or cold start devices. Luckily it wasn't too cold this morning and it started after much churning. Apparently it was a lot colder up north. I have a system for really cold starts that involves holding a blowlamp to the air intake and tying a piece of string to the starter so I can operate it from outside the bus. Not ideal.

[Soap Distant]

The more refined version of the "burning rag" method regularly employed in the dim, distant past!

[busmansholiday]

The Vector was operating an hour long tour which left on the hour so it was easy to miss. Here's a front shot of it at 2pm. Looking at the pictures and shadows we must have walked past each other. I was there 1 till 2.

 

[Soap Distant]

HOR is a fine machine. Bit of a hybrid, the PDR1/3. As Leylands first version of a lowheight Atlantean was an unholy mess upstairs they tried again using the drop centre axle from the Albion Lowlander and the gearbox from the Daimler Fleetline and so allowing a normal upper deck layout. Riding on this very one was a wonderful mash up of noise, from the gruff growl of an early Atlantean starting away until top gear is reached at which point the unmistakable whine from the Fleetline derived gearbox takes over. Sublime!

HOR is quite a remarkable survivor as well having been re converted back from open top using, I believe, the complete roof from another member from the same batch.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I always wondered that too. Now I know. Thanks.

In other news my RM passed its last ever MOT today! When I arrived they'd just finished doing this.

20180108_114908.jpg20180108_114154.jpg20180108_114141.jpg

1967 King Alfred Atlantean which also just passed its last MOT. Talking to the tester about wether they'd still offer a pseudo test and they probably will but even he didn't know exactly what yet. He suggested every two years would suffice on something like mine with the use it gets. Although I'm thinking 18 months might be better as January is never a great time to be messing around with buses. Especially ones with 53 year old diesel engines that have no glow plugs or cold start devices. Luckily it wasn't too cold this morning and it started after much churning. Apparently it was a lot colder up north. I have a system for really cold starts that involves holding a blowlamp to the air intake and tying a piece of string to the starter so I can operate it from outside the bus. Not ideal.

Congrats on the pass. I’ve only properly discovered this thread more recently - have you shared the story of your RM further back? If so, I’ll have a proper dig through. I didn’t realise they were so simplistic in their cold start procedure - I guess old derv lorries are the same as well?

[busmansholiday]

Congrats on getting the RM through the test. Modern stuff doesn't always start in cold weather and my 14 plate Ducato motorhome told me to piss off today. Eventually told it that resistance is futile and managed to jump it.

This and your comments reminded me of how we started Leopards back in cold weather in the late 70's. Stick it in neutral, press the start button, then wedge a match into the start button to keep it in. Walk to the offside and liberally spay the easystart into the air filter. Most of a can later, assuming the batteries were decent, and it would fire up. Nip back to the cab and remove the match. Put a stick from the dash to throttle to keep some revs up whilst you went for a cuppa.

The stick under the dash was an early form of cruise control, usefully on things like RE's with heavy throttle pedals.

[dozeydustman]

That looks familiar - Hedingham are still using at least one of those round here on a school contract. Well, I suppose they wouldn't want any of their nice buses getting damaged by those little angels would they?

 

 

I wouldn't let horrid school kids on a fine machine like a Bristol VR. G-reg Volvo Olympian, yes.

[puddlethumper]

The more refined version of the "burning rag" method regularly employed in the dim, distant past!

Ah, the burning rag. Nothing to do with bus's but some years ago I had a 1938 Ford Canada truck and a wire coat hanger 

with a rag tied round the end and dipped in diesel worked a treat. Never failed.

 

Edit; Better than easy fart.

[twosmoke300]

A front mounted intercooler on a rear engines bus must have monumental turbo lag

[Yoss]

Congrats on getting the RM through the test. Modern stuff doesn't always start in cold weather and my 14 plate Ducato motorhome told me to piss off today. Eventually told it that resistance is futile and managed to jump it.

This and your comments reminded me of how we started Leopards back in cold weather in the late 70's. Stick it in neutral, press the start button, then wedge a match into the start button to keep it in. Walk to the offside and liberally spay the easystart into the air filter. Most of a can later, assuming the batteries were decent, and it would fire up. Nip back to the cab and remove the match. Put a stick from the dash to throttle to keep some revs up whilst you went for a cuppa.

The stick under the dash was an early form of cruise control, usefully on things like RE's with heavy throttle pedals.

That's superb. Makes my setup seem positively simple. I like the solutions people come up with when they're on their own and need to be in two places at once. It focuses the mind.

[Yoss]

Congrats on the pass. I’ve only properly discovered this thread more recently - have you shared the story of your RM further back? If so, I’ll have a proper dig through. I didn’t realise they were so simplistic in their cold start procedure - I guess old derv lorries are the same as well?

Try page 47.

[Soap Distant]

Congrats on getting the RM through the test. Modern stuff doesn't always start in cold weather and my 14 plate Ducato motorhome told me to piss off today. Eventually told it that resistance is futile and managed to jump it.

This and your comments reminded me of how we started Leopards back in cold weather in the late 70's. Stick it in neutral, press the start button, then wedge a match into the start button to keep it in. Walk to the offside and liberally spay the easystart into the air filter. Most of a can later, assuming the batteries were decent, and it would fire up. Nip back to the cab and remove the match. Put a stick from the dash to throttle to keep some revs up whilst you went for a cuppa.

The stick under the dash was an early form of cruise control, usefully on things like RE's with heavy throttle pedals.

And daft bastards like me having to deal with burnt out starters, easy start addicted engines, worn bores, broken cranks........

680s were a pussycat (especially in a leopard -Ho Ho) to start if they were set up right. Full throttle, hit the starter and take your foot off the pedal when it caught. Gardners were no throttle, round the back and push up the cold start plunger push the button and away you (might) go with an imperial shed load of Gardner blue. Now the Perkins P6 award for being a complete bastard to get going in the cold was the veritable 510. At least you could warm yourself on the starter motor after an prolonged effort. At Chase, we used to just get them all (about 30 of the buggers) going at 6 and let them tick over until they had to go out on service. Smoky.

 

The RE cruise control stick was a well known modification on the Anglo Scottish REs. They were run with Gardner REs and the throttle was bloody heavy. All this came to an end when a passenger on one of the overnight Londons wrote in to compliment the crew -"the drivers were so smooth that they didn't wake me up when they changed over along the A1" - the cruise control stick was very good for driver changes on the move!