Bus Shite

[Dyslexic Viking]

Thank you for sharing this with old Chinese buses it is interesting. Since they were so old fashion, I guess air suspension did not come until recently? Or do they still have leaf springs?

[CaptainGustav]

25 minutes ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Thank you for sharing this with old Chinese buses it is interesting. Since they were so old fashion, I guess air suspension did not come until recently? Or do they still have leaf springs?

This usually depends on how much the user pays, there are a lot of small vehicle factories in China operated by privates and local governments, often with very strange combinations like original leaf springs with truck chassis, electric engine and fancy modern bodywork but the big group produces good quality buses such as BYD, King Long. Most buses in major cities currently have air suspension, air conditioning and low entry, also 100% electric.  Some conservative operators rejected air conditioning and air suspension and still ordered diesel engine is nothing new even it happened in Beijing.

[STUNO]

A temporary bus for me for a few days while the fleet is sorted out for the year.

1994 Dennis Javelin. I don't know what powers it, but it goes well and has a smooth 6 speed gearbox, nice drive .

 

 

[Eyersey1234]

5 hours ago, STUNO said:

A temporary bus for me for a few days while the fleet is sorted out for the year.

1994 Dennis Javelin. I don't know what powers it, but it goes well and has a smooth 6 speed gearbox, nice drive .

 

 

Very nice. Its probably a Cummins engine, Dennis's usually are

[sierraman]

As a kid pretty much every trip on a coach to the seaside was on a Plaxton Supreme, you still see them occasionally, I’m guessing they’re a pretty tough old thing?

[Inspector Morose]

Ah, Tanat Valley. Yes, I visited their yard once with my camera a while ago.

The RE behind was one of our old ones, KTX244L and the only RE of ours to ever run for another operator after our use.

[Inspector Morose]

On 08/02/2022 at 13:54, Inspector Morose said:

By 1995 there was just one WMPTE 'Jumbo' Fleetline left in public service. This was 3975 (SOE975H) operated by Jolly Rodger Coaches of Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. We had come across this bus before when purchasing 3997 from Partridge coaches a few years previously; this bus had been sitting at their yard - we had commented then that it seemed in very good condition for it to be scrapped.
We made contact with Jolly Rodger (run by a captain Birdeye lookalike it seemed) and after much discourse, we borrowed it to accompany our Jumbo to a rally at Bridlington in March of that year. As we had been added to their insurance for this, every time we visited Jolly Rodger we were pressganged into operating some school service or other. We did get the pick of the fleet though, and what a fleet it was. Choice of a chariot was from this, another later WMPTE Fleetline that had been blown on its side at least once, single deck ex-Darlington Fleetlines (a rare thing in itself) and a few others. 

Sadly time moved on and the traffic commissioners caught up with this most outpost of outposts and Jolly Rodger had his operators licence taken off him, something about a relaxed attitude towards paperwork and, erm, anything official really. He wasn't a cowboy operator though; the fleet was always kept safe and well maintained, he just didn't believe in the rigmarole involved with the 'other', legal stuff!
Sadly 3975 dropped off the radar (pre internet forums on every street corner) and the last known mentions were that it had been broken for spares for the restoration of 3913 (SOE913H).
And that's where the tale got murky. We had visited 3913 in the past and took a fairly comprehensive review of it. Without a doubt, '75 was in far better condition both structurally and mechanically than 13. I've no doubt that '13 undertook a comprehensive rebuild but if you've two side by side and one has a far better structure, which one would you restore?

I knew I had a photo of this one while it was stuck at the back of the yard at Partridge.

[Eyersey1234]

Today's chariot, a Plaxton Panther 3 bodied Volvo B11R new in 2016.

[rml2345]

On 2/16/2022 at 10:33 AM, sierraman said:

As a kid pretty much every trip on a coach to the seaside was on a Plaxton Supreme, you still see them occasionally, I’m guessing they’re a pretty tough old thing?

More abundant and easy to mend than tough, although the chassis they were fitted to were also quite rugged and easy to fix when they went wrong. Even the lightweights (Bedfords and Fords) were quite long lived due to being easy to keep on the road. 

Supremes tended to dissolve slower than the contemporary Duple offerings as well but so did aspirin in water. 

[EML]

Saw these on faceache and  thought you guys may be interested in them

 

These 2 become 1. 

 

Driven by Marvin Aday in the film Spiceworld.  I've never had the pleasure or misfortune to see it. 

You can now rent the former spice bus for a staycation.

[mk2_craig]

2 hours ago, EML said:

the film Spiceworld.  I've never had the pleasure or misfortune to see it

I have. Fucking awful. Especially the bit where the “bus” does a Dukes of Hazzard over Tower Bridge

[EML]

15 hours ago, mk2_craig said:

I have. Fucking awful. Especially the bit where the “bus” does a Dukes of Hazzard over Tower Bridge

I guess its no Brannigan then 😉

[Eyersey1234]

20 hours ago, EML said:

Saw these on faceache and  thought you guys may be interested in them

 

These 2 become 1. 

 

Driven by Marvin Aday in the film Spiceworld.  I've never had the pleasure or misfortune to see it. 

You can now rent the former spice bus for a staycation.

I've never seen the film either, was never a fan of the Spice Girls 

[catsinthewelder]

On 2/16/2022 at 8:04 AM, 83C said:

 

And finally, everyone likes a Lynx, don’t they? TVC’s owners certainly did, operating a number of Mk.1s and Mk.2s over the years. Why? Because they were cheap and rugged. And they didn’t come any more of a bargain than J658 UHN, bought with J653 UHN for £1500 the pair, and both wearing a brand new set of Michelins all round! The initial idea had been spares for the fleet, but J658 went up on the ramps and it was realised it was in pretty good shape, so it was put through an MoT, painted in the shed with rollers and brushes, and gave 4 years good service with minimal trouble. J653 was stored and gave up many parts to keep the rest of the Lynx fleet going. 

I thought that looked familiar, one number out from this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corgi-OOC-43110-1-76-Leyland-Lynx-II-United-Auto-Services-6-Durham-Unboxed-VGC-/353911177815?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I've got one of these somewhere, bought because it was the bus I would catch home from school (when it was heading to Bishop Auckland).  Funny how we've both ended up down here.

[Inspector Morose]

Manchester 1992. An ex-SYPTE Atlantean owned by Citybus passes what looks like an ex-WYPTE Optare bodied Leyland Cub (although I could be mistaken on that one).

 

Edit: You know, on second thoughts, I think it's a ex-SYPTE Dennis Domino

[Crackers]

1 hour ago, Inspector Morose said:

Dennis Domino

Terrible naming strategy for a high-sided vehicle.

[EML]

An oldie back in the day earning its keep. Appleby's early Cf icecream  van photo bombing Another photo pilfered from Faceache 

[busmansholiday]

1 hour ago, 83C said:

Looks like a C-HDT Domino to me too.

 

3 hours ago, Inspector Morose said:

Manchester 1992. An ex-SYPTE Atlantean owned by Citybus passes what looks like an ex-WYPTE Optare bodied Leyland Cub (although I could be mistaken on that one).

 

Edit: You know, on second thoughts, I think it's a ex-SYPTE Dennis Domino

 

1 hour ago, 83C said:

Looks like a C-HDT Domino to me too.

Pacer Bus, had three, 41,44,54.

[martc]

Regent St, 5th Dec 1962.

[busmansholiday]

And now for something completely different...

 

[Crackers]

55 minutes ago, busmansholiday said:

And now for something completely different...

 

What on earth is underneath that? I'm trying to identify the axles... Volvo?

[auntiemaryscanary]

On 17/02/2022 at 18:25, EML said:

Saw these on faceache and  thought you guys may be interested in them

 

  @EML

Thought those colours looked familiar... Mansfield buses pre-privatistion. The number 7 route went past my childhood home thus highly likely I was on this very bus at some point. Thanks @EML. The destination, Oak Tree Lane is a large late 70's built Council estate - under half a mile from my old front door.

Edited February 18, 2022 by auntiemaryscanary
My own stupidity

[rml2345]

35 minutes ago, Crackers said:

What on earth is underneath that? I'm trying to identify the axles... Volvo?

I thought Bristol maybe?

[Eyersey1234]

Got into work today to find that NX had cancelled all buses to London due to the weather, so was sat about spare for hours before taking this Levante to Scunthorpe to cover the last 350.

[artdjones]

On 2/7/2022 at 8:03 PM, martc said:

Arkengarthdale Post Office in December 1962, looks like a Bedford to me - Duple body?

1952 Bedford OLAZ with 24 seat Mulliner body. Owned by a company called Percival's of Richmond.

 

 

[MorrisItalSLX]

This weeks evening reading supplied by the local charity shop.

[busmansholiday]

10 hours ago, Crackers said:

What on earth is underneath that? I'm trying to identify the axles... Volvo?

I think it's an Iveco or possibly a Pegaso by the age (old style Spanish plates, changed in 2000 like UK) truck chassis with an auto box and central steering. 

[martc]

Kentish Town Road 1987. Spot the Cyclops BMW. And 2021.

[Richard_FM]

19 hours ago, busmansholiday said:

 

 

Pacer Bus, had three, 41,44,54.

Oldham Street Manchester:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.4815218,-2.2369,3a,75y,17.25h,87.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCEC1-PemEHYkpUZLxG3IVw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[somewhatfoolish]

On 2/16/2022 at 8:04 AM, 83C said:

 

And finally, everyone likes a Lynx, don’t they? TVC’s owners certainly did, operating a number of Mk.1s and Mk.2s over the years. Why? Because they were cheap and rugged. And they didn’t come any more of a bargain than J658 UHN, bought with J653 UHN for £1500 the pair, and both wearing a brand new set of Michelins all round! 

Isn't that pretty much a set of new tyres with a free bus attached?