Bus Shite

[EyesWeldedShut]

  On 24/04/2025 at 22:19, danthecapriman said:

Does anyone here know much about the old buses that were modified at the end of their bus life to become bus recovery vehicles?

 

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I don't have much of a clue - but a guy called David Devoy back where I grew up may have - some of his pictures are on this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77000628@N02/albums/72157634830830682/
 

His full Flickr index is:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77000628@N02/albums/

 

[busmansholiday]

  On 24/04/2025 at 22:19, danthecapriman said:

Does anyone here know much about the old buses that were modified at the end of their bus life to become bus recovery vehicles?

I know the bodywork was usually cut down and/or modified to become the recovery vehicles but what was inside the section(s) that still had the covered bus style body sections? I’m guessing tools and facilities for a mechanic? 

Also, how did they actually tow another bus? Some seem to have had a proper crane mounted into the back to lift and drag the dead bus but lots of others didn’t so I’m guessing they simply flat towed the dead bus using a big tow bar type set up?

This kind of thing is what I mean, ex double decker Regent.

 

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Usually a workbench in the back and a bfo toolbox which contained the jump leads (not the car type, buses have a big plugin system ). There will also be storage for the long steel bar for towing the broken down bus and the various fittings needed.

Buses were generally cut down behind the rear axle and the towing fittings added there. The bigger operators usually had one tow bus they left the top deck on upto the windows so they could use it for tree lopping.

At our depot in the late 70's we had a Plaxton bodied Leopard that looked quite standard from the outside. You opened the boot lid, slid the towbar through a hole from the inside and attached  it inside the boot. Had the pleasure* of steering a shagged United RE behind it from Woodall services back to our Sheffield depot. Also had the pleasure* of driving our 6*2 Scammel from the smoke back to Sheffield with a Neoplan decker on tow.

[danthecapriman]

  On 25/04/2025 at 06:45, busmansholiday said:

Usually a workbench in the back and a bfo toolbox which contained the jump leads (not the car type, buses have a big plugin system ). There will also be storage for the long steel bar for towing the broken down bus and the various fittings needed.

Buses were generally cut down behind the rear axle and the towing fittings added there. The bigger operators usually had one tow bus they left the top deck on upto the windows so they could use it for tree lopping.

At our depot in the late 70's we had a Plaxton bodied Leopard that looked quite standard from the outside. You opened the boot lid, slid the towbar through a hole from the inside and attached  it inside the boot. Had the pleasure* of steering a shagged United RE behind it from Woodall services back to our Sheffield depot. Also had the pleasure* of driving our 6*2 Scammel from the smoke back to Sheffield with a Neoplan decker on tow.

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  On 24/04/2025 at 22:35, EyesWeldedShut said:

I don't have much of a clue - but a guy called David Devoy back where I grew up may have - some of his pictures are on this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77000628@N02/albums/72157634830830682/
 

His full Flickr index is:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77000628@N02/albums/

 

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Both excellent replies, ta! 
They’ve always been interesting vehicles, I think. Old buses with a new life to keep them in use. 
The main reason for asking was because I’ve got a cheap 1:43 scale bus model here which I need to rob some parts from for another project but making a recovery bus from the leftovers seems an interesting way to use it.

Anyone got or know of any photos of the inside and the towing equipment (tow bar mounting and bar itself would be ideal)?

Edit;     
Just found this,

So it is literally just a big steel bar!😄

I guess nobody uses these converted buses for towing nowadays? Just contract in a heavy recovery company as required?

[SunnySouth]

Merc Citaro. Seats everywhere. Clearly designed by a Mental. F’king brilliant things!* 

*when not on fire.

 

[SunnySouth]

  On 25/04/2025 at 08:08, danthecapriman said:

I guess nobody uses these converted buses for towing nowadays? Just contract in a heavy recovery company as required?

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Exactly that, the corporate era removed all that sort of common sense and ingenuity and replaced it with frequent very expensive call-outs to whoever the local wrecker firm are! Sigh…

I believe I’m right in saying that back t’old days it was permissible to drive a recovery lorry for the purposes of bus rescue with just a PCV licence, no HGV ticket required?

[busmansholiday]

  On 25/04/2025 at 12:51, SunnySouth said:

Exactly that, the corporate era removed all that sort of common sense and ingenuity and replaced it with frequent very expensive call-outs to whoever the local wrecker firm are! Sigh…

I believe I’m right in saying that back t’old days it was permissible to drive a recovery lorry for the purposes of bus rescue with just a PCV licence, no HGV ticket required?

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There were a couple of reasons for the changes, one being modern vehicles having spring parking brakes which means you have to either lift and shift after winding off the brakes or have to couple up the towing vehicle to the dead one with airlines etc.  Another reason was that most modern vehicles have the engine at the back so you cannot chop them down on length and finding somewhere strong enough to fit the towing gear isn't easy especially if they are semi integral. It didn't stop "Tracy"from converting an Atlantean or using VRs though.

 

There was (still is?) and exemption in the PSV regs that allows a qualified PSV driver (back then you had a licence to drive manual or automatic and double or single decks, double decker manual was the drive anything) to drive a recovery vehicle (converted bus or HGV up to I believe 10.5T) going to or from the recovery of a broken down PSV. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

[danthecapriman]

  On 25/04/2025 at 13:13, busmansholiday said:

There were a couple of reasons for the changes, one being modern vehicles having spring parking brakes which means you have to either lift and shift after winding off the brakes or have to couple up the towing vehicle to the dead one with airlines etc.  Another reason was that most modern vehicles have the engine at the back so you cannot chop them down on length and finding somewhere strong enough to fit the towing gear isn't easy especially if they are semi integral. It didn't stop "Tracy"from converting an Atlantean or using VRs though.

 

There was (still is?) and exemption in the PSV regs that allows a qualified PSV driver (back then you had a licence to drive manual or automatic and double or single decks, double decker manual was the drive anything) to drive a recovery vehicle (converted bus or HGV up to I believe 10.5T) going to or from the recovery of a broken down PSV. 

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I was actually wondering about licensing for them, as technically a conversion is no longer a PSV. 
Do they have to be re-registered as recovery vehicles or not? 

I suppose the old front engined stuff that was built out of girders underneath were pretty strong and capable of that use but modern stuff I guess can’t be used that way. I saw a photo once of an old front engined AEC bus that had gone for scrap but as it obviously still worked the yard had panelled over the windows in the back, former passenger seating area, then chopped the roof off and used it as a big truck. It had been loaded up with all sorts of scrap metal which was then unloaded by a grab crane. Presumably the old buses of that era were strong enough to be used like that?
 

[mk2_craig]

  On 23/04/2025 at 10:12, lesapandre said:

That is just fantastic. I do hope it survives.

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Appears it does.  

Some information here: 

https://www.sct61.org.uk/gu36

I understand its been painted into a red and cream livery at some point. 

[Spottedlaurel]

Another use for the remnants of a bus, winching gliders:

Not sure if they were still in use at the time of my photo (about 2001 I believe). More intact glider winch gear on the back of this Ergomatic that was at the same place:

 

[Leyland Worldmaster]

[SunnySouth]

  On 26/04/2025 at 01:15, Leyland Worldmaster said:

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I love it, “Instructions”!

“Drive bus, collect passengers, don’t crash…”

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

[Inspector Morose]

  On 26/04/2025 at 10:36, The Old Bloke Next Door said:

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Been there, done that, bought the, erm, Midland Red short Ford.

[Inspector Morose]

On the way back from Dundee, what did we stumble across but a Royal Tiger on its way south.

Apparently, being sacrificed to help with the gargantuan rebuild of the severely fire damaged King Alfred Olympic.

[Matty]

How's the new job and relocation going @Inspector Morose?

[Inspector Morose]

  On 27/04/2025 at 16:23, Matty said:

How's the new job and relocation going @Inspector Morose?

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Okay thanks. Just about to sign on the dotted line to rent a place up here. It comes with absolutely sod all inside and so I've got to bugger around to get the obvious sofa, bed, washing machine, fridge, etc. But it's in a nice location and is relatively cheap for what it is - I'll have to slum it for a while, as I gather the funds to get things that make up a home.  

I'm still training but working the lanes alongside a mentor who oversees me and signs off on any tests I do. Obviously, I can't be as free and open here with what I do, day to day, as I can get into a lot of trouble if someone decided to report me for having an opinion (oh, the joys of being a civil servant). 

[Matty]

  On 27/04/2025 at 16:31, Inspector Morose said:

Okay thanks. Just about to sign on the dotted line to rent a place up here. It comes with absolutely so all inside and so I've got to bugger around to get the obvious sofa, bed, washing machine, fridge, etc. But it's in a nice location and is relatively cheap for what it is - I'll have to slum it for a while, as I gather the funds to get things that make up a home.  

I'm still training but working the lanes alongside a mentor who oversees me and signs off on any tests I do. Obviously, I can't be as free and open here with what I do, day to day, as I can get into a lot of trouble if someone decided to report me for having an opinion (oh, the joys of being a civil servant). 

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Excellent news. Glad it's working out for you 👍

[Inspector Morose]

1939 AEC Matador converted to a bus recovery vehicle by Salford City Transport but passed to South Yorkshire PTE.  By the time I photographed it, it had passed to SYPTE enthusiast and erstwhile bus operator Isle Coaches of Owston Ferry. After a few more owners, it was restored to Salford livery and the bodywork modified again, losing the built up front wings.

 

[lesapandre]

  On 26/04/2025 at 10:35, The Old Bloke Next Door said:

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That actually looks like two people.

[Matty]

  On 27/04/2025 at 18:37, lesapandre said:

That actually looks like two people.

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Stilts?