Bus Shite

[rml2345]

VAG now have a controlling interest in Scania but they didn't when they built flying machines like the West Midlands N113DRBs.

For a while Linlithgow depot was blessed with the single deck versions and they were bloody quick. It was good fun sat up the back of one passing everything on the A8 out of Edinburgh, especially if it was a shift change.

Mind you, they must've drank loads. Many a time they had to refuel the bus in service.

[Felly Magic]

Scanias love a drink, MPG worse than a B7TL in service, but oh boy, a good un set up right, proper flyers. Cherry Row in Leeds had one with a 320 bhp lump, scary fast and always a fight to get it allocated on a morning

[Grundig]

 

 

ELCB on a Dart chassis 

[dollywobbler]

Some buses really weren't styled at all were they? Imagine trying to sell a car that looked that half-arsed. I mean, even a Ssang Yong Rodius was actually styled, even if it was misplaced effort.

[cms206]

Some buses really weren't styled at all were they? Imagine trying to sell a car that looked that half-arsed. I mean, even a Ssang Yong Rodius was actually styled, even if it was misplaced effort.

Styling? East Lancashire had fuck all on Wrights of Ballymena... may I present the Handybus.

 

[cms206]

... also available in Leyland flavour for added proportions...

[dollywobbler]

I dunno. At least the side windows all match.

[RedSparrow]

I get the impression they started with the windows as parts bin items from another company and worked out from there.

[rml2345]

At least East Lancs had quite a stylish parts bin, even if the things they concocted from it had all the aesthetic qualities of a dustbin. The Wright Handybus body however must qualify for one of the squarest things ever made. They make the Volvo 240 look like an aircraft wing by comparison.

They're equally as stylish* inside.

[Noel Tidybeard]

as for styling all i'm gonna say is twm plaxton president

[Vin]

For instance, for school runs out our way, Euro emissions regs need to be met - which is why there's no really old chod on bus duty here. I've seen Altanteans and other late 70s/early 80s bus chod elsewhere.

 

I don't know much about buses and the like, but when I am occasionally in Brigg in the morning, I sometimes see an old V reg Bedford coach on school bus duty. No pics I'm afraid, but the reg number is DDT 292V - I can remember that ... It's good to see it in use but it strikes me as odd when you read stuff about regulations and whatnot and the OMG IT'S OLD attitude for stuff that's not even seen a decade...

[Split_Pin]

Shame none of the Linlithgow Scanias made it to preservation. Unique spec as far as I have been able to fathom. I got one every day on the 38 to the gyle. Suspension was awfully firm though. They were indeed quick.

[320touring]

Its got fookall to do wi busses, but i'll be on the lash in the'gow the morns aifternin- have they made the depot flats yet?

[Split_Pin]

About halfway there.

[320touring]

About halfway there.

Just you watch-you'll wait ages for a 2 bed to come along..then 3 will arrive at once;)

[rml2345]

Shame none of the Linlithgow Scanias made it to preservation. Unique spec as far as I have been able to fathom. I got one every day on the 38 to the gyle. Suspension was awfully firm though. They were indeed quick.

It is a shame but they were all so utterly pumped by the end that any preservation project was going to be a major task. First Edinburgh weren't keen on selling anything at the time either which didn't help.

Firmness was a Scania bus trademark at one point that they seem to have lost recently.

[Split_Pin]

Sad end for these buses which were once flagships of the fleet to be doing the 23 to Govan! I remember the article in the Linlithgow Gazette about them when they were new.

[DS20]

Styling? East Lancashire had fuck all on Wrights of Ballymena... may I present the Handybus.

2014-09-24_06-06-55.jpg

 

An orange bus for the Orangemen of County Antrim...

[brickwall]

hmm. The old Strathclyde Transport Happy Bus  was pretty horrendous.

 

[rml2345]

Strathclyde red though, not orange

[Split_Pin]

I've got the Efe model of the above, without te face though. Another Strathclyde batch of which none made it into preservation together with the early Alexander examples and the ESU-X metros, or any for that matter. BARSTOODS.

[Guest yelookinit]

Loved these old busses especially this colour scheme can remember getting the 57 or 45 into the toon when i was a wee boy.

[simmo]

[simmo]

 

Stockholm Public transport Museum

[wuvvum]

It must have cost them a bomb to buy a whole new fleet of LHD buses when they started driving on the wrong side of the road.

[barefoot]

A bit late to the party but about 6 months ago, I was in the T2 at J24 M1 & as I was stopped at one of the idiot traffic lights on the island a clearly restored Barton Bus came off the M1 & legged it down the A50. The lights changed almost immediately & I followed giving me old VW full bollock but there was no way I was ever going to catch up with it. -

 

It was bizarre, not seen a proper Bartons bus in 20 years and all of a sudden a vision in crimson & cream, sat for a moment...

and then it was too late, it was gone. I'd say it was like this but on an S plate.

 

 

 

What was it & are there many of these still about?

[Grundig]

 

[oman5]

A bit late to the party but about 6 months ago, I was in the T2 at J24 M1 & as I was stopped at one of the idiot traffic lights on the island a clearly restored Barton Bus came off the M1 & legged it down the A50. The lights changed almost immediately & I followed giving me old VW full bollock but there was no way I was ever going to catch up with it. -

 

It was bizarre, not seen a proper Bartons bus in 20 years and all of a sudden a vision in crimson & cream, sat for a moment...

and then it was too late, it was gone. I'd say it was like this but on an S plate.

 

 

 

What was it & are there many of these still about?

 

Plaxton elite I am guessing on a leyland leopard chassis. Unlimited as they were these could shift. Still a few in preservation.

[barefoot]

How did the gearbox/shift work?

 

There was a tall pedestal with a Ferrari style gate on the top.

Chap seemed almost to pre-select?

But I know nothing about how a pre selector box might have functioned.

 

Me old man used to bang on about them though!

[cms206]

How did the gearbox/shift work?

 

There was a tall pedestal with a Ferrari style gate on the top.

Chap seemed almost to pre-select?

But I know nothing about how a pre selector box might have functioned.

 

Me old man used to bang on about them though!

 

Not sure about an S-plate, but there are a few preserved - KAU 564V and RVO 657L are two that spring to mind, possibly others.

 

They were semi-automatic. Various different setups exist with various different selectors, the one in the Barton Leopards seems to have been most popular in England and were air controlled; select gear, air valves hiss and chuff, gear selected. They seem to be rarely driven correctly but they can be awkward bastards and people are idiots.

 

Up here the selectors were generally electrically controlled which were a bit smoother and less clumsy, being steering column mounted.