Yoss Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 The Lurkers were Ickenhams finest and a long time favourite of Steve Lamaq. I had a few of their albums but you only really need one, they are pretty much all the same - not necessarily a bad thing. They were on Beggars Banquet records. The very first BB releases were The Lurkers and Gary Numan/Tubeway Army. Gold Blade were a Britpop era cod glam punk band, so much later than anything else there. Fronted by John Robb, journalist and many time talking head on many a music telly programme. Like a Poundland Rocket From The Crypt. I once saw them supporting RFTC, that was a great night out. Their signature look was the gold lame' suit. I've heard of GBH and UK Subs but don't really know anything about them, the rest I've never heard of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Another blast from the past for you, a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympian. EYMS bought 4 batches between 1990 and 1993, H547-52 VAT, H154-60 BKH, J561-70 HAT and K572-83 RRH. Good solid workhorses, most of them were withdrawn between 2008-2010 with the last going in 2012. cobblers, LightBulbFun and willswitchengage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 One of the Mercedes-Benz based Optare Prismas we had. Again excellent buses, this particular one was one of 3 that were bought from an operator in Scotland in 2001 joining 16 that were bought new. cobblers, LightBulbFun and willswitchengage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 On 12/31/2020 at 2:20 PM, Eyersey1234 said: One of the Mercedes-Benz based Optare Prismas we had. Again excellent buses, this particular one was one of 3 that were bought from an operator in Scotland in 2001 joining 16 that were bought new. Never realised there were Optare bodied. Every day's a school day. Have a photo of an articulated version. Which I believe was the first bendy bus in Scotland. Had a patchy life in service because it really was a bit too complicated for the maintenance crew to deal with. Have only travelled on it once (after it entered preservation) when it was out on a test run - it goes like a bat out of hell and sounds fantastic. Probably way over-geared for a city bus though. One I'd have loved a chance to drive, sadly it never happened. On 12/31/2020 at 2:16 PM, Eyersey1234 said: Another blast from the past for you, a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympian. EYMS bought 4 batches between 1990 and 1993, H547-52 VAT, H154-60 BKH, J561-70 HAT and K572-83 RRH. Good solid workhorses, most of them were withdrawn between 2008-2010 with the last going in 2012. Stagecoach Bluebird ran quite a few of these too, mostly on R***XNO plates originally as I recall, handful were still going when I left Aberdeen in 2013, don't imagine they lasted much longer though. Not through any fault of the vehicles, but it was the DDA regs that were seeing them off - along with both Aberdeen City and Shire councils putting vehicle age restrictions on their school transport contracts. That decision still irks me as it saw no small number of perfectly decent vehicles consigned to the scrapheap almost overnight. LightBulbFun, Eyersey1234, willswitchengage and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Zelandeth said: Never realised there were Optare bodied. Every day's a school day. Have a photo of an articulated version. Which I believe was the first bendy bus in Scotland. Had a patchy life in service because it really was a bit too complicated for the maintenance crew to deal with. Have only travelled on it once (after it entered preservation) when it was out on a test run - it goes like a bat out of hell and sounds fantastic. Probably way over-geared for a city bus though. One I'd have loved a chance to drive, sadly it never happened. Stagecoach Bluebird ran quite a few of these too, mostly on R***XNO plates originally as I recall, handful were still going when I left Aberdeen in 2013, don't imagine they lasted much longer though. We also had a number of the Volvo Olympians bought new from 1995-8 plus some secondhand ones, the new ones were Alexander Royale bodied N590-603 BRH and Northern Counties bodied N584-9 BRH, P604-11 SAT and S622-36 MKH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Regarding the Prismas, I believe the body was a Delta modified to fit the Mercedes chassis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchfinder General Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 7 hours ago, Eyersey1234 said: Another blast from the past for you, a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympian. EYMS bought 4 batches between 1990 and 1993, H547-52 VAT, H154-60 BKH, J561-70 HAT and K572-83 RRH. Good solid workhorses, most of them were withdrawn between 2008-2010 with the last going in 2012. I remember these on the 744(?) from Bridlington to York via Pocklington? Fine views from the top deck and they used to go like stink IIRC. Eyersey1234 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Ditchfinder General said: I remember these on the 744(?) from Bridlington to York via Pocklington? Fine views from the top deck and they used to go like stink IIRC. I think some of them were used on the 744 at one time. They were good solid machines as they were Gardner engined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisItalSLX Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 On 30/12/2020 at 19:37, MorrisItalSLX said: The Sydney Bus Museum is raising money to restore their 1983 Mercedes-Benz O305G Bendy Bus, which is to be repainted back to its original brown and orange livery. If you would like to donate to the cause, and you should, just look at that glorious colour scheme, there is a go fund me on their website. https://www.sydneybusmuseum.com.au/mercedes2556 LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Don't know if this will work... ezgif.com-gif-maker.mp4 LightBulbFun and catsinthewelder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 25 minutes ago, busmansholiday said: Don't know if this will work... ezgif.com-gif-maker.mp4 1.65 MB · 0 downloads That works for me but sadly the one you uploaded in Six Cylinder's thread is broken for me 9 hours ago, busmansholiday said: Seen that video before, M4 between London and Heathrow. Was actually looking at some 8mm I shot at Heathrow around 1973/4 only last week. Had RMA'S in the old BEA livery on plus a 707 taking off. Really has focused my mind to get it transferred professionally, as using your phone is crap. Also those three are in the three different liveries, BEA, BOAC and BA. VID_20201221_144519.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 34 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said: That works for me It's the same one, but reduced in size so works. FRM1 in service at Potters Bar and that depot, 73 or 74 ish. Part of a longer bit that includes the MS and LN trials at Clapton and BEA Routemaster at Heathrow. Will get it done professionally (but there's 11 in total) then edit if you want bits on here. Took the Xmas crap into the loft, found my 1969/70 bus pics I took. Bet you want me to scan and post some of those. LightBulbFun and Yoss 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Oldham Street, Manchester 1988. Just look at that Crapi's lights. Bag'O'Spanners, warch and Zelandeth 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Right, spent a snowie weekend scanning over a hundred prints, then doing some basic editing (if you think I'm going to go all Photoshop shite, forget it) so I can post some of them here. Please note, back then (1969 / 70 / 71) my camera was either an Instamatic, my dad's 1950's 35mm with a serious shagged lens or a Kodak camera with those lenses that you pressed a button and they folded down out of the front attached to a set of cardboard / cloth bellows (I kid you not). Hence the quality of these is guaranteed to be shite by modern standards. You have been warned. So here we are, these say 1970 on the book and being from Sheffield the first few are obviously taken in Portsmouth, or actually Southsea as we went there every year for our holidays. Back then on Saturdays and Sundays, lots of coaches turned up on day trips and generally parked in the coach park at Clarence Pier, where the amusements are now. Except of course those who came on a London Transport day excursion. As LT didn't have "coaches" the depot closest to where they booked simply turned out something "appropriate". So the lucky people near Norwood Garage got RM1090, those near South Croyden Garage go a pretty new RML2741, whilst if the sun wasn't behind them and I'd had a decent camera (I got bought a Zorki 4 in spring 1971 prior to the school trip around Europe), I'd know which depot sent a pair of RTs. More to come, some time soon. jon.k, LightBulbFun, Eyersey1234 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 14 hours ago, martc said: Oldham Street, Manchester 1988. Just look at that Crapi's lights. Those weird stripy stickers Ripspeed etc used to sell to idiots to put over lights to 'style' them? martc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 I've found several bags of negatives from the early 70's (I started taking colour slides in September 1972) and a few more modern slides in the bags as well. Here's one especially for @Yossand @LightBulbFun. hennabm, Yoss, rml2345 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 5 minutes ago, busmansholiday said: I've found several bags of negatives from the early 70's (I started taking colour slides in September 1972) and a few more modern slides in the bags as well. Here's one especially for @Yossand @LightBulbFun. something something Cummings something something turning the fuel pump up something something Rolling coal? (but seriously WTF happened there LOL) martc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Fuel pump guovenor stuck open, plod just working out best way of stopping engine ( big clue, turn the tap marked fuel cut off). LightBulbFun, stonedagain and jon.k 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 10 hours ago, busmansholiday said: I've found several bags of negatives from the early 70's (I started taking colour slides in September 1972) and a few more modern slides in the bags as well. Here's one especially for @Yossand @LightBulbFun. I think it's rejecting its new engine. Looking at the style of roundel and London Central markings it would be mid nineties so probably not long after it had been refurbed. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 4 hours ago, Yoss said: I think it's rejecting its new engine. Looking at the style of roundel and London Central markings it would be mid nineties so probably not long after it had been refurbed. Yeah I dont blame it! LOL and yeah was thinking that, mid 90's means its Cummings engine would of only been a couple years old (when I saw it was refurbished example, I was hoping it was an Iveco engined one so I could just circle that fact in its history on Ians bus stop and say "there the problem right there" but sadly It was/is Cummings engined so that joke would not have worked as well LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 20 hours ago, LightBulbFun said: something something Cummings something something turning the fuel pump up something something Rolling coal? (but seriously WTF happened there LOL) I thought someone had put a Gardner in it and started it up from cold 😂 hennabm, stonedagain and LightBulbFun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 5 hours ago, LightBulbFun said: Yeah I dont blame it! LOL and yeah was thinking that, mid 90's means its Cummings engine would of only been a couple years old (when I saw it was refurbished example, I was hoping it was an Iveco engined one so I could just circle that fact in its history on Ians bus stop and say "there the problem right there" but sadly It was/is Cummings engined so that joke would not have worked as well LOL) Yes it would have explained a lot. The Cummins is supposed to be the quality one. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverageous Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 Another blast from the past for you, a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympian. EYMS bought 4 batches between 1990 and 1993, H547-52 VAT, H154-60 BKH, J561-70 HAT and K572-83 RRH. Good solid workhorses, most of them were withdrawn between 2008-2010 with the last going in 2012.My childhood.I attended Bishop Burton College and used the bus to get there. More often than not it was Alexander-Royale bodied N660BRH which wore registration A10 EYD. There was also an Olympian that we regularly had which I think was R172 SOY or R792 SOY? Either way I think it broke down on every journey we had it for.If we were really lucky we'd get an older H reg Olympian which would boom and shake at idle. I would always sit so o could see the dashboard, and is amazing how many of the older buses would illuminate their oil pressure lights at idle.Sent from my KB2003 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 So I went looking for the negatives from those three pictures I posted last week and found them, and a shed load more. Spent the week scanning just over 1000 B&W negatives, some decent quality, some shiteish. So continuing in the coach park at Southsea (it was Newton Heath that sent RT1688) in the early 70's a few more delights. More RMLs, whilst LCBS at Crawley used their recently delivered Alexander bodied Swifts (ordered by South Wales) and a Park Royal bodied Reliance, Wilts and Dorset sent this mixed selection, whilst United Counties sent this from Luton. There was also interesting vehicles from independents, including this Harrington Legionnare bodied Thames that was built for the 1964 Commercial Motor Show and is actually now preserved, and this ex BOAC Atlantean. Saabnut, Amishtat, rml2345 and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 So, my 8mm videos from the 70's (newest appears to be 1977) have been transferred to digital (and worth every penny of the £5 a roll). Given I'm slowly working through boring you shitless at weekends with my early 70's B&W pics, and whilst the original 8mm quality is shite by modern standards, I'll leave this here for @Yoss and @LightBulbFun (and any others) to enjoy for what I can now pull off these films (done in B&W, original colour version some time in the future). Hillman Hunter estate in the background before you ask. . rml2345, Yoss, Eyersey1234 and 3 others 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Martijn Gilbert's preserved RMC and B693 BPU. LightBulbFun, busmansholiday and rml2345 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 That's the Olympian on the front cover of this month's Buses mag isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 12 hours ago, busmansholiday said: That's the Olympian on the front cover of this month's Buses mag isn't it. Could be, I've not seen this months Buses Mag so can't say for certain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 As it's a shite day weather wise, time for a few more of my B&W pics from the beginning of the 70's. We'll leave the south coast for a bit and start on God's country, and his favorite city, Sheffield. So lets start with a little history lessen. . Prior to the 1968 Transport Act (brought in by the non driving Labour transport minister, Barbara Castle) there were three Sheffield fleets; the Corporation owned "A" fleet, the "B" fleet owned jointly between the Corporation and the nationalised Transport Holding Company (Tillings Group) and the "C" fleet owned wholly by the THC. Generally the "A" fleet ran the city services, the "B" fleet the services to nearby places like Donny and Chesterfield and the "C" fleet the long distance services to the likes of Leeds and Manchester. The transport act and the formation of the National Bus Company which included the former British Electric Traction group of bus companies ended all that. The Corporation acquired the "B" fleet and routes whilst the "C" fleet, with the exception of the four newest Alexander bodied Leopards, were dispersed to other NBC operators. Sheffield wasn't alone with this system, Huddersfield had a similar arrangement with buses. Let's start with number 1 and work our way through the fleet as it was then. This was a Cravens bodied Bedford VAS that was the prototype for a range of lightweight welfare buses. It would remain unique and saw service only on lightly used routes. It's seen here at RInginglow, the words on the bus stop says "Motor Bus leave here for Sheffield". Note the Imp and Mini van in the background. It was sold to King Edward VII Grammar School Sheffield for us as a school bus in about 1972. By a mischance of fate I'd passed the 11 plus back in 1968 to go there. That long haired yob on the left holding the Zenit B camera case is err.... Six to ten were a batch of Weymann bodied Leopards, a front view of 7 and a rear view of 6, note the central rear emergency exit. A pair of Wolseleys, an Austin and a selection of Fords for bonus chod spotting. Eleven to fifteen were the former "B" fleet 1315 to 1319 renumbered and were Park Royal bodied Leopards. Then there were two batches of Park Royal bodied AEC Swifts delivered in 1968. The first 22 were dual door whilst the second batch were single door and were originally in the "B" fleet. I cannot find a B&W of the second batch, so have a couple of the first batch, plus some nice background chod pictured at Loxley on the first day the service 14 was altered to serve that part of the city. Renault 10 before you ask. The four new Leopards were renumbered from 3001-4 to 61-4 and were generally used on the motorway services to Leeds and Bradford. They were unusual in having electrically operated semi auto boxes (ie the standard little selector on the steering column) rather than the air operated boxes and the pedestal alongside the driver. Finally a crappy shot of number 90, the centre entrance Roe Dalesman bodied AEC Reliance after withdrawal. See you soon. somewhatfoolish, Amishtat, quicksilver and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quicksilver Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Something I saw today for @LightBulbFun, @Yoss and the other Routemaster fans. It's RM548 but with an age-related plate and an Iveco engine (so LBF won't approve ), used on the Victoria's Secret 'Bra Fit' campaign to visit universities as a mobile fitting room. The truck is from Purfleet, just round the corner from Ensignbus, so I guess that's where it was going as it can't do its job at the moment. LightBulbFun, Dick Longbridge, Vantman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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