The Secret Life of a Bus Garage (Go-Ahead Stockwell)
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2016
- Each morning hundreds of the capital's buses roll out from Stockwell Bus Garage, a place that helps to keep London's life-blood flowing. But it's the people who work here that make the bus garage truly extraordinary. Made up of hundreds of people from more than 80 nationalities it is the UK's most diverse workforce.
This uplifting film tells the stories of these people. Akwasi is a Ghanaian Chief who has turned his back on the offer of tribal status (and seven wives) in order to drive the 170 to Putney. 73-year-old Nina was a Hungarian revolutionary and is 'the Queen of the Garage' having driven the 87 to Wandsworth for thirty years.
Originally aired June 2016 - ITV - Авто та транспорт
It amazes me how some people look down their noses when someone mentions being a Bus driver, its a great job, decent money, and the banter between drivers at the depot is the best ive ever known, real people doing real jobs
It is. I love driving buses each and everyday. The passengers few and far between can be a nuisance but it's rather easy and peacefully as long as you transport to/from the location quick & safely as possible.
Or doesn't, because you don't know their circumstances.
Andy O people who look down on us absolutely have no clue about our jobs, us, nothing. Funny how people think they know everything. When they know minuscule amounts. It's how they go through life. In my garage, there are guys and gals who bring home 75-80 grand a year with not much overtime.
Decent money??? Having a laugh. YES if you are prepared to to do untold amounts of overtime potentially putting lives at risk from related exhaustion. Lovely job, but the beleaguered drivers are trapped in an inflated overtime lifestyle! Not worth the risk!
The pay wasnt good before I think, because drivers went on strike, same with tubes but its changed now. Aside from that, its the idiot passengers (mostly children), weekend work and overtime kills.
I worked at Stockwell for 22 years first as a conductor for 18 months and then a driver. I went to Stockwell from Chiswick in March 1978 and Nina joined in December the same year, I worked with her on many occasions before passing my bus test and she was a lovely lady with as much bad language (in her English) as many a male driver there. Up until I watched this for the first time I didnt know of her past and ultimately, from this video learned of her death from Cancer which for me was a huge shock, seeing the funeral footage, I kinda wish I had known as I would have wanted to pay my respects. The canteen which looks a lot more mordern than when I was there used to serve Jerk Chicken and rice and peas, Oxtail and other West Indian and Jamaican dishes as well as the home favourites, bacon and eggs and pies chips and beans....sadly now most of the canteens or Restaurants as they were later called closed and were replaced with vending machines in order to save money. I can honestly say at no time ever did I regret applying for my bus job all those years ago and I am 63 yrs old now and still drive buses for 4 days a week....job for life??? you bet (y)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful life experiences .
❤
Nina Lakatos story is so heart breaking. Its a story of an ordinary sweet person, who spends all life struggling and being a good citizen and ultimately die and nobody remembers you after 1 week...
I felt bad
so what they meant to do raise a flag for her, we die & our children, have some memories . . . ttfn . . .
I dont agree. The documentary had to go on, but people certainly remembers her still. I think you made a harsh judgment. People loved her clearly
FilK79 Exactly, she lives on in the hearts of those who loved her at home, at the depot, and now she lives on in our hearts ❤️👍too, an amazing lady indeed!
We had a caretaker die at our place, me and the others were talking about it. The other workers will be sad for a few weeks, a new guy will be hired, and it will be as if you never existed before. such is the tale of support staff.
“If I knew I was gonna work so hard in life, I probably would have stayed at school permanent”🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂 that one got me too
The banter between drivers makes this job 100% better
I accidentally started watching this video and as a black American who lives in the South, it warms my heart to see these people from different backgrounds, races and religions all embracing each other. So excellent.
I work for a bus company in Yorkshire, its the same here, we have Hungarians, 2 from Zimbabwe, pakistani, Polish, frenchman, St Lucia, and Canadian, everyone gets on and the banter between drivers is incredible, Bus driving is great, if you have the right attitude
It's very much like this up and down the UK and in most workplaces. We are a very diverse country.
I've worked over forty years in the bus industry, and despite, (or sometimes because of), all the wind-ups, (and god knows there are so many!), it's about the friendliest and most accepting place I could imagine to work...
I'd recommend anyone to give it a try...in any capacity...
I took on the job in 1975 as something that'd perhaps tide me over for a couple of years, and all this time later I'm still here...
Toughest part about it from a driver's point of view is probably getting used to the shift nature of the job...and from the back-office point of view, it's the pressure of the deadlines...but there's something almost addictive, (in a good way), about the workplace too.
The simple answer, we, regardless of race, creed or colour are London Bus Drivers- The best in the world-
No matter the colour creed or religion, we're Londoners mate!
No matter how happy or funny he is. He needs to be on time. He’d expect the same from others. No excuses. R.I.P. Nina
RIP Nina the most careful woman in the wold and the most happiest u will be missed
I met Nina twice, she was such a lovely lady.
TheEnviro400 is it true she died?!?
Michael rushoki No they are going to fake it. Obviously they died. Honestly?
Michael rushoki what do you think?
@@rushokim who would lie about someone dying obviously
Sorry to hear . May her soul rest in peace.
"you have to forget about the bad things. think about now." words to live by.
Always have great respect for Bus Drivers, the shit they deal with daily, it made me even more impress that some Bus Drivers in my area are juggling with university studies as well as doing part time is amazing.
That was me 19 years ago... doing route 133 and 11 on Saturdays! Now I’m a chartered accountant, the free travel card and wages helped me get through uni
I was really sad after watching this . RIP Nina . Just heartbroken .
I love how the foreign individuals in this video are so respectful and overall appreciative that they have a job and can earn a living. Something many of us could learn to follow ❤
London, especially south London, is INSANELY diverse. People from literally ANYWHERE you can imagine on Earth.
Foreign individuals 🙄
‘Foreign individuals’? Care to elaborate on that?
people not of this land@@TheMusicalElitist
@@AGGD767i m from east asia, have never been to the UK let alone the culture, what's the problem with the term foreign individual? Should just say foreigner instead or what???
Great video! I'm going on 25 years in the bus industry near San Francisco, and I see so many similarities. I have coworkers from so many cultures, yet we share the same priorities. I loved the scene of the guys playing "bones" (dominoes).
I've always loved the black people in England ever since the late 50's.They are always so happy and smiling and have that wonderful sense of humour.They always cheer me up if I am feeling down.I always feel that there is a party just around the corner.
I think that's my bus. The red one.
Wong Edan Juan xd
Lol
Wong Edan Juan there all red xD
Wong Edan Juan XD
stfu
I always admired bus drivers driving through Oxford Street, you need really nerves of steel
Hello hey my Dear
I From Mumbai
FARAN AHMED FARAN Here comes a drooling creep.
FARAN AHMED FARAN get lost creep
R.I.P the oldest driver
A walking Tampon they are never remembered like David said in psalms we blow away like dust before the wind and are place remembers us no more.
MKKKK mmm
@gerard burton David is a insecure little boy man who is intimidated by strong women. 😂😂
RIP
Why would you want to rip him though 🙌🙌😷😷🏃🏃🏃🏃😂😂😂🙋🌙
21 years and your fired over a reaction that took a few seconds.
Commercial drivers are set at much higher standards but the hazards of so many unprofessional drivers on the roadways can cause things things to happen more than one can imagine.
That’s how it is on the buses. And why it’s an awful job. Treated like crap by the public, other road users, and your own management! All for crap pay
@@danielgould9107I agree with you. When I started bus driving in 1990 for a small ex NBC company, the job was really good. In later years after the company was bought by that Scottish woman, the job went massively downhill. We were expected to work 10 minutes for no pay every day, everything bad is the drivers fault, there is never enough time to do the journey which results in buses always being late, that leads to unhappy passengers, which in turn can lead to a miserable day at work for the driver. Occasionally though, a passenger will do something that makes your day, rare but it does happen.
In bed on a winters afternoon in western Australia reminiscing about the area I grew up in for nearly 30 years. Have so many memories of this place.
ua-cam.com/video/a9WHzY2nki0/v-deo.html
proves that bus drivers are real people, with real lives, and real pasts.
everyone becomes a driver for a different reason. they arent just magic robots that know exactly where to go. some have families, a mortgage, religions, histories, etc. all bus drivers are human, and people should respect them. we are no different to who they are, and they are no different from us.
Chadwicked B what
did i just watch a 45 minute video on buses?
yes
did i enjoy every minute of it?
also yes
Now, I wanna be a Bus driver in London. :)
Such a magnificent place on earth. I wish I was born there.
Enjoyed watching this show. Thanks.
Love from India, New Delhi.
enjoyed watchin this doc.....real people and their lives
ikr, people making real contribution to their passion rather than pull race cards or arguing religious nonsense.
The unknown heroes.... I'd rather spend time with these lads doing a job a like rather then argue about nonsense.
MegaTaurus777 wy
MegaTaurus777 iiii
MegaTaurus777 @@shed tv
RIP Nina
Nina likes driving modern buses, but would not find driving an ancient RT Regent much fun.
:-(
what happened?
Watch it and you'll find out!
ok thx bro.
I drove buses in Ohio 20 years. The operations there are near identical. We, like many industries of the working class, share an international sister & brotherhood! Thanks for sharing this video. I loved my job too! It is a very common stupid judgment that all we know is bus driving. Ignore stupid people and keep rollin' with your head held high. Love you guys!
💀
Naww Ohio is wild g
Nina will be missed
This really changed my perspective on Bus Drivers. Wow. Amazing!
in what way?
I've worked in London Buses over the last 5 or 6 years various garages and each one of them the drivers are the nicest of the staff. The young people saying there's better jobs, there isn't better ones, the garage has more fun in it than a standard office or even the NHS, because of the attitudes you see in this video. Im late 20s and never had more fun in a bus garage office than anywhere else.
I work as a bus driver, its a brilliant job and the money is decent too
What's you favourite garage? Speedgarage, UK garage, deep garage?
Hu! You young whipper snappers! Back in''t day when I bus wasn't following every move. Them were the days! :-)
z00h speedgarage is actually pretty nice. I'm more into hardhouse myself.
problem with evry driving job involving picking up passengers is the passengers and other road users.
u get a lot of very nasty passengers who cause a lot of trouble.
I was a taxi driver. taking home £3k to £4k a week. had passengers threaten me cause i didnt have the change they wanted. IE ran out of £5 notes so gave him £1 coins instead. he pulled a knife demanding i gave him a £5 note. Others refusing to pay claiming i took the long way round ewhen i tok th shortest route possible. Wasnt my fault though as the road i normaly took was closed to be resurfaced so had no choice taking the route i took. Even showed her the barriers when i got back onto the right road that were blocking the road.
had couples start having sex in the back seat lol. had women offer me sex instead of the fare. Guys jump out of the taxi while its still moving and run away without paying. had women acuse me of rape if i didnt give them a free ride. 1 of them ended up in prison as i had CCTV with sound in my car. Then their is the drunks throwing up in the car which puts u off the road for a few hrs while u clean it up and get rid of the smell.
Then u have the police looking for any excuse to give u a fine. Had 1 cop one night pull me over demanding i pay him £50 for not wearing a seat belt. Sorry but taxi drivers r not allowed to wear seat belts on safety grounds as they can be used by passengers behind the driver to pull u back in the seat and pin u there while they rob u. Then he acused me of kurb crawling and added another £50 fine i refuse to pay as he wanted in cash there and then. Then he said ok £150 now or ill call a tow truck and tow ur car away and get it crushed. another taxi driver got a £200 fine for being parked on a double yellow line when he was stopped at a red light. It was always the same with the police they refused to give u a ticket or a recipt is was always cash then and there. Just about avery taxi driver in the erea i worked had it done to them as well. I reported the ones that stopped me to the police complaints comision who threatend me that if i didnt drop the charges they will find any excuse they can to sent me to prison.
Apart from that it s great job ur self employed so ur own boss work the hrs u want work as many hrs as u want. Meet some very nice ppl. get to see a lot of the counrty if u got jobs like me I had a lot of long distance jobs. Had contracts with airlines to pick up flight crews and take them to other airports if their plane got diverted for some reason. Contracts with train companies to take drivers home if they ended thier shift too far away from home and had to get back for their next shift. So many a time i drove 200 to 300 miles doing those jobs. 1 job took me 3 days to do. south coast UK upto aberdeen wait and bring them back. had 1 old lady who was scared of flying wanting me to take her to Rumania from the UK. Turned that job down as my car would never had made it. Crap mercedes vito traveliner. Bloody thing kept breaking down Drive shafts broke every 60k miles. ended up going to the scrap yard when it was 5 years old with 1 million miles on the clock. Just was not cost effective to keep repairing it. Gearbox went twice. heater matrix went 4 times. both drives shafts had to be replaced every couple of months they r £500 each plus fitting. didnt like going up hills. was doing 70 mph at the bottom of the hill down to 20mph by the time i got to the top. and they were not steep hills wouldnt even get up steep hill. Got stuck going up the hill between brighton and gatwick and had to get a truck that was behind me to push me up lol.
I took my PCV (was PSV then) in 1977 in Weymouth, Dorset and had some great times. Thankfully in those days there was no cctv, which was just as well considering some of the things that went on. Later I moved on to Southampton working in the city and some of the country routes. The thing that strikes me with this video is that the drivers stay on one route, when I was bus driving we had to learn all the routes and would do at least 3 or 4 different routes throughout the day. Sometimes we would get it wrong and end up in the wrong place if a route hadn't been done for a while, but generally the passengers would help out if the route was unfamiliar.
I later went onto HGV (HGV1) driving which I much prefer to bus driving, however I had some great times on the buses and could tell some amazing tales! Today I still hold HGV and PSV licences though taken early retirement. I have been tempted back to bus driving but not certain I could be polite to passengers anymore and certainly couldn't handle being on video.
Well that's partly true, Some drivers stay on one route, But when a new driver starts, Your a spare driver, so if a garage as 6 routes then they expected to learn them sp they can use you on any route that needs covering, After 2 years then you can go on a route you want and then get a rota
When I was at stagecoach in East London, I had to learn 4 routes the moment I passed my PCV and that garage has got 12 routes. I moved to a different garage after 3 months and that only 4 in total and had to learn 3 of them.
But after 2 years drivers generally stay on one route but because they know more, they can do over time to.
Did you work for Solent blue line? Or city bus
@@SAFC_Ted Solent Blue Line
@@oilburner225 good choice 🚎
Did you know it’s bluestar now?
I really enjoyed having a peek into the many lives of these bus drivers & maintenance crew. It was heart warming to see how they cared for & enjoyed the friendships that they created with one another. Good luck to all of you.
I was worked in Stockwell 5 years and I meet most of people in this documentary,They all are as lovely as shown here .Love
Recently quit the ambulance service and am now a bus driver. Its a brilliant job thats as stressful as you make it. Its very tricky at times when it comes to other road users and pedestrians but I find most the passengers very nice and thankful for what you do.
Bottom line it long as it put's food on the table and pays the bills ... that's what matters most
I really enjoyed this program being from USA it showed me a lot about England. thank You!!
I dreamt of being a bus driver since being a kid playing with toy ones. Sadly I never got around to it and now I’m disabled and signed off for life
🤣🤣🤣
Me too! But God blessed me with a lovely big 10 incher.
God blesses us all in different ways. My way? The ovary burster 😉💪
What fantastic people, all of them! Shows that we can build a real community
Awesome doc. never knew london transit is so modern. seeing all different cultured in london makes me wanna move there! And RIP to Nina. she was a real gangsta!.
what about the forgotten unseen heroes the bus mechanics.
nolimit7
nolimit7 was at stockwell other day attempting to fix Aircon on the old pvls
Also great jerk chicken in canteen
Paul Janovsky they mentioned tue cleaners
nolimit7. Yeah getting oil all over you is a thankless job.
Great video, I remember working at the Stockwell's during my year's as a Bus Conductors on the RM Buses from the Stockwell Depot and with the Waterloo Base, but the staff at the Stockwells were sort of people who respected me as a staff member and crew member which made me happy within my job.
That is so sad the women died. And she will never be forgotten
I am procrastinating hard.
CrilleMega I feel u bud
CrilleMega I
Same
Hahhahahahahahhahahah
CrilleMega well don't do that in public you'll get arrested.
I'm a school bus driver in NZ. I drop off students at their school, take the bus to the depot and spend the rest of the day as a refueller cleaner and parker. At 1500 hrs I pick up the kids and take em home. It's a great job and the banter in depot fantastic. I also do the ski charters and enjoy the challenge of the chains and the steep icy approach roads. I'm nearly 69 and still going strong and proud of what I do. My partner is a retired optometrist and she drives the other school bus...she loves it!!!
I work as a bus mechanic (MCI, Prevost, Vanhool, Temsa) in the States, and I fill in as an over-the-road motorcoach driver when needed for the company I work for. Best job post-military that I have ever had. Best of both worlds for me.
I'd come work for you guys.
Henry Thomas what part of the states do you live in?
I never knew a bus depot in Stockwell could tell such a diverse and fascinating story, Wow!!. !!.I live in the City of Auckland,New Zealand ,by having Brit parents London is my second home !!
Chief’s eye test was a clear trap by management. If it’s clear, he has no excuse for the crash; if his eyesight is not good, he’d be blamed for not managing it, as the driver is responsible for regularly checking eyesight. Couldn’t win either way
I have so much respect for so many of these people. The ideals of this country are a beacon to anyone and everyone who is not free in their own skin, in their own country. For that, all I can say is, God Save the Queen
As long as anyone who watched this video and thinks of Nina, Nina will NEVER be forgotten!!! ❤ RIP Nina!
Great video makes me want to visit London even more and I would love to drive one of those busses! 😊
I hope all these brilliant people are healthy and well👏37 brave TFL workers have died from covid19 so far, God bless them allXxx
@@ukbusandtrains4212 Uhh The news🤦
Stunningly poignant insight to the lives of the staff and management that keep London moving. It's impossible not to respect them all. 🙏💕 Rip Nina driving those big buses in the sky
RIP sweet Ilona
Nyugod békében Ilona :(
Age of the video aside, I’m watching this and hoping all these drivers are still alive and well. Covid hit bus drivers hard.
This one of the reasons I love London. Such diversity, so many different cultures and languages. People going about their lives and surviving as we all do. Buses represent this better than any mode of transport because it is all on view: whether they are listening to music, reading books or a newspaper,chatting to their friends or just staring out of the window. I love the underground too, it is exactly the same, except the staring out of the window aspect.
I refuse to be brainwashed by the left.
I miss 1960s London when the buses and the people were locally made. I would pick 1960s London every single time.
@@jamesfrench7299 Didn't ask + L + bozo + ratio + nobody cares.
@@jamesfrench7299 This isn’t brainwashing James, it is called Human experience, other people have always existed and will continue to exist, and it’s good to be aware of the next person. UKs fault for interfering with other people from early, selling dreams to people in Africa then moving them to Islands, then selling more dreams to India and other parts of the world…. Brainwashing isn’t for UK residents its for people of non-Anglo origin
@@jamesfrench7299would be very interesting to know what party you vote for,let me guess.
@@desthomas3020 and will continue.
As a former London bus driver and union officer, a few things concerned me about this film: Nina was still driving a bus at 73; when "The Chief" was sacked there was no union representation or mention of an appeal; in fact, there was no mention of the union at all!
i know nina was a bit old for the average driver, but think about it this way, if she’s had eye and medical test then she is very safe to be on the road 👍🏻
R.I.P Nina ❤
Such Bus drivers are the heroes of the cities. They accommodate several peoples with different behavior and mod. My brother was also one of the bus drivers in Anbesa(Lion) city bus in Addis Ababa. I am also delighted to see one of my countries met from Ethiopia serving the Londoners.
The Daughter being ashamed of her mother being a Bus Driver, "Really" I bet that Bus driver salary paid for that fake Hair and nails, Ungrateful child.
D.L.G Dont worry. The little one will learn.
D.L.G it's teenagers attitude
D.L.G my dad was a bus driver for 10 years, then a charter driver and then became a manager. I thought it was cool and then became a charter driver myself. I myself make good money being a charter driver.
Bus driver salary is not the worst...
i feel like she just didnt find the right words to put it... she basically wanted to say that there is nothing wrong with being a bus driver but she wants to strive for something bigger. i can totally understand that and think thats a good thing. her mother even agreed basically when she said that she wants her to "academically go further". if i got that wrong and she was actually ashamed and ungreatful i totally agree with you
What a brilliant, insightful and honest film. Thank you...all of you.
I'm a former Go-Ahead Singapore driver now working for Tower Transit in Australia,Bus Garage in UK is usually quite small compared to Singapore bus depot which capacity range from 400 to 500 plus capacity
That was endearing. The documentary maker knows his reggae and ska.
Lovely little documentary, enjoyed it massively.
I honestly give so much respect to the cleaners that clean after us.
i love my job being a bus driver and im very proud of it...
Good for you
@@mandemt1076 mandem on the block ya get me ching man down ill chef ya down jheeez
@19:10 my dad used to do that with me, loved riding the bus with him RIP pops
My condolence to Nina Family and Workmates. Lovely Nina. Me just short of 40 years service. Hard work, long Hours, Too Short daily rest (sleep) period. Very hard on my family, But I loved my workmates and loved the wonderful diversity they brought to the Job. All of them Love it Love it. (Illustrated by the Music here.) The Passengers I got to know over the years always pleased to see them and Our Radio operators gave us the latest cricket score.
I drive a bus in NYC, it’s amazing the similarities of Depot life.
The seniority list, the dominoes, the locker room talks, and the scumy management. Lol
I used to drive for NJ Transit (I am now a train conductor with them) and yes, it was almost like watching my own garage lol! Halfway around the world, people and situations are essentially the same.
Scumy management lol 😂
12:50 SHES HUNGARIAN LIKE ME , IN LONDON AS A BUS DRIVER WHAT THE...... very nice!
This is the reality television I like, its real.
I remember Nina. Spent 5 happy years at Stockwell
Michael Jonas is a legend :)
How could so many dislike this story. I found it touching.
I passed my PCV at this garage and worked out of it on the 345 in 2001. I recognised some of the faces including the chief and it was a great place to be.
My grandma lived in Stockwell and I peeked through the bus garage doors when walking past. Great to get an inside view of that world. Thanks 😊
I stood across the road in the late 60s marvelled by all the buses as a young boy.
such a beautiful program and all walks of life , so proud of these guys
Proudly Ghanaian
Most enjoyable watching this. Thank you for posting.
Hurray for the bus drivers! I can't manage to drive on the left, so I don't when I'm in the UK. I can't even imagine driving a bus on London's streets.
I'm really feel sorry for RIP nina the bus driver. forever in your hearts 😢😢
I used to be a bus driver in London ! Fabulous time ! Now I drive a Tramway in Bordeaux !
My Dad was a bus conductor for many years working out of Stockwell garage. Of course All my family enjoyed free bus travel locally. Public service transport provides an invaluable part of London economy.
As a lorry driver I admit I'd like some friendship as these bus drivers have.
i change from buses to lorries, TBH if i could earn driving buses what i earn driving lorries i would go back to it tomorrow. although you have to have high tolerance to arseholes..And i would only go back to Stockwell
Everyone is so nice, and smile, world needs to see that being nice is easier
London bus drivers are one of a kind. I have driven all kinds of weird motors over the years but driving a bus around London day in day out is above me.
Think you'll find Driving a bus anywhere in the UK is the same as in London, there are 56 million people who don't live in London
Brilliant ! thanking you for your time and effort :)
I really liked this documentary!!!
Love this doc really!
Beautiful documentary, beautiful people !
Blessed love to all from Jamaica west Indies, great video bro !!
23:43 That guy just nicked someones backpack lmaoo
Lol 😂
Is it bad that I immediately heard the "on the buses" theme play in my head? (Should i be scared?).
This is what made people appreciate, and thank, the bus driver
line 87 has only been around for 10 years as it replaced line 77A & the N87 replaced the N77 & the 77 became 24 HR
wclifton968, the 77 is not a 24 hour service. The 87 (between Barking and Romford) has been around for years untill March 2006. Then the now 87 (renumbered from 77A) and now N87 (renumbered from N77) was introduced June 3rd 2006.
Ok
Mr Nigel Wood... Now the Managing Director of Go-Ahead Singapore
Legit?
Not anymore. He left and went back to London.
This documentary is so touching.
Like these documentaries about real working people keeping the public flowing, mostly !
Excellent documentary... I used to want to drive a bus. :0)
until you discovered media :0)
@Denzel Yes, something like that. :0)
Have no idea why this was in my recommendations 😂 good watch anyway
This really changed my perspective on Bus Drivers!
Jim the legend who helped me so much at SW
This did warm my heart :)
London is like New York. "The cities that never sleep"