Just a little thing, when I was at PB from 1988 the West Mids Ailsa’s were marked up at 14’9” , the bridge at Lower Edmonton was 14’6” and the W8 time cards in 1988 said V type buses not to be used on this route , but by the time I arrived they had been cleared for the bridge on Church St
Dennis Dart would be interesting, as it was sold in prolific numbers, was available in so many lengths, had bodywork available from loads of companies and it took the concept of the midibus and made it work. But any bus/coach video works for me 😊.
Thanks for that Jake. That bus was a flyer and was a great drive. It was ordered to be used on the Blue Bus Service, Derby Burton via Willington to fit under the railway bridge at Willington. It was allocated almost exclusively to the Burtons, route 45, Willington/Repton and route 46 via Etwall
I was enjoying the "Buying a bus" series, it would be good to hear more about suitable buses for those who wanted to take ownership of one now... not that I can afford one or even drive one, but can dream
@@JakeSCOC there is also some videos that appear to be hidden now... I went to school in 80's on a Bristol VR (AJA408L) and if that had issues, it was replaced by Bristol Lodekka (813KDV), my grandfather was a driver for national express on London to Aldershot, not sure where he was based though
By the way any documentary you did on these would be amazing. They were scrapped but the engines lived on into several other buses afterwards but I’m struggling for further information
Excellent video jake, please back to BL for the LH. An interesting if a little primitive compared to the RE but was seen with numerous different body styles Cheers Russ
Hiya Jake. Yet another excellent video and I hope 71 lives on for many more years to come. I’d absolutely love to learn more about the Bristol LH. My area (United Automobile Services) had tons of them and even put the fronts of them (the ECW type) on ECW REs which meant that as a kid looking at the front I couldn’t tell the difference between an ECW LH and RE. Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Trust have a Marshall bodied LH in a special Newtonian livery for service in and around Newton Aycliffe. Pity YT won’t allow me to share a pic, otherwise I’d of shared a pic of it. Very unusual body style for this area anyway. It was new to Southern Vectis tho. Anyway a history of the LH and Leylands would be right up my street. Thanks. Safe travels Jake. Thanks again.
@highpath4776 Yes it would lead nicely into the Dart wouldn't it? But would I have to do the other well known but certainly less successful midibus,the Bedford JJL?
Hi i'm viatron from Sheffield once again, the lowhight Volvo Ailsa B55 with Alexander bodywork was very impressive from any angle. [STOP PRESS!] But my request is to do a video on the one & only integral lowhight double deck bus is the A.E.C. BRIDGEMASTER what also had issues on with both the rear & forward entrances including the intrusion of the A.E.C. D166 4-speed synchromesh gearbox & cover into the lower saloon at the forward end & this looks very strange & Classic Bus Histories video special will finally look at the very troublesome A.E.C.-P.R.V. BRIDGEMASTER integral lowhight double deck bus & the development under the Crossley name via being the part of A.C.V. at the time via Sheffield Transport Department had some of these in their bus fleet in the early-60s. Thank you for your co-operation on this very special A.E.C.-P.R.V. BRIDGEMASTER integral lowhight double deck bus subject from David Viatron Esquire of crookes in Sheffield.
@@ViatronTumpington Hi David. I'm planning a very special episode on the AEC Bridgemaster in the future and it will involve a walk around YJG807 owned by Friends of the East Kent. I can talk and show you all at the same time. Thanks for watching.
As a fossil in my late fifties, my interest tends to go backwards, so the older stuff appeals to me more! However, might be interesting to mix & match.
@@JakeSCOC it was a bus with ECW bodywork operated by United Automobile Services. And they had a full manual gearbox with a clutch, rather than the SCG setup.
1) It would've been nice if you showed an image of the interior to see how the gearbox encroached the floor area. 2) Video on the Tiger would be interesting.
Hi Jake, interesting video, Dad has said which ever Tiger version it would be he would vote on it. Late tigers made something of a impact with Green line and himself and several bodies types, Such as ECW, Duple, Plaxton and Berkhof entered service. Dad's got a bit of a soft for the Plaxton 3500
A couple of small nit-picks. The gearbox could not go any lower without infringing ground clearance rules. Secondly, West Yorkshire had a rearward ascending staircase and front seats on their prototype Ailsa, which of course later ran with Derby. All the packaging complications delayed the Bus, which was due about 18 months before it arrived. SBG had pencilled in 18 lowheight Ailsas for Highland in 1976, but took 24 Ford R1114s instead.
@@highpath4776 I think Tayside were quite indecisive at times. They certainly didn't like the Bristol VR,I know that much! Yes some operators I don't think worried too much about height. Crosville and Maidstone and District springs to mind too.
The "change of circumstances" af Black Prince buses was them selling up their operations (around 2004) to Firstbus. In many respects a pity, because they operated a wide variety of vehicles and rarely repeated the livery application from one bus to the next
With so many options,available,I just put my 2 cents,in! Anyway,for starters,how about the Bristol LH,and the AEC RLH,the reason,they are my dad's initials,and my own! Propertory interest,anyway,a little bit of fun,and breaking up,of the monotony! Thank you 😇 😊!
@@roberthuron9160 That could be a whole new series, people with bus initials. My friend who is a big Metrobus fan has a partner who's initials are MCW... Coincidence?
Low height double deckers bad experience in York on a VR hit my head upstairs ouch ,I sound like a broken record 😂 but how about when buses in the U.K. started to use two way radio I know Leicester had a pioneering system and LT etc as a London bus driver all our buses had radio I think it will be an iterating video including AVL countdown system All the best mate Mark 😊😊
@@JakeSCOC I done a shift as a conductor on the 94 and the headroom on an RM upstairs isn’t that much me bonce was rubbing the ceiling I swear that’s how my bald patch started 🤣😂that or the headboard aaaa humm 😜🤣
I personally would welcome the Dennis Dart, or if you want to be controversial, how about the Marshall Midi, we had one, thankfully only the one!!! It was produced by Marxhall due to the fact that Dennis would not allocate any Dart chassis to them (revenge is sweet? but not if you purchased a Marshall Midi like I did) We then went on to purchase two Dennis Darts with Marhall bodies, and they were GREAT busses all round.
@@simonedgecombe5834 That's a good call Simon. I've heard about the Marshall minibus not being much cop. I'm not sure if any have made it into preservation?
the Bristol LH/LHS will be interesting in due course. With the likes of the flat screen Marshall of Cambridge bodies for (not exclusively) Devon General / Western National and its use in the post privatisation NBC companies and use as the first ? heavywieght Midibus for London Transport , National Welsh (Skyrider services) , and a useful infill for London Country with I think secondhand LHs turning up a Blue Saloon in Guildford and Trimdon in the North East as notable users and liveries.
@@JakeSCOC Coaches not entirely my thing -mostly as you couldnt see that nice (non scroll) BRISTOL LH badge from much of a distance, Did Wallace Arnold have a few for Devon ?
Why do so many of the ailsa buses look like a Daimler fleet line bus. I worked on two registered GSL 906N and GSL 907N which were both fleet lines with Gardner engines and looking on your videos if you removed the grille for the radiator and put a cut out at the back they would be identical. If you want more information look at independant coach ways at horsforth in Leeds but they were ex tayside I believe
@@homeland417 I'm not sure to be honest. There's a lot of companies that did. I'm assuming it's more to do with standardisation. If all buses are the same height the drivers are used to that height and are less likely to hit something.
Just a little thing, when I was at PB from 1988 the West Mids Ailsa’s were marked up at 14’9” , the bridge at Lower Edmonton was 14’6” and the W8 time cards in 1988 said V type buses not to be used on this route , but by the time I arrived they had been cleared for the bridge on Church St
@@BerlietGBC very interesting. There's been a few cases of that sort of thing over the years
Dennis Dart would be interesting, as it was sold in prolific numbers, was available in so many lengths, had bodywork available from loads of companies and it took the concept of the midibus and made it work. But any bus/coach video works for me 😊.
@@fuzzynutter8344 Thank you. Yes it's an interesting little bus isn't it?
Thanks for that Jake. That bus was a flyer and was a great drive. It was ordered to be used on the Blue Bus Service, Derby Burton via Willington to fit under the railway bridge at Willington. It was allocated almost exclusively to the Burtons, route 45, Willington/Repton and route 46 via Etwall
@@stefantoth240 Thanks for commenting. That's really interesting. It's good that Derby found a niche route for it.
Thanks Jake. I say keep doing the older buses but then, I am old.
@@adamlee3772 So am I! To me a Bristol VR is cutting edge technology!
Id like to see the Trident and darts, as well as the ALX series buses
@@axtonhaltjoshua6361 Loved the ALX bodies. I nearly ended buying a ALX Dart....
@@JakeSCOC I f you fancy an ALX300 theres a few left in the northeast!
@axtonhaltjoshua6361 If I didn't have 101 other things on my plate I'd probably have looked into them. Nice buses
I was enjoying the "Buying a bus" series, it would be good to hear more about suitable buses for those who wanted to take ownership of one now... not that I can afford one or even drive one, but can dream
@@mystame I keep meaning to bring that one back to be honest. There's a few bits I've not covered.
@@JakeSCOC there is also some videos that appear to be hidden now... I went to school in 80's on a Bristol VR (AJA408L) and if that had issues, it was replaced by Bristol Lodekka (813KDV), my grandfather was a driver for national express on London to Aldershot, not sure where he was based though
@mystame What a lovely combination. A VR but subbed by a Lodekka. Sounds like heaven
intro music volume much better on this video jake, than you so much :)
@@lucythemoggy1970 No problem. Even I was surprised how loud it was. I think I might be going a bit mutton in my old age 🤣
By the way any documentary you did on these would be amazing. They were scrapped but the engines lived on into several other buses afterwards but I’m struggling for further information
@@richardgarnham2 Thanks Richard
Thanks for the video Jake, not heard of this bus before looks interesting, makes a change from the norm back in the 80’s!
@Simonfd777 Yes very unique. Nice to know it's preserved now.
I'd like to see the Dennis Dart, Leyland Tiger and Volvo B10M covered please
@@sameyers2670 Very good suggestions there
Excellent video jake, please back to BL for the LH. An interesting if a little primitive compared to the RE but was seen with numerous different body styles
Cheers Russ
@@maestromanification Thanks Russ. Glad you enjoyed it and great suggestion.
LH - the stotty-box deserves it's day
Making drivers double-declutch at late as the late 80s at least!!
@@dizzy2020 I must admit, the LH isn't my favourite Bristol chassis. But it certainly did what it said on the tin.
Bouncing Billy’s. Loved the ECW LHs.
Hiya Jake. Yet another excellent video and I hope 71 lives on for many more years to come.
I’d absolutely love to learn more about the Bristol LH. My area (United Automobile Services) had tons of them and even put the fronts of them (the ECW type) on ECW REs which meant that as a kid looking at the front I couldn’t tell the difference between an ECW LH and RE.
Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Trust have a Marshall bodied LH in a special Newtonian livery for service in and around Newton Aycliffe. Pity YT won’t allow me to share a pic, otherwise I’d of shared a pic of it. Very unusual body style for this area anyway. It was new to Southern Vectis tho.
Anyway a history of the LH and Leylands would be right up my street. Thanks.
Safe travels Jake. Thanks again.
@@smogmonster1876 Glad you enjoyed the video. That messed with my OCD when an RE had an LH front panel.
Love to see one on the LH, have memories of driving them at Eastern Counties, I know there were quite a few variations of them, length and body wise.
@@raymondhunt6109 Thanks. I'll see what I can do.
@@JakeSCOC I think it is quite complicated but looking at it the LH sets the scene for the Dart
@highpath4776 Yes it would lead nicely into the Dart wouldn't it? But would I have to do the other well known but certainly less successful midibus,the Bedford JJL?
@@JakeSCOC I think maybe we can get Jeffrey to do the JJL.
Hi i'm viatron from Sheffield once again, the lowhight Volvo Ailsa B55 with Alexander bodywork was very impressive from any angle. [STOP PRESS!] But my request is to do a video on the one & only integral lowhight double deck bus is the A.E.C. BRIDGEMASTER what also had issues on with both the rear & forward entrances including the intrusion of the A.E.C. D166 4-speed synchromesh gearbox & cover into the lower saloon at the forward end & this looks very strange & Classic Bus Histories video special will finally look at the very troublesome A.E.C.-P.R.V. BRIDGEMASTER integral lowhight double deck bus & the development under the Crossley name via being the part of A.C.V. at the time via Sheffield Transport Department had some of these in their bus fleet in the early-60s. Thank you for your co-operation on this very special A.E.C.-P.R.V. BRIDGEMASTER integral lowhight double deck bus subject from David Viatron Esquire of crookes in Sheffield.
@@ViatronTumpington Hi David. I'm planning a very special episode on the AEC Bridgemaster in the future and it will involve a walk around YJG807 owned by Friends of the East Kent. I can talk and show you all at the same time. Thanks for watching.
As a fossil in my late fifties, my interest tends to go backwards, so the older stuff appeals to me more! However, might be interesting to mix & match.
@@markstramtrainbuscapades1729 Nothing wrong with being a fossil Mark. There's a few of us around 👍🏻
I'd be interested in the Bristol LH. I used to ride one to school.
@@AndyVernel Was it a coach or a bus version?
@@JakeSCOC It was a bus with ECW bodywork operated by United Automobile Services.
@@JakeSCOC it was a bus with ECW bodywork operated by United Automobile Services. And they had a full manual gearbox with a clutch, rather than the SCG setup.
Thanks for the video, Jake
Very interesting. I'll be more than happy whichever way you decide to go with future videos. Happy New Year!
@@EvanBingham-g4v Thank you. Happy New Year to you too
Another excellent video well done ❤
Absolutely love these
@@thedaddie Thanks
I'd be interested in the Bristol LH. The Tiger is also interesting, Central Scottish operated them, passing on to KCB and eventually First Glasgow.
@@patricksmodels I'm sure I'll be doing both at some point Patrick
@JakeSCOC if you need some photos of Central SMT Tigers in First Glasgow red livery I've got some.
1) It would've been nice if you showed an image of the interior to see how the gearbox encroached the floor area.
2) Video on the Tiger would be interesting.
@@MaxCawthray Thanks Max. Sometimes I'm limited in what pictures I can get and use unfortunately.
Hi Jake, interesting video, Dad has said which ever Tiger version it would be he would vote on it. Late tigers made something of a impact with Green line and himself and several bodies types, Such as ECW, Duple, Plaxton and Berkhof entered service. Dad's got a bit of a soft for the Plaxton 3500
@@jadeboswell-rz2ly Thanks Jade. They're lovely motors the Tigers although I do prefer a Leopard.
Very interesting video
A couple of small nit-picks. The gearbox could not go any lower without infringing ground clearance rules. Secondly, West Yorkshire had a rearward ascending staircase and front seats on their prototype Ailsa, which of course later ran with Derby.
All the packaging complications delayed the Bus, which was due about 18 months before it arrived. SBG had pencilled in 18 lowheight Ailsas for Highland in 1976, but took 24 Ford R1114s instead.
@@StephenAllcroft Thanks Stephen. Very interesting. It's got a great history hasn't it?
@@JakeSCOC Odd if SBG liked its low heights that National Welsh went shopping for second hand Tayside very high large capacity deckers !
@@highpath4776 I think Tayside were quite indecisive at times. They certainly didn't like the Bristol VR,I know that much! Yes some operators I don't think worried too much about height. Crosville and Maidstone and District springs to mind too.
@@JakeSCOC Did we discuss (mainly on VR? the companies that specified white steering wheels as a reminder of the vehicle height ? )
The "change of circumstances" af Black Prince buses was them selling up their operations (around 2004) to Firstbus. In many respects a pity, because they operated a wide variety of vehicles and rarely repeated the livery application from one bus to the next
@@superted6960 Very much missed aren't they? There's not many operators like them around nowadays.
The Derby Ailsa belongs to Brad McMullen and is in Black Brince livery
@@martinbalmforth2665 Nice colour scheme isn't it? Very similar to Clydeside
With so many options,available,I just put my 2 cents,in! Anyway,for starters,how about the Bristol LH,and the AEC RLH,the reason,they are my dad's initials,and my own! Propertory interest,anyway,a little bit of fun,and breaking up,of the monotony! Thank you 😇 😊!
@@roberthuron9160 That could be a whole new series, people with bus initials. My friend who is a big Metrobus fan has a partner who's initials are MCW... Coincidence?
Optare double decker that used to run london bus route 3 and the brief bendy bus that used to run london bus route 180
@@thedaddie I remember these. Optare Spectra?
@@JakeSCOC yes I think that's what they was called
nice,post whatever whenever Jake its all goodstuff
@@a11csc Thanks. Appreciate that
Low height double deckers bad experience in York on a VR hit my head upstairs ouch ,I sound like a broken record 😂 but how about when buses in the U.K. started to use two way radio I know Leicester had a pioneering system and LT etc as a London bus driver all our buses had radio I think it will be an iterating video including AVL countdown system
All the best mate
Mark 😊😊
@@marksinthehouse1968 We've all banged our heads Mark. Blooming painful too 😨
Yes I will have to have a look into that one for you.
@@JakeSCOC I done a shift as a conductor on the 94 and the headroom on an RM upstairs isn’t that much me bonce was rubbing the ceiling I swear that’s how my bald patch started 🤣😂that or the headboard aaaa humm 😜🤣
I personally would welcome the Dennis Dart, or if you want to be controversial, how about the Marshall Midi, we had one, thankfully only the one!!! It was produced by Marxhall due to the fact that Dennis would not allocate any Dart chassis to them (revenge is sweet? but not if you purchased a Marshall Midi like I did) We then went on to purchase two Dennis Darts with Marhall bodies, and they were GREAT busses all round.
@@simonedgecombe5834 That's a good call Simon. I've heard about the Marshall minibus not being much cop. I'm not sure if any have made it into preservation?
the Bristol LH/LHS will be interesting in due course. With the likes of the flat screen Marshall of Cambridge bodies for (not exclusively) Devon General / Western National and its use in the post privatisation NBC companies and use as the first ? heavywieght Midibus for London Transport , National Welsh (Skyrider services) , and a useful infill for London Country with I think secondhand LHs turning up a Blue Saloon in Guildford and Trimdon in the North East as notable users and liveries.
@@highpath4776 There's a lot of variety in the LH story too. Especially with all the coaches that went to independent operators.
@@JakeSCOC Coaches not entirely my thing -mostly as you couldnt see that nice (non scroll) BRISTOL LH badge from much of a distance, Did Wallace Arnold have a few for Devon ?
👍
@@russb2286 Thanks Russ
dart or LH please jake
@@lucythemoggy1970 Thank you 👍🏻
They were owned by thornes independent
@@richardgarnham2 Who's that Richard?
Why do so many of the ailsa buses look like a Daimler fleet line bus. I worked on two registered GSL 906N and GSL 907N which were both fleet lines with Gardner engines and looking on your videos if you removed the grille for the radiator and put a cut out at the back they would be identical. If you want more information look at independant coach ways at horsforth in Leeds but they were ex tayside I believe
@@richardgarnham2 Same Alexander style bodywork Richard. The bodywork can make even the most different of buses look similar.
I wanna see CROSSLEYS.
@@colmone5592 Very good suggestion.
I have a question was there a reason why Scottish buses preferred low height design 🤔
@@homeland417 I'm not sure to be honest. There's a lot of companies that did. I'm assuming it's more to do with standardisation. If all buses are the same height the drivers are used to that height and are less likely to hit something.
@@JakeSCOC probably allows more warm air inside the vehicles on a cold day
Maybe the Albion Lowlander
@@johnmontgomery9149 Ooh that's a good call
Bristol LH please
@@craigryan3069 Thanks Craig
Hi Jake - whatever you want to post is fine by me. I’m a sponge waiting to absorb your knowledge.
@@unclenolly3207 Thanks Nolly.
The LH
@@leslieiver1197 Thanks
Tiger please
@@andrewhofstedt6176 Thanks
Sheffield before SYPTE took over.
@@freddiebozwell7049 Nice colour scheme that 👍🏻
@@JakeSCOC remember to check the wheel colours