OMG!!! What a surprise! I rode one on a day trip to Cornwall as a child in the mid-70s...I was soooo excited!!! The double front axles just blew my 5-yo mind!!!
@@JeffreyOrnstein The Dinky Viceroy wasn't anything special. The really classy model was the Vega Major on a VAL chassis in the Dinky Supertoy range, which had flashing indicators!
This was our school bus, and also for school trips to the local swimming pool, circa 1970. I still remember the little plastic sign on the back of every seat: Please mind your head when leaving your seat. And the way they smelled.
One of the greatest thing about our coaches from this era, was the tufted velour seats. These were extremely comfortable compared with today's offerings. This is my biggest gripe against both our bus and railway coaches. One of the best service coaches, I had travelled on was from York Pullman company. It certainly lived up to its name
Well done again Jeffrey. I am a retired bus and coach driver of 35 years service. Your knowledge and research on British vehicles is nothing short of amazing, much more interesting than some U.K. researchers. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here in Scotland that you can contact for your videos and would be only too happy to assist you if you would like.
Hello John! I am so glad you liked the video!! If I need info on a video about Scotland buses in the future, I will let you know!! Thanks for watching!
Like these little documentaries on UK buses and coaches. The Bedford VAL had twin steering with different bodies. The Harrington Legionnaire Bedford VAL was used in the film The Italian Job 1969. The Paxton Panorama type VAL can be seen in The Magical Mystery Tour 1967. Used to go on school trips in the 70's on many types you mention here. As you state in the UK there are many buses, coaches and other vehicles preserved for prosperity.
My son Sean Moriarty is involved with the Glasgow Vintage Vehicles Trust and has restored many classic double deckers in his 34 years - I pass on links to him from your channel, it’s very interesting to find someone in the USA with such an encyclopaedic knowledge of British buses - our lad Sean has a complete history of Atlanteans in Glasgow in his head, therefore he qualifies as a chief anorak (our term on this side of the Pond)
Great video Jeffrey, I didn't realise coaches still had wooden frames in the 60s that's quite a while after british railway passenger coaches or cars in US speak had them . The mk1s of 1951 were all steel from then on Interesting you mentioned thunderbirds, I ofen think the face lift 3 axle ones look like something from the jetsons. Keep the great videos coming, cheers Russ
Great post - I love all these '60's UK buses - but my favorite is the Bedford VAL Plaxton Panorama Elite. Nice Gerry Andersen reference - hope my fellow Americans caught it. FAB...
"my favorite is the Bedford VAL Plaxton Panorama Elite" - for many years (over 20) I owned a Bedford VAM Plaxton Panorama Elite. A beautiful coach, which always got attention wherever she went. Sadly, I had to sell her last year due to loss of storage space :( I always wanted a VAL though... but they're rare as hen's teeth these days (and rare even back in the '90s when I bought my VAM)
great video mate it took me back to when i was very young my dad was a coach driver and all the old drivers said my dad was the best coach driver in the uk great video mate thanks
Great video of a very intriguing Coach. Funny how time changes perceptions, isn't it? When it was launched, the Viceroy, with all that glass, did indeed look like something from a Gerry Anderson production but oddly, after the launch of the Plaxton Panorama, somehow...it just looked outdated! Plaxton scored a huge win with their design: I can't tell you just how many of those Panoramas were around, they were utterly ubiquitous, I think perhaps one of the best-selling Coach bodies of all time perhaps. As you saw, in the end, even Duple had to make a very, very close copy, just to survive! My local company had a couple of Viceroys and a very similar Harrington Cavalier (similar design styling cues) but the majority of their coaches were Plaxton's Ubiquitous! Funny enough, local bus companies (including BET and Tilling Group) often had their own woodworking facilities at their base bus station: a new apprentice might actually start as an assistant, in the wood shop, helping to repair the bodywork of the older AEC Deckers, from the 50s and 60s. They didn't go to All Metal until the early 70s and by the late 70s, most of the wood had been removed, along with those coachbuilding skills.
Great video ! Back in 1964 I worked in a Bedford Main dealership in Stretford Manchester. The Bedford V.A.L , V.A.S . and V.A.M. exposed chassis were driven up from Dunstable on major trunk roads prior to delivery to Duple in Blackpool. There was just an improvised windscreen and a drivers seat positioned next to the steering wheel and the exposed engine. The drivers used to wear leather WW2 type flight jackets and leather helmets and gauntlets just like Spitfire pilots. They had no protection from the wind and rain , especially the spray that came from underneath the open chassis. Happy days !
I remember Duples coachworks on Preston New Rd in Blackpool. In the early 70s you would see the chassis being delivered by a driver from the factory at Leyland. Driver was totaly exposed to the elements with big coat, gauntlets, goggles etc.
I remember in the 80's we were traveling on the M6 to a new construction project in Stoke-On-Trent & we were overtaken in the pouring rain by one of these chassis only vehicles. The guy left us standing in our fast-enough Tranny van, he was easily going 80+mph, spray everywhere from the open wheels, he had a piece of plywood sheet protection bunjee-strapped to the steering column & was wearing like an ex-Army green colour padded & thick weatherproof overalls & a white full-face helmet. We were all gobsmacked at this vehicle as he overtook us, & he even looked over at us as he flew by. Needless to say 10 minutes later up the motorway, he had been pulled over by the police....!!!
Wish I could like this video more than once. Having said that, these images took me straight back to junior school trips mid 70s when the stuffiness and smell of egg sandwiches, the interiors and recalling the feel of the upholstery made me feel a little bit nauseous as I remember puking my guts up over and over due to travel sickness.
I remember the occasional Duple taking me to school when I was a kid. By that point, Duple had already been defunct for a decade--but they were much nicer and quieter than the average Plaxton. Stinks that they went bust, though... would've liked to see what they could do today.
We rowed those all the time on our school trips to the swimming baths.. General Atkinson's of Chester-le-Street always had Duple Viceroy's on Bedford Chassis.. If you sat on the middle back seat you could see the bodies flexing when they turned down the isle...
You took the words out my mouth with the Gerry Anderson reference there (and strangely I've been watching a lot of Century 21 uploads recently too). In the right colours I think it looks better than the Plaxton body as it was slightly different and a bit more distinctive in appearance. The lines of the windows before the full height glass are perhaps the Gerry Anderson touch but for me the bus door modification seems to spoil the looks.
Hello! LOL, good to hear you agreed with my reference to Gerry Anderson! I do like it better than the Plaxton also, that's why I did the video :) Thanks for watching!!
Yes, the restyled Viceroy looked better than the original - but the IMHO the later Plaxton Panorama Elite was a really classic body - understated, but impressive (the 12m long versions looked especially good), one of those designs where every detail seems right.. The earlier ones with the stripy bits below the front side windows was a bit fussy. There again, Duple really got it right in the 70s with the handsome Dominant. My local coach company usually bought Plaxton bodies, but for its Bedford VALs bought the hugely impressive Harrington Legionnaire body. You should do a vid on Harrington coach bodies - they had some really excellent designs and are missed.
You really do make the most wonderfully informative videos Jeffrey - especially how on this one you've managed to research the design companies contracted by Duple and Plaxton. Can I set you a challenge? As a child I actually travelled on the 'Leon' Viceroy and went to school on the 'Abbey Coachways' Panorama featured in this episode.......but as a budding future designer myself, found them both to be garishly styled - kind of inspired by the 'juke box' school of design! For me there was only 'one' coach body, one that exuded restrained elegance and class - that appeared at once both friendly yet powerful - truly a 'serious' long distance express cruiser........the 'Bristol RELH' with body by 'Eastern Coachworks' (ECW) produced from 1963-1970! These beauties covered huge mileages often on front line London services, while their passengers relaxed on the smoothest ride going! Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of travelling on a beautifully preserved 'Crossville' example! Several passengers - not bus enthusiasts - remarked how very comfortable (ECW coach seats were just bliss!) it was to travel on: "better than modern coaches"! They couldn't believe it's age.....and this particular coach has travelled all over Europe since preservation! So Jeffrey - my challenge to you, if you care to take it, is to find the person or team responsible for ECW's Mk1 coach design for the Bristol RELH? I've long tried, but without success, however with your research skills - I'm hopeful you just may be able to! As you can probably guess, I'm somewhat a 'fan' of this particular coach - checkout 'Bristol RELH with HXLB fuel pump' on youtube to catch the 'musical' transmission of a manual version......and to read my 'waxing lyrical love' for it in the comments section!
Hello Robert....Oh, yes, I do know about the Bristol RELH Mk 1. I don't know off-hand who designed it, but if I ever do find out, I will let you know!! Thanks for watching!
Driving for Whites Coaches of Baughurst, I can vouch for the ancient Bedford Duple Viceroy, and whereas the Plaxtons were OK, the Fords were frightening. They wandered all over the place. It felt as if the Chassis flexed like eels. Being proper drivers, we just learned how to control them and keep the pax happy. I think the fitters worked a lot harder than the Drivers. We had a MAN or two, a Seddon, and I’m not sure that we didn’t have a Setra. I contributed my AEC (LT) RF, to thé mêlée. It handled better than all the others, and being smaller, it fitted down the hilly country lanes like a treat.
Just discovered this channel, and it's amazing. Your attention to detail is second to none. I reckon your channel could be seriously big if you got the attention of UK car/auto channels. Im pretty sure the likes of 'hub nut' and 'auto shenanigans' would be interested in getting the word out. Hub nut has even driven a Leyland National. Good luck!
Hello! Thanks for your really nice comment, much apprciated!!! I will look up those other channels, though I'm still probably quite small compared to them. Thanks for watching!
In 1964 -1966 we used to go swimming lessons at Crystal Palace sports centre London in a Bedford Vega Major in a light green colour scheme. - Memories !!!!
I am a subscriber..I don't know why. The last time I was on a coach or bus was in the 1970s,.So not a subject of personal use. I do find your enthusiasm and research quite compelling.
Hello! I'm so glad my videos somehow found you, and that you really like to watch them! Thank you for the very positive comment and feedback! And thanks for watching and for subscribing!!!
My mate Brian used to drive one of those "six leggers" in the 60s for Davis coaches,with a "chinese" gearbox and a telma retarder,it was very smooth and could go from Mitcham to the coast without touching the brakes...
A tremendous amount of information here on coaches well beyond the budget or damage expectations of most of our school trips, often using ancient Bedford petrol machines presumably from the reserve fleet. AND thanks for managing approximate imperial to metric figures, not telling us the length was 12.3782 metres.
You sir bring joy to my old heart, A famous Coach from the 60s was The Harrington which was featured in the 1969 film, The Italian Job, A Legionnaire bodied Tri Axle Bedford VAL, The story of the film Coach is very interesting and has Blackpool connections and another A Plaxton-bodied example of The Bedford VAL would be used by The Beatles in their 60s film The Magical Mystery Tour both of these would make for good videos
Another eye opener episode. 1:53 I think I found the influence of the front styling of Sydney based bus body builder CCMC (Cycle Components Manufacturing Company), later to become Customs who are still building buses. The Leyland National had immense rollover strength and would have withstood that accident well, not that it would have likely occurred in the first place. Bedfords were not known for their stopping powers.
I am not sure if you noticed this but there are several bus models that might not had made it to the road but did make it into the bus modelers lists of products. Matchbox managed to get their hands onto some of these beautiful buses.
Good to see 448 VAL a Bedford Val with Duple vega major body powered by a Leyland 400 engine it was operated by Leon Travel Finningley Doncaster. I drove this vehicle on a few occasions many years ago such a lovely lightweight vehicle to drive . Leon also had a Plaxton panorama Val and Bedford Val service bus at the time
Worth noting that the 1960s Bedford coach chassis was strictly speaking the VA, pronlunced vee-ay. It was available in three lengths: long, medium, and short; and the whole scheme might've been clearer if the sub-model codes had been hyphenated, as the L, M, and S are suffixes. The long one is the vee-ay-el - and as others have noted, it really does look like something out of a Thunderbirds episode! Thanks for the vid - it's well researched and very engaging.
Certainly had the futuristic looks but that’s pretty much they had that was good. As soon as I saw the tandem front axle, I figured you would say that this series wasn’t going to last very long. Front tandem axles can be a maintenance nightmare. Plus underfloor or front engine when the movement towards the stalwart rear engine design was also not the best idea. Once again Jeffery, you presented a bus that many of us never heard of or forgot about. Thanks again.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Yes, the three-axle Bedford VAL wasn't produced in huge numbers...but just enough to make it interesting for bus enthusiasts! Thanks for watching!
I was transported to middle school from a local company that had a fleet of these in the mid-late ‘70’s ☺️ They were predominantly green in colour with an orange strip going along the middle, Jordan Coaches they were called. Lovely looking buses they were, much better looking than the plaxton’s by some distance 👍
Remember getting roasted on hot summer days with huge windows when our parents took us on trips. Dad would take a break from driving when on holiday and book coach trips to nearby other resorts in the west country. Happy days☀️🌞
I remember seeing the Bedford Duple Vega Major Coach at the 1964-64 New York World's Fair General Motors Futurama II Pavilion. Wow! It was spectacular.
Many thanks Jeffrey for another interesting and informative video. The Viceroy was one of my favourite designs. I hope I have this correct but Hants and Dorset had a 5 Viceroy bodied Bristol RELH coaches numbered 924-8 with registrations REL741-5H. It is usually the reg numbers that tie in with the fleet numbers and not the letters with the model! I had two trips to Scotland on 924 in the early 70s and they were a very comfortable coach to travel on.
The Duple factory was in Blackpool only a couple of miles from my house. They used to make the chassis in one local factory and driver them to the bodyshop for the body to be added. Was weird seeing the chassis just driving along the roadwith the driver wearing a coat and goggles as they went along Preston New Road!
Funny you said about Gerry Anderson, as one of the six wheeled Bedfords was used as the base for Lady Penelope Rolls. The Bedford was part of GM. However, the Leyland and AEC coaches were much nicer to drive and a lot quicker too. Thanks. And yes, the Italian Job.
I did not think I would enjoy watching a video of coaches but this was very well put together and interesting I really enjoyed this, I wonder will we get a video of Paxton next?. Thank you for a entertaining video short sweet and to the point. Have now subscribed
Yet another brilliant video. Got to be honest I never liked the look of the Viceroy as it did look out of date compared to the Plaxton Panorama Elite. The Viceroy in that sense is unique because I’ve always liked Duples except that one The Dominant was an extremely good looking body. However, regardless of whether I liked the Viceroy design or not, this was yet another excellent video. Thank you.
Hi Jeff from Sydney, Australia. Post WW2 there must have been laws passed either at state or federal level mandating all metal construction of new passenger busses. Do the tri-axle Bedford VAL's we had here in Australia were of all metal construction, the first 4 out of 16 Val's the local operator owned were very classy indeed, since he had been one of my grandad's best buddies from school days, bill Heath took me one day during the mid-year school holidays to have a look at the new busses being built on the other side of Sydney. Almost like aeroplane construction reasonably thick high tensile alloy frames, massive CAST alloy body panels both riveted and bonded like on aeroplane as well. As I mentioned in a previous video reply I had the opportunity to drive one of these near 20 years later over the easter break to our national capital in rural New South Wales. It was very impressive, even as an older vehicle it was tight and sturdy with no old bus rattles and shakes, and I believe that is mainly due to how it was engineered/designed & constructed, the early ones had the Leyland 400 engines, this was one of those. re the Dinky Supertoy models. As a kid growing up one of our neighbors 3 doors along was the son in law and manager of the company that were the distribution agents for most British toy brands for boys and girls except Two , Matchbox & Corgi Toys. Bill Browne had 5 daughters which was excellent for me as he gave me many pre-production Dinky Toy models. in 1963 he gave me a pre-prod' model number 952 Bedford VAL Vega Major in a dusty PINK color with cream seats, driver and cases for the opening rear luggage compartment, this is the earl flashing blinker light version, and when launched in early 1964 it was released in pale grey with ivory seats, no driver and no suitcases. For the time period these were an outstanding toy, but expensive considering wages of the period, and just five years earlier toy busses were but a hollow diecast shell with either a tin plate or diecast base plate and of a small size, unimpressive !! Then a few years later from receiving the first one with the flashing lights, Dinky Toys had decided to release a cheaper version, model number 954 MINUS the flashing blinker lights , the pre-prod' one of these was in a really nice metallic gun metal blue-grey 9more blue than grey) with deep amber seats & I don't know how they had painted the front & rear bumpers and front grill as it almost looks like chrome, also this one has yellowy diamanté head & fog lights the finish on this version is so good it is like a new modern expensive collectors model. I'm now almost 69 yrs old, and still have both, they still look almost like new toys, when released I also bought all the different versions , both the pale grey & white flashing blinker versions , and the white non flashing on too. Then when I was a kid and went to the Swiss wool auctions with my father & grandad , I found in a Swiss post shop that Dinky Toys had made 2 versions for Swiss Post, model number 961 & M961 ( mechanical one with flashing blinkers ) both were in Swiss Post Yellow body, white roof and maroon side flash decals also show the Swiss Post decals. dinky Toys made a mere 1000 units of M961 states a paper slip in it box. I just bought the plain non blinking version. When E-bay was a new invention I managed to bid/buy a M961 amazingly with its box but in a very used ratty condition, -- try buying /bidding for an excellent 1/1000 made now they sell for over $3000 USD dollars you have to be a serious toy collector to go that high , however I have seen 3 bid this high now and be sold. To me this one of Meccano/Dinky Toys most impressive models for the time with steerable front axles, working suspension, new vac formed seats and glazing, the sticky decal on the body sides and the flashing light mechanism
Hello Greg! Thank you for all of this information! It really was interesting to read about the Australian VALs and the dinky model. Wish I had one of those, LOL. I remember having a Dinky catalog and seeing the Bedford VAL buses....I think they sold them at F.A.O. Schwarz in Manhattan - one of the few places you were able to get foreign toys. But quite pricey they were. Thanks for watching!
Can you imagine buses in the mid ‘60s being wood framed in the US? And vacuum hydraulic brakes? Again, another example of how far ahead you were. In Australia, there was only one reasonable size builder building in wood by 1970.
That's interesting about the body builder in Australia. There's actually no European coach that meets US standards that can be bought off the shelf today....it would need to be extensively redesigned. Not sure if that's good or bad.... Thanks for watching!
Two of my schools had contracts with VAL operators in the 60s, one Plaxton, one Duple. In 1969 the VAL chassis with Leyland diesel engine cost about 1,100 GBP, the full bodied coach was about 5,500 GBP. (For comparison, at that time a Ford Cortina estate cost about 650 GBP.)
I remember the crash years ago but did not know what coach it was, not sure if it was after that and as a result of the recommendation of stronger bodies Leyland designed the much stronger National. Not as bad but interestingly a bus went over the edge of a bridge at Grosmont days ago (post date is 05/08/2024) It landed on its side, out of the 7 passengers there were only minor injuries, It reminded me of this accident and just days after your video is uploaded.
The val was a comfitable coach to drive i had the pleasure as the last remaining were fazed out.only down size 16in brake drum so down shifting was normal.thankfuly duple got on board a plaxton designer and the dominant was created.
Bedford Val Harrington Legionnaire @ 0.04 is the same model as the one that appeared in The Italian Job (1969). I wonder if that makes it a Mini Bus .....
I used to work at a small Bus manufacturer Northern Counties, in the 80’s an ex-manager ( Nick Parsons)from Duple joined the company then in 1995 the company was bought by Plaxtons
Somewhat less glamorous, I can recall on a school history trip going on a Seaview Services of Ryde, IOW around the island in the company's 1965 Bedford VAL back in 1968. This had a dual purpose body- it could be used as a bus or coach- it was quite comfortable and this harks back to the meaning of the name Duple itself. The body was a Duple Midland B54F and it took a bit of driving around the roads of the island! I think Seaview Services did have a coach VAL but I would have to dig out my Ian Allan Bus Fleets book to check that out!
Hi Jeffrey, Another interesting video in your series. I worked on a ship in the early 1970s that went from Southampton in the U.K. to Lisbon ,Portugal. It was a car ferry and we carried Bedford V.A.L. chassis' to Lisbon and some were returned as buses with (Ithink ) Estoril bodies. Not sure if you know anything about this but it sticks clearly in my mind. We also carried Renault chassis but I think these were for truck bodies. I remember the buses being very modern and quite glamorous. Do you know anything about this? Best regards, Peter Mac Donald Penang, Malaysia.
@@JeffreyOrnstein WhatI do remember Jeffrey was two models often seen as tour coaches in Portugal the 'Cascais' and the 'Estoril'. These were both coastal resort towns near Lisbon I lived near Estoril for a while after I left the ship. The factory name that made the coaches I do not know but a viewer of your channel may have some info. keep up the great work Peter.
We went on a school trip on one of these, only 50 miles and it was so hot people were passing out, it was a red hot day, about 30c (hot for the UK) and the huge amount of glass was like a greenhouse, no Air conditions in those days and the air vents above your heads did nothing, even with the two small slide windows open it was still insufferably hot, the sunshine burned my face on one side, it was lobster red when we got home, I looked like I fell asleep on a radiator, and the seats where to close together, they squeezed in an extra row of seats and your knees pushed up against the seat in front of you so much that big people had to sit sideways, anyone who says these are good hasn't been on a good coach,
Hello! Oh my gosh, that sounds sooo terrible!! So unfortunate. I guess these buses looked nice, but could be quite uncomfortable. Thanks for watching!!
Meh...we had a Viceroy as our late 70's/early 80's school bus....a daily 7 mile 30 minute journey thru' the Norfolk country lanes to & from skool... The secret to summertime passenger cooling was to drive with the front door open, & have all the roof windows open on their front leading edges only...that pulled in enough of a breeze to keep 75 kids (three to a seat in those days...!) happy enough...Oh, & if fitted, have the radio tuned to Radio 1 & crank up Steve Wright In The Afternoon...!
The coach PAR824J is photographed outside Preston bus station. That would be 1972 or onwards. The bus station was complete in 1972 for the 1972 Preston Guild. Which is like a massive Gala celebration every 20 years in Preston England
@@JeffreyOrnsteinGood coverage of the VAL . When l lived in Sutton l often saw this type of coach . It had a retarder braking system fitted , exhaust brake also. Happy memories, best Wishes .
I travelled on many different coaches to and from swimming pools from school in London in the early 70s even at age 7 you can tell if they are in trouble, smoke, steam, rocking seats 😂
YaY! More local operators right from the off. First image being that of a VAL operated by Leon Motors of Finningley, Doncaster. Sadly another South Yorkshire independent that disappeared on the formation of SYPTE. Their Wroot Road depot now long gone. I can wholeheartedly recommend heading over to the Flickr pages of ‘Dubdee’ who has an extensive photo library of Doncaster independents.
It’s the buss version of lady Penelope’s FAB 1! Furthermore a beautiful Dinky Toys model of a so called Vega Major luxury coach was made. Is there any direct connection?
Unlike my 1980 Bluebird which could easily handle a rollover these modern looking tall glass units can't... But what a view...before you're shortened by a foot or two. Interesting double front steering wheels...sounds complicated & Very British
Working of my bad memory think it should be Harrington legionnaire. Used to go to school in74 on plaxton panorama elite ford engine (Hanson coaches Huddersfield) and duple dominant (Bedford engine I think) I was a bit of a bus but until discovered girls lol good vid bring back memories 63 now
Hi. Your footage on the coaches is very interesting. I don't know anything about plaxton and duple coaches. There was a plaxton in Blackpool. Whether it's the same one I don't know. The way to tell the ages of vehicles in Britain Jeffrey is. In 1963 the number plate ended in one letter. ABC123A. you look at the last letter is A. That's August 1963 until August 1864. Then in 64 it's B until August 65 and so on. Then in 1983 it was the other way round. A123ABC. Up until 2001 when it started with 51 and 02 extra up to present day. Pre 1963 you couldn't tell an age of a vehicle it could be 123ABC or ABC123. There is no way of knowing. But if was ABC12 that could be a clue the vehicle is from the 1940s.
These coaches were a lot nicer than todays hi back seat coaches. Much less claustrophobic. I would like to know what the deciding factor for 6 wheels is ?
All coaches of this era used HGV Goods vehicle chassis with a coach body built on top hence the front engine design Modern coaches are completely purpose built & are rear engined.
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OMG!!! What a surprise! I rode one on a day trip to Cornwall as a child in the mid-70s...I was soooo excited!!! The double front axles just blew my 5-yo mind!!!
Hello! I'm glad you liked the video! Must have been so awesome to have seen one of these as a little kid!! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnsteindon’t forget Tyrell p34 race car that had 4 front wheels.
They were beautiful machines from the last few decades.
Yes they were beautiful!! Thanks for watching!
Those old coaches really were a work of art.
Yes, they certainly were!! Thanks for watching!
lets not forget the ( original ) film, The Italian Job..... and the beautiful Dinky Toys model
The Italian Job coach was a Harrington Legionnaire, an even less successful design, though it did have similarities to the Viceroy.
@@davidjones332Thank you. I've been wracking my brain trying to remember the name of that coach.
Hello! Oh, yes, I should have included the dinky viceroy!! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnstein The Dinky Viceroy wasn't anything special. The really classy model was the Vega Major on a VAL chassis in the Dinky Supertoy range, which had flashing indicators!
@@davidjones332 I had (have) one of those !!
This was our school bus, and also for school trips to the local swimming pool, circa 1970. I still remember the little plastic sign on the back of every seat: Please mind your head when leaving your seat. And the way they smelled.
Hello! Thanks for the memories of the Viceroy! Thanks for watching!
One of the greatest thing about our coaches from this era, was the tufted velour seats. These were extremely comfortable compared with today's offerings. This is my biggest gripe against both our bus and railway coaches.
One of the best service coaches, I had travelled on was from York Pullman company. It certainly lived up to its name
Hello! Thanks for the memories of the older classic coaches!! Thanks for watching!
So many school trips on the old Duples!😀👍
Must have been fun! Thanks for watching!
Well done again Jeffrey. I am a retired bus and coach driver of 35 years service. Your knowledge and research on British vehicles is nothing short of amazing, much more interesting than some U.K. researchers. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here in Scotland that you can contact for your videos and would be only too happy to assist you if you would like.
Hello John! I am so glad you liked the video!! If I need info on a video about Scotland buses in the future, I will let you know!! Thanks for watching!
Like these little documentaries on UK buses and coaches. The Bedford VAL had twin steering with different bodies. The Harrington Legionnaire Bedford VAL was used in the film The Italian Job 1969. The Paxton Panorama type VAL can be seen in The Magical Mystery Tour 1967. Used to go on school trips in the 70's on many types you mention here. As you state in the UK there are many buses, coaches and other vehicles preserved for prosperity.
Hello! Yes, there's so many different classic coach styles in the UK, very fascinating! Thanks for watching!
Hi Jeffery. Really appreciate your british bus videos. Thank you so much for your interesting insights. Regards Peter.
Hello Peter! I'm really happy you like my videos!!! And thank you so much for watching!!!
My son Sean Moriarty is involved with the Glasgow Vintage Vehicles Trust and has restored many classic double deckers in his 34 years - I pass on links to him from your channel, it’s very interesting to find someone in the USA with such an encyclopaedic knowledge of British buses - our lad Sean has a complete history of Atlanteans in Glasgow in his head, therefore he qualifies as a chief anorak (our term on this side of the Pond)
Hello! I'm quite happy you liked the video! And thanks for forwarding the links! Thanks for watching!
Great video Jeffrey, I didn't realise coaches still had wooden frames in the 60s that's quite a while after british railway passenger coaches or cars in US speak had them . The mk1s of 1951 were all steel from then on
Interesting you mentioned thunderbirds, I ofen think the face lift 3 axle ones look like something from the jetsons. Keep the great videos coming, cheers Russ
Hello! Yes, it's really odd that wood-framed coaches were still built at such a late date! Glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
Dibbles Bridge was the site of 2 coach accidents. The first occurred on 10th June 1925 and sadly killed 7 people and 11 were injured.
Thanks for the additional info about the Dibbles Bridge! Thanks for watching!
Great post - I love all these '60's UK buses - but my favorite is the Bedford VAL Plaxton Panorama Elite. Nice Gerry Andersen reference - hope my fellow Americans caught it. FAB...
I hope they caught it, too...! Thanks for watching!
"my favorite is the Bedford VAL Plaxton Panorama Elite" - for many years (over 20) I owned a Bedford VAM Plaxton Panorama Elite. A beautiful coach, which always got attention wherever she went. Sadly, I had to sell her last year due to loss of storage space :( I always wanted a VAL though... but they're rare as hen's teeth these days (and rare even back in the '90s when I bought my VAM)
Great video Jeff 😊 please keep up the great work my friend 👍
Hello! I'm really happy you liked the video!! Thanks for watching!
Another great video. Always enjoy learning more about British buses & coaches.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked it! Thank you for watching!!
That bus/coach is huge,its got the upper curved windows on the side,thumbs up,great video
Hello! Yes, it did look quite impressive!! Thanks for watching!
great video mate it took me back to when i was very young my dad was a coach driver and all the old drivers said my dad was the best coach driver in the uk great video mate thanks
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video!! Thank you so much for watching!!
Great video of a very intriguing Coach. Funny how time changes perceptions, isn't it? When it was launched, the Viceroy, with all that glass, did indeed look like something from a Gerry Anderson production but oddly, after the launch of the Plaxton Panorama, somehow...it just looked outdated! Plaxton scored a huge win with their design: I can't tell you just how many of those Panoramas were around, they were utterly ubiquitous, I think perhaps one of the best-selling Coach bodies of all time perhaps. As you saw, in the end, even Duple had to make a very, very close copy, just to survive!
My local company had a couple of Viceroys and a very similar Harrington Cavalier (similar design styling cues) but the majority of their coaches were Plaxton's Ubiquitous!
Funny enough, local bus companies (including BET and Tilling Group) often had their own woodworking facilities at their base bus station: a new apprentice might actually start as an assistant, in the wood shop, helping to repair the bodywork of the older AEC Deckers, from the 50s and 60s. They didn't go to All Metal until the early 70s and by the late 70s, most of the wood had been removed, along with those coachbuilding skills.
Hello! Glad you liked the video and thanks for the coaching memories! Thanks for watching!
The Viceroy was a gorgeous coach Jeff ...Great video as always
Hello! Yes, it was a great looking vehicle! Glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
What a treat to watch this! I drove these back around 1970 for a large coach firm in London.
Hello! I'm really happy you liked my video!! Thanks for watching!
Great video ! Back in 1964 I worked in a Bedford Main dealership in Stretford Manchester.
The Bedford V.A.L , V.A.S . and V.A.M. exposed chassis were driven up from Dunstable on major trunk roads prior to delivery to Duple in Blackpool. There was just an improvised windscreen and a drivers seat positioned next to the steering wheel and the exposed engine.
The drivers used to wear leather WW2 type flight jackets and leather helmets and gauntlets just like Spitfire pilots. They had no protection from the wind and rain , especially the spray that came from underneath the open chassis. Happy days !
Hello! Oh my gosh!! I can't even imagine seeing that! Unreal! Glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
Thank-you. Very comrehensive research!
Hello! I'm really glad you liked it!! Thank you for watching!!!
I absolutely loved the duple viceroy ❤
Yes, it was great! Thanks for watching!
I remember Duples coachworks on Preston New Rd in Blackpool. In the early 70s you would see the chassis being delivered by a driver from the factory at Leyland. Driver was totaly exposed to the elements with big coat, gauntlets, goggles etc.
Wow, that must have been really interesting to see!! Thanks for watching!
I remember in the 80's we were traveling on the M6 to a new construction project in Stoke-On-Trent & we were overtaken in the pouring rain by one of these chassis only vehicles. The guy left us standing in our fast-enough Tranny van, he was easily going 80+mph, spray everywhere from the open wheels, he had a piece of plywood sheet protection bunjee-strapped to the steering column & was wearing like an ex-Army green colour padded & thick weatherproof overalls & a white full-face helmet. We were all gobsmacked at this vehicle as he overtook us, & he even looked over at us as he flew by. Needless to say 10 minutes later up the motorway, he had been pulled over by the police....!!!
Wish I could like this video more than once. Having said that, these images took me straight back to junior school trips mid 70s when the stuffiness and smell of egg sandwiches, the interiors and recalling the feel of the upholstery made me feel a little bit nauseous as I remember puking my guts up over and over due to travel sickness.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video!!!! Thanks for your memories of bus travel, and thanks so much for watching!!!
Thanks for this! My grandfather worked at Duple, Blackpool.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
I remember the occasional Duple taking me to school when I was a kid. By that point, Duple had already been defunct for a decade--but they were much nicer and quieter than the average Plaxton. Stinks that they went bust, though... would've liked to see what they could do today.
Oh yes, imagine if Duple were still in business! Thanks for watching!
Very comprehensive and informative, Thanks Jeffrey👍
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
We rowed those all the time on our school trips to the swimming baths.. General Atkinson's of Chester-le-Street always had Duple Viceroy's on Bedford Chassis.. If you sat on the middle back seat you could see the bodies flexing when they turned down the isle...
Wow, that must have been some ride!!! Thanks for watching!
0:13 I had some PSV lessons driving this coach (Moss Tours of Sandown Isle of Wight) back in the early 80s
Awesome! It's a beautiful coach!! Thanks for watching!
You took the words out my mouth with the Gerry Anderson reference there (and strangely I've been watching a lot of Century 21 uploads recently too). In the right colours I think it looks better than the Plaxton body as it was slightly different and a bit more distinctive in appearance. The lines of the windows before the full height glass are perhaps the Gerry Anderson touch but for me the bus door modification seems to spoil the looks.
Hello! LOL, good to hear you agreed with my reference to Gerry Anderson! I do like it better than the Plaxton also, that's why I did the video :) Thanks for watching!!
Yes, the restyled Viceroy looked better than the original - but the IMHO the later Plaxton Panorama Elite was a really classic body - understated, but impressive (the 12m long versions looked especially good), one of those designs where every detail seems right.. The earlier ones with the stripy bits below the front side windows was a bit fussy. There again, Duple really got it right in the 70s with the handsome Dominant. My local coach company usually bought Plaxton bodies, but for its Bedford VALs bought the hugely impressive Harrington Legionnaire body. You should do a vid on Harrington coach bodies - they had some really excellent designs and are missed.
Hello! Yes, Harrington is a good idea, lots of interesting body styles from them!! Thanks for watching!
You really do make the most wonderfully informative videos Jeffrey - especially how on this one you've managed to research the design companies contracted by Duple and Plaxton. Can I set you a challenge? As a child I actually travelled on the 'Leon' Viceroy and went to school on the 'Abbey Coachways' Panorama featured in this episode.......but as a budding future designer myself, found them both to be garishly styled - kind of inspired by the 'juke box' school of design!
For me there was only 'one' coach body, one that exuded restrained elegance and class - that appeared at once both friendly yet powerful - truly a 'serious' long distance express cruiser........the 'Bristol RELH' with body by 'Eastern Coachworks' (ECW) produced from 1963-1970!
These beauties covered huge mileages often on front line London services, while their passengers relaxed on the smoothest ride going!
Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of travelling on a beautifully preserved 'Crossville' example! Several passengers - not bus enthusiasts - remarked how very comfortable (ECW coach seats were just bliss!) it was to travel on: "better than modern coaches"! They couldn't believe it's age.....and this particular coach has travelled all over Europe since preservation!
So Jeffrey - my challenge to you, if you care to take it, is to find the person or team responsible for ECW's Mk1 coach design for the Bristol RELH? I've long tried, but without success, however with your research skills - I'm hopeful you just may be able to!
As you can probably guess, I'm somewhat a 'fan' of this particular coach - checkout 'Bristol RELH with HXLB fuel pump' on youtube to catch the 'musical' transmission of a manual version......and to read my 'waxing lyrical love' for it in the comments section!
Hello Robert....Oh, yes, I do know about the Bristol RELH Mk 1. I don't know off-hand who designed it, but if I ever do find out, I will let you know!! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnstein Thanks Jeffrey!
Driving for Whites Coaches of Baughurst, I can vouch for the ancient Bedford Duple Viceroy, and whereas the Plaxtons were OK, the Fords were frightening. They wandered all over the place. It felt as if the Chassis flexed like eels. Being proper drivers, we just learned how to control them and keep the pax happy. I think the fitters worked a lot harder than the Drivers. We had a MAN or two, a Seddon, and I’m not sure that we didn’t have a Setra. I contributed my AEC (LT) RF, to thé mêlée. It handled better than all the others, and being smaller, it fitted down the hilly country lanes like a treat.
Hello! Thanks for the coaching memories, very interesting!!! Thanks for watching!
Just discovered this channel, and it's amazing. Your attention to detail is second to none. I reckon your channel could be seriously big if you got the attention of UK car/auto channels. Im pretty sure the likes of 'hub nut' and 'auto shenanigans' would be interested in getting the word out. Hub nut has even driven a Leyland National. Good luck!
Hello! Thanks for your really nice comment, much apprciated!!! I will look up those other channels, though I'm still probably quite small compared to them. Thanks for watching!
My goodness, I never thought that I would ever see a VAL again. I drove one briefly in the 1970s in New Zealand, just before I left to go overseas
Yes, the VAL was great!! Thanks for watching!
Another fascinating video, Jeffrey! Thank you so much, from Steven in Edinburgh, Scotland 😀
Hello Steven, I'm very happy you liked the video. And thank you for watching from Scotland!!
In 1964 -1966 we used to go swimming lessons at Crystal Palace sports centre London in a Bedford Vega Major in a light green colour scheme. - Memories !!!!
Thanks for the memory, and thanks very much for watching!!!
I am a subscriber..I don't know why. The last time I was on a coach or bus was in the 1970s,.So not a subject of personal use. I do find your enthusiasm and research quite compelling.
Hello! I'm so glad my videos somehow found you, and that you really like to watch them! Thank you for the very positive comment and feedback! And thanks for watching and for subscribing!!!
My mate Brian used to drive one of those "six leggers" in the 60s for Davis coaches,with a "chinese" gearbox and a telma retarder,it was very smooth and could go from Mitcham to the coast without touching the brakes...
Hello! Thanks for relaying your experience with the VAL!! Thank you very much for watching!!!
A tremendous amount of information here on coaches well beyond the budget or damage expectations of most of our school trips, often using ancient Bedford petrol machines presumably from the reserve fleet. AND thanks for managing approximate imperial to metric figures, not telling us the length was 12.3782 metres.
Hello! LOL, I tried to keep it simple! Thanks for watching!
You sir bring joy to my old heart, A famous Coach from the 60s was The Harrington which was featured in the 1969 film, The Italian Job, A Legionnaire bodied Tri Axle Bedford VAL, The story of the film Coach is very interesting and has Blackpool connections and another A Plaxton-bodied example of The Bedford VAL would be used by The Beatles in their 60s film The Magical Mystery Tour both of these would make for good videos
Hello! I'm so happy you really liked the video!!! Yes, those are good ideas for future videos! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnstein AND! Another Interesting Bus Build which nobody knew about in this video here starts at about 5 mins you tube: watch?v=GjobCoBFf-s
Great video Jeffrey, I passed my test in a Duple Dominant bodies AEC Reliance
Hello! It must have been great to drive a Duple Dominant!! Thanks for watching!
Another eye opener episode.
1:53 I think I found the influence of the front styling of Sydney based bus body builder CCMC (Cycle Components Manufacturing Company), later to become Customs who are still building buses.
The Leyland National had immense rollover strength and would have withstood that accident well, not that it would have likely occurred in the first place. Bedfords were not known for their stopping powers.
Hello! Glad you liked the video!! Need to look up that manufacturer! Thanks for watching!
I am not sure if you noticed this but there are several bus models that might not had made it to the road but did make it into the bus modelers lists of products. Matchbox managed to get their hands onto some of these beautiful buses.
Hello! Oh, yes, I'm sure there are models of buses that produced but never existed in reality! Thanks for watching!
Good to see 448 VAL a Bedford Val with Duple vega major body powered by a Leyland 400 engine it was operated by Leon Travel Finningley Doncaster. I drove this vehicle on a few occasions many years ago such a lovely lightweight vehicle to drive . Leon also had a Plaxton panorama Val and Bedford Val service bus at the time
Hello! Thanks for the additional information on 448 VAL! Thanks for watching!
Worth noting that the 1960s Bedford coach chassis was strictly speaking the VA, pronlunced vee-ay. It was available in three lengths: long, medium, and short; and the whole scheme might've been clearer if the sub-model codes had been hyphenated, as the L, M, and S are suffixes.
The long one is the vee-ay-el - and as others have noted, it really does look like something out of a Thunderbirds episode!
Thanks for the vid - it's well researched and very engaging.
I'm glad you liked the video! And yes, it should have been hyphenated. But it sounds so much better when you say it as a word....Thanks for watching!
Certainly had the futuristic looks but that’s pretty much they had that was good. As soon as I saw the tandem front axle, I figured you would say that this series wasn’t going to last very long. Front tandem axles can be a maintenance nightmare. Plus underfloor or front engine when the movement towards the stalwart rear engine design was also not the best idea. Once again Jeffery, you presented a bus that many of us never heard of or forgot about.
Thanks again.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Yes, the three-axle Bedford VAL wasn't produced in huge numbers...but just enough to make it interesting for bus enthusiasts! Thanks for watching!
I was transported to middle school from a local company that had a fleet of these in the mid-late ‘70’s ☺️ They were predominantly green in colour with an orange strip going along the middle, Jordan Coaches they were called. Lovely looking buses they were, much better looking than the plaxton’s by some distance 👍
Hello! Thanks for the memories of the Bedford VAL! Thanks for watching!
Remember getting roasted on hot summer days with huge windows when our parents took us on trips. Dad would take a break from driving when on holiday and book coach trips to nearby other resorts in the west country. Happy days☀️🌞
Thanks for the bus memories! Thanks for watching!
I remember seeing the Bedford Duple Vega Major Coach at the 1964-64 New York World's Fair General Motors Futurama II Pavilion. Wow! It was spectacular.
Wow, Glenn, didn't know one of those were there at the NY World's Fair!! Thanks for watching!
I've never seen a bus with two wheels at the front but they look really nice. I remember coaches made by Duple!
Hello! Yes, it looks really awesome with three axles! Thanks for watching!
i still like a Bedford Val with either body. A rare sight today
Yes, I wish they were more common!! Thanks for watching!
I second that emotion.
Riding in those coaches was like being transported while sitting on your living room sofa.
Cool! Must have been a great ride! Thanks for watching!
Many thanks Jeffrey for another interesting and informative video. The Viceroy was one of my favourite designs. I hope I have this correct but Hants and Dorset had a 5 Viceroy bodied Bristol RELH coaches numbered 924-8 with registrations REL741-5H. It is usually the reg numbers that tie in with the fleet numbers and not the letters with the model! I had two trips to Scotland on 924 in the early 70s and they were a very comfortable coach to travel on.
Hello! I'm really happy you liked the video! Thanks for the info on the Hants and Dorset Viceroys! Thanks for watching!
Watched 3 of your videos now very impressive.
Sorry it took so long for me to subscribe to your channel 😊
Hello! I'm glad you like my videos and found my channel. Thanks for the sub and for watching!!!
The Duple factory was in Blackpool only a couple of miles from my house. They used to make the chassis in one local factory and driver them to the bodyshop for the body to be added. Was weird seeing the chassis just driving along the roadwith the driver wearing a coat and goggles as they went along Preston New Road!
The Duple factory in Blackpool was originally the HV Burlingam factory one of the best British coaches ever built it was named Duple Northern
Wow, that must have been interesting to see....never had seen anything like that myself!! Thanks for watching!
Funny you said about Gerry Anderson, as one of the six wheeled Bedfords was used as the base for Lady Penelope Rolls. The Bedford was part of GM. However, the Leyland and AEC coaches were much nicer to drive and a lot quicker too. Thanks. And yes, the Italian Job.
Hello! Oh, I didn't even realize that - about Lady Penelope's car. I may have shown a pic of that if I had known! Thanks for watching!
I did not think I would enjoy watching a video of coaches but this was very well put together and interesting I really enjoyed this, I wonder will we get a video of Paxton next?. Thank you for a entertaining video short sweet and to the point. Have now subscribed
Hello! I'm really happy you liked my video! I may do a Plaxton video in the future. Thank you so much for watching and for subscribing!!!
Thanks
Hello! Thank you so much for the Super Thanks!!!!! I appreciate it so much and I am so happy you enjoy my videos!!!! Thank you so much again!!!!!
Yet another brilliant video. Got to be honest I never liked the look of the Viceroy as it did look out of date compared to the Plaxton Panorama Elite.
The Viceroy in that sense is unique because I’ve always liked Duples except that one The Dominant was an extremely good looking body.
However, regardless of whether I liked the Viceroy design or not, this was yet another excellent video. Thank you.
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! I guess design is subjective! Thanks for watching!
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour coach was a Plaxton bodied Bedford VAL
Hello! Yes it was!! Thanks for watching!
Great video 👍
Glad you liked it!! Thanks for watching!
I've been waiting so long for a 1:76 scale model of a facelift Val Viceroy, anyway, great video, cheers.
Oh, yes, I wonder why nobody has produced a model of it?? Corgi OOC, EFE...please listen!!! Thanks for watching!
Check out Great British Buses in 1/76 scale. I have the West Riding VAL Plaxton.
@@johnpoile1451 Yes, I have one in Hants & Dorset livery
I remember as a kid seeing many a bare chassis being driven down the road near the Duple factory . Imagine doing that now with health and safety . 😂
Hello! Yikes, that is really incredible, especially to have seen it! Thanks for watching!
Excellent video. Thanks!
Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
As soon as i saw this coach, thought "Italian Job" ;)
LOL, the movie had a similar one, definitely!! Thanks for watching!
Hi Jeff from Sydney, Australia. Post WW2 there must have been laws passed either at state or federal level mandating all metal construction of new passenger busses. Do the tri-axle Bedford VAL's we had here in Australia were of all metal construction, the first 4 out of 16 Val's the local operator owned were very classy indeed, since he had been one of my grandad's best buddies from school days, bill Heath took me one day during the mid-year school holidays to have a look at the new busses being built on the other side of Sydney. Almost like aeroplane construction reasonably thick high tensile alloy frames, massive CAST alloy body panels both riveted and bonded like on aeroplane as well. As I mentioned in a previous video reply I had the opportunity to drive one of these near 20 years later over the easter break to our national capital in rural New South Wales. It was very impressive, even as an older vehicle it was tight and sturdy with no old bus rattles and shakes, and I believe that is mainly due to how it was engineered/designed & constructed, the early ones had the Leyland 400 engines, this was one of those.
re the Dinky Supertoy models. As a kid growing up one of our neighbors 3 doors along was the son in law and manager of the company that were the distribution agents for most British toy brands for boys and girls except Two , Matchbox & Corgi Toys. Bill Browne had 5 daughters which was excellent for me as he gave me many pre-production Dinky Toy models. in 1963 he gave me a pre-prod' model number 952 Bedford VAL Vega Major in a dusty PINK color with cream seats, driver and cases for the opening rear luggage compartment, this is the earl flashing blinker light version, and when launched in early 1964 it was released in pale grey with ivory seats, no driver and no suitcases. For the time period these were an outstanding toy, but expensive considering wages of the period, and just five years earlier toy busses were but a hollow diecast shell with either a tin plate or diecast base plate and of a small size, unimpressive !! Then a few years later from receiving the first one with the flashing lights, Dinky Toys had decided to release a cheaper version, model number 954 MINUS the flashing blinker lights , the pre-prod' one of these was in a really nice metallic gun metal blue-grey 9more blue than grey) with deep amber seats & I don't know how they had painted the front & rear bumpers and front grill as it almost looks like chrome, also this one has yellowy diamanté head & fog lights the finish on this version is so good it is like a new modern expensive collectors model. I'm now almost 69 yrs old, and still have both, they still look almost like new toys, when released I also bought all the different versions , both the pale grey & white flashing blinker versions , and the white non flashing on too. Then when I was a kid and went to the Swiss wool auctions with my father & grandad , I found in a Swiss post shop that Dinky Toys had made 2 versions for Swiss Post, model number 961 & M961 ( mechanical one with flashing blinkers ) both were in Swiss Post Yellow body, white roof and maroon side flash decals also show the Swiss Post decals. dinky Toys made a mere 1000 units of M961 states a paper slip in it box. I just bought the plain non blinking version. When E-bay was a new invention I managed to bid/buy a M961 amazingly with its box but in a very used ratty condition, -- try buying /bidding for an excellent 1/1000 made now they sell for over $3000 USD dollars you have to be a serious toy collector to go that high , however I have seen 3 bid this high now and be sold. To me this one of Meccano/Dinky Toys most impressive models for the time with steerable front axles, working suspension, new vac formed seats and glazing, the sticky decal on the body sides and the flashing light mechanism
Hello Greg! Thank you for all of this information! It really was interesting to read about the Australian VALs and the dinky model. Wish I had one of those, LOL. I remember having a Dinky catalog and seeing the Bedford VAL buses....I think they sold them at F.A.O. Schwarz in Manhattan - one of the few places you were able to get foreign toys. But quite pricey they were. Thanks for watching!
Can you imagine buses in the mid ‘60s being wood framed in the US? And vacuum hydraulic brakes? Again, another example of how far ahead you were. In Australia, there was only one reasonable size builder building in wood by 1970.
That's interesting about the body builder in Australia. There's actually no European coach that meets US standards that can be bought off the shelf today....it would need to be extensively redesigned. Not sure if that's good or bad.... Thanks for watching!
Two of my schools had contracts with VAL operators in the 60s, one Plaxton, one Duple.
In 1969 the VAL chassis with Leyland diesel engine cost about 1,100 GBP, the full bodied coach was about 5,500 GBP. (For comparison, at that time a Ford Cortina estate cost about 650 GBP.)
Hello! That's interesting to compare prices!!! You can't buy much with that kind of money today!! Thanks for watching!
I remember the crash years ago but did not know what coach it was, not sure if it was after that and as a result of the recommendation of stronger bodies Leyland designed the much stronger National. Not as bad but interestingly a bus went over the edge of a bridge at Grosmont days ago (post date is 05/08/2024) It landed on its side, out of the 7 passengers there were only minor injuries, It reminded me of this accident and just days after your video is uploaded.
Hello! Oh my gosh, I have to look up that recent crash! Thankfully better standards usually come out of these incidents! Thanks again for watching!!
The val was a comfitable coach to drive i had the pleasure as the last remaining were fazed out.only down size 16in brake drum so down shifting was normal.thankfuly duple got on board a plaxton designer and the dominant was created.
Thanks for your memoies of the VAL! Thanks for watching!
Bedford Val Harrington Legionnaire @ 0.04 is the same model as the one that appeared in The Italian Job (1969). I wonder if that makes it a Mini Bus .....
LOL, it probably does make it a mini...something, LOL. Thanks for watching!
A great story there
Thank you, glad you liked it!!!
I used to work at a small Bus manufacturer Northern Counties, in the 80’s an ex-manager ( Nick Parsons)from Duple joined the company then in 1995 the company was bought by Plaxtons
Interesting info! Thanks for watching!
Somewhat less glamorous, I can recall on a school history trip going on a Seaview Services of Ryde, IOW around the island in the company's 1965 Bedford VAL back in 1968. This had a dual purpose body- it could be used as a bus or coach- it was quite comfortable and this harks back to the meaning of the name Duple itself. The body was a Duple Midland B54F and it took a bit of driving around the roads of the island! I think Seaview Services did have a coach VAL but I would have to dig out my Ian Allan Bus Fleets book to check that out!
Thanks for the Bedford VAL memories!! Thanks for watching!
Hi Jeffrey, Another interesting video in your series. I worked on a ship in the early 1970s that went from Southampton in the U.K. to Lisbon ,Portugal. It was a car ferry and we carried Bedford V.A.L. chassis' to Lisbon and some were returned as buses with (Ithink ) Estoril bodies. Not sure if you know anything about this but it sticks clearly in my mind. We also carried Renault chassis but I think these were for truck bodies. I remember the buses being very modern and quite glamorous. Do you know anything about this? Best regards, Peter Mac Donald Penang, Malaysia.
Hello Peter...I don't think I know about the shipments you mentioned. May be a good subject for a video if I can find info on it. Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnstein WhatI do remember Jeffrey was two models often seen as tour coaches in Portugal the 'Cascais' and the 'Estoril'. These were both coastal resort towns near Lisbon I lived near Estoril for a while after I left the ship. The factory name that made the coaches I do not know but a viewer of your channel may have some info. keep up the great work Peter.
We went on a school trip on one of these, only 50 miles and it was so hot people were passing out, it was a red hot day, about 30c (hot for the UK) and the huge amount of glass was like a greenhouse, no Air conditions in those days and the air vents above your heads did nothing, even with the two small slide windows open it was still insufferably hot, the sunshine burned my face on one side, it was lobster red when we got home, I looked like I fell asleep on a radiator, and the seats where to close together, they squeezed in an extra row of seats and your knees pushed up against the seat in front of you so much that big people had to sit sideways, anyone who says these are good hasn't been on a good coach,
Hello! Oh my gosh, that sounds sooo terrible!! So unfortunate. I guess these buses looked nice, but could be quite uncomfortable. Thanks for watching!!
Meh...we had a Viceroy as our late 70's/early 80's school bus....a daily 7 mile 30 minute journey thru' the Norfolk country lanes to & from skool...
The secret to summertime passenger cooling was to drive with the front door open, & have all the roof windows open on their front leading edges only...that pulled in enough of a breeze to keep 75 kids (three to a seat in those days...!) happy enough...Oh, & if fitted, have the radio tuned to Radio 1 & crank up Steve Wright In The Afternoon...!
The coach PAR824J is photographed outside Preston bus station. That would be 1972 or onwards. The bus station was complete in 1972 for the 1972 Preston Guild. Which is like a massive Gala celebration every 20 years in Preston England
Thanks for the additional information about Preston! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnsteinGood coverage of the VAL . When l lived in Sutton l often saw this type of coach . It had a retarder braking system fitted , exhaust brake also. Happy memories, best Wishes .
I travelled on many different coaches to and from swimming pools from school in London in the early 70s even at age 7 you can tell if they are in trouble, smoke, steam, rocking seats 😂
LOL, thanks for watching!!
YaY! More local operators right from the off. First image being that of a VAL operated by Leon Motors of Finningley, Doncaster. Sadly another South Yorkshire independent that disappeared on the formation of SYPTE. Their Wroot Road depot now long gone. I can wholeheartedly recommend heading over to the Flickr pages of ‘Dubdee’ who has an extensive photo library of Doncaster independents.
Hello! Glad you liked the video. Will check out the flickr page. Thanks for watching!
I think our school had this type it was used for school trips and parents were asked to donate in order to to buy it.
That's interesting to hear! Thanks for watching!
It’s the buss version of lady Penelope’s FAB 1! Furthermore a beautiful Dinky Toys model of a so called Vega Major luxury coach was made. Is there any direct connection?
Hello! Not sure if there's a connection with the models. Thanks for watching!
Jeffery. Have you ever traveled to Malta when their bus system was exclusively old British buses?
Hello! No I have not been to Malta. I believe they had the "Juke Box" buses?? Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreyOrnstein
ua-cam.com/video/fVvH3axDoDI/v-deo.htmlsi=spMUCiapy6FxbDYq
It looked so modern (for the time).
Hello! Yes, and it even looks modern today!! Thanks for watching!
I know one of the dual wheeled buses appeared in the Magical Mystery Tour. And in the Italian Job.
Yes, they did!!! Thanks for watching!
You're welcome my man. I hope you do a video on the Ford Escort @@JeffreyOrnstein
Generally pronounced dew-pl. Never heard of the 39ft version, although Duple did build some longer bodies for export.
Hello! Ok thank you, noted for the correct pronunciation! Thanks for watching!
_The Self Preservation Society ~ Get ya skates on Mate!_
Thanks for watching!
Unlike my 1980 Bluebird which could easily handle a rollover these modern looking tall glass units can't... But what a view...before you're shortened by a foot or two. Interesting double front steering wheels...sounds complicated & Very British
Yes, the tri-axle wasn't repeated after the Bedford VAL chassis ended. Wasn't such a great idea. Thanks for watching!
I think it was a Plaxton Panorama with double front axles used in the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
Yes, it was! Thanks for watching!
The quad steering versions were commonly known as a Chinese six ! 😁😁😁😜
Hello! Yes, that's true!! Thanks for watching!
We had less people but made more for a smaller market???? I don’t understand how we’re where we are now
LOL, yeah, it's strange! Thanks for watching!
This was the actual coach used in the movie The Italian job….not a lot of people know that 😂😂😂😂
Hello! I also did a video about the bus used in the Italian Job. It's the one about the Harrington Legionnaire bus. Thank you very much for watching!
You can't beat a Plaxton Panorama on a Bedford VAL, unless it's a Midland Red CM6 motorway coach with a 10.5 litre (640 ci) engine. 😁
Oh, yes, that combo is really great!! Thanks for watching!
A very rare Harrison legionnaire .Italian job coach in opening shots Bedford val
Yes, a very rare coach! Thanks for watching!
Working of my bad memory think it should be Harrington legionnaire. Used to go to school in74 on plaxton panorama elite ford engine (Hanson coaches Huddersfield) and duple dominant (Bedford engine I think) I was a bit of a bus but until discovered girls lol good vid bring back memories 63 now
Gemerally is there a bus design or concept for buses worldwide whether acquired legally or not since the 60s? Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Hi. Your footage on the coaches is very interesting. I don't know anything about plaxton and duple coaches. There was a plaxton in Blackpool. Whether it's the same one I don't know. The way to tell the ages of vehicles in Britain Jeffrey is. In 1963 the number plate ended in one letter. ABC123A. you look at the last letter is A. That's August 1963 until August 1864. Then in 64 it's B until August 65 and so on. Then in 1983 it was the other way round. A123ABC. Up until 2001 when it started with 51 and 02 extra up to present day. Pre 1963 you couldn't tell an age of a vehicle it could be 123ABC or ABC123. There is no way of knowing. But if was ABC12 that could be a clue the vehicle is from the 1940s.
Registration afficionados can look at ANY registration and tell you when (and where) it was issued....
Hello! Thanks for the info on how to read registrations!! I did not know that!!! Thanks for watching!
These coaches were a lot nicer than todays hi back seat coaches. Much less claustrophobic. I would like to know what the deciding factor for 6 wheels is ?
Hello! Good to hear that those coaches were quite nice. Weight limits vs. length had something to do with the 6 wheels...I think! Thanks for watching!
All coaches of this era used HGV Goods vehicle chassis with a coach body built on top hence the front engine design Modern coaches are completely purpose built & are rear engined.
Thanks for the additional info! Thanks for watching!