Reminds me of my secondary school bus driver on Western SMT Atlanteans in the early 80s driving like a lunatic cheered on by the children. He was usually reeking of drink, often taking wrong turns by mistake, but thankfully never hitting any low bridges. One day we never saw him again. Ahhh the memories.
In the 90s as a teenager is often go from Folkestone to Chatham by bus via Canterbury, that journey, covering East Kent and Maidstone & District, always used to throw up a varied collection of vehicles
Had many a day when I came home with a cracking headache after riding round for hours on VRs, atlanteans and nationals in the mid 80s to mid 90s. I now drive buses but none are this interesting 😢
What a truly horrendous, wonderful racket...I could sit right where that camera is (or the driver) all day and be in heaven! Great to hear it captured by a decent mic without a load of clipping too. Really do miss driving things like this from my old job, though I've never actually even set foot on a VR yet.
This footage was filmed using my current phone, a Google Pixel 6 Pro, and I was quite surprised at how good the sound is. I did record some audio with a dedicated digital sound recorder, but oddly that only seems to work as a hand held unit and not clamped to a handrail as it was here. If you look closely, I also have a cheap Gopro style camera clipped to the front handrail, but the camera is such a wide angle, the resulting image is too distorted to use.
Blimey, this takes me back!! When I was living in Bristol in the 90's, in its latter service days this beast often found itself on the 98 or 99 (I think -can't remember which) route from the City Centre to the University of the West of England (formerly Bristol Poly) and I remember having a sneaky round trip one weekday lunchtime - sitting on the back seat, my ears were ringing by the time I got back into Bristol, so your spirited drive here has brought back lots of happy memories, Craig! Really delighted that at least one of these rare machines has remained with its 680 engine intact. Another excellent video in your collection - thanks for posting and looking forward to the next one!
I remember these buses well, I was brought up in North Wales and Crosville Wales had one or two Bristol VR’s that sound and journey took me back to my childhood days of travelling with my mum and brother, smoking on buses was allowed back then in the 1980’s so I also have not so fond memories of that acrid smell of tobacco smoke on the bus. Thanks for sharing the video, hope you enjoyed your drive.
hi, great videol .leyland 680 is a good engine along with the 0.600 engine,, i know when i was working for london transport in the 80s the Daimeler fleetline had the same engine, saw them at sutton garage, having said all this i used to work at AEC ltd in the 70s
Well driven. Sounds in good fettle mechanically and hardly a rattle from the body, a credit to the owner. Externally the "quiet pack" vent ducts on Series 3 VRs made the 680 even louder than normal.
I served an apprenticeship at the Leyland Truck & Bus in Chorley, Lance. In the late 70s. I remember that sound so well. Later I managed some Leyland Atlanteans in the US for a few years that had the 680 installed. It’s like music to me now.
Most, if not all, Atlanteans had the 600 or the 680 engine fitted, but it's very very rare for a VRT's to have one. Only 30 were built from the factory, and they do give the VR a sound that is similar, but subtly different to the Atlantean. The difference is mainly down to the transmission, which is usually quite vocal on a VR, but actually fairly quiet on this particular example. The Atlanteans shaft driven cooling fan also gives them a howling noise that the VR, with its front mounted radiator, doesn't have.
There were loads of RE's built with 680 engines, as they were the standard alternative to the Gardners. In the VR, the Gardner alternative was the Leyland 501, however I think that engine was out of production when this VR was built.
@@scatmancraig1974 Great combination of Atlantean vs VR sounds. You can still hear the whine of the VR. Engine type swaps between types were not uncommon tbh. The VRs flirtation with Leyland engines had Crosville swapping Leyland National engines with the VRs which were Leyland 510s swapped for Gardner 6LXBs. Later,some Nationals had Leyland TL11 engines that were fitted to Leyland Tigers. Leyland Leopards had Leyland 680 engines in with Y reg being the last examples. Even some were later converted to TL11. Interestingly though,the Bristol RE had both Gardner and Leyland engine variants years before. Daimler Fleetlines were also fitted with both too. Similarly,some Olympians had Leyland engines fitted,most usually with TL11 engines. Merseybus had a few. To those who are not sure. Full description of each type of VRs existed Bristol VR= series 1 Bristol VR/SL2= series 2 Bristol VR/SL3=series 3. Add on codes 6G = Gardner 6LX=Gardner (add a B for 5 speed variants) 510= Leyland 510 as per National 680= Leyland 680 as per Atlantean. So this one should read Bristol VR/SL3/680 with ECW Bodywork. Great video BTW. Gotta love those sound. If it were a bit raspier,it could be an RE😂
Great video! Interesting that there seems very little of the VR whine present or is it just drowned out by the 680? I wonder if the back axle ratio is the same as when fitted with a Gardner? As if so, it presumably has a fair lick of speed! I read that when West Yorkshire had to wait too long for Gardners in their new RELH coaches, some were bought with 680's but retained the original axle ratio's resulting in absolute flying machines! Well driven sir!
Great to hear that growl again! The 680 engined VRs were certainly loud, but they could shift, and this drive very much has the feel of them as I often used to ride on them, with an Out-Station Driver heading for home, and certainly not thinking about fuel economy. I know there were good reasons for the change, but I always felt they lost some of their character when converted to semi-automatic, even if it did mean 74 passengers stopped nodding their heads in unison at each change.
I wasn't aware that they were fully automatic, that makes it even more interesting. I'm from Lincoln, where all the City Transport's fleet of VR's were fully auto. Some were later converted to semi, usually when part of the automatic control system failed, I gather it was usually easier to just remove the system than try and repair it.
Great drive Craig! Brings back memories of using these buses when I was a kid!! The Red & White VR’s had the Gardner engines in I think? The Leyland engine is a beast.. Something about the sound of these engines…. Would love a drive of a VR for nostalgia…. Maybe one day 🤞….
Thought it was funny how you stopped to let traffic past then promptly caught them all back up again. What a machine, fair clips along and great noise.
Although the VRs were not particularly my favourite buses to drive the 2 we had at Chichester garage 274 and 275 were a treet to hear those Leyland engines and not forgetting the MK 2 nationals also great sounding throaty machines to drive.
Fantatatisco hear an an68 on a vr wow lol grew up with Atlanteans in Liverpool but was never aware that my southern cousins on hol were not all Gardner lol
@@jamesfrench7299 my view is that unless they're known to be mechanically fragile, then you can pretty much drive them as hard as you want. There's a big difference between driving hard but properly, as I try to do, than out and out thrashing. I very much doubt that my driving will be anything like the daily abuse most buses got when in service.
@@scatmancraig1974 that's what I was thinking. They are well in front in their general treatment by enthusiast drivers than steering wheel attendants stop starting all day nearly every day. They are designed for it. Don't abuse, but enjoy. You know in your gut when a bus is being driven idiotically, you were well outside those parameters. It's an art.
I remember riding these in the 80's. City Line not Badger though. When it was full I'd sit on the luggage shelf on the left. Even sat cross-legged in there once or twice😊
I drove VR's for Red bus in North Devon, Are's were mainly Gardner powered but i think we had 1 Leyland powered one which i never drove thank god because it had a 510 motor in it! I drove Nationals too and hated the 510 engine, Looking at your video the Leyland 680 powered ones had more grunt over the Gardner?
Takes me back to school days when Northern got lots of high and low roof ECW and Willowbrook bodied Leyland engined VRs. A better thrash than the United Gardner engined VRs.
did not relise only so few VR's had Leyland engines. I think my local ex NCB EYMS had a few - they certainly where not gardner's and had bit of a screen at high speed.
You actually got to drive 'Cher' EWS753W a VR with a serious attitude problem , screams howls like the diva she is, and you are so right being one that escaped the Gardner conversion. I have on tape of Cher on a trip to Stonehouse and Back, Stroud Running Day July 2004, with a blown exhaust elbow ,oh Jesus Christ she roared ,rasped, and barked, I sat over the blown exhaust holding a steam powered cassette recorder taping her, smiling like a crack head after a snort of best Columbian.
Hi Guy's it is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris again I was thinking, Why couldn't you find other more 22 nice fresh Shiny Leyland Titan B15s and repaint them Also into Imperial Cream and Green like the Essex East London Bus route H1 and 100 so they can share a chance to run on the London Bus route such as the N6, 41 and that includes the bus route Number Four, if you guy needed that interesting idea's to let us know on the comment's down below so you can reuse those Imperial Cream and Green Leyland Titan B15's on those interesting London bus Route, Please Please can you reuse them within the Begining of Every November within Every Five and a Half Months Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much Guy's😉😉😉😅😉😉😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😉😃😀😃😅😃😉😀😉😀😉😃😉😃😀😀😃
If you turbocharge a 680, you basically get a TL11 as fitted to Tigers etc. They don't sound anywhere near as good though, as the turbo silences a lot of the exhaust noise.
The turbo 680 was indeed a 690. The L11 and TL11 were evolutions of the 680 rather than revolutionary, much upgraded. The L being the normally aspirated and the TL the turbo version.
Generally not a bad drive but may I make a couple of small criticisms? Firstly, when you move off there is no need to thrash the engine. On the flat, moving off quite rightly in 2nd you need do little more than get the bus moving before changing up. Secondly and more importantly, your use of the gas is a bit rugged throughout. Using from about 4:20 onwards as an example, you weren't using the pedal to moderate your speed fluently, but were on and off the pedal. I suggest that to elevate that part of your driving to your generally high standard, you concentrate for a while on just easing the pedal. Secondly, although your following distance was ok for most vehicles, if you increase the gap between your vehicle and the ones in front by a bus length or two it will give you time to give that extra smoothness that makes the difference between quite good and silky smooth. Having said all that, it was great to see that beautiful use of the gearbox, most of the changes having the perfect pause. Also, from what I could tell from the video your braking was also very nice and progressive although a little bit of recoil when stopping. Don't forget the easing of pressure on the pedal at the last second. All in all I would enjoy being driven by you.
It's a fair criticism, but if I may offer some justification for my actions... I'm well aware that changing up at lower revs is the preferred way to drive economically, but this isn't a video to demonstrate that. I'm deliberately using most of the available revs in each gear before changing up, purely because it makes for a better video. Also, this bus doesn't have anything like the bottom end torque of one with the standard 6LXB engine, but what the 680 lacks in torque, it gains in top end power. Call it playing to the audience if you like, but it's they way I've driven on almost all of my previous videos. I'll freely admit that I have a fairly heavy right foot, but I also know how to use the gearbox properly, as you've admitted yourself. With regards to the gearchanges, I know I fluffed several of the downchanges, the air throttle on this bus is much more sensitive that a standard Gardner powered VR, you barely have to breathe on the pedal and you often end up with way more revs that you need. On upchanges, you have to lift off the pedal before you move the gear lever on this particular bus, the opposite usually applies on most semi-auto buses. Whether the sensitivity of the throttle is down to the fitting of a 680 instead of a 6LXB, which tend to have a much heavier mechanism, I'm not sure, it just took a lot more getting used to. Had there been any passengers on, it's quite likely that I would have moderated my style a little, but not much. I've had many positive comments from passengers about the way I drive, as so often preserved buses are driven so gently you don't get the full "in service" experience. I drive as I like to be driven, and as long as the vehicle owner is happy with that, I'm happy too! Thanks again for taking the time to comment, I love discussions like this, it's one of the reasons that I'm not afraid to film myself driving, and then make it public.
@@scatmancraig1974 I was not commenting on your driving for any other reason than that with minor adjustments you have the ability to be a 1st class driver. The air throttle is certainly much more sensitive and pleasant than the old hydraulic ones and does need practice. Even the later Gardner engines and gearboxes were less forgiving on the 3cs When I drove them in service I found the 680 to be quite torquey and certainly more responsive than the Gardner's. I think every bus I drove had a different feel to the gear change, whether manual or semi. I wouldn't say you stuffed any changes, some were ok but they were mostly excellent. I was taught and taught others to "toggle up" when changing buses. When cold it tightened the band's but also, when hot by engaging each gear in turn when stationary, the release lag could be precisely judged when driving, especially on Atlantans and Nationals.
As you no doubt know, newer auto gearboxes are a totally different multi-plater construction and much more forgiving than the older boxes which relied on the planet and sun wheel system. Simplified, The purpose of the brake band is to block the rotation of the planetary gears or the sun gear for a specific period. The brake band's blocking action allows an automatic transmission to change gears. When cold, the brake bands are slack which can mean that when applied they can slip, causing excessive wear and heat. "Toggling up" tightens the bands at tickover, thereby reducing slippage. Another plus, especially on the pnuemocyclic and hydrocyclic boxes is a driver aid. As every bus is different it allows the driver to familiarise with the engage and relase lag on that particular bus enabling silky smooth changes from the off. Another problem with rushing the changes is that when failing to pause between gear changes, the next gear engages before the other one has released. This causes a huge amount of heat and extreme extra wear. During my many years driving semi-autos, it was a nightmare taking over a bus from a "slam it through" driver. Some gears would slip and when severely overheated, others would snatch, making a smooth drive very difficult. I'm not trying to teach granny to suck eggs, but I am trying to explain to those without experience, why driving a semi to high standards is not as simple as it looks. In basic terms, driving a semi was an easier version of a crashbox without a heavy clutch or grinding of the cogs when getting it wrong.
@@stevesales4263 So how would you "toggle up" a 5 speed auto box when you can only access 2nd gear, what about 3rd and 4th are they just ignored. As The SCG range of boxes are fitted with automatic adjusters then it would be safe to assume that during the previous days work, the bands would be at the correct adjustment.
Hi Guys's my name is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you find nice fresh shiny Leyland Titan B15s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour just like the original Scania Grey Green which were in the East London bus route's such as 24, 125, 167, 168, 298, 173, 179, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to find about 13 Leyland Titan B15's, please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of the Leyland Titan B15's
Hi Guy my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you Rebuild a nice fresh shiny Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour's just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the East London bus route's such as 24, 168, 125, 173, 179, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 77 Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of those Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s Please?
Lovely bus and I'm sure you are a great driver but I'd hate to have been a passenger. Why the rush? and I see this all the time at traffic lights with PCV and LGV drivers pulling up WAY TOO close to the vehicle in front. Basic training will have told you to give space in the event that the vehicle in front breaks down. Reversing a bus or LGV in such situations to be able to pull round is a cardinal sin plus what if an Ambulance or fire appliance wants to come through while you are stopped at the junction? you have nowhere to move to let it past. I have an C+E license by the way. Getting back to the engine personally I think the Leyland unit was an under-rated engine. Gardners were not without their problems over the miles, smokey and not good cold starters
The over enthusiastic driving style is purely for this video, it tends to be appreciated by most people that watch my videos, although I agree it isn't to everyone's taste. The video isn't meant to be a demonstration on how drive in a textbook manner, I can do that perfectly well when needed. I do agree that it looks like I'm too close to the car in front, although you'll be surprised how close you can get with a bus and still be able to steer around the car in front. The front axle being set well back from the front of the bus makes it much easier, a luxury you don't get in a HGV. When I was training to get my class 2, I got caught out by that several times, it's a habit I found hard to break after 20 years of driving buses. Personally, I'm a big big fan of Leyland engines, particularly the 680. They're not as torquey as a Gardner, but they sound so much better. But I've never had a problem cold starting a Gardner, cold starting a horizontal 680 or 510 is another matter, they were notoriously bad starting from cold.
Hi Guy my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you Rebuild a nice fresh shiny Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour's just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the East London bus route's such as 168, 125, 173, 179, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 93 Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of those Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s Please.
Reminds me of my secondary school bus driver on Western SMT Atlanteans in the early 80s driving like a lunatic cheered on by the children. He was usually reeking of drink, often taking wrong turns by mistake, but thankfully never hitting any low bridges. One day we never saw him again. Ahhh the memories.
He probably got caught for drink driving
@@lucystokes12 or just didn't wake up one morning..
Characters 👍⚓🛠️🤠 JB
I miss this engine noise, I used to love riding on the buses in the 90s when I was a kid.
i thought it was just me lol, loved the old double deckers
In the 90s as a teenager is often go from Folkestone to Chatham by bus via Canterbury, that journey, covering East Kent and Maidstone & District, always used to throw up a varied collection of vehicles
Same here, with the engine noise
Had many a day when I came home with a cracking headache after riding round for hours on VRs, atlanteans and nationals in the mid 80s to mid 90s. I now drive buses but none are this interesting 😢
I agree with all of you, hopefully we will be able to enjoy the classic bus exhibition days for a long time to come. 👍
That beautiful engine sound takes me back to my bus driving days
What a truly horrendous, wonderful racket...I could sit right where that camera is (or the driver) all day and be in heaven! Great to hear it captured by a decent mic without a load of clipping too. Really do miss driving things like this from my old job, though I've never actually even set foot on a VR yet.
This footage was filmed using my current phone, a Google Pixel 6 Pro, and I was quite surprised at how good the sound is. I did record some audio with a dedicated digital sound recorder, but oddly that only seems to work as a hand held unit and not clamped to a handrail as it was here. If you look closely, I also have a cheap Gopro style camera clipped to the front handrail, but the camera is such a wide angle, the resulting image is too distorted to use.
Blimey, this takes me back!! When I was living in Bristol in the 90's, in its latter service days this beast often found itself on the 98 or 99 (I think -can't remember which) route from the City Centre to the University of the West of England (formerly Bristol Poly) and I remember having a sneaky round trip one weekday lunchtime - sitting on the back seat, my ears were ringing by the time I got back into Bristol, so your spirited drive here has brought back lots of happy memories, Craig! Really delighted that at least one of these rare machines has remained with its 680 engine intact.
Another excellent video in your collection - thanks for posting and looking forward to the next one!
foot to the floor nearly the whole time, love it
having gone to school on these buses 35-40 years ago, this explains why some were more vocal than others ...
The lovely leyland engine sound which I fondly remember in Atlanteans.
Nice to hear in a Bristol VRT though 😊
I remember these buses well, I was brought up in North Wales and Crosville Wales had one or two Bristol VR’s that sound and journey took me back to my childhood days of travelling with my mum and brother, smoking on buses was allowed back then in the 1980’s so I also have not so fond memories of that acrid smell of tobacco smoke on the bus.
Thanks for sharing the video, hope you enjoyed your drive.
hi, great videol .leyland 680 is a good engine along with the 0.600 engine,, i know when i was working for london transport in the 80s the Daimeler fleetline had the same engine, saw them at sutton garage, having said all this i used to work at AEC ltd in the 70s
The sound of going to and from school in the 80’s!
Well driven. Sounds in good fettle mechanically and hardly a rattle from the body, a credit to the owner. Externally the "quiet pack" vent ducts on Series 3 VRs made the 680 even louder than normal.
Great Video Craig. I Could Sit And Listen To This Beast Of A Bus All Day.
I could happily drive it all day!
I served an apprenticeship at the Leyland Truck & Bus in Chorley, Lance. In the late 70s. I remember that sound so well. Later I managed some Leyland Atlanteans in the US for a few years that had the 680 installed. It’s like music to me now.
Most, if not all, Atlanteans had the 600 or the 680 engine fitted, but it's very very rare for a VRT's to have one. Only 30 were built from the factory, and they do give the VR a sound that is similar, but subtly different to the Atlantean. The difference is mainly down to the transmission, which is usually quite vocal on a VR, but actually fairly quiet on this particular example. The Atlanteans shaft driven cooling fan also gives them a howling noise that the VR, with its front mounted radiator, doesn't have.
Never knew it was so rare. I've been on a 680 RE with good acoustics too. You've captured it well on this VRT. Thank you 😊
There were loads of RE's built with 680 engines, as they were the standard alternative to the Gardners. In the VR, the Gardner alternative was the Leyland 501, however I think that engine was out of production when this VR was built.
@@scatmancraig1974 Thank you. Its fascinating looking back now
@@scatmancraig1974
Great combination of Atlantean vs VR sounds.
You can still hear the whine of the VR.
Engine type swaps between types were not uncommon tbh.
The VRs flirtation with Leyland engines had Crosville swapping Leyland National engines with the VRs which were Leyland 510s swapped for Gardner 6LXBs.
Later,some Nationals had Leyland TL11 engines that were fitted to Leyland Tigers.
Leyland Leopards had Leyland 680 engines in with Y reg being the last examples. Even some were later converted to TL11.
Interestingly though,the Bristol RE had both Gardner and Leyland engine variants
years before.
Daimler Fleetlines were also fitted with both too.
Similarly,some Olympians had Leyland engines fitted,most usually with TL11 engines.
Merseybus had a few.
To those who are not sure.
Full description of each type of VRs existed
Bristol VR= series 1
Bristol VR/SL2= series 2
Bristol VR/SL3=series 3.
Add on codes
6G = Gardner
6LX=Gardner
(add a B for 5 speed variants)
510= Leyland 510 as per National
680= Leyland 680 as per Atlantean.
So this one should read
Bristol VR/SL3/680
with ECW Bodywork.
Great video BTW.
Gotta love those sound.
If it were a bit raspier,it could be an RE😂
A prime example of how to shift through the gears. Top driver 👌🏻
Great video! Interesting that there seems very little of the VR whine present or is it just drowned out by the 680? I wonder if the back axle ratio is the same as when fitted with a Gardner? As if so, it presumably has a fair lick of speed! I read that when West Yorkshire had to wait too long for Gardners in their new RELH coaches, some were bought with 680's but retained the original axle ratio's resulting in absolute flying machines! Well driven sir!
Great to hear that growl again!
The 680 engined VRs were certainly loud, but they could shift, and this drive very much has the feel of them as I often used to ride on them, with an Out-Station Driver heading for home, and certainly not thinking about fuel economy.
I know there were good reasons for the change, but I always felt they lost some of their character when converted to semi-automatic, even if it did mean 74 passengers stopped nodding their heads in unison at each change.
I wasn't aware that they were fully automatic, that makes it even more interesting. I'm from Lincoln, where all the City Transport's fleet of VR's were fully auto. Some were later converted to semi, usually when part of the automatic control system failed, I gather it was usually easier to just remove the system than try and repair it.
Rode this at the Stroud rally last year; beast!
Such a fantastic sound and great vid. Brings back memories of my childhood in East Kent in the 80s/90s
Super love these buses and of course you who preserve these beasts lol
Great drive Craig! Brings back memories of using these buses when I was a kid!! The Red & White VR’s had the Gardner engines in I think? The Leyland engine is a beast.. Something about the sound of these engines…. Would love a drive of a VR for nostalgia…. Maybe one day 🤞….
Thought it was funny how you stopped to let traffic past then promptly caught them all back up again. What a machine, fair clips along and great noise.
Beautiful bus, great driver. What a sound.
Although the VRs were not particularly my favourite buses to drive the 2 we had at Chichester garage 274 and 275 were a treet to hear those Leyland engines and not forgetting the MK 2 nationals also great sounding throaty machines to drive.
I remember those two, they spent their last few weeks at Worthing
Great bus great video great driver
The sound of my childhood, love it!
This is absolutely fantastic, and very nicely driven. I will definitely have to try and track this down for a run at a rally some time!
Fantatatisco hear an an68 on a vr wow lol grew up with Atlanteans in Liverpool but was never aware that my southern cousins on hol were not all Gardner lol
This one is really quick and is probably good for 60mph.
Actually that's one of the quietest VRs I've seen, with hardly any squeaks or rattles or creaking from the springs! 😁
Nice to hear your you giving the old girl some welly!
Well I was told by several people who have driven it before that its the only way it should be driven!
A Leyland is only happy when it's motoring, even when it's in a Bristol.......
@@scatmancraig1974 don't baby them, drive them. That's what servicing is for.
@@jamesfrench7299 my view is that unless they're known to be mechanically fragile, then you can pretty much drive them as hard as you want. There's a big difference between driving hard but properly, as I try to do, than out and out thrashing. I very much doubt that my driving will be anything like the daily abuse most buses got when in service.
@@scatmancraig1974 that's what I was thinking. They are well in front in their general treatment by enthusiast drivers than steering wheel attendants stop starting all day nearly every day. They are designed for it.
Don't abuse, but enjoy.
You know in your gut when a bus is being driven idiotically, you were well outside those parameters. It's an art.
Good to see you uploading again!
I am going to try and upload more, the problem is getting more vehicles to drive!
@@scatmancraig1974 Indeed
That Leyland engine sounds lovely. I just adore that thrash. Kind of sounds like a Dennis Falcon in some ways.
I remember 5545 & 5546 when they were new in national bus green. These two buses had the electronic destination display. Never seemed to work right!
A Badgerline Bristol VR, so many good memories!
I remember riding these in the 80's. City Line not Badger though. When it was full I'd sit on the luggage shelf on the left. Even sat cross-legged in there once or twice😊
...travelling down Gloucester Road in Bristol. Nevil Road to The Arches😊
The engine is the predecessor to the TL11 usually found in coaches of the time such as the Leyland leopard
I'd love to be a passenger on one of these. From the video alone you can feel its power.
I drove VR's for Red bus in North Devon, Are's were mainly Gardner powered but i think we had 1 Leyland powered one which i never drove thank god because it had a 510 motor in it! I drove Nationals too and hated the 510 engine, Looking at your video the Leyland 680 powered ones had more grunt over the Gardner?
Used to enjoy riding these with Beeline buses running between Reading and Bracknell.
That is one weird mixture. Definitely very different to an Atlantean or a Leopard. It has a unique drone to it.
Takes me back to school days when Northern got lots of high and low roof ECW and Willowbrook bodied Leyland engined VRs. A better thrash than the United Gardner engined VRs.
I so miss my bus driving days, I don't miss the passengers though 🙂
It's weird. Some can be real a$$wipes but they are also an audience to your driving skills and occasionally you do get looks of admiration.
I'd love to drive one of these. The buses I drive these days are all automatic but I'd like to test myself with gears.
did not relise only so few VR's had Leyland engines.
I think my local ex NCB EYMS had a few - they certainly where not gardner's and had bit of a screen at high speed.
What a noise..... fantastic.
I don't know why you're apologising, the downshifts seem spot on...
A 5 speed air shift too, that is awesome. Were those pneumocyclic?
Do Love a VR ECW Loud as Owt this Beast
ECW bus bodies are the smartest always were.
Playing with the senses a bit riding in a VR that sounds like a National.
Did it have the standard pre-selector gears or the Leyland semi-auto box?
A pity they didn't go ahead with their plans to offer the AEC AV691.
Good lord what is the intro music?? An HTV ident or something? I recognise it!
Did these things have 510 engines? They have that beautiful ticky whine to them....
read the comments - it's all there.
You actually got to drive 'Cher' EWS753W a VR with a serious attitude problem , screams howls like the diva she is, and you are so right being one that escaped the Gardner conversion. I have on tape of Cher on a trip to Stonehouse and Back, Stroud Running Day July 2004, with a blown exhaust elbow ,oh Jesus Christ she roared ,rasped, and barked, I sat over the blown exhaust holding a steam powered cassette recorder taping her, smiling like a crack head after a snort of best Columbian.
Either your roads are immaculate or that bus doesnt have a single squeaky or rattly panel on it, puts modern buses to shame, amazing oldtimer!
LOL thought the fuzz were after you :) at 4'15"
It sounds like Leyland beaver double decker bus and some how Leyland tiger single deck bus.
sounds so weird like a mixture of a National and an Olympian
The bus 🚌 is made between 1980 and 1981. It is an old W registration. Now over 42 years old in 2023. 😃
omg it's like an Atlantean with a vr body!
She hasn’t got a VR body😄
Hi Guy's it is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris again I was thinking, Why couldn't you find other more 22 nice fresh Shiny Leyland Titan B15s and repaint them Also into Imperial Cream and Green like the Essex East London Bus route H1 and 100 so they can share a chance to run on the London Bus route such as the N6, 41 and that includes the bus route Number Four, if you guy needed that interesting idea's to let us know on the comment's down below so you can reuse those Imperial Cream and Green Leyland Titan B15's on those interesting London bus Route, Please Please can you reuse them within the Begining of Every November within Every Five and a Half Months Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much Guy's😉😉😉😅😉😉😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😉😃😀😃😅😃😉😀😉😀😉😃😉😃😀😀😃
Those buses have a loud reversing hooter.
Be a shame when all this net zero bollocks is final we won't be able to drive these awesome pieces of engineering 😢
You will it's only new ones you won't be able to buy. If you plant a tree after each run the planet will be fine !😊
Stunning video thank you. I've always wondered how would a single decker handle with a Bristol's 680RE unit inside.
Imagen turbocharging a 680
If you turbocharge a 680, you basically get a TL11 as fitted to Tigers etc. They don't sound anywhere near as good though, as the turbo silences a lot of the exhaust noise.
@@scatmancraig1974 Then open everything up and make her loud. Me I'd build an off road bus rally ha
@@scatmancraig1974 it think the turboed versions were badged 690
The turbo 680 was indeed a 690. The L11 and TL11 were evolutions of the 680 rather than revolutionary, much upgraded. The L being the normally aspirated and the TL the turbo version.
I think ARC666T the one off Atlantean has the 690 power plus engine
Generally not a bad drive but may I make a couple of small criticisms? Firstly, when you move off there is no need to thrash the engine. On the flat, moving off quite rightly in 2nd you need do little more than get the bus moving before changing up. Secondly and more importantly, your use of the gas is a bit rugged throughout. Using from about 4:20 onwards as an example, you weren't using the pedal to moderate your speed fluently, but were on and off the pedal. I suggest that to elevate that part of your driving to your generally high standard, you concentrate for a while on just easing the pedal. Secondly, although your following distance was ok for most vehicles, if you increase the gap between your vehicle and the ones in front by a bus length or two it will give you time to give that extra smoothness that makes the difference between quite good and silky smooth.
Having said all that, it was great to see that beautiful use of the gearbox, most of the changes having the perfect pause. Also, from what I could tell from the video your braking was also very nice and progressive although a little bit of recoil when stopping. Don't forget the easing of pressure on the pedal at the last second. All in all I would enjoy being driven by you.
It's a fair criticism, but if I may offer some justification for my actions...
I'm well aware that changing up at lower revs is the preferred way to drive economically, but this isn't a video to demonstrate that. I'm deliberately using most of the available revs in each gear before changing up, purely because it makes for a better video. Also, this bus doesn't have anything like the bottom end torque of one with the standard 6LXB engine, but what the 680 lacks in torque, it gains in top end power. Call it playing to the audience if you like, but it's they way I've driven on almost all of my previous videos. I'll freely admit that I have a fairly heavy right foot, but I also know how to use the gearbox properly, as you've admitted yourself.
With regards to the gearchanges, I know I fluffed several of the downchanges, the air throttle on this bus is much more sensitive that a standard Gardner powered VR, you barely have to breathe on the pedal and you often end up with way more revs that you need. On upchanges, you have to lift off the pedal before you move the gear lever on this particular bus, the opposite usually applies on most semi-auto buses. Whether the sensitivity of the throttle is down to the fitting of a 680 instead of a 6LXB, which tend to have a much heavier mechanism, I'm not sure, it just took a lot more getting used to.
Had there been any passengers on, it's quite likely that I would have moderated my style a little, but not much. I've had many positive comments from passengers about the way I drive, as so often preserved buses are driven so gently you don't get the full "in service" experience. I drive as I like to be driven, and as long as the vehicle owner is happy with that, I'm happy too!
Thanks again for taking the time to comment, I love discussions like this, it's one of the reasons that I'm not afraid to film myself driving, and then make it public.
@@scatmancraig1974 I was not commenting on your driving for any other reason than that with minor adjustments you have the ability to be a 1st class driver.
The air throttle is certainly much more sensitive and pleasant than the old hydraulic ones and does need practice. Even the later Gardner engines and gearboxes were less forgiving on the 3cs When I drove them in service I found the 680 to be quite torquey and certainly more responsive than the Gardner's. I think every bus I drove had a different feel to the gear change, whether manual or semi. I wouldn't say you stuffed any changes, some were ok but they were mostly excellent. I was taught and taught others to "toggle up" when changing buses. When cold it tightened the band's but also, when hot by engaging each gear in turn when stationary, the release lag could be precisely judged when driving, especially on Atlantans and Nationals.
@@stevesales4263 Why did you feel the need to "toggle up"
As you no doubt know, newer auto gearboxes are a totally different multi-plater construction and much more forgiving than the older boxes which relied on the planet and sun wheel system.
Simplified, The purpose of the brake band is to block the rotation of the planetary gears or the sun gear for a specific period. The brake band's blocking action allows an automatic transmission to change gears.
When cold, the brake bands are slack which can mean that when applied they can slip, causing excessive wear and heat. "Toggling up" tightens the bands at tickover, thereby reducing slippage. Another plus, especially on the pnuemocyclic and hydrocyclic boxes is a driver aid. As every bus is different it allows the driver to familiarise with the engage and relase lag on that particular bus enabling silky smooth changes from the off.
Another problem with rushing the changes is that when failing to pause between gear changes, the next gear engages before the other one has released. This causes a huge amount of heat and extreme extra wear.
During my many years driving semi-autos, it was a nightmare taking over a bus from a "slam it through" driver. Some gears would slip and when severely overheated, others would snatch, making a smooth drive very difficult.
I'm not trying to teach granny to suck eggs, but I am trying to explain to those without experience, why driving a semi to high standards is not as simple as it looks. In basic terms, driving a semi was an easier version of a crashbox without a heavy clutch or grinding of the cogs when getting it wrong.
@@stevesales4263 So how would you "toggle up" a 5 speed auto box when you can only access 2nd gear, what about 3rd and 4th are they just ignored. As The SCG range of boxes are fitted with automatic adjusters then it would be safe to assume that during the previous days work, the bands would be at the correct adjustment.
Why the HTV ident music at the start?
Because the bus was from the HTV region. Most of my videos have the ident relative to the the area they originally operated in.
Hi Guys's my name is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you find nice fresh shiny Leyland Titan B15s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour just like the original Scania Grey Green which were in the East London bus route's such as 24, 125, 167, 168, 298, 173, 179, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to find about 13 Leyland Titan B15's, please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of the Leyland Titan B15's
Hi Guy my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you Rebuild a nice fresh shiny Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour's just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the East London bus route's such as 24, 168, 125, 173, 179, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 77 Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of those Volvo D10A Cummins L10 Scania N230UD and Gardner 6LX 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Enviro 400 MMC’s Please?
Lovely bus and I'm sure you are a great driver but I'd hate to have been a passenger. Why the rush? and I see this all the time at traffic lights with PCV and LGV drivers pulling up WAY TOO close to the vehicle in front. Basic training will have told you to give space in the event that the vehicle in front breaks down. Reversing a bus or LGV in such situations to be able to pull round is a cardinal sin plus what if an Ambulance or fire appliance wants to come through while you are stopped at the junction? you have nowhere to move to let it past. I have an C+E license by the way. Getting back to the engine personally I think the Leyland unit was an under-rated engine. Gardners were not without their problems over the miles, smokey and not good cold starters
The over enthusiastic driving style is purely for this video, it tends to be appreciated by most people that watch my videos, although I agree it isn't to everyone's taste. The video isn't meant to be a demonstration on how drive in a textbook manner, I can do that perfectly well when needed.
I do agree that it looks like I'm too close to the car in front, although you'll be surprised how close you can get with a bus and still be able to steer around the car in front. The front axle being set well back from the front of the bus makes it much easier, a luxury you don't get in a HGV. When I was training to get my class 2, I got caught out by that several times, it's a habit I found hard to break after 20 years of driving buses.
Personally, I'm a big big fan of Leyland engines, particularly the 680. They're not as torquey as a Gardner, but they sound so much better. But I've never had a problem cold starting a Gardner, cold starting a horizontal 680 or 510 is another matter, they were notoriously bad starting from cold.
@@scatmancraig1974you drove her really well! Last thing you need is a driving lesson!!😂🤣
I'm sure this bus belonged to Kensington Depot
Hi Guy my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you Rebuild a nice fresh shiny Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour's just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the East London bus route's such as 168, 125, 173, 179, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 93 Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour's for us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'm a Big Fan of all of those Gardner 6LXCT Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s Please.