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Post by ServerKing on Jun 15, 2017 17:58:42 GMT
Earliest memory was boarding a 55 bus in Ealing (forerunner to the E8 and E1) ran from Brentford to Greenford, the fare was 5p for a child and 10p for Adult, and putting the money in a box that made a pop sound as you got on. I think it was DMS Fleetlines, before those new-fangled Voith MCWs arrived I also remember RMs on the 65 and 207
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Post by redbus on Jun 15, 2017 18:12:48 GMT
The first bus ride I remember was getting a bus 2 to Golders Green (that dates it!) to see my cousins. On the way home I got a 13 bus. It was all RMs then in the days of London Transport circa 1970.
The first bus I would have rode on would have been a 74 or 74B. The 74B was a relief route for the 74 which like the 74 started at Camden Town and then instead of turning left at Fulham Palace Road, turn right up to Hammersmith. This enabled it to be operated by Riverside (R) garage as was, as there were insufficient resources to enhance the 74 at Putney (AF).
For completeness and really show my age (lol!) my first underground journey (as a child) was on the Bakerloo line north of Baker Street towards..errr Stanmore! This was in the days before the Jubliee line.
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Post by snoggle on Jun 15, 2017 18:56:33 GMT
Earliest memory was boarding a 55 bus in Ealing (forerunner to the E8 and E1) ran from Brentford to Greenford, the fare was 5p for a child and 10p for Adult, and putting the money in a box that made a pop sound as you got on. I think it was DMS Fleetlines, before those new-fangled Voith MCWs arrived I also remember RMs on the 65 and 207 Heck even I remember RMs on the 65 and 207 and I'm an "import" from the Frozen North. Used to ride the 65 quite a lot after I moved to London as I went exploring to see what those "far away" Richmond and Kingston places were like. I had to stop using the tube to go everywhere after a few months of moving down as I was not able to "piece together" what London was like just from the doorsteps of various tube stations.
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Post by ServerKing on Jun 15, 2017 21:22:01 GMT
Earliest memory was boarding a 55 bus in Ealing (forerunner to the E8 and E1) ran from Brentford to Greenford, the fare was 5p for a child and 10p for Adult, and putting the money in a box that made a pop sound as you got on. I think it was DMS Fleetlines, before those new-fangled Voith MCWs arrived I also remember RMs on the 65 and 207 Heck even I remember RMs on the 65 and 207 and I'm an "import" from the Frozen North. Used to ride the 65 quite a lot after I moved to London as I went exploring to see what those "far away" Richmond and Kingston places were like. I had to stop using the tube to go everywhere after a few months of moving down as I was not able to "piece together" what London was like just from the doorsteps of various tube stations. Well, these were memories as 6 year old kid, rather than an enthusiast with little to do crew changes were done near Ealing Hospital on the 207, rather than HL (Hanwell). Talking of the 65 (which then ran to Chessington) I miss Richmond Ice Rink, carelessly pulled down, then the developers who were going to build flats there went under I remember the original 274 at Ealing Broadway, but I cannot remember where it went to but favourite early memories were the National IIs on the 607 with proper branding (X26, take note)
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Post by planesandtrains on Jun 15, 2017 21:28:39 GMT
Heck even I remember RMs on the 65 and 207 and I'm an "import" from the Frozen North. Used to ride the 65 quite a lot after I moved to London as I went exploring to see what those "far away" Richmond and Kingston places were like. I had to stop using the tube to go everywhere after a few months of moving down as I was not able to "piece together" what London was like just from the doorsteps of various tube stations. Well, these were memories as 6 year old kid, rather than an enthusiast with little to do crew changes were done near Ealing Hospital on the 207, rather than HL (Hanwell). Talking of the 65 (which then ran to Chessington) I miss Richmond Ice Rink, carelessly pulled down, then the developers who were going to build flats there went under I remember the original 274 at Ealing Broadway, but I cannot remember where it went to but favourite early memories were the National IIs on the 607 with proper branding (X26, take note) The 65 still runs to Chessington, just only at night lol
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Post by kmkcheng on Jun 15, 2017 21:30:43 GMT
Heck even I remember RMs on the 65 and 207 and I'm an "import" from the Frozen North. Used to ride the 65 quite a lot after I moved to London as I went exploring to see what those "far away" Richmond and Kingston places were like. I had to stop using the tube to go everywhere after a few months of moving down as I was not able to "piece together" what London was like just from the doorsteps of various tube stations. Well, these were memories as 6 year old kid, rather than an enthusiast with little to do crew changes were done near Ealing Hospital on the 207, rather than HL (Hanwell). Talking of the 65 (which then ran to Chessington) I miss Richmond Ice Rink, carelessly pulled down, then the developers who were going to build flats there went under I remember the original 274 at Ealing Broadway, but I cannot remember where it went to but favourite early memories were the National IIs on the 607 with proper branding (X26, take note) For those interested, this should be the 274 you are talking about www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/274-1.html
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Post by thesquirrels on Jun 15, 2017 22:02:48 GMT
Two clear memories, both would have been aged 4 in 1990. One is a clear memory of boarding a big yellow bus with my mother (would have been a 359 - a short lived spawn of the 259/279 corridor), the second is on a particularly wet evening, climbing onto a Titan complete with blue interior saloon lights on a 63, having disembarked from a rake of creaking and banging 1959 Northern Line stock (completed with deafening compressors) at the Elephant. We sat on the bench seats near the front and I remember resting on my knees facing the windows, steamed up as they were and reflecting the colours within. The rain could be heard drumming against the windows, punctuated by the gasps and wheezes typical of the riding experience at the 'driver' end of buses back then. Nestled in a parka on a chilly night I felt a strange combination of cocooned and safe and adventurous. At the time I was living one street behind where the 63 short turns were performed. I can remember one getting stuck in the particularly heavy snow in February of 1991 which knackered most of the south east's transport network.
There is a hazy memory around the same time of being sat on the platform of a RM as it pulled off - I remember the feeling the force of the world starting to move around me before being lifted by a pair of arms. Reasonably sure that was a 12 or 36 in Peckham - probably a 12 as we were living on the Aylesbury Estate at the time. To this day I'm not able to ascertain exactly what happened, but someone had obviously messed up for that to happen!
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Post by RandomBusesGirl on Jun 17, 2017 16:34:16 GMT
Great thread Well, I'm a late bloomer for sure - I arrived in the UK on 10th November 2007, and lived in at the bottom floor of a house close to Leyton Station (if you go down the bridge towards the Library and glance at the corner on the right - that fenced house is the one). So that means I missed out on the RouteMasters and Olympians :C My first bus - I'll never be sure of the route, but it must've been a double-decker Trident on either 58/69/97/158. I remember I really liked the Stagecoach (then East London) buses - looked cool, fresh and had a lovely inside - moquette spot on; and hated 58's Presidents - old stuffy things, awful teal-purple interior, hard seats… And the clueless 11yr-old I was I've always wondered why did 58 always got the nasty buses whilst the rest had the nice stuff. In Year 7 I've once boarded a 158 without looking properly convinced ‘58 finally got a nice bus’ Only realised when it didn't turn left and continued straight ahead. Got off somewhere near Chobham Road and got the bus going opposite haha I definitely remember the occasional old TAs with red bars and grey interior turning up sometimes, and from what I remember they were absolutely hellfire too - I did full 97 on one, and without traffic How times change! I remember the Cadets on W14 and W15 with Arriva too - I remember W14 wasn't too frequent or reliable then though, therefore quickly switched from catching that to school to a 58 as a classmate suggested I get that, plus 58 stopped way closer to my school. But it was always packed and dull :/ Not mentioning unreliable as hell and always made me late - even if I was out at 7:50am for an 8:30 start! I also remember how once I deliberately stayed on board till Walthamstow Central on a homebound journey and what kick I got out from the fact that I did this I've quickly discovered my least favourite thing to do on a bus was getting off!! When I moved to Maryland Square, 257 ran like joy - and once again I remember the Tridents, and how once all of a sudden I've noticed they have “Stagecoach” at the front instead of “East London” - pointed that out to a friend and she didn't seem to care lol Annnnnd 308. Well of course. Still went Leyton then. Every 20min but ran how it wanted in reality lol. The Marshalls - such funny looking things. I don't know when it was I got one for the first time, but I believe in the spring of year 7 I got annoyed for 58 not turning up as usual and walked up to Wanstead Flats, and somehow ended up getting one. It always took ages, especially around Stratford Town Centre which anomalously seems to have been congested more then than today Got home approximately 20min later than on the 58 - but I didn't care, it was just soooo cool. There was at least one Marshall that was 1d and it was always so awkward - particularly to get off. I remember DMCs turning up as well and liked them too - sliding doors instead of inward-opening ones was what impressed me in particular. Well, and there was another aspect that made me love get the 308 - an attractive supply teacher from my school who worked there for few months also got it! Past Leyton as well!! Never found out their stop as they knew mine so of course it would look dodgy had I not alighted lol. And how I tried to break the language barrier to talk to them at the bus stop (and 308 not turning up for ages was convenient for long chats), yet we never swapped a word on the bus or sat together because too awkward... Those were the days… Today I understand they were my first crush… I really regret not even finding their name Either way, I always had a bus enthusiast in me, and truly unearthed it when exams in Year 11 were over and school finished - getting 48 all the way to central London seemed such big deal then!
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Post by Hassaan on Jun 18, 2017 22:40:26 GMT
My first bus - I'll never be sure of the route, but it must've been a double-decker Trident on either 58/69/97/158. I remember I really liked the Stagecoach (then East London) buses - looked cool, fresh and had a lovely inside - moquette spot on; and hated 58's Presidents - old stuffy things, awful teal-purple interior, hard seats… And the clueless 11yr-old I was I've always wondered why did 58 always got the nasty buses whilst the rest had the nice stuff. In Year 7 I've once boarded a 158 without looking properly convinced ‘58 finally got a nice bus’ Only realised when it didn't turn left and continued straight ahead. Got off somewhere near Chobham Road and got the bus going opposite haha I remember DMCs turning up as well and liked them too - sliding doors instead of inward-opening ones was what impressed me in particular. Well, and there was another aspect that made me love get the 308 - an attractive supply teacher from my school who worked there for few months also got it! Past Leyton as well!! Never found out their stop as they knew mine so of course it would look dodgy had I not alighted lol. And how I tried to break the language barrier to talk to them at the bus stop (and 308 not turning up for ages was convenient for long chats), yet we never swapped a word on the bus or sat together because too awkward... Those were the days… Today I understand they were my first crush… I really regret not even finding their name Either way, I always had a bus enthusiast in me, and truly unearthed it when exams in Year 11 were over and school finished - getting 48 all the way to central London seemed such big deal then! How could you not like the TN/TNL interior?! I'm so disappointed Alisha! When I was younger I always used to hope for any chance to get one! They were so much better than the VAs (V and W-reg) and VPs that we had on the 120. The engine sounded way better, the interior colours were so much nicer, the staircase wasn't in an annoying place, and the blue tint at the top of the windscreens was cool . And I'm certain that the bonded glazed ones (so all of them except the 03-reg) had window hoppers that were larger in height. I remember our VAs and VPs being so hot and stuffy in the summer, I know many VAs had the heating on all the time . The TAs, the 52-reg VAs and later the SPs were always much preferred. Didn't know any DMCs had sliding doors! In Southall our first sliding door buses (normal buses, so not the EAs on the 207) were SP16-24 in 2008 for the 482. Such a shame with the teacher you could have pretended to be going shopping in Stratford or something! Like you, I always remember being interested in buses. When I was like 3 I would know which buses would go to our house and which wouldn't. Until I was almost 3, my local routes were the 105, 195, E5 and H32 (these days the 482 too). I have a very early memory of being on some sort of Marshall on the 195, think it was a single door one too. I certainly remember loving Ms, the H32 used them in those days. Then when we moved to our current place on 19 September 1997 (the same day as the Southall rail accident ) the 120 became my local, which was mostly LLW in those days. It was always good to have an M turn up though, and I still remember the disappointment in the beginning of 2000 when my mum ditched an M as she could see a brand new VA in the distance and my brother was in a buggy . I never got to go on a M again . It was 2010-2011 when I first started getting properly into buses, and when Year 11 study leave came I took the opportunity to have some cheeky journeys on buses when I should have been at school instead and then continued it into the longer-than-usual summer holidays, although it was very difficult convincing my parents to allow me to go (probably didn't help that I wanted to go to Z1 instead of staying local).
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Post by vjaska on Jun 18, 2017 23:52:40 GMT
My first bus - I'll never be sure of the route, but it must've been a double-decker Trident on either 58/69/97/158. I remember I really liked the Stagecoach (then East London) buses - looked cool, fresh and had a lovely inside - moquette spot on; and hated 58's Presidents - old stuffy things, awful teal-purple interior, hard seats… And the clueless 11yr-old I was I've always wondered why did 58 always got the nasty buses whilst the rest had the nice stuff. In Year 7 I've once boarded a 158 without looking properly convinced ‘58 finally got a nice bus’ Only realised when it didn't turn left and continued straight ahead. Got off somewhere near Chobham Road and got the bus going opposite haha I remember DMCs turning up as well and liked them too - sliding doors instead of inward-opening ones was what impressed me in particular. Well, and there was another aspect that made me love get the 308 - an attractive supply teacher from my school who worked there for few months also got it! Past Leyton as well!! Never found out their stop as they knew mine so of course it would look dodgy had I not alighted lol. And how I tried to break the language barrier to talk to them at the bus stop (and 308 not turning up for ages was convenient for long chats), yet we never swapped a word on the bus or sat together because too awkward... Those were the days… Today I understand they were my first crush… I really regret not even finding their name Either way, I always had a bus enthusiast in me, and truly unearthed it when exams in Year 11 were over and school finished - getting 48 all the way to central London seemed such big deal then! How could you not like the TN/TNL interior?! I'm so disappointed Alisha! When I was younger I always used to hope for any chance to get one! They were so much better than the VAs (V and W-reg) and VPs that we had on the 120. The engine sounded way better, the interior colours were so much nicer, the staircase wasn't in an annoying place, and the blue tint at the top of the windscreens was cool . And I'm certain that the bonded glazed ones (so all of them except the 03-reg) had window hoppers that were larger in height. I remember our VAs and VPs being so hot and stuffy in the summer, I know many VAs had the heating on all the time . The TAs, the 52-reg VAs and later the SPs were always much preferred. Didn't know any DMCs had sliding doors! In Southall our first sliding door buses (normal buses, so not the EAs on the 207) were SP16-24 in 2008 for the 482. Such a shame with the teacher you could have pretended to be going shopping in Stratford or something! Like you, I always remember being interested in buses. When I was like 3 I would know which buses would go to our house and which wouldn't. Until I was almost 3, my local routes were the 105, 195, E5 and H32 (these days the 482 too). I have a very early memory of being on some sort of Marshall on the 195, think it was a single door one too. I certainly remember loving Ms, the H32 used them in those days. Then when we moved to our current place on 19 September 1997 (the same day as the Southall rail accident ) the 120 became my local, which was mostly LLW in those days. It was always good to have an M turn up though, and I still remember the disappointment in the beginning of 2000 when my mum ditched an M as she could see a brand new VA in the distance and my brother was in a buggy . I never got to go on a M again . It was 2010-2011 when I first started getting properly into buses, and when Year 11 study leave came I took the opportunity to have some cheeky journeys on buses when I should have been at school instead and then continued it into the longer-than-usual summer holidays, although it was very difficult convincing my parents to allow me to go (probably didn't help that I wanted to go to Z1 instead of staying local). Haha, first sliding door buses here in Brixton were the 52 reg WVL's for the 133 in 2003 I always liked the First Presidents on both chassis as I always felt them to be nearly on a par with the PVL's & PDL's and I liked the different interior as well as the big 'F's' on either side of the front blind box. The VN's & VNL's also seemed to have a slightly different sounding idle to any other B7TL I've used for whatever reason, a sort of electric fan noise if that makes sense. As for London United M's, apart from seeing them in town, I did have a ride on two on the 337 when it was an incredibly fun route and both were thrashed to pieces - ironically, the 37 was another great M route with regular thrash I have to admit that I wasn't thrilled by the B7TL in the early days when the 45 received AVL's & 37 & 118 received PVL's primarily because it removed much loved M's & T's but I grew to like them and the VA's which I rode on the 49, 111, 148, 220 & 337 over the years. I did like the DLA's from the beginning though due to their similarity in terms of engine noise to a M [/quote]
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Post by astock5000 on Jun 19, 2017 0:07:56 GMT
I'm not sure what my first journey was, but I have a memory of getting on a double deck bus with my dad somewhere in North London. I seem to think we might have been headed to Finsbury Park but I have no idea where from, or why we took a bus (as he tended to just take me on trains and the Underground back then). I happened to ask my dad recently about this but he couldn't remember any more than I could. I think it likely it was a step entrance bus though, seeing as this was back when low floor double deckers were relatively new and I'm sure I would remember being excited to travel on one.
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Post by Hassaan on Jun 19, 2017 0:37:05 GMT
How could you not like the TN/TNL interior?! I'm so disappointed Alisha! When I was younger I always used to hope for any chance to get one! They were so much better than the VAs (V and W-reg) and VPs that we had on the 120. The engine sounded way better, the interior colours were so much nicer, the staircase wasn't in an annoying place, and the blue tint at the top of the windscreens was cool . And I'm certain that the bonded glazed ones (so all of them except the 03-reg) had window hoppers that were larger in height. I remember our VAs and VPs being so hot and stuffy in the summer, I know many VAs had the heating on all the time . The TAs, the 52-reg VAs and later the SPs were always much preferred. Didn't know any DMCs had sliding doors! In Southall our first sliding door buses (normal buses, so not the EAs on the 207) were SP16-24 in 2008 for the 482. Such a shame with the teacher you could have pretended to be going shopping in Stratford or something! Like you, I always remember being interested in buses. When I was like 3 I would know which buses would go to our house and which wouldn't. Until I was almost 3, my local routes were the 105, 195, E5 and H32 (these days the 482 too). I have a very early memory of being on some sort of Marshall on the 195, think it was a single door one too. I certainly remember loving Ms, the H32 used them in those days. Then when we moved to our current place on 19 September 1997 (the same day as the Southall rail accident ) the 120 became my local, which was mostly LLW in those days. It was always good to have an M turn up though, and I still remember the disappointment in the beginning of 2000 when my mum ditched an M as she could see a brand new VA in the distance and my brother was in a buggy . I never got to go on a M again . It was 2010-2011 when I first started getting properly into buses, and when Year 11 study leave came I took the opportunity to have some cheeky journeys on buses when I should have been at school instead and then continued it into the longer-than-usual summer holidays, although it was very difficult convincing my parents to allow me to go (probably didn't help that I wanted to go to Z1 instead of staying local). Haha, first sliding door buses here in Brixton were the 52 reg WVL's for the 133 in 2003 I always liked the First Presidents on both chassis as I always felt them to be nearly on a par with the PVL's & PDL's and I liked the different interior as well as the big 'F's' on either side of the front blind box. The VN's & VNL's also seemed to have a slightly different sounding idle to any other B7TL I've used for whatever reason, a sort of electric fan noise if that makes sense. As for London United M's, apart from seeing them in town, I did have a ride on two on the 337 when it was an incredibly fun route and both were thrashed to pieces - ironically, the 37 was another great M route with regular thrash I have to admit that I wasn't thrilled by the B7TL in the early days when the 45 received AVL's & 37 & 118 received PVL's primarily because it removed much loved M's & T's but I grew to like them and the VA's which I rode on the 49, 111, 148, 220 & 337 over the years. I did like the DLA's from the beginning though due to their similarity in terms of engine noise to a M I remember some of the 03-reg TNs at G also having some sort of fan run while idling. Eventually I did come to like a small number of VAs and VPs which sounded different to normal. Those being VA80, VP107 and VP111, plus any that had the cooling fan on . But the others always sounded boring, and getting what used to be VP116 ( W463BCW, now with Southdown PSV) on Tramlink replacement last year just bought back memories of why I never liked them . It's just the ZF gearbox ones up to Y-reg that I find boring, the Voith gearbox ones are great Do agree about DLAs sounding like Ms I'm sure I've thought that about another double deck type too, can't remember which one now though.
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Post by RandomBusesGirl on Jun 19, 2017 0:45:18 GMT
Such a shame with the teacher you could have pretended to be going shopping in Stratford or something! Lol that would've defied the point - I got the 308s coming from Wanstead Flats towards Stratford then onto Leyton - my Obsession must've carried on into Hackney. So how would getting off earlier than usual help lol?
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 19, 2017 0:55:27 GMT
Hmmmm....I'm sure I've ridden on many buses before I can remember in detail, but my first ever 'detailed' experience of riding a London bus was on an MCW on the good old 82. The journey was from Baker Street (where I used to live) to Finchley Road, what enhanced this memory was a particular hump on the bus lane on the approach to Swiss Cottage, as the MCWs had very soft suspension I used to always enjoy the continuous bouncing when passing that hump given the driver was driving fast enough, which enabled for a fun ride That and the prominent whine emitted from their engines, which I loved!
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Post by wivenswold on Jun 21, 2017 22:21:17 GMT
I was taken home from Barking Hospital Maternity Wing on a 62 in 1972 so an RT.
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