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Post by VPL630 on Apr 27, 2015 22:20:02 GMT
First off, MODS if there is a better place for this feel free to move it  Secondly, on Sunday (26th) I got the chance to drive ex Arriva London MA30 for half an hour, The bus itself was in surprisingly good condition despite being in dire need of a repaint, everything was working except the blinds, it also sounded quite healthy and went like a rocket when you put your foot down, The only thing that has been changed is that the assault screen and cab door have been remove and placed in the rear portion of the bus, The retarder was quite harsh on some down shifts which typical of a Euro 3 ZF Gearbox but if you timed releasing the brakes slightly just before it was less harsh, I guess that's something drivers get accustomed too but as this was my first time driving a bus with like a 2 min brief on how how to drive it I didn't have time to master it. All in all for a bus that is 18 metres long it was quite manoeuvrable and you always had just that little bit extra of steering lock. It takes a bit of getting used to when you look in your mirrors (which are huge and helpful) and see the rear of the bus 'bend' when going round a corner but you get used to it the same way when you are driving it, it feels like the bus is quite small, well that's what I found anyway, anyway here's me thrashing it round the loop Thirdly, Here is the link to the website where you can book you "Experience" The prices aren't great, well I think they are a ripoff to be honest but it's something different and I don't see anywhere else doing it www.theexpeditional.com/experience/The RML they have is NOT a dart master |
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Post by rmz19 on Apr 27, 2015 22:37:33 GMT
This is really cool, I'd love to drive a bendy!. Very pricey for a 10 min session which is nowhere enough for me, that price should be for at least a 30 min session!. But I'm certainly considering a 30 min experience with a bendy  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 4:44:46 GMT
First off, MODS if there is a better place for this feel free to move it Secondly, on Sunday (26th) I got the chance to drive ex Arriva London MA30 for half an hour, The bus itself was in surprisingly good condition despite being in dire need of a repaint, everything was working except the blinds, it also sounded quite healthy and went like a rocket when you put your foot down, The only thing that has been changed is that the assault screen and cab door have been remove and placed in the rear portion of the bus, The retarder was quite harsh on some down shifts which typical of a Euro 3 ZF Gearbox but if you timed releasing the brakes slightly just before it was less harsh, I guess that's something drivers get accustomed too but as this was my first time driving a bus with like a 2 min brief on how how to drive it I didn't have time to master it. All in all for a bus that is 18 metres long it was quite manoeuvrable and you always had just that little bit extra of steering lock. It takes a bit of getting used to when you look in your mirrors (which are huge and helpful) and see the rear of the bus 'bend' when going round a corner but you get used to it the same way when you are driving it, it feels like the bus is quite small, well that's what I found anyway, anyway here's me thrashing it round the loop Thirdly, Here is the link to the website where you can book you "Experience" The prices aren't great, well I think they are a ripoff to be honest but it's something different and I don't see anywhere else doing it www.theexpeditional.com/experience/The RML they have is NOT a dart master It is a Cummins C-engined one though, I know that for a fact. Worth noting the majority of Dartmasters are RMs with Dartmaster RMLs being quite uncommon. The modern refurb ones however with Cummins Cs, Scanias or Ivecos are very common and nearly all RMLs had that treatment (except 900, 903, 2760 off the top of my head). |
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Post by ServerKing on Apr 28, 2015 6:54:01 GMT
Looks good, but pricey  |
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Post by VPL630 on Apr 28, 2015 8:13:43 GMT
Looks good, but pricey Yeah it pricey but I think it's mainly due to the amount of fuel they use, The buses are stored in Rainham and then there is the hire charge for North Weald Air field plus parts for buses really aren't cheap, a New gearbox for example is upwards of £10,000 |
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Post by M1104 on Apr 28, 2015 8:55:27 GMT
Looks good, but pricey Yeah it pricey but I think it's mainly due to the amount of fuel they use, The buses are stored in Rainham and then there is the hire charge for North Weald Air field plus parts for buses really aren't cheap, a New gearbox for example is upwards of £10,000 Considering it's a Routemaster it's worth the venture, especially for those that don't have a pcv licence or never got a chance to drive one when employed.... me being the latter . Will need to dig deep into my piggy bank for that 'ol gal' but the way I'm looking at it i'm not only paying to drive the bus I am paying to hold that experience forever. It's good that you can bring spectators with you for free. Hopefully my friend will be interested and we can video each other. |
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Post by bigbaddom1981 on Apr 28, 2015 8:58:25 GMT
Thanks for this DW498! I have put this on my Christmas list to drive both! Always wanted to drive both and it's worth the high cost I think!
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Post by snoggle on Apr 28, 2015 9:25:55 GMT
I've looked at doing this before. Unfortunately I don't meet the criteria as I assume they want a full driving licence passed for cars whereas I only have a full motorcycle licence. I also wouldn't fit in a RM cab although it's the bendy I'd much prefer to drive. Many many years ago I had a go on a Bristol VR on a "drive a bus" circuit and have also driven a Leyland National, MCW Metroliner and Scania Metropolitan (in garage conditions). I've also been lucky enough to drive the Tyne and Wear Metro several times plus a tram in Oslo  plus a couple of tube trains. I had lots of "pretend" drives in Bristol REs but never a real one. |
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Post by sid on Apr 28, 2015 10:04:39 GMT
I've looked at doing this before. Unfortunately I don't meet the criteria as I assume they want a full driving licence passed for cars whereas I only have a full motorcycle licence. I also wouldn't fit in a RM cab although it's the bendy I'd much prefer to drive. Many many years ago I had a go on a Bristol VR on a "drive a bus" circuit and have also driven a Leyland National, MCW Metroliner and Scania Metropolitan (in garage conditions). I've also been lucky enough to drive the Tyne and Wear Metro several times plus a tram in Oslo plus a couple of tube trains. I had lots of "pretend" drives in Bristol REs but never a real one. I wouldn't have thought a full licence would be needed if it is on private land? Some years ago there was an event at Detling Airfield and a drive a bus, no licence was needed and it was free with an optional charity donation |
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Post by M1104 on Apr 28, 2015 10:13:29 GMT
I've looked at doing this before. Unfortunately I don't meet the criteria as I assume they want a full driving licence passed for cars whereas I only have a full motorcycle licence. I also wouldn't fit in a RM cab although it's the bendy I'd much prefer to drive. Many many years ago I had a go on a Bristol VR on a "drive a bus" circuit and have also driven a Leyland National, MCW Metroliner and Scania Metropolitan (in garage conditions). I've also been lucky enough to drive the Tyne and Wear Metro several times plus a tram in Oslo plus a couple of tube trains. I had lots of "pretend" drives in Bristol REs but never a real one. I wouldn't have thought a full licence would be needed if it is on private land? Some years ago there was an event at Detling Airfield and a drive a bus, no licence was needed and it was free with an optional charity donation Considering that only a short time is given for a session (depending on what you pay for) it's probably best to have a licence holder where less prep is likely needed beforehand... bearing in mind one could have a full licence and is a bit rusty from not having driven for years. Also it could be for insurance reasons that a licence is needed as I imagine part of the fee paid goes towards that... possibly for their peace of mind should anything happen. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 11:57:21 GMT
I wouldn't have thought a full licence would be needed if it is on private land? Some years ago there was an event at Detling Airfield and a drive a bus, no licence was needed and it was free with an optional charity donation Considering that only a short time is given for a session (depending on what you pay for) it's probably best to have a licence holder where less prep is likely needed beforehand... bearing in mind one could have a full licence and is a bit rusty from not having driven for years. Also it could be for insurance reasons that a licence is needed as I imagine part of the fee paid goes towards that... possibly for their peace of mind should anything happen. States at the bottom of the page a full car licence is needed. |
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Post by M1104 on Apr 28, 2015 12:09:37 GMT
Considering that only a short time is given for a session (depending on what you pay for) it's probably best to have a licence holder where less prep is likely needed beforehand... bearing in mind one could have a full licence and is a bit rusty from not having driven for years. Also it could be for insurance reasons that a licence is needed as I imagine part of the fee paid goes towards that... possibly for their peace of mind should anything happen. States at the bottom of the page a full car licence is needed. I know, I was explaining 'why' a car license holder is required as per Sid's posting. |
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Post by M1104 on Apr 28, 2015 12:32:14 GMT
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Post by snoggle on Apr 28, 2015 12:37:14 GMT
Isn't it the same place just sold via a different company? |
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Post by allentc on Apr 28, 2015 13:15:37 GMT
I wanted to do this and then decided that I might as well go the whole nine yards, so I saved up, and paid privately for bus driving lessons.
For Expeditional's cheaper packages I was able to have a proper two hour session on public roads. OK, so there were a lot of upfront costs before I could get started: medical and theory tests. Then the cost of the lessons and finally the test at the end but out of it I obtained a license which may come in handy in the future. It was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of the skills I learned from bus driving I have carried over to car driving. I haven't driven a bus since in about two years but I do fancy one of two refresher classes.
Besides I have an eye on preserving a bus in the future...so will have needed the license anyway.
I wouldn't mind trying for a truck license next but there are several license stages before you can get to drive a full size 44 tonne artic (C+E Class 1) :-(
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plus a couple of tube trains. I had lots of "pretend" drives in Bristol REs but never a real one. 
