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Post by M1104 on May 21, 2020 17:13:08 GMT
Like a lot of others on here the Metrobus was one of my most memorable journeys. The first Metro I travelled on was the 131 when its Sunday service was extended beyond Wimbledon to Clapham Common¹, the 155 not running on that day of the week. I remember how comfortable the ride was over road bumps and over railways bridges, air suspension being relatively new to the London Transport fleet. I also found the gear changes unusual for those buses as I was used to the four speed gear changes of the Routemaster, RT and DMS.
I had also wondered why the bus jerked every now and then, which was in fact where the driver took his foot off the accelerator whilst in 2nd gear where it would often jump into top (3rd) gear up to a few seconds later...even if slowing down. As I was a pre-teen then all those factors were rather alien to me. Eventually the breed started appearing on the 44, which at the time started from Mitcham Cricketers and therefore much more rides on the Metros, which we also did a lot on the 220 which then started from Tooting Station.
My first Metrobus thrash as a passenger was on the 105 near Heathrow along the 40 or 50 mile an hour section, where it seemed so unusual to hear the axle whining noise it made at a much higher pitch, which although can be a bit deafening for some was actually music to my ears in conjunction with the engine speed (reminiscent of the DAF DB250 many moons later). Suffice to say it wasn't my last time riding that route for the trash. One thing I am so glad of when I eventually joined the buses was that I got to drive the Metros with the added bonus of having a B20 variant DMS as a trainer bus, that being at the time when the latter were all but withdrawn from London service.
The Heathrow area was the first time in me riding an LS class Leyland National on the old route 82, which also had it's own thrashing sections which I enjoyed. Then once the 152 converted to the type I enjoyed them again along the A3, enjoying the route beforehand with the pre-B20 variant DMS.
¹ - early morning journeys to Aldwych
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Post by 6HP502C on May 29, 2020 17:55:57 GMT
My most memorable journeys is when the driver has done crazy things. 122 - a schoolboy got on without a ticket and took a seat upstairs. The driver followed him upstairs and the boy spat on him, so the driver punched him in the face. 123 - one driver was driving the VLA a bit too quickly but without flooring it. It had been raining and a passenger pressed the bell. We were doing about 45mph along Forest Road and the driver slammed on the brakes. The bus aquaplaned with the tyres screeching at a low pitch and the engine revs dropping to idle. The driver regained control although he did overshoot the stop. 185 - When Easylink collapsed and the ex Harris Bus Olympians found a home on the route, I enjoyed riding them. Recall one fast journey on R365 DJN where the driver was constantly flooring it and drove in the outside lane all the way along Rushey Green, overtaking other buses including another Pyoneer in the bus lane! 185 - when that snowstorm in February 2009 turned the roads into ice rinks and got the entire bus network suspended. Before that point some of the buses were having severe adhesion issues - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQ9Ej-HbG4197 - I used to commute from Dulwich to Croydon College and it usually took 42-50 minutes. One day it had snowed and the roads were iced up. The usual DLA turned up and the driver was driving as if the roads were dry. This time it took 32 minutes as the driver was hammering that DLA like nobody's business - I remember it holding onto that 1st gear for dear life for most of the journey. I always remember the driver's face if the journey was particularly fast (as I hope to get on their bus again) and some years later I recognised him as we were working together on rail replacement! 312 - a driver took the corner at Forest Hill way too quickly and it felt like the nearside wheels of that X-FGP DLA lifted off the ground. Passengers were screaming. 417 - remember one ride after school where the driver took the W-VGJ DLA up to about 50mph down Crown Dale before attacking Central Hill - he was lucky nothing came out of Elder Road. P13 - traffic used to queue on Dulwich Common from the College Road junction all the way back to Lordship Lane. One morning I was on a Y-TGH LDP on the P13 and the driver drove on the wrong side of the road for some considerable distance before cutting in aggressively to the first gap. N9 - back when it was W-BCW VP operated I recall a drunk man got on at Hyde Park Corner and was babbling incoherently at the driver. The driver got out of the cab and flung the guy off the bus by the scruff of his neck. The guy tried to grab at the driver's turban but the driver was too strong for him. The driver used the emergency button to shut the doors and continued driving. N9 - the driver shut the doors before everyone had gotten off and someone pressed the centre door emergency button as it had moved off. It was a V-OOE VA. Despite the doors and the alarm in the cab beeping, the driver continued along Kensington High Street with those back doors open at speeds of up to 40mph before serving the next stop.
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Post by LondonNorthern on May 29, 2020 21:37:51 GMT
168 - Back in my early childhood years I was chased around the entire bus by another child
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Post by 10121ddo on May 30, 2020 22:07:05 GMT
My earliest memories only go back to 2001/02 sadly, and grew up in Trident (or Gemini B7) dominated areas in NE London. But here are my top non-trident memories in chronological order, all pre-2010.
Early 2000s 97/158 First London - cannot recall for the life of me which type it would've been, but they were likely Olympians with the vivid bright green bumpy handrails (I don't think the TNs' or the Metrobuses' handrails were green, but rather the weird turquoise First used in the early noughties....). Most vivid memory from infancy was journey up to Walthamstow from Leyton on weekends on these.
Mid-late 2000s 9 - Dodging all the VLE and SLEs for an RM from Knightsbridge to Green Park on Saturday evenings. (Although I did still love the VLEs and moreso the SLEs) 20 - Back when it had DLAs and I'd catch one from Walthamstow if I'd missed a 275. Would easily make up for time and hop onto the 275 by the Woodford cricket ground. 52 - One time the driver never stopped at the bus stop outside AC and pulled straight into the garage, turned the lights off and left the bus. Some strong words were exchanged. Never missed the last stop since.... 113 - A1/A41 on the royalty of VPs with a litre of M&S banana milkshake at the ready for the voyage from Edgware to Oxford Circus. My most popular bus ride as a kid. The TEs started to appear too and they were just as fun. Did it again recently with VMH2446 and just wasn't the same. 167/549 - The MCVs racing from Ilford to Barkingside (or Woodford up to Loughton) with the Dockland's Buses livery and plumes of smoke trailing behind - just iconic. 179 - Getting one of the SN58 E400s when brand new and absolutely despising the squashed font of the blinds so much that I vowed never to get one ever again. Odd thought process, but such was adolescence. 453 - Best journey on an artic in London, Westminster to Deptford Bridge. Had covered the likes of 25, 38 and 73 and always found them sluggish or too crowded. X26 - By sheer luck, I caught the only decker on the X26 that day (an 06 reg Omnidekka) and did the full length of the route for the first and (still) only time.
Fastest journeys that just stay with me 61 19135, Chislehurst to Bromley, winter evening 2018 - the thrash of a Trident E400 goes without saying, but this was incessant. For the whole journey. 95 DE1789, a late evening in 2018; thrashed all the way down the A40 screaming all the way to White City, where DPS30682 conveniently arrived just behind us! 151 WVL447, evening May 2019; Hackbridge to Sutton - speediest B9 journey hands down. And I've had B9s on the A4 numerous times between Bath and Bristol.... just unreal. 227 23101/105/108 - does this even need elaboration...!
Unique journeys Not much has happened by comparison with other posts in this thread. Perhaps I've been normalised to the activities that occur on the top-deck of a 58/69/97. But on my first time riding a 227 (23101), we just left a stop on High St Bromley at a relatively low speed. A couple seconds later I felt something collide with the window I was leaning against to my left, creating this deafening bang. Everyone turned around, so I looked behind me and it turned out a man was chasing the bus; the driver immediately put his foot down as we watched the guy running in the middle of the road behind us. We swung onto Beckenham Lane and as soon as I saw the downhill descent I knew we'd lose him. It came completely out the blue.
Lastly, thanks to a very nice driver at T who curtailed a 275 mid-route on the way to Walthamstow, I managed to get a private ride down to Bakers' Arms on a maxxed-out LX03 trident down Forest, Woodford New and Lea Bridge Roads. A one-off privilege I've never experienced ever again on any other route. (Circa 2013/14).
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Post by vjaska on May 30, 2020 22:16:33 GMT
My earliest memories only go back to 2001/02 sadly, and grew up in Trident (or Gemini B7) dominated areas in NE London. But here are my top non-trident memories in chronological order, all pre-2010. Early 2000s97/158 First London - cannot recall for the life of me which type it would've been, but they were likely Olympians with the vivid bright green bumpy handrails (I don't think the TNs' or the Metrobuses' handrails were green, but rather the weird turquoise First used in the early noughties....). Most vivid memory from infancy was journey up to Walthamstow from Leyton on weekends on these. Mid-late 2000s9 - Dodging all the VLE and SLEs for an RM from Knightsbridge to Green Park on Saturday evenings. (Although I did still love the VLEs and moreso the SLEs) 20 - Back when it had DLAs and I'd catch one from Walthamstow if I'd missed a 275. Would easily make up for time and hop onto the 275 by the Woodford cricket ground. 52 - One time the driver never stopped at the bus stop outside AC and pulled straight into the garage, turned the lights off and left the bus. Some strong words were exchanged. Never missed the last stop since.... 113 - A1/A41 on the royalty of VPs with a litre of M&S banana milkshake at the ready for the voyage from Edgware to Oxford Circus. My most popular bus ride as a kid. The TEs started to appear too and they were just as fun. Did it again recently with VMH2446 and just wasn't the same. 167/549 - The MCVs racing from Ilford to Barkingside (or Woodford up to Loughton) with the Dockland's Buses livery and plumes of smoke trailing behind - just iconic. 179 - Getting one of the SN58 E400s when brand new and absolutely despising the squashed font of the blinds so much that I vowed never to get one ever again. Odd thought process, but such was adolescence. 453 - Best journey on an artic in London, Westminster to Deptford Bridge. Had covered the likes of 25, 38 and 73 and always found them sluggish or too crowded. X26 - By sheer luck, I caught the only decker on the X26 that day (an 06 reg Omnidekka) and did the full length of the route for the first and (still) only time. Fastest journeys that just stay with me 61 19135, Chislehurst to Bromley, winter evening 2018 - the thrash of a Trident E400 goes without saying, but this was incessant. For the whole journey. 95 DE1789, a late evening in 2018; thrashed all the way down the A40 screaming all the way to White City, where DPS30682 conveniently arrived just behind us! 151 WVL447, evening May 2019; Hackbridge to Sutton - speediest B9 journey hands down. And I've had B9s on the A4 numerous times between Bath and Bristol.... just unreal. 227 23101/105/108 - does this even need elaboration...! Unique journeys
Not much has happened by comparison with other posts in this thread. Perhaps I've been normalised to the activities that occur on the top-deck of a 58/69/97. But on my first time riding a 227 (23101), we just left a stop on High St Bromley at a relatively low speed. A couple seconds later I felt something collide with the window I was leaning against to my left, creating this deafening bang. Everyone turned around, so I looked behind me and it turned out a man was chasing the bus; the driver immediately put his foot down as we watched the guy running in the middle of the road behind us. We swung onto Beckenham Lane and as soon as I saw the downhill descent I knew we'd lose him. It came completely out the blue. Lastly, thanks to a very nice driver at T who curtailed a 275 mid-route on the way to Walthamstow, I managed to get a private ride down to Bakers' Arms on a maxxed-out LX03 trident down Forest, Woodford New and Lea Bridge Roads. A one-off privilege I've never experienced ever again on any other route. (Circa 2013/14). In regards to the 97 & 158 part, whilst I've no idea what both routes used as it's not my area at all, all TN's had the turqoise handrails that First were keen on whilst many M's (both LT spec and non LT spec ones) did have green handrails downstairs only as part of DDA regulations introduced in the mid 80's though M's mainly had smooth handrails rather than the bumpy textured ones that were common throughout the 90's new vehicles and the early low floor buses, some as far along as 2002 buses.
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 31, 2020 20:55:27 GMT
Funny you should say that. I ordered a Nokia 3200 and 7210 last week and received them today. Need a work phone whilst working away from the office and got nostalgic for polyphonic ringtones and long battery life! When the 7210 was hot I was 12 and couldn't afford one so chuffed to have one now! It's not a Metro and I don't know if the bus makes it into 3rd gear (I think it might just enter 3rd about 60 seconds in) but this is an extract from a 607 route visual showing Coney Green to The Greenway - and the speed camera is still there! For some reason the cooling fans always came on going down that hill, never did work out why www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Fw53d3iiENice video! Just how the 607 should be driven! Now it's a Greenford route with Hybrids, it just doesn't feel the same anymore using it! In fact, probably the last decent journies on it were with you behind the wheel, in a B7TL of course! Remember going up to White City and back cause I had nothing else better to do, as we were nearing Uxbridge, we'd of had a similar scenario to your video happening until, if I remember correctly, an idiot decided to run out onto the road in front of you by Hillingdon Fire Station causing you to hit the brakes and blast the horn at him! Found another video of a 607 pulling away from Hillingdon Fire Station. Fast forward to around 2:28 - youtu.be/HvTNB9g4TXE?t=148Once again the cooling fan starts roaring once it reaches the top of the hill. I still can't figure out why it's always that specific spot the buses got hot - maybe the bus knew it was near journey's end! I sure do miss those VWs - I wonder how they're getting on in Ireland.
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Post by vjaska on Aug 31, 2020 21:46:12 GMT
Nice video! Just how the 607 should be driven! Now it's a Greenford route with Hybrids, it just doesn't feel the same anymore using it! In fact, probably the last decent journies on it were with you behind the wheel, in a B7TL of course! Remember going up to White City and back cause I had nothing else better to do, as we were nearing Uxbridge, we'd of had a similar scenario to your video happening until, if I remember correctly, an idiot decided to run out onto the road in front of you by Hillingdon Fire Station causing you to hit the brakes and blast the horn at him! Found another video of a 607 pulling away from Hillingdon Fire Station. Fast forward to around 2:28 - youtu.be/HvTNB9g4TXE?t=148Once again the cooling fan starts roaring once it reaches the top of the hill. I still can't figure out why it's always that specific spot the buses got hot - maybe the bus knew it was near journey's end! I sure do miss those VWs - I wonder how they're getting on in Ireland. One of the VW's I had on the 607 had a peculiar cooling fan where it would only roar at the top end of each gear but was dead silent at the lower end of each gear. Some Euro II B7TL cooling fans had a tendancy to randomly switch on & off without warning and at random moments including when stationary regardless of how hard the bus was being pushed. In comparison, Euro III B7TL cooling fans would either be on full blast constantly or when pushed hard, the roar would start quiet and get louder & louder until at full volume.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2020 2:11:24 GMT
Feeling quite nostalgic now re-reading this thread.
I used to like rail replacement services, or Special Railway Service as it used to be called. In LRT days these were sourced from various garages , usually but not always pretty local to the route.
Like them for the fact the drivers certainly used to take the opportunity to fly around between stations, occasionally getting lost ( no direction boards attached to road furniture back then ) ,
Very rare to see a red bus on a British Rail service as well.
So my highlights were one Sunday morning in the mid to late 80’s when Metros from various West London garages raced up and down the M4 between Hammersmith and Heathrow. Every single driver cained their bus down the M4, apart from one who took the A4 instead.
Rayners Lane to Acton Town was another good route, again always M’s.
Another treat was when FW used to put M’s out on the R68 and sometimes the R70 on Sundays during the Summer. The R68 had a Kew Gardens Summer Sunday extension via the Kew Road, it was nice seeing FW M’s parked on stand at Kew Gardens, reminding me of the former 90B days.
What I like now though, is the frequency improvements and much more varied routes, If someone had told me in 1990 that red buses would be running to Dorking, or they’d be a night service over the 111, I simply wouldn’t have believed them.
Despite all the negatives, we are very lucky in London to have such a wide sprawling network and now, a fair few different types of buses, even if many sound quite similar.
Night buses are still great fun as well, even if the traditional hub of Trafalgar Square is no more. Every night bus smelt of hot dogs and fried onions leaving Trafalgar Square.
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Post by rugbyref on Sept 1, 2020 18:26:44 GMT
Riding a Routemaster on a tour of Toronto, with the guide/conductor standing on the platform and reaching up to the bell by the entrance to the saloon each time. I pointed out to him the bell button positions behind him. He was somewhat surprised that I knew his bus better than he did!
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Post by mondraker275 on Sept 2, 2020 9:31:57 GMT
107 journey on New Years Day morning. Fastest journey and there were some tight roads.
69 in the heaviest rain storm I have ever experienced.
Another 69 journey where the driver just drove past stops when nobody was alighting even though our bus was empty and people wanted to board. Just completely the weirdest journey. Had to complain on behalf of the people at the several stops we passed. Unbelievable fast journey. Although this happened 7 or so years ago, people may link this to what is happening now, when we have half empty buses driving by stops, which I am also enjoying! I was on the 18 from Wembley to Euston and it saved so much time and made the journey great. Similarly, was on the 607 and X140 end to end the other day and you get that same great feeling driving by stops. More express routes please. Rail replacements are good for the same reason, fast journeys on buses.
Buses on weird diversions also bring good memories like the 275 when is went by Palmerston Road and also Queens Road during the works at Walthamstow Central.
I dont quite have the same nostalgic memories for bus types but the closest is probably the single deck Stagecoach buses that ran on the 230.
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Post by mkay315 on Sept 9, 2020 10:40:28 GMT
I have a few buses to list.
First I remembered when the 296 used to go to Harold Wood with a PVR of 9 with those K-888 reg olympians joined by the Palatine 2 in the 90s
I remembered the 145 when it had those Dennis Lances on that route and boy did it used to fly on the a12. I also remembered how Leytonstone used to look like before they did the roadworks around the area to link the a12 to Bow
I remembered the 171a (now present day 341) in Tottenham getting that to west green through Phillip Lane after getting off the 123 and using the 41 to Archway with the Mcw Metrobus.
I remembered when the 253 was two overlapping routes in Hackney using the J-BSH olympians to get to Stamford Hill.
I miss those days.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Sept 9, 2020 10:56:24 GMT
I think I was spoiled growing up in East London.
My most memorable journeys were probably when Grey-Green ran the 179. The 179, at the time, ran through to Barking and drivers took their vehicles back to DX for breaks and sign-off. If a bus was late back, it was replaced by anything that was spare in the yard which often meant a route with a PVR of 6 could have 6 different types on it. The best two vehicles were the Scania K92s (E107/108 JYV) which were originally purchased for Grey-Greens commuter routes in North Kent. Occasionally the weird and super noisy East-Lancs re-bodied B10Ms from the 20 would appear. Worst vehicles that appeared on the 179 were an East Lancs bodied Olympian (A279ROW) and the awful Metrobuses.
My other favourites were the E-reg Scania N112s Grey-Green usually kept on the 275- they had a unique sort of damp smell to them. Years later I was in Ensigns yard in Purfleet after getting a lift back from a rail job. One of the ex-275 Scanias was in the yard, they still smelled the same inside.
Also have to give mention to the brilliant Optare Deltas East London used, initially on the 148/129/150 before they transferred to BK for the 169 and 369.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Sept 9, 2020 10:58:31 GMT
I have a few buses to list. First I remembered when the 296 used to go to Harold Wood with a PVR of 9 with those K-888 reg olympians joined by the Palatine 2 in the 90s I remembered the 145 when it had those Dennis Lances on that route and boy did it used to fly on the a12. I also remembered how Leytonstone used to look like before they did the roadworks around the area to link the a12 to Bow I remembered the 171a (now present day 341) in Tottenham getting that to west green through Phillip Lane after getting off the 123 and using the 41 to Archway with the Mcw Metrobus. I remembered when the 253 was two overlapping routes in Hackney using the J-BSH olympians to get to Stamford Hill. I miss those days. wow the Olympians on the 296 with their awful yellow plastic seats. Probably my all time favourite vehicle was K888TKS, the unique Leyland Olympian with the Palatine II body. If only LVF was round then I'd probably spend weeks chasing it around. My last trip on one of the Lances was on the 369- got on it at Hainault Street, only for it to break down at the traffic lights opposite Sainsbury's in Ilford
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Post by mkay315 on Sept 9, 2020 11:05:19 GMT
I have a few buses to list. First I remembered when the 296 used to go to Harold Wood with a PVR of 9 with those K-888 reg olympians joined by the Palatine 2 in the 90s I remembered the 145 when it had those Dennis Lances on that route and boy did it used to fly on the a12. I also remembered how Leytonstone used to look like before they did the roadworks around the area to link the a12 to Bow I remembered the 171a (now present day 341) in Tottenham getting that to west green through Phillip Lane after getting off the 123 and using the 41 to Archway with the Mcw Metrobus. I remembered when the 253 was two overlapping routes in Hackney using the J-BSH olympians to get to Stamford Hill. I miss those days. wow the Olympians on the 296 with their awful yellow plastic seats. Probably my all time favourite vehicle was K888TKS, the unique Leyland Olympian with the Palatine II body. If only LVF was round then I'd probably spend weeks chasing it around. My last trip on one of the Lances was on the 369- got on it at Hainault Street, only for it to break down at the traffic lights opposite Sainsbury's in Ilford Funny enough of all the routes I saw the lances on. The 369 was the one route I saw it on the least. Heck I even used to see it more on the 62 especially around Chadwell Heath. Sorry you had a bad last experience with the lance at the sainsburys. I did like the L888TTT bus where it had those c69-77 stock moquette style seats with Ilford Bodywash plastered all over the bus. Good times good times. I also remembered when the 179 used to come to Barking. Ahhhh if there's a way to bring that bus back to Barking again I will definitely be on it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2020 19:18:19 GMT
I think I was spoiled growing up in East London. My most memorable journeys were probably when Grey-Green ran the 179. The 179, at the time, ran through to Barking and drivers took their vehicles back to DX for breaks and sign-off. If a bus was late back, it was replaced by anything that was spare in the yard which often meant a route with a PVR of 6 could have 6 different types on it. The best two vehicles were the Scania K92s (E107/108 JYV) which were originally purchased for Grey-Greens commuter routes in North Kent. Occasionally the weird and super noisy East-Lancs re-bodied B10Ms from the 20 would appear. Worst vehicles that appeared on the 179 were an East Lancs bodied Olympian (A279ROW) and the awful Metrobuses. My other favourites were the E-reg Scania N112s Grey-Green usually kept on the 275- they had a unique sort of damp smell to them. Years later I was in Ensigns yard in Purfleet after getting a lift back from a rail job. One of the ex-275 Scanias was in the yard, they still smelled the same inside. Also have to give mention to the brilliant Optare Deltas East London used, initially on the 148/129/150 before they transferred to BK for the 169 and 369. Around 2000 I was using the 275 and remember that smell very well on the Volvo City buses too! The route then got some Northern Counties Olympians that had such a strong diesel smell.
Between Grey Green and Capital City Bus we were really spoilt in east London in the 1990s and early 00s.
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