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Post by capitalomnibus on Jun 17, 2021 22:21:59 GMT
I've got a few fond memories of the MCW Metrobus. I loved getting on the 41 around West Green Road to Hornsey. I do remember back in 1999 when the 25 was awarded to first capital their Plaxton Presidents were late so some Metrobuses were hired until the remaining tridents came. WH241 do you remember this? I remember then that Capital Citybus purchased a few ex LT Metrobuses. I think they did also hire a few ex LT Titans which I think they used on the 91 or (76/259) as well due to late deliveries. It was ncie to see these ex LT Metro's run back on the 97 and other ex [WW] routes that prematurely lost Titans etc when London Forest ceased in 1991. |
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Post by redexpress on Jun 18, 2021 7:31:33 GMT
I've got a few fond memories of the MCW Metrobus. I loved getting on the 41 around West Green Road to Hornsey. I do remember back in 1999 when the 25 was awarded to first capital their Plaxton Presidents were late so some Metrobuses were hired until the remaining tridents came. WH241 do you remember this? I remember then that Capital Citybus purchased a few ex LT Metrobuses. I think they did also hire a few ex LT Titans which I think they used on the 91 or (76/259) as well due to late deliveries. It was ncie to see these ex LT Metro's run back on the 97 and other ex [WW] routes that prematurely lost Titans etc when London Forest ceased in 1991. I remember Capital hiring Titans from MTL London when they took over the 91. These were ex-London Suburban vehicles that MTL had been using on the 4. The Ms off the 91 were shifted to the 4 to allow the Titans to be disposed of (once Capital had returned them). Can't remember what (if anything) they hired for the 76/259 takeup.
By the time Capital took over the 25 they were in common ownership with Centrewest so were able to borrow some Ms from them. Not sure if they had to hire in anything from other operators as well?
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Post by M1104 on Jun 18, 2021 9:21:52 GMT
Growing up in south east London there weren’t many routes that ran metrobuses. All the routes around me (171,172,185,47,21) all ran Titans. The only memory I have of a metro is was on the rare occasion I got the 157 up to Croydon! That would of been because T’s were mainly concentrated in South East & East London whilst M’s were concentrated to South West, West, North West & North. South London got a mix of both types although as usual, every area likely had exceptions like the Sidcup trial but especially when independents started popping up more so Ash Grove (AG) was also an exception resulting with some Ms joining Ts on the 35. I remember almost getting on one at Clapham Common before realising it wasn't a 37, that then using Ms from CA (Clapham Garage) and AV. |
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Post by vjaska on Jun 18, 2021 9:35:26 GMT
I remember then that Capital Citybus purchased a few ex LT Metrobuses. I think they did also hire a few ex LT Titans which I think they used on the 91 or (76/259) as well due to late deliveries. It was ncie to see these ex LT Metro's run back on the 97 and other ex [WW] routes that prematurely lost Titans etc when London Forest ceased in 1991. I remember Capital hiring Titans from MTL London when they took over the 91. These were ex-London Suburban vehicles that MTL had been using on the 4. The Ms off the 91 were shifted to the 4 to allow the Titans to be disposed of (once Capital had returned them). Can't remember what (if anything) they hired for the 76/259 takeup. By the time Capital took over the 25 they were in common ownership with Centrewest so were able to borrow some Ms from them. Not sure if they had to hire in anything from other operators as well?
According to the new Dennis Trident book, 10 ex Stagecoach L’s were hired in from Ensignbus allowing M’s from the 1 to start the 25 alongside the TN’s. |
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Post by mkay315 on Jun 18, 2021 21:56:03 GMT
Another reason why I had to go with the Metrobus. This video reminded me about the time I got on the 279 in the 90s in Tottenham going up Seven Sisters Road. Here's a little gem I watched back in 2014 on youtube with the kickdown. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx_g3o3iTww |
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Post by M1199 on Jul 1, 2021 19:20:32 GMT
Came across this below video on YouTube which brought back even more wonderful memories of riding Metro's: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpA-EPbHbswThe view of the cab area from those bench seats above the wheels, the sound of the passenger placing his money on the cash tray to the driver issuing the ticket and the passenger pulling it from the ticket machine, the steering wheel being attached in any old position to the column, the beep of the radio, the suspension squeaking, the hissing of the rear doors opening before the handbrake is applied - I assume that's the box shifting into Neutral (Sure M1104 would be able to confirm that) The rear door audible warning, to the wine of the gear box whilst it's in traffic. Heck even the sound of the handbrake being applied to the little DT is nostalgic nowadays! The best part of the video though... The weaving around the 2 parked cars and traffic island overtaking a cyclist whilst driving 1 handed as he was taking a fare! |
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Post by M1104 on Jul 2, 2021 10:50:34 GMT
Came across this below video on YouTube which brought back even more wonderful memories of riding Metro's: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpA-EPbHbswThe view of the cab area from those bench seats above the wheels, the sound of the passenger placing his money on the cash tray to the driver issuing the ticket and the passenger pulling it from the ticket machine, the steering wheel being attached in any old position to the column, the beep of the radio, the suspension squeaking, the hissing of the rear doors opening before the handbrake is applied - I assume that's the box shifting into Neutral (Sure M1104 would be able to confirm that) The rear door audible warning, to the wine of the gear box whilst it's in traffic. Heck even the sound of the handbrake being applied to the little DT is nostalgic nowadays! The best part of the video though... The weaving around the 2 parked cars and traffic island overtaking a cyclist whilst driving 1 handed as he was taking a fare! Now that's a blast from the past as M1304 was the bus i drove on my first night doing the N77, the first half being a rounder on the 344 prior to meal relief. She was one of the pool¹ of buses the shunters used to do their best to allocate on night duties, even if the bus was already route allocated. For example if a late turn 295 driver was taking their break at the shed with the same running number all night he/she'd come back from the canteen to find that running number's plated on a different Metro. Regarding what appears to sound like the doors opening before the handbrake is applied (around 01:09 mins), the doors weren't actually opened yet as it was the driver applying the handbrakes before the bus had completely stopped....a bit of a bad habit done with a select few of us as we knew those handbrakes weren't as powerful as those on the next generation of buses, like the DT class Dart seen in front. In watching this video i can feel and smell the heat from the engine as if it were still the 90s. lol This video's surely hit me in my enthusiast heart, those days sadly long gone.  By the way recognise the route straightway, the 337. ¹ - mainly the B reg examples as they were fastest with the best pullaway settings...M1125, M1177, M1180 and M1196 being some of the other regulars. |
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Post by ServerKing on Jul 2, 2021 20:56:37 GMT
It's the Metro for me hands down. Besides growing up with them and eventually driving them I love the overall sounds of the engine, retarder and axle...somewhat the predecessor of the DB250 in that respect. It's also to me the best looking box shaped decker, especially when they first came out with the black front grills with the surrounding metal frame. I also loved that amongst the 1442 buses built for London Transport M1084-M1105 plus M1442 were fitted with the Cummin unit with M1104 spec'd with a supped up turbo plus a longer gearhold on the kickdown... a predecessor to the euro3 DB250 in that respect. Despite my preference of the Metros I would've loved the opportunity to have tried out the Titan, especially with the hill start function which I reckon I would have regularly use on my last trip before my meal relief/end of shift. I still reckoned I would have preferred the Metro for its Voith transmission. Also, i never really liked the rear of the Titan with that half window, but i do find it interesting that their engines sound a bit like the very early DMSs (with the headlights closer to the middle). You might have liked the one-off Voith boxed Titan T684, I remember riding this on the 374 in Harold Hill and being confused...  Video of bus here m.youtube.com/watch?v=43W1brTPu6oI think both the Metrobus and Titan had similar Gardner engines, but I grew up with the Metrobuses on the E1, E2 and 207. Drivers would thrash them on the Uxbridge Road between Hanwell Broadway and Southall  They were a great predecessor to the DB250, which I saw from new in Hackney on the 242. West London never saw that many Titans, I think the nearest ones to us were on the 131 near Hampton Court  The only Olympians were newer 1990s ones on the 237 with Riverside Bus before Armchair replaced Atlanteans on the 65 and 260 around 1993  |
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Post by vjaska on Jul 2, 2021 21:58:49 GMT
It's the Metro for me hands down. Besides growing up with them and eventually driving them I love the overall sounds of the engine, retarder and axle...somewhat the predecessor of the DB250 in that respect. It's also to me the best looking box shaped decker, especially when they first came out with the black front grills with the surrounding metal frame. I also loved that amongst the 1442 buses built for London Transport M1084-M1105 plus M1442 were fitted with the Cummin unit with M1104 spec'd with a supped up turbo plus a longer gearhold on the kickdown... a predecessor to the euro3 DB250 in that respect. Despite my preference of the Metros I would've loved the opportunity to have tried out the Titan, especially with the hill start function which I reckon I would have regularly use on my last trip before my meal relief/end of shift. I still reckoned I would have preferred the Metro for its Voith transmission. Also, i never really liked the rear of the Titan with that half window, but i do find it interesting that their engines sound a bit like the very early DMSs (with the headlights closer to the middle). You might have liked the one-off Voith boxed Titan T684, I remember riding this on the 374 in Harold Hill and being confused... Video of bus here m.youtube.com/watch?v=43W1brTPu6oI think both the Metrobus and Titan had similar Gardner engines, but I grew up with the Metrobuses on the E1, E2 and 207. Drivers would thrash them on the Uxbridge Road between Hanwell Broadway and Southall They were a great predecessor to the DB250, which I saw from new in Hackney on the 242. West London never saw that many Titans, I think the nearest ones to us were on the 131 near Hampton Court The only Olympians were newer 1990s ones on the 237 with Riverside Bus before Armchair replaced Atlanteans on the 65 and 260 around 1993 T’s & M’s alongside the LT L’s all mainly had Gardener 6LXB engines. Some T’s & L1 did receive Leyland TL11 engines which seem to give a deeper sound and some M’s were Cummins engined. |
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Post by M1104 on Jul 3, 2021 11:54:11 GMT
It's the Metro for me hands down. Besides growing up with them and eventually driving them I love the overall sounds of the engine, retarder and axle...somewhat the predecessor of the DB250 in that respect. It's also to me the best looking box shaped decker, especially when they first came out with the black front grills with the surrounding metal frame. I also loved that amongst the 1442 buses built for London Transport M1084-M1105 plus M1442 were fitted with the Cummin unit with M1104 spec'd with a supped up turbo plus a longer gearhold on the kickdown... a predecessor to the euro3 DB250 in that respect. Despite my preference of the Metros I would've loved the opportunity to have tried out the Titan, especially with the hill start function which I reckon I would have regularly use on my last trip before my meal relief/end of shift. I still reckoned I would have preferred the Metro for its Voith transmission. Also, i never really liked the rear of the Titan with that half window, but i do find it interesting that their engines sound a bit like the very early DMSs (with the headlights closer to the middle). You might have liked the one-off Voith boxed Titan T684, I remember riding this on the 374 in Harold Hill and being confused... Video of bus here m.youtube.com/watch?v=43W1brTPu6oI think both the Metrobus and Titan had similar Gardner engines, but I grew up with the Metrobuses on the E1, E2 and 207. Drivers would thrash them on the Uxbridge Road between Hanwell Broadway and Southall They were a great predecessor to the DB250, which I saw from new in Hackney on the 242. West London never saw that many Titans, I think the nearest ones to us were on the 131 near Hampton Court The only Olympians were newer 1990s ones on the 237 with Riverside Bus before Armchair replaced Atlanteans on the 65 and 260 around 1993 That must've then been the same Titan i once travelled with on the 35. That was a very strange experience, a Titan with the soul of a Metro. lol I believe in the 80s and/or 90s BN had an experimental Metro with a Titan-type box. I seem to remember hearing the gear changes once on the 133 as the bus was turning left from Southcroft Road into Mitcham Lane. |
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Post by mkay315 on Jul 4, 2021 0:07:23 GMT
Hey all
Does anyone know if the Metrobuses ever had a refurbishment when they were in service in London or did they maintain it's original D78 stock moquette without boosting it's upholstery.
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Post by mkay315 on Jul 4, 2021 0:32:13 GMT
I've got another video for you guys. vjaska, busman, M1104. This one may interest you guys especially. Views from the 220 in the 90s. White City looked so different to how it is now. To think the Dimco buildings were used for the film "Who framed roger rabbit. Enjoy guys www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sNmwn5qMZs |
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Post by redexpress on Jul 4, 2021 7:31:25 GMT
Hey all Does anyone know if the Metrobuses ever had a refurbishment when they were in service in London or did they maintain it's original D78 stock moquette without boosting it's upholstery. Metroline refurbished a small batch of Ms when they won the 292 back from BTS in 1993. From memory I think they were fitted with the standard red/white/blue moquette that all London Buses subsidiaries were using at the time, as well as grey carpeting on the interior walls.
Other than those used on Airbus work I can't think of any other Ms that were refurbished internally for London work. Arriva East Herts & Essex did refurbish a few ex-London Ms for the 310.
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Post by thesquirrels on Jul 4, 2021 8:07:31 GMT
Hey all Does anyone know if the Metrobuses ever had a refurbishment when they were in service in London or did they maintain it's original D78 stock moquette without boosting it's upholstery. Metroline refurbished a small batch of Ms when they won the 292 back from BTS in 1993. From memory I think they were fitted with the standard red/white/blue moquette that all London Buses subsidiaries were using at the time, as well as grey carpeting on the interior walls.
Other than those used on Airbus work I can't think of any other Ms that were refurbished internally for London work. Arriva East Herts & Essex did refurbish a few ex-London Ms for the 310.
I think it must have been the ex-292 Ms I saw out on the 82 then in the last couple of years of M operation. Thought the refurb was much more recent than 93 but even c.2001 the carpeted walls felt like an early 90s thing (I first saw them on the J-WHJ Darts on my local 444). I think the moquette had been changed again by then, to a dark grey. I wondered at the time whether Metroline had plans to keep Metrobuses going on the 82 into the 2000s but the low floor revolution was inexorable! M1253 did several years of 149/279 work refurbished to Leaside Travel spec - R/W/B moquette with red grab poles and light grey interior finishes IIRC, not too different to the J-BSH Ls, but with added illuminated Leaside Swans each side of the destination blind - these were latterly blanked out. |
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Post by redexpress on Jul 4, 2021 8:29:54 GMT
Metroline refurbished a small batch of Ms when they won the 292 back from BTS in 1993. From memory I think they were fitted with the standard red/white/blue moquette that all London Buses subsidiaries were using at the time, as well as grey carpeting on the interior walls.
Other than those used on Airbus work I can't think of any other Ms that were refurbished internally for London work. Arriva East Herts & Essex did refurbish a few ex-London Ms for the 310.
I think it must have been the ex-292 Ms I saw out on the 82 then in the last couple of years of M operation. Thought the refurb was much more recent than 93 but even c.2001 the carpeted walls felt like an early 90s thing (I first saw them on the J-WHJ Darts on my local 444). I think the moquette had been changed again by then, to a dark grey. I wondered at the time whether Metroline had plans to keep Metrobuses going on the 82 into the 2000s but the low floor revolution was inexorable! M1253 did several years of 149/279 work refurbished to Leaside Travel spec - R/W/B moquette with red grab poles and light grey interior finishes IIRC, not too different to the J-BSH Ls, but with added illuminated Leaside Swans each side of the destination blind - these were latterly blanked out. Metroline retained the 82 (and 113/240/266) in 2000 on the basis of using Ms at first. I think the intention was always to upgrade the routes during the course of the contract, but there wasn't enough money in the kitty at the time for brand new buses. IIRC they gave the 82's Ms a repaint at this point; they had been running in battered allover red from their MTL days. I don't think they got round to refurbing any of them internally - if they did, it would have been with Metroline blue moquette - so any buses that had a grey interior scheme must have been ex-292.
Metroline did consider replacing the Ms with ex-Singapore Olympians from their parent company, and brought one bus (AV39) over as a trial, but the cost of converting these for London use proved to be too much. And by 2001 Ken L had been put in charge of the buses with a bigger pot of money, so TfL were able to fund new VPLs for the 82 and 113.
I'd forgotten about the Leaside Travel M. Just remembered that in the aftermath of the London Easylink collapse, Arriva TOLST ran part of the emergency operation on the 185 using closed-top Ms - I think these had been refurbished for sightseeing work.
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By the way recognise the route straightway, the 337.
The only Olympians were newer 1990s ones on the 237 with Riverside Bus before Armchair replaced Atlanteans on the 65 and 260 around 1993 
