ERF-NGC-European:
What did that extend it to - 36’ long?
I don’t actually know - it was a standard RM bay inserted, but I don’t know how long they are. The “half” bay in the RMLs was 2’6", so maybe it’s 5’ extra - only a guess, though. However the vehicle in its original form was only 27’6", so perhaps it’s somewhere around 32’6"
You’re probably right! I was calculating it by the standard lengths of the period. As you say that was 27’6" and 30’ for the later, longer versions of double-deckers, like the Leyland PD3. Coaches at that time grew to 36’ in length IIRC; and that’s what I based my assumption on. Cheers! Ro
If I’ve remembered it right the front idependent suspension and its sub frame member is a similar wishbone and coil springs design to Jaguars like the XJ ?.
They said monocoque and seperate subframes at each end design was a sort of compromise between the isolation of the body provided by a seperate chassis as opposed to a true monocoque in which the suspension and the engine are all mounted directly to the body construction and they were right.The isolation from the road and resulting ride comfort of both was superb also helped by the coil springs not leaf.
The picture is of RMF 1254 the only long wheelbase front entrance Routemaster. The story of how it never turned a wheel in London service but ended up much modified as the forerunner of the Northern General Routemaster fleet is told below.
cav551:
The picture is of RMF 1254 the only long wheelbase front entrance Routemaster. The story of how it never turned a wheel in London service but ended up much modified as the forerunner of the Northern General Routemaster fleet is told below.
The story of the BEA Routemasters, which towed a trailer and were capable of Motorway speeds is told here.
Were these actually up to to Green Line RMC 690 engine type standard ?.They seem a bit ‘off’ in that regard.Also don’
t see the advantage in the forward type doorway design v retaining the rear end platform.
cav551:
The picture is of RMF 1254 the only long wheelbase front entrance Routemaster. The story of how it never turned a wheel in London service but ended up much modified as the forerunner of the Northern General Routemaster fleet is told below.
The story of the BEA Routemasters, which towed a trailer and were capable of Motorway speeds is told here.
Were these actually up to to Green Line RMC 690 engine type standard ?.They seem a bit ‘off’ in that regard.Also don’
t see the advantage in the forward type doorway design v retaining the rear end platform.
You don’t want to be hurtling along a motorway at high speed with an open rear end.
cav551:
The picture is of RMF 1254 the only long wheelbase front entrance Routemaster. The story of how it never turned a wheel in London service but ended up much modified as the forerunner of the Northern General Routemaster fleet is told below.
The story of the BEA Routemasters, which towed a trailer and were capable of Motorway speeds is told here.
Were these actually up to to Green Line RMC 690 engine type standard ?.They seem a bit ‘off’ in that regard.Also don’
t see the advantage in the forward type doorway design v retaining the rear end platform.
Surpassed the AV590 RMC and AV690 RCL by a margin, The RMC being considered a sluggard with 115 BHP @ 1800rpm with too high an axle ratio (4.77:1) for the available engine output. The RCL AV690 had the same axle ratio but 150bhp @1800 RPM. The BEA had a more or less fully rated AV690 175 bhp @ 2200 rpm and a 4.08:1 final drive ratio.
The front entrance was probably because by the time the first were delivered in '66 a rear entrance was considered out of date and they were for use in a non-stopping service. As mentioned in the write up for RMF 1254 the cab rear bulkhead had been redesigned on the sly so that bus could be one man operated which is why there was Union opposition to its introduction.
Yes, there were doors fitted to the rear platform long before the sixties. However your comment specifically mentioned a rear platform, hence my reply. Even with doors I still think that a rear platform would have been both unsightly and unsafe. From memory I think that the rear doors were always operated by the conductor and I don’t believe you would ever have wanted to, or be allowed to, have these doors operated remotely. And before you say it, yes they could have been fitted with some sort of safe-lock system but overall it was better to have the entrance at the front for both aesthetic and safety reasons.
These Stagecoach buses with the " Magic Bus " livery were usually seen in Manchester.
This is the first time that I have seen one in the Wigan area. Ray Smyth.
The first 20 secs of this clip is something else, no wonder these drivers have a prayer session beore setting off. Heroic driver skill to gun it. youtube.com/watch?v=1WGUrKcpa_o.
Oily
1951 I wonder what the Union’s reaction was to this. OK to jump the queue if it might delay taking over a duty but not OK if going on meal relief mid shift. There were plenty of London Bus Strikes in the '50s.
oiltreader:
The first 20 secs of this clip is something else, no wonder these drivers have a prayer session beore setting off. Heroic driver skill to gun it. youtube.com/watch?v=1WGUrKcpa_o.
Oily
Eddie, The geezer driving that first bus is a braver man than me…Gunga Din
I even got a Squeaky Bum just watching it.
Cheers, Ray.
oiltreader:
The first 20 secs of this clip is something else, no wonder these drivers have a prayer session beore setting off. Heroic driver skill to gun it. youtube.com/watch?v=1WGUrKcpa_o.
Oily
Eddie, The geezer driving that first bus is a braver man than me…Gunga Din
I even got a Squeaky Bum just watching it.
Cheers, Ray.
I’ll bet when he booted the loud pedal he said a prayer to his god. There’s not enough money in the world to get me in the saddle on those…ahem… roads.
And we complain about the M25/62
When my parents were living in Libya from 1949-1951 my mother made the trip by bus along the Derna Pass and the driver told the passengers that if they were not totally in belief of their own God then they should get out and walk as he couldn’t guarantee that HIS God would protect them as well! Almost all, Mother included, got off and walked!
