Fastest double decker?

[TheGrandWazoo]

They're good buses, but that's part of the issue. A roaring Olympian with rattles and a leaky window but big squashy seats, was more atmospheric.

Damn modern people, wanting a bus that doesn't leak and doesn't deafen you </old codger>

No, you're quite right. Some people (and I'm as guilty) can be seduced by the rose-tinted memories of travelling on the rather rustic charms of previous eras of vehicles. That said, I remember my first Explorer trip out on my own and two successive journeys were a mad thrash on a National on the X40 Durham to Peterlee (27 mins end to end) followed by a 12 year old LH that was like a fridge, grinding away through the Trimdons to Sedgefield. Even as a callow youth, I knew that for the average punter, they were crap. Atmospheric but crap!

Modern buses might not have the hellfire engine sounds of the past. However, the actual travelling experience is much improved. Perhaps my favourite recent decker trip.... heading over the tops from Burnley to Rawtenstall on a Transdev Witchway B9. Comfortable and a slight thrill!

I do recall the company didn't care a jot about fuel consumption or the environment. We had a Leyland National that was never switched off as it was a poor starter.
In the winter someone would start up all the early buses and leave them running in the depot, you had to feel your way around to find your bus, such were the fumes. No wonder bus drivers die early.

I know what you mean. Darlington bus station which was undercover and part of the depot https://www.flickr.com/photos/77751...hkp-SqxDFa-Ndf6Jk-fjUFZc-dWPGvA-X3Mvr3-XeHwPw and the fumes if you were getting a bus before 0730......

 

[shopbford]

I do recall the company didn't care a jot about fuel consumption or the environment. We had a Leyland National that was never switched off as it was a poor starter.
In the winter someone would start up all the early buses and leave them running in the depot, you had to feel your way around to find your bus, such were the fumes. No wonder bus drivers die early.

Reminds me of one frosty early morning when there were a line of Nationals all frozen up from the depot in Picktree Lane to Front Street Chester le Street (think the Chronicle had a picture), another time had one freeze on me halfway across the roundabout at the bottom of Jackson Street in Gateshead. Just had to sit and wait till they defrosted.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Badgerline Volvo Citybus/Alexander 57xx. That's all I have to say..... !!!

 

[RailwayWannabe]

I remember being on a Yorkshire Rider Atlantean on the X36 (which was rare in itself) and flying down Elland Bypass leaving an Escort Cosworth in it's wake. Said Cossie had just cut the bus up at Ainley Top roundabout but the bus driver had the last laugh! Not sure of the speed but the limit at the time was 70 and the boy racer in the Cosworth looked pretty stunned as we flew past! (I was in the rear-facing seat above the rear wheel). The noise alone would be illegal these days!

You can't be suggesting the Atlantean was faster than an Escort Cosworth? Although I'm sure the Cossie driver would be surprised when you went past on the bus . I remember the turn of speed and the drama on the big quiet roundabouts on the old 1980s Leyland double-decker buses for school, and maybe an old late eighties Scania double decker too.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You can't be suggesting the Atlantean was faster than an Escort Cosworth? Although I'm sure the Cossie driver would be surprised when you went past on the bus . I remember the turn of speed and the drama on the big quiet roundabouts on the old 1980s Leyland double-decker buses for school, and maybe an old late eighties Scania double decker too.

The Atlantean was going faster than the Cosworth was going at the time... I'm sure the Cossie would win out in an actual drag-race of course!

 

[bussnapperwm]

A Central Connect B10M Citybus i had a ride once flew like excrement off a shovel when I caught it at Five Ways island (inbound to Birmingham).

There again you need to be quick the way some of the people round there drive!

 

[delt1c]

Had RM5 up to 50mph on the M25 back in late 80’s taking her to a Rally. Let’s just say it was invigorating especially getting her into middle lane.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Some people (and I'm as guilty) can be seduced by the rose-tinted memories of travelling on the rather rustic charms of previous eras of vehicles.

We all do. I'm a bit younger (I think!), and grew up in West Yorkshire, so for me it's the ECW Bristol VRs and the Olympians (ECW because I loved that single seat at the front, but mainly Roe really) that bring out the rose-tinted specs.

But looking at the photos of the Yorkshire Rider Roes now, with that horrible District Line moquette and the hard plastic seats at the back for the smokers, and I'll never have a bad word to say about a Streetdeck again!

 

[Ian Hardy]

You can't be suggesting the Atlantean was faster than an Escort Cosworth? Although I'm sure the Cossie driver would be surprised when you went past on the bus . I remember the turn of speed and the drama on the big quiet roundabouts on the old 1980s Leyland double-decker buses for school, and maybe an old late eighties Scania double decker too.

It all depends on the drivers being awake and aware of what is going on and not the power of the vehicles concerned.
I once beat a Porsche from a set of traffic lights in a 998cc Mini, probably because I was ready when the lights changed and the other driver was not.
I do remember reading that when they were testing the Sheffield Supertrams in Dusseldorf, the trams would regularily beat BMWs from traffic lights.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

We all do. I'm a bit younger (I think!), and grew up in West Yorkshire, so for me it's the ECW Bristol VRs and the Olympians (ECW because I loved that single seat at the front, but mainly Roe really) that bring out the rose-tinted specs.

But looking at the photos of the Yorkshire Rider Roes now, with that horrible District Line moquette and the hard plastic seats at the back for the smokers, and I'll never have a bad word to say about a Streetdeck again!

Yeah - I think I'm a few years older. I was brought up on a diet of ECW bodied Bristol REs and LHs. I loved travelling on LHs but.... orange/tan vinyls seats, the high steps, the poor ride quality, the engine noise of a 401 mid engine.... makes a Streetlite seem like a Rolls Royce. Once I was trusted to explore a bit further, it was Nationals and VRs.

However, we all experience that journey and have a hankering for the buses of our youth and that's why you get people preserving certain types. The Leyland National was universally despised by those who liked "proper buses" and yet enough of them survive in preservation. It's also why I sometimes have a wry smile from posters (who I suspect are in their teens or a bit older) railing about certain vehicle types. If only they knew what we'd experienced in the past, and not the pristine, cherished examples at summer bus rallies but the everyday experience! Pardon the pun, but it's a journey; we all discover with age that this is the cycle of life and those same people will be there in 2040, scoffing at the babies of today and thinking "christ, think yourself lucky that you never had to travel on a Citaro".

You mention smokers - seems quite unimaginable that you be on an LH (9m long?) and there would be a sign asking "SMOKERS ARE REQUESTED TO OCCUPY REAR SEATS" as if the smoke would magically waft its way down the gangway and stop....

Backing up @Geordie driver, the original NMS Olympians delivered in 1988 were fabulous machines. Fast and comfortable and in a time when so much upheaval had led to a lot of tat being on the road, they were something else. Some of the most comfy vehicles I've travelled on but they were hammered.

 

[MotCO]

The Leyland National was universally despised by those who liked "proper buses" and yet enough of them survive in preservation.

I grew up on RT's and RM's so may be much of an age as you. However, I did like the Leyland National, and on a joint section of route, used to catch a LN rather than a Metrobus. The reason - generous legroom!

 

[Geordie driver]

Talking about a Bristol LH, we had a bunch of these with manual gear boxes, terrible on local service OMO.

First time I ever drove one in service I couldn't get it off the stand, I couldn't find reverse. Another driver hopped on and opened the cab door, the door had to be open to reach reverse.

The manual box on these is why my !eft knee is knackered.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Backing up @Geordie driver, the original NMS Olympians delivered in 1988 were fabulous machines. Fast and comfortable and in a time when so much upheaval had led to a lot of tat being on the road, they were something else. Some of the most comfy vehicles I've travelled on but they were hammered.

Were they the Alexander RH ones? Those, alongside the earlier ECWs, were just disappearing when I moved to the north east.

The seats NMS put in most of their new buses were so comfortable, the later Paladin Olympians they had were also really comfortable (well, the DP seated ones were- the bench seats were horrid) and could fair shift on the 518.

That's one thing I'll say about more modern buses- the DP seats just aren't as good now.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Were they the Alexander RH ones? Those, alongside the earlier ECWs, were just disappearing when I moved to the north east.

The seats NMS put in most of their new buses were so comfortable, the later Paladin Olympians they had were also really comfortable (well, the DP seated ones were- the bench seats were horrid) and could fair shift on the 518.

That's one thing I'll say about more modern buses- the DP seats just aren't as good now.

They were the RH ones (F-JTY). Agree with you about the later ones (though they were Palatine not Paladin ) that Northumbria got for the 602 and later ended up on the Great North Road routes. Sadly, the later batch were bought under British Bus ownership so cheapo bench seats in grey "smarties" were specified.

Going back to West Yorkshire, one of my youthful excursions was my first visit to Otley and I remember a nice trip on a ten year old VR thumping its way up through Bramhope to Leeds. That said, the e400mmc I had a few months ago was a lot more refined if less atmospheric

 

[Tackleberry]

Ex Megabus, 49mph from Winchester to Nottingham and back...