Interesting vehicles you’ve owned or driven?

[DustyBin]

It probably wasn’t one of those then. I don’t know what it was but it looked very similar, mind you it was nearly 25 years ago and I can’t say I’m exactly a bus expert.
I think it might have been a Ford and from what I remember the engine may have been in the front?

Ford R-Series probably.

 

[Cowley]

Ford R-Series probably.

One of these?


It might have been. This one looks a bit more modern than I remember but only around the headlights.

 

[DustyBin]

One of these?
View attachment 128198

It might have been. This one looks a bit more modern than I remember but only around the headlights.

Yes. There were all kinds of bodywork options though, some of which looked very similar to the Bristol RE upthread.

 

[A0]

Yes. There were all kinds of bodywork options though, some of which looked very similar to the Bristol RE upthread.

Yes - Alder Valley had some ECW bodied Ford R1014 buses which used a body which was similar to those fitted to Bristol REs and LHs.

Example:

TRD712M-Alder Valley 712 Ford R1014-ECW-Sept 19874

Explore Cliff Essex's 1705 photos on Flickr!

flickr.com

Not my photo, so credit to original photographer.

 

[Spamcan81]

A Victoria Line train - very unofficial

 

[Cowley]

Yes - Alder Valley had some ECW bodied Ford R1014 buses which used a body which was similar to those fitted to Bristol REs and LHs.

Example:

TRD712M-Alder Valley 712 Ford R1014-ECW-Sept 19874

Explore Cliff Essex's 1705 photos on Flickr!

flickr.com

Not my photo, so credit to original photographer.

That looks very much like it. Unfortunately I lost touch with the lady that owned it years ago. I’ve no idea what happened to it.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A Victoria Line train - very unofficial

I've done a small number of trains officially...

...but if we're counting non-car vehicles, then I can claim a couple of Air Cushion Vehicles and here's the proof of one of them:

( Please excuse the odd characters in the caption; something has gone funny with the website coding. )

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes - Alder Valley had some ECW bodied Ford R1014 buses which used a body which was similar to those fitted to Bristol REs and LHs.

Example:

TRD712M-Alder Valley 712 Ford R1014-ECW-Sept 19874

Explore Cliff Essex's 1705 photos on Flickr!

flickr.com

Not my photo, so credit to original photographer.

Yep, they used to go past my house!

 

[High Dyke]

Over the past few years, and in no particular preference. Austin Gypsy fire engine, Austin Allegro (surprisingly nice to drive), Austin 10 saloon, Bedford CA van, various industrial diesel locomotives and numerous buses of varying ages. Of note was a Class 40.

 

[DustyBin]

I've done a small number of trains officially...

...but if we're counting non-car vehicles, then I can claim a couple of Air Cushion Vehicles and here's the proof of one of them:

( Please excuse the odd characters in the caption; something has gone funny with the website coding. )

View attachment 128243

Certainly interesting!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Certainly interesting!

Good fun to drive a hover. I had a go on a Griffon 2000 Mk 1 as well a few months earlier. The main thing you have to remember is no friction; when at speed you need to start turning for a change of direction some considerable way short of where you want to be heading in the new direction. In contrast, at slower speeds you can do doughnuts even ( there's a good aerial view of this in Hovertravel's adverts for the Lee on Solent charters ). The emergency brake at sea is basically "deflate the skirt".

When that picture of me at the controls of the 8000 was taken, we were doing about 50 knots on the Solent heading for Bembridge from Woolston.

 

[DustyBin]

Good fun to drive a hover. I had a go on a Griffon 2000 Mk 1 as well a few months earlier. The main thing you have to remember is no friction; when at speed you need to start turning for a change of direction some considerable way short of where you want to be heading in the new direction. In contrast, at slower speeds you can do doughnuts even ( there's a good aerial view of this in Hovertravel's adverts for the Lee on Solent charters ). The emergency brake at sea is basically "deflate the skirt".

When that picture of me at the controls of the 8000 was taken, we were doing about 50 knots on the Solent heading for Bembridge from Woolston.

I remember seeing hovercraft turning on the spot at Ryde many years ago. That’s interesting re the emergency brake; it makes sense thinking about it! It’s fascinating mode of transport which I know very little about.

 

[InkyScrolls]

I once owned a Mk 1 Renault T1000, which was even less reliable than I had expected. Very easy to repair though and not bad fuel economy for its age (~25 mpg).

 

[Bald Rick]

I remember seeing hovercraft turning on the spot at Ryde many years ago.

I saw one doing it yesterday!