Vintage Buses on Motorways?

[CarltonA]

I saw a Bristol VR in Chesham today on a local event. This particular bus is based in the South West. The top speed is 44mph according to a source. Is such allowed on Motorways?

 

[peterblue]

Seems to be allowed! The highway code states 'certain slow moving vehicles' are excluded from Motorways such as cycles, horse drawn vehicles, agricultural vehicles, motorbikes under 50cc, e-bikes and e-scooters. I would assume vintage buses to be fine if they can reasonably keep up with traffic. Most professional service vehicles, vans, HGVs, etc, are normally capped at around 55-56mph so 45mph isn't that much slower.

The Highway Code - Motorways (253 to 274) - Guidance - GOV.UK

Rules for motorways, including rules for signals, joining the motorway, driving on the motorway, lane discipline, overtaking, stopping and leaving the motorway. A number of the rules for motorways also apply to other high-speed roads.

www.gov.uk

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I saw a Bristol VR in Chesham today on a local event. This particular bus is based in the South West. The top speed is 45mph according to Wikipedia. Is such a vehicle prohibited from Motorways?

No - it isn't.

However, vehicles that are banned are from motorways include vehicles that can't achieve at least 25 mph, though police/traffic wombles may advise anything slow (like a vintage vehicle) to take an alternative route.

As for the wikipedia entry saying that the max speed of a VR is 45 mph...I can't see the reference and I've been on ones that are faster, especially fitted with an 0680 engine, and/or high speed diffs. Rob Sly's site says that they typically had

• Slow diff - 38mph (61kph)
• Medium diff - 50mph (80kph)
• High diff - 62mph (100kph)

I'd imagine that something like a West Mids VR would've had a slow diff, but the coach seated examples run by Oxford or Alder Valley would've had high speed diffs.

 

[CarltonA]

Sorry, it was the Cornish Bus Preservation Society website that quoted 44mph not Wikipedia.

 

[Ken X]

It's not illegal but, having said that, not a pleasant experience. We used to occasionally move a mobile bridging crane from Christchurch Barracks to the rear of Hurn airport via the Bournemouth spur road, a long straight dual carriageway. Limit 70mph.

With a top speed of 45mph (eventually ) we felt it prudent to cover it in rotating beacons and have a vehicle behind it similarly adorned with "SLOW VEHICLE " signage across the roof.

Muggins here got the job of driving said trailing vehicle and I quickly learnt why maintenance trucks now unfurl crash buffers behind them.

It was frankly terrifying at times to watch people hammering up behind you, before suddenly realising how slow you were going, despite all the lights and signage. Cue smoke pouring from the front wheel arches and several near misses.

We quickly changed the trailing vehicle to a white, long wheelbase, Transit in an effort to increase the crumple zone but it was never a fun job.

 

[Leedsbusman]

It’s not illegal, indeed often there are slower abnormal loads on our motorways. As others have said it’s not particularly fun and some vehicles have additional lighting/signage fitted to worn the last minute lorry driver behind.

 

[IanMac]

What about new London buses on delivery, with their top speeds limited?

 

[nick291]

Hong Kong buses are limited to 70 KMH(That's 43MPH to those of us on the imperial ) and get hammered on their equivalent to a Motorway/Highway system. Also on ours when going between ports.

 

[Fenchurch SP]

Sometimes see them on the M25 going to or from an event. It it unusual for buses to use NSL dual carriageways in service? I've been on a couple on the A30 in Cornwall.

 

[Spsf3232]

It would be going considerably faster than any EVs that are on delivery with top speeds of 38mph on some of them!

 

[Tetchytyke]

It it unusual for buses to use NSL dual carriageways in service?

Not at all. Countless examples of it happening all over the country.

 

[jp4712]

There are two factors to consider when taking a vintage bus on a motorway, or dual carriageway. The first is the danger you present to following vehicles that aren't used to slow buses and can slam into the back of a vintage bus - and believe me, there are real examples of this happening. One bus in my friends' circle was rear-ended in this way and had to be expensively rebuilt: until recently it was lacking a couple of toggle switches behind the driver's seat because (and I'm not making this up) the incident had embedded them in the neck of the driver...

The second issue is that old buses just aren't, in the main, built for sustained high speed running. They overheat, the long journey at top speed puts strain on what are, let's be honest, time-expired buses.

My vintage bus is capable of 50 mph but I never drive it on a motorway unless there's simply no alternative. I do take it on dual carriageways but that's because there are more chances to stop and inspect - during a long run I always take periodic opportunities to do a quick walk-around, using the back of my hand to feel each hub for overheating, and to check the water level. Obviously that's not an issue for a new bus, although even then a good driver should be vigilant for issues of manufacturing defect.