Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Darkness...
Doesn't it fill you with wonderful feelings when you start work in the morning when it's dark, and you finish in the early evening when it's dark again?
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
Freezing conditions...
This popped up on the dash of a Volvo B7RLE that I drove a couple of weeks back..., I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I stepped off...
National Bus Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bus_Company_(UK)
I wonder how many mourn the passing of the National Bus Company. I, for one, certainly do.
Here was a network of bus companies, covering England and Wales, together with coach services to Scotland, Ireland and the continent.
There were co-ordinated services between neighbouring subsidiaries, and for the most part, a more intensive service than that operated nowadays.
I wonder how many mourn the passing of the National Bus Company. I, for one, certainly do.
Here was a network of bus companies, covering England and Wales, together with coach services to Scotland, Ireland and the continent.
There were co-ordinated services between neighbouring subsidiaries, and for the most part, a more intensive service than that operated nowadays.
A proper bus...
The first, and by far the best first generation type of rear-underfloor engined buses was the Bristol RE.
Construction finished after 4,629 had been built, stifled by the management of British Leyland, who had gained a 25% share in Bristol Commercial Vehicles.
British Leyland, together with the National Bus Company, were to design and produce the Leyland National, which was then foisted upon the NBC subsidiary fleets, whether they wanted them, or not. The RE was still in great demand by many operators. Rather famously, Ulsterbus - having been told that the RE would henceforth only be available as an export marque, threatened to buy from Mercedes Benz... the rest is history, as Leyland decided to save-face, and classify Northern Ireland as an export market!
After being withdrawn by Leyland from the home market, REs continued to be built for Northern Ireland, and New Zealand. The final chassis were built in 1982...
Here is an example from the former Bristol Omnibus fleet, powered by a Leyland O.680 engine. The combination of engine, together with a semi-automatic gearbox made for an impressive beast.
Construction finished after 4,629 had been built, stifled by the management of British Leyland, who had gained a 25% share in Bristol Commercial Vehicles.
British Leyland, together with the National Bus Company, were to design and produce the Leyland National, which was then foisted upon the NBC subsidiary fleets, whether they wanted them, or not. The RE was still in great demand by many operators. Rather famously, Ulsterbus - having been told that the RE would henceforth only be available as an export marque, threatened to buy from Mercedes Benz... the rest is history, as Leyland decided to save-face, and classify Northern Ireland as an export market!
After being withdrawn by Leyland from the home market, REs continued to be built for Northern Ireland, and New Zealand. The final chassis were built in 1982...
Here is an example from the former Bristol Omnibus fleet, powered by a Leyland O.680 engine. The combination of engine, together with a semi-automatic gearbox made for an impressive beast.
Twirlies...
It may or may not surprise some of you, that the bane of many-a-bus driver - the Concessionary travel card holders - have a name.
Twirlies.
This does not come from a strange, awkward gait as they make their way slowly towards the rear of the bus to find their seat (which is usually a good distance beyond empty seats nearer the front, thus delaying departure), but from their normal question on boarding a bus before 9.30 am "Are we too early?"...
This stems from the fact that the free travel for Concessionary travel card holders applies (for the vast majority) from 9.30 am. Although it is quite the norm for card holders to try and use them to get free travel in advance of that time.
Another bane in the life of a bus driver is Ramsey Road, St. Ives, on Market Days.
More on that particular subject later...
Twirlies.
This does not come from a strange, awkward gait as they make their way slowly towards the rear of the bus to find their seat (which is usually a good distance beyond empty seats nearer the front, thus delaying departure), but from their normal question on boarding a bus before 9.30 am "Are we too early?"...
This stems from the fact that the free travel for Concessionary travel card holders applies (for the vast majority) from 9.30 am. Although it is quite the norm for card holders to try and use them to get free travel in advance of that time.
Another bane in the life of a bus driver is Ramsey Road, St. Ives, on Market Days.
More on that particular subject later...
There'll be fireworks later on...
Seeing as today is November the 5th, there are bound to be some amazing flashes, and frightening bangs from the skies later on. I'm hoping to get some photographs with my Nikon, this'll be the first time I've attempted this, so I shan't pretend for one minute that they'll be worth looking at! ;)
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