Your favourite former vehicles

[DOC37V]

1471, the original one, not the B10 device. ROK471M what a beast.

And of course 1037....  :D

[37351ml]

101h when it reappeared at WB around October 1985, (I had thought they had all been withdrawn years before, so was shocked to see it repainted and refurbished! ) it worked on the 406 one day that October and I did numerous trips on it . After that I only ever saw it used on the churchfields to hamstead school service. Does anyone have any further history on this vehicle and how it came to have a new lease of life at Oak Lane years after all the rest (102-121) had long gone. I believe it is at Wythall now.

[Liverpool Street]

I can only remember metrobuses by fleet number. Fleetlines, Nationals, Lynxs,  all fond of them but none really stuck out. My favourite Metrosheds are as follows .. (Probably because these were the ones regularly on my route at BC)

2473 - Oldest one left at the time, and the fleet numbers were all in PTE typeface iirc.
2648 - This one the assault screen could open fully
2801 - Best of the bunch. Quick. Light steering. Smooth brakes.
2811 - Only on the list because of its restoration. Love it.
2846 - Beast! Notorious for its constant water leaks, but its extremely loud exhaust note and brute power made up for it. Tricky to stop though...
2850 - Rest peacefully....
2851 - Sister to the long expired '50.... Always seemed to see 50 & 51 together for some reason.
2871 (iirc) - I cant remember 100%, but I think this was the one with the bigger blind box for the flip dot tracline box? Either way, it was a good bus until the inevitable.

Amoungst my years on the buses there have been some excellent pieces of machinery. I'm fond of the Lynxs, not a past memory goes by without recalling some fine years of Lynxs littering up Kings Heath as a 30'something AG/PB Metro tries to squeeze past.. The old fleetlines chugging away in the distance or leaving for a nice duty out of Quinton...

Its a shame these plastic crap heaps are now littering these areas. I dont think bus enthusiasm will ever be the same again, with the constant strangulation from PTA's, Health & Safety, Bus Operators and Manufacturers, the joy of 'going for a thrash' .. Or hell, the joy of watching the bus pull away with its doors still closing is all nearly extingushed.

I'm glad I could've enjoyed the years before this war on fun from the EU got into full swing.

[The Real 4778]

101h when it reappeared at WB around October 1985, (I had thought they had all been withdrawn years before, so was shocked to see it repainted and refurbished! ) it worked on the 406 one day that October and I did numerous trips on it . After that I only ever saw it used on the churchfields to hamstead school service. Does anyone have any further history on this vehicle and how it came to have a new lease of life at Oak Lane years after all the rest (102-121) had long gone. I believe it is at Wythall now.

Wow!  I had completely forgotten about this bus legend!  I was away at Uni when it reappeared in service and to this day I thought I had dreamed seeing it on my return home to the West Midlands possibly at Christmas '85 or during spring '86, working the 451 at Beggar's Bush.

[Mike K]

From my early years living in Stirchley, where Cotteridge and Selly Oak were my local depots:

The 38xx NOV8xxG and 39xx SOE9xxH dual door Fleetlines that were the staples on the Pershore and Bristol Roads at the time. Whilst I recall earlier stuff, it was during this era that my interest in buses developed.

6621-30 SDA621S etc - a novelty to have new buses on the Pershore Road.

The 680x OOX80xR Nationals delivered new to Selly Oak for the 27 route.

After moving 'west side' (Harborne and Quinton garages):

6580 MOM580P. Always preferred the Park Royal Fleetlines and the MOM---P ones were a rare breed, there being only 10 of them. This was the highest numbered and the batch spent time at Harborne and Cotteridge garages.

Metrobuses 2400 and 2414 LOA4xxX. 2396 to 2415 were brand new to Harborne in 1981/2 before most moved to Quinton on Harborne's closure. Never mind PB, 2400 spent most of its life on the Harborne corridor.

Lynx 1212 G212EOG. A novelty to have single decker buses on this side of the city at the time.

I also spent 9 years living in Kings Heath from 1998 at the time the Spectras arrived for the 50 and I enjoyed these.

I can't get too enthused about most modern stuff but to be fair that's probably my age as much as anything. I don't have the youthful enthusiasm I once had.

[Mike K]

I can only remember metrobuses by fleet number. Fleetlines, Nationals, Lynxs,  all fond of them but none really stuck out. My favourite Metrosheds are as follows .. (Probably because these were the ones regularly on my route at BC)

2473 - Oldest one left at the time, and the fleet numbers were all in PTE typeface iirc.
2648 - This one the assault screen could open fully
2801 - Best of the bunch. Quick. Light steering. Smooth brakes.
2811 - Only on the list because of its restoration. Love it.
2846 - Beast! Notorious for its constant water leaks, but its extremely loud exhaust note and brute power made up for it. Tricky to stop though...
2850 - Rest peacefully....
2851 - Sister to the long expired '50.... Always seemed to see 50 & 51 together for some reason.
2871 (iirc) - I cant remember 100%, but I think this was the one with the bigger blind box for the flip dot tracline box? Either way, it was a good bus until the inevitable.

Amoungst my years on the buses there have been some excellent pieces of machinery. I'm fond of the Lynxs, not a past memory goes by without recalling some fine years of Lynxs littering up Kings Heath as a 30'something AG/PB Metro tries to squeeze past.. The old fleetlines chugging away in the distance or leaving for a nice duty out of Quinton...

Its a shame these plastic crap heaps are now littering these areas. I dont think bus enthusiasm will ever be the same again, with the constant strangulation from PTA's, Health & Safety, Bus Operators and Manufacturers, the joy of 'going for a thrash' .. Or hell, the joy of watching the bus pull away with its doors still closing is all nearly extingushed.

I'm glad I could've enjoyed the years before this war on fun from the EU got into full swing.

I'd have thought the MOF and JOJ Guy Arabs were more your era LS  ;D

[Liverpool Street]

I can only remember metrobuses by fleet number. Fleetlines, Nationals, Lynxs,  all fond of them but none really stuck out. My favourite Metrosheds are as follows .. (Probably because these were the ones regularly on my route at BC)

2473 - Oldest one left at the time, and the fleet numbers were all in PTE typeface iirc.
2648 - This one the assault screen could open fully
2801 - Best of the bunch. Quick. Light steering. Smooth brakes.
2811 - Only on the list because of its restoration. Love it.
2846 - Beast! Notorious for its constant water leaks, but its extremely loud exhaust note and brute power made up for it. Tricky to stop though...
2850 - Rest peacefully....
2851 - Sister to the long expired '50.... Always seemed to see 50 & 51 together for some reason.
2871 (iirc) - I cant remember 100%, but I think this was the one with the bigger blind box for the flip dot tracline box? Either way, it was a good bus until the inevitable.

Amoungst my years on the buses there have been some excellent pieces of machinery. I'm fond of the Lynxs, not a past memory goes by without recalling some fine years of Lynxs littering up Kings Heath as a 30'something AG/PB Metro tries to squeeze past.. The old fleetlines chugging away in the distance or leaving for a nice duty out of Quinton...

Its a shame these plastic crap heaps are now littering these areas. I dont think bus enthusiasm will ever be the same again, with the constant strangulation from PTA's, Health & Safety, Bus Operators and Manufacturers, the joy of 'going for a thrash' .. Or hell, the joy of watching the bus pull away with its doors still closing is all nearly extingushed.

I'm glad I could've enjoyed the years before this war on fun from the EU got into full swing.

I'd have thought the MOF and JOJ Guy Arabs were more your era LS  ;D

Whilst I recall them shadily from my very very very young days they didn't really appeal enough for any to stick out.

Or was it just your sickening sense of humour having a slur at my vintage?? Shameful young people!! Go back to your Green buses and 21xx sheds, Michael... I know you're highly fond of them going past your house making NO noise from its electric engine or occasional deadbeat whir of a B7RLE's lump.... ;-) hahaha

[Mike K]

Haha, to be fair being Wright Volvo products the B5s and the B7RLEs are the best of the current crop of vehicles in my opinion.

Another vehicle type that deserves a mention from anyone of my generation - the Volvo Ailsas - possibly the best buses to serve the West Midlands. As a 'southerner' I didn't get to travel on these much until a large quantity moved to Perry Barr late in their West Mids lives, and luckily for me featured heavily on my bus to school, the 11. I sometimes let buses pass in the hope an Ailsa would be along next. Absolute beasts.

[paulb1973]

From a bit of a Coventry perspective - those later East Lancs bodied Fleetlines (No's 6721-60, although no one example really stands out). I can just remember some of the earlier Coventry Transport ordered Fleetlines that survived with the PTE until quite late in some cases; I certainly got a ride on a dual-door J-registered Park Royal bus in c.1982/83 - right at the end of their days presumably. Later Park Royal 6588 kept following me when 6582-91/6635-37 were based in Coventry for a short period. Moving to the Metrobus era, perhaps 2016 or 2023 - one or probably both for a while had that vicious forward-opening door feature, when they 'loosened up' (a common problem on earlier Mk1's it seems) and collided with the corner pillar/inner bodywork.   

[Liverpool Street]

Haha, to be fair being Wright Volvo products the B5s and the B7RLEs are the best of the current crop of vehicles in my opinion.

Another vehicle type that deserves a mention from anyone of my generation - the Volvo Ailsas - possibly the best buses to serve the West Midlands. As a 'southerner' I didn't get to travel on these much until a large quantity moved to Perry Barr late in their West Mids lives, and luckily for me featured heavily on my bus to school, the 11. I sometimes let buses pass in the hope an Ailsa would be along next. Absolute beasts.

Annoyingly I have to agree with you regarding the Volvo products. Now they have nothing on proper buses, but in pure comparison to its counterparts, the Volvos win hands down. I travelled on 808 yesterday, the damn thing was vibrating like a shitting dog and the saloon noise was shameful. It was, surprisingly, being driven quick... Or was it just the downhill momentum on some negative Mucklow gradient?

Ahh yes!! The Alisas!! They had a distinctive smell... Usually the same scent as a overheating hair dryer..

[the trainbasher]

Anything run by MH depot...

[The Real 4778]

It should come as no surprise given my username what's my favourite former WM class of bus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31762625@N06/4604717603

I never had them all, although I did start to cane the ex-OY fleet after they were transferred to WA, and especially after their final transfer to PB.  Chasing them that last summer in '87 was an absolute rolling-riot.  And in those pre-mobile, pre-internet days, with only one 'insider' contact, and him at Walsall, it was a frequent occurrence to have one beast on the last service one night, only for it never to appear in local service again, instead being repainted in Aldridge or despatched to Metro-Cammell for refurb.

Happy days.  And never the same again.

[Stevo]

My favourite bus was the BCT COG5 - they just seemed really, really old back in the early sixties. The last one I went on was 1107 on the 50 returning to Moseley Road garage. And the Crossleys had such character. But there've been many interesting buses since. I liked the Atlanteans (remember the Hull ones?) and the VRs seemed really smooth and pleasant.  The Ailsas were basic but great fun. Never liked Nationals much - just too common around the UK and all the same. But I still enjoy riding around on such as DAF Spectras and B10Ls.

[DavieDD2]

Haha, to be fair being Wright Volvo products the B5s and the B7RLEs are the best of the current crop of vehicles in my opinion.

Another vehicle type that deserves a mention from anyone of my generation - the Volvo Ailsas - possibly the best buses to serve the West Midlands. As a 'southerner' I didn't get to travel on these much until a large quantity moved to Perry Barr late in their West Mids lives, and luckily for me featured heavily on my bus to school, the 11. I sometimes let buses pass in the hope an Ailsa would be along next. Absolute beasts.

Coming from Dundee,the home of the Ailsa (Tayside had 161 of them over the years), I too would have to say your Ailsa's down in Brum were probably the best buses you had, I lived in Birmingham in the silver / blue Metrobus and Lynx era and I wasn't impressed, it puts a huge smile on my face getting a run on 4738 when it's on the shuttle bus from Dunfermline to Lathalmond for the SVBM's open weekend, the prototype 4527 is another fine machine, long live the Ailsa's!!

[lynx1103]

My faveroute buses of Lynx's Metrobuses B10L Fleetlined

Fleet line

6911 6913 6931 6996 7000 1956 6311

Lynx

1067 1069 1070 1071 1072 1074 1077 1080 1084 1088 1090 1096
1099 1100 1103 1105 1106 1108 1110 1112 1113 1127 1128 1136
1138 1143 1151 1152 1158 1168 1173 1178 1180 1181 1183 1188
1190 1199 1219 1226 1232 1243 1256 1257 1262 1265 1266 1277
1292 1311 1312

Mk1 Metrobus

2039 2057 2082 2099 2105 2106 2183 2205 2222 2226-2245 (All Rolls Royce engine)
2252 2278 2295 2303 2308 2371 2380 2381 2384 2393 2398 2403
2406 2408 2409

Mk2 Metrobus

2440 2446 2456 2485 2486 2490 2498 2507 2530 2550 2563 2580
2596 2597 2598 2599 2600 2621 2640 2646 2647 2658 2668 2676
2682 2688 2692 2693 2713 2715 2737 2738 2743 2744 2748 2750
2756 2768 2776 2805 2810 2821 2826 2835 2841 2882 2903 2909
2969

Timesaver

2913 2918 2923 2924 2926 2934 2938 2943 2944 2947 2948 2950
2951 2953 2954 2955 2958

Mk2A

2975 2989 3008 3043 3058 3096 3108 3119

B10L

1401 1404 1422 1428 1429 1430 1461 1463 1469 1471 1472 1473
1477 7127 7129