Bus nostalgia

[alunonhisown]

how is this thread still going!?

Guess i better add something...

Last time i was on bus, i went to the Alps, noticed it was a Vanhool Astron, interesting auto which behaved like a manual.

Last time i went they used Izar bus? Which was rubbish! Ride in the Vanhool was much smoother.

I very much doubt you went to the Alps on a BUS, a COACH maybe, but I doubt a bus.

[Seth]

Generally Mark, you won't fault a Van Hool on build quality - just take a look at Dudley's 'Kington Wanderer' pictured above.

That's a 15 year-old Van Hool 'Alizee' body on a Volvo B10M chassis, and still well-capable of front-line work.
I think that the 'Astron' is an integral, incorporating MAN or Mercedes running gear.

The other coach that you mentioned was probably an Irizar-bodied Scania.
Whilst I was something of a Scania fan, I still believe that you won't go far wrong with any Van Hool product.

[tunnie]

Generally Mark, you won't fault a Van Hool on build quality - just take a look at Dudley's 'Kington Wanderer' pictured above.

That's a 15 year-old Van Hool 'Alizee' body on a Volvo B10M chassis, and still well-capable of front-line work.
I think that the 'Astron' is an integral, incorporating MAN or Mercedes running gear.

The other coach that you mentioned was probably an Irizar-bodied Scania.
Whilst I was something of a Scania fan, I still believe that you won't go far wrong with any Van Hool product.

That was the one, ride was a bit shoddy, in fact it was appalling. Van Hool was loads better, over-head luggage was a tad limited though.

Shame it was limited to 60, sure it could have sat at 80 all day long

[Seth]

how is this thread still going!?

Guess i better add something...

Last time i was on bus, i went to the Alps, noticed it was a Vanhool Astron, interesting auto which behaved like a manual.

Just noticed this point tunnie lad ........
The Astron probably has 'CAG' - that's 'drive-by-wire' computer-aided gearshift.

Some years back, some of our sister companies' Volvo B10Ms had this system.
Basically, the gubbins replaced the gear linkage. Whilst the set-up was mechanically reliable, we had quite a few failures of the printed circuit-boards which sat beneath the gear-shift lever.
Saying that, electronics have come a long way since then!

[tunnie]

how is this thread still going!?

Guess i better add something...

Last time i was on bus, i went to the Alps, noticed it was a Vanhool Astron, interesting auto which behaved like a manual.

Just noticed this point tunnie lad ........
The Astron probably has 'CAG' - that's 'drive-by-wire' computer-aided gearshift.

Some years back, some of our sister companies' Volvo B10Ms had this system.
Basically, the gubbins replaced the gear linkage. Whilst the set-up was mechanically reliable, we had quite a few failures of the printed circuit-boards which sat beneath the gear-shift lever.
Saying that, electronics have come a long way since then!

Well as i walked on i thought it looked auto like with +/- on it, and pulling away could have sworn it was manual, but since the next 30 gear changes felt exactly same, looked down and was not touching it. Had the 'surge' of throttle off, clutch in thottle on of a manual.

Nothing like other auto buses, sorry, coaches  - Worked well, beat other coaches out of the starting blocks french tolls 

[Seth]

Well as i walked on i thought it looked auto like with +/- on it, and pulling away could have sworn it was manual, but since the next 30 gear changes felt exactly same, looked down and was not touching it. Had the 'surge' of throttle off, clutch in thottle on of a manual.

Nothing like other auto buses, sorry, coaches  - Worked well, beat other coaches out of the starting blocks french tolls  [/quote]



Probably a 'sequential' version with an indicator panel on the dash.

[splott]

Come on Sethsmate.........................................

Can you name the coaches at Dudley's

Most of the coaches are named with a local theme, generally after the surrounding villages etc.
In alphabetical order they are:

Alexandra
Cowsden Courier
Dormston Harrier
breakenham Voyager
Grafton Traveller
Inkberrow Cruiser 2
Inkberrow Cruiser 3
Jane
Kington Wanderer
Lady of the Lenches
Pride of Rous Lench
Saltway Princess
Spirit of Morton
Tanworth Tourer
Tanworth Tourer 2
The Flyford Connection 2

I have found two more names:.....................


Radford explorer................................ Volvo Plaxton

Ridgeway Princess.............................. Volvo Plaxton

Do they still exist? :-/ :-/

[Seth]

Both now withdrawn to pastures new, dear boy!

[alunonhisown]

]Both now withdrawn to pastures new, dear boy[/highlight]!

Please do not tell me 'to a scrapyard near you'
That would be cruel.

[splott]

]Both now withdrawn to pastures new, dear boy[/highlight]!

Please do not tell me 'to a scrapyard near you'
That would be cruel.

Shame if they have been....................

Found pictures of the 'said' buses but they are copy righted

[splott]

Here you are, a trip on a Western Welsh Bus.......................................... 

I bet Sethsmate knows the bus number and route

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhI0xnd9MGM[/media]

[alunonhisown]

Here you are, a trip on a Western Welsh Bus.......................................... 

I bet Sethsmate knows the bus number and route

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhI0xnd9MGM[/media]

I don't know if Sethsmate can, but I think I have it.
Merthyr Annual Bus show. That is on the ICI industrial estate in Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil. Just passed Jasonic Builders Merchant on the left hand side.
Am I correct.

[splott]

I don't know if Sethsmate can, but I think I have it.
Merthyr Annual Bus show. That is on the ICI industrial estate in Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil. Just passed Jasonic Builders Merchant on the left hand side.
Am I correct.

All I know is that it was taken in Merthyr, I thought it was on an actual route
Thought someone would know what route it was

[alunonhisown]

I don't know if Sethsmate can, but I think I have it.
Merthyr Annual Bus show. That is on the ICI industrial estate in Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil. Just passed Jasonic Builders Merchant on the left hand side.
Am I correct.

All I know is that it was taken in Merthyr, I thought it was on an actual route
Thought someone would know what route it was

This is on the same estate as Stagecoach are situated. In fact the video was shot about 500 yards from Stagecoach Depot.

[splott]

I don't know if Sethsmate can, but I think I have it.
Merthyr Annual Bus show. That is on the ICI industrial estate in Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil. Just passed Jasonic Builders Merchant on the left hand side.
Am I correct.

All I know is that it was taken in Merthyr, I thought it was on an actual route
Thought someone would know what route it was

This is on the same estate as Stagecoach are situated. In fact the video was shot about 500 yards from Stagecoach Depot.

Well I know this one is on a route in Cardiff, its the final trip of this particular bus
NDW 408X
See if you know this one Di!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mWDmLCV5bo[/media]