Why can't modern buses be this smooth on the roads - I couldn't even hear a rattle!!! So this definitely has a 290hp rather than presumably the 220hp engine for buses? Impressive if it has!!! For a bus new in around 1990, that's well solid and that Cummins L10 sounds as healthy as it can be too 😊. Thanks for sharing 👍!
Driver…. A pleasure to watch you drive this VR. You change those gears to make the engine and gearbox sing like a piano 🎹. How a VR should be cared for ❤. That whine from the gearbox 🎶
Quite a blast from the past for me. The sound takes me right back. Remember LUI 7646 (E668 UNE) and RIW 6876 (E681 UNE) when they were with Roberts, Wingate which is where it gained that cream livery. When acquired in October 2003 it was still in Brentwood Coaches livery minus fleetnames. E668 UNE came to Wingate from B.A.S.E at Holmeswood along with E681 UNE. B.A.S.E was who converted them both to 70 seaters. E681 UNE being on display at the NEC expo coach prior to being bought by Roberts. Both coaches did well while here in County Durham. LUI needed a head gasket now and then. LUI was sold in July 2013 to Nicholson, Carrville along with B12 RRT, a Volvo B12T Jonckheere Mistral 70. Last I heard of LUI was she'd been scrapped after being acquired for it's seats (with knackered engine) by Humphries, Newbury. It's sister RIW 6876 was withdrawn by Roberts in January 2016 and sent to William Redfern Commercials in Bishop Auckland for scrap in July 2021. Great video. Thanks for posting.
My 1947 VW has a crash box. Normal changing up a gear, double-de-clutch changing down. That with cable operated brakes and semaphore turn signals. Proper driving, not like today's buzz boxes which are so easy drive. Easy see to why drivers loved the Routemasters, power assisted steering and semi-automatic gear change. I've driven RTs, very heavy steering of couse, but pre-select gear change.
Lovely ZF S6-90 sound, specially in first gear! Mid engined 10L Volvos were the pinnacle of comfort, ride smoothness and reliability in Brazil from the 70's to the late 90's!
Absolutely wonderful , the reassuring beat of the engine AEC ? Gardner ? and I cant help but think of the Bond movie "Live and let die" with the bus chase and the sound of the engine .
Old Middlesbrough Corporation Transport and noticed it was the "M" Bus. All Boro buses used letters. My locals were N and the Circular routeY & Z. Stockton Corporation also used numbers so the Joint bus between M'bro and Stockton was the 0 or O Bus. When the Council Buses merged United (National) had to add an extra number so they went to 3 numbers. The local United 63 became 263. The new Bus Company had to mix Green (Stockton) with Blue (Boro) and so we had the first Turquoise Buses, as TMT.
The newer vehicles are better in technology but yes spiritually, they can never touch your heart or give you the required therapy you need for everyday life unlike this son of a gun.
