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【1981 VR Bristol Double Decker】Gear changes no clutch! Driver Cab Cam! Upper deck views!

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【1981 VR Bristol Double Decker】Gear changes no clutch! Driver Cab Cam! Upper deck views!
POV 1981 VR Bristol Series 3 Double Decker Bus! Fantastic footage of interior and exterior. Driver Cab Cam ! Watch driver operating epicyclic 5 speed semi automatic transmission.
Bus Descriptions
【1981 VR Bristol Double Decker Series 3】
HeadFirst Travel Fleet no. ‘Lincoln’
Engine: Rear mounted Gardner 6LXB
6 cylinder 10450 cc diesel
Transmission: 5 speed epicyclic semi automatic
Power Steering
Height: 4.17m
Seats: 64 plus driver
Coach Builder: Eastern Coach Works (Lowestoft, England)
【Headfirst Travel】
Headfirst Travel are a Dunedin based transport, tourism and travel company. They specialise in event transport, charter and sight seeing tours. Driver/Guides are great story tellers and they have a versatile and interesting fleet of buses including 5 double deckers ! Headfirst Travel. ‘Bringing Alive Local Legends’
Ph: +64 3 477 9083
e: info@headfirsttravel.com
w: headfirsttrave...
【Otago Heritage Bus Society】
Otago Heritage Bus are a non-profit community group who aim to preserve, restore and operate buses and coaches of national or regional significance. The vehicles are restored, maintained and operated almost entirely by volunteers.
If you are thinking of hiring a unique bus for your function, special occasion or event, why not choose a heritage bus from the Otago Heritage Bus Society's collection?
You will be helping us restore New Zealand's road transport past as well as adding a unique twist to your event.
Ph: +64 27 487 9585
e: otagoheritagebussociety@gmail.com
w: otagoheritageb...
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Опубликовано:

25 мар 2021

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Комментарии : 102

@Grid56 10 месяцев назад

Good to see we actually exported something!

@busdrivernick 9 месяцев назад

🤣👍🏻 it’s a lovely bus to drive

@drumlinbeatpaul 3 года назад

Nice to see a Bristol VR (it's that way round, sorry to be pedantic, but I'm from Bristol where the chassis was manufactured!) still in service after all these years! 😀 Yes, a few cosmetic modifications, but it's been around a long time so to be expected I guess. Hmm, not quite sure about that Volvo grille though...

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi Drumlin Beat, yes the Volvo grille has certainly caused a bit of a stir, but she is a very tidy bus , if not a bit retro 🙂🚌. Ok Bristol VR it is, thanks for letting me know 👍🏻🙂. I will correct this in future videos . Thanks so much for watching 📺

@alanjones9592 2 года назад

What a lovely video. Grew up with VRs and went to school on them for many years. Although most of the driver's back then did not treat them with the respect you do - often slamming them straight out of one gear into the next. Great to see this one still running in such beautiful surroundings. All the best.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Alan , thanks mate, appreciate your kind words, and thanks very much for taking the time to write a comment. Back here in NZ I used to take Leyland Leopard buses to school, that’s what got me into buses 🚍 👍🏻. All the best ,

@fasttrackblastback8286 Год назад

These were still about in the 90s, just about, and I went to school on them and the driver would absolutely thrash them, some of the fastest buses I've been on, was always intrigued by the gearbox

@busdrivernick 8 месяцев назад

Gidday , the gearbox is a Leyland electrically assisted pneumocylic semi automatic, so no clutch pedal. Definitely no need to thrash them or rush them through . In fact the slower the change the better.

@jimmyvlogit1899 Год назад

Wow, just wow! So nice to see one of these VR's not only still in active service but also so beautifully restored. I rode these a lot during the early to mid 80's and love the sound of the Gardner engines. Very well driven too, I've seen some drivers throw the gears around so fast.

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi @jimmyvlogit1899 thanks for your comments, appreciate it, and glad you enjoyed the video. I have driven a couple of these, this one drives particularly nice. Power steering makes a huge difference. Yes they are a lovely transmission when you don’t rush them through. Thanks again 🙂

@mainframe444 3 года назад

Nice refurbishment. And I know everyone in the comments is an expert, but I’ve driven many miles with these gearboxes.... Your gearchange technique is excellent but..... When changing down, and you pause in neutral,please just blip the throttle to speed up the innards of the gearbox so that the change down is less of a shock to it. It’s good to see you appreciate these gearboxes can’t be rushed..... I’ve seen many boxes wrecked by slamming the lever straight from one gear to the next!

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Gidday , thanks for watching and your constructive feedback, yes a couple of other viewers have mentioned the wee touch of the throttle and pause in neutral, appreciate the advice. And hey if I put myself out there I have to expect some feedback from other drivers, all good 😄 thanks again for your comments, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

@joshstephen1995 2 года назад

Was coming here to say the same. Your upshifts are perfect, pausing between the gears. I was always taught (I drive these for rallies) to give 2 seconds between gears. Defo when changing down just tap the throttle. It'll essentially rev match and you'll have the smoothest downshift ever

@brianmelrose-fp8fu 2 месяца назад

@@busdrivernick Blipping the throttle on a downshift is no more than showboating. its a fluid flywheel and epicycic gears.

@halesworth01 Год назад

Coach built in Lowestoft Suffolk by ECW (Eastern Coach Works)

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi Clive thanks for the info 👍🏻and for watching .

@shaunc2476 2 года назад

Beautifully driven and lovely video. Only issue is the down-shifts, I think (I'm not a bus driver though my dad was for his whole career) it should be high gear to neutral, slight burst on the gas, then down to the lower gear. The slight burst prepares the vehicle for the higher revs of the gear you are changing down to. Here you appear to be just pausing and then changing down which causes a jolt when the higher revs of the lower gear kick in.

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi Shaun C , cheers , glad you enjoyed the video . In the video early on I see one gear change only the was a bit off. Other than that you will note if you let the revs reduce enough and shift slowly there is no need to blap in neutral. Some drivers do some don’t, it certainly is not mandatory and my personal view offers no advantage at all having driving it both ways . Thanks for your comments always good to have these discussions 🙂👍🏻

@mattcooper8881 2 года назад

Absolutely superb. These buses are 110% my childhood and bus nut memory. This bus is very well looked after and extremely well driven by Nick who clearly has a passion for what he does, so lovely and reassuring to hear in today's world .

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Gidday Matt, they are a lot of fun alright . Appreciate your comments mate and glad you enjoyed the video. 🚍🙂

@mattcooper8881 2 года назад

@@busdrivernick Thank you Nick, I've subscribed and am thoroughly enjoying some of your other videos! Keep up the good work! Cheers, Matt.

@robertp.wainman4094 2 года назад

Nice video - nothing beats the Bristol/Gardner/Semi Auto sounds!

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Robert , yes hard to beat ! Thanks for watching 👍🏻🚌

@jaxonkennedy543 3 года назад

Awesome video today! This has gotta be one of your best videos on the channel so far! I never new that this bus was in Dunedin. It's been very well restored and will make a great addition to Dunedin's historic fleet of buses. Great video, great camera angles and perfect driving 👌👍. Keep doing your amazing work because it's awesome! 😀

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Gidday Jaxon,, wow appreciate your feedback mate, I’m happy you enjoyed it so much! I was really happy with this video, good to have POV , do my own thing .

@britishfilmguy 2 года назад

Nice to hear that gardner engine was a classic engine sound here in the uk with our Bristol double deckers that saw a good few years of service from the 1980's to the late 1990's we had them here in the uk. Thankfully there's afew preservation teams about kerping the Bristol double deckers going..

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Gidday British Film Guy , thanks for watching 😀🚍. Great to read your comments. This one originated from the UK too just don’t know the details at the moment. But yes I agree I love the Gardner engine , joy to drive.

@britishfilmguy 2 года назад

@@busdrivernick gidday to you nick glad to hear it was a joy to ride on them back then its great to see there still popular in this day and age.!

@nickfarrow7320 3 года назад

Great video, brought back memories of riding on many VR’s in my childhood. You just can’t beat the sound of the 6LXB. You have much better scenery though. Keep it up I’ll be catching up with your other videos. Cheers 👍🏼👍🏼

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi Nick 👋🏻, thanks for dropping us a line mate , glad you enjoyed the video and there’s plenty more to check out 🙂🚌👍🏻. Totally agree there’s something about those Gardner engines, they just sound so good

@CookedLight 2 года назад

Gorgeous restoration, my fav 'decker in my favourite colour, superb 🍻

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Paul, cheers for watching, she was restored by a previous company. She’s lovely to drive a real pleasure .

@jazzyjim76 3 года назад

Bus sounds great 👍🏻 Just go a little slower before changing down and give a blip on the throttle in the middle. Eg. (5th, neutral, blip, wait, 4th)

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi James , thanks for watching and your comments, ok so a wee rev in neutral before down change as you would when you double a manual clutch. Will give a try next time 👍🏻

@bristollodekka5281 3 года назад

@@busdrivernick Yes matching the revs is important when changing down as otherwise it causes damage. You can hear the yelp from the gearbox whine. The intensity of the rev is dependent on road speed. Lovely pauses when changing up and a fine sounding vehicle.

@brianmelrose-fp8fu 2 месяца назад

@@busdrivernick Blipping the throttle is not required its epicyclic gearing all gears are engaged. Nothing happens till you operate a gear band. All you are doing is giving the engine a rev and wasting fuel.

@alancure8841 2 года назад

I think I have watched the video before but it was good to watch again Bristol is a great bus this one goes well sounds good in great condition cheers 👍

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Alan, cheers, thanks for watching, yes it’s a really nice bud to drive, and a lovely motor. Is one of my favourite videos I put together, so happy you enjoyed it !

@jamesfrench7299 Год назад

Must be among the last buses to have that gear selector design. I used to ride Leyland Leopards dating from 81 and all but one had those selectors. The other was Leyland's own selector with a longer lever (still electrically operated not pneumo). I can't recall ever seeing the light working like this one. I guess operators in Australia didn't see the practicality of them and preferred the drivers look at the road! That grill looks alright, but the Volvo diagonal strip should go as it's such a Volvo trademark. Regular non bus people wouldn't care though. Thanks for the tour and the exterior shot of it driving.

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi 👋 James, thanks for watching and appreciate you supporting the channel. So this Double Decker is a Bristol VR with a Gardiner engine and a Leyland electric pneumatic semi automatic transmission, if you watch my Leyland Leopard or Leyland Atlantean Double Decker these buses feature the fully air controlled pneumocyclic transmissions. Is that what your thinking of ?

@jamesfrench7299 Год назад

@@busdrivernick The Leopards I'm talking about had the same electric mono control gear lever as the Bristol. Leyland introduced their own electrically operated lever that commands the air operated rams to affect gear changes, like the Bristol. The set up is the same except for the gear changing controller.

@garysmith2450 2 года назад

I used to ride in those on my way to school in the 80s. I miss them. The only thing missing on that bus was the Eastern Coachworks Lowestoft sign above the front upper window. Oh and the low back vinyl seats of course.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Gary, great buses lovely to drive . Ya this is not quite refurbished to original, but kind of retro. Nice tidy revamp though and mechanically very sound . Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting. Merry Christmas 🎄

@Westcountrynordic 2 года назад

The ones that took me to school in the UK had 3 single seats upstairs at the front instead of the one single on this one,

@richardhaywood4123 2 года назад

They were driven hard in the UK national Fleet especially on the school run,straight through gear shifts with a little blip of the throttle at each change with 70 plus kids on board made for a hang on type ride!

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Richard, yes I’m sure they were a few viewers have mentioned that . Regarding giving a rev between shifts , with a full load in a hill I’ve done the same, but I find generally if you get the rev s right it’s not necessary, a lot of conflicting opinions on that though 🙂👍🏻. Thanks for watching and appreciate your comments.

@brammyd1 3 года назад

Great to see her in such good shape !

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Thanks for watching 🙂🚌👍🏻

@halesworth01 Год назад

Our school bus drivers didn't bother with lifting off to change...just done the racing change! lol, maybe that's what wrecked the boxes!

@busdrivernick Год назад

Yes ramming them through at speed definitely shortens the life span. Lovely gearbox when taken care of 👍🏻

@StrayCatBlues1953 2 года назад

Great video, i drove VR's for Stagecoach Hampshire Bus.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi StrayCatBlues1953, cool , big operation is Stagecoach, hey thanks for watching, great to hear from other drivers. I’m sure you know these vehicles inside out 👍🏻🙂

@tatuaalbert3112 3 года назад

Enjoyed this vid Nick, lovely trip around the harbour, one of my mates had a Gardiner diesel in his fishing boat, good engines, funny I thought that was a Volvo grill on the front!

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hey Buddy, yes they are known as a marine engines, I live the sound of them. Yep it’s a Volvo grill alright .😱

@LandAnchor 2 года назад

Honestly the face lift work you’ve had done to this Bristol VR whilst keeping it in service makes a huge difference. Personally, I like the Volvo grill, it adds a flair. The engine sounds in excellent health and well maintained. Thanks for sharing this.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Nick , thanks for dropping a line mate , glad you enjoyed the video, must admit this was restored by a previous operator, but yes I totally agree, it runs beautifully and it is a bit retro 😄 but like it too👍🏻 including the Volvo grill !

@hannahsweeney2385 2 года назад

Love the video!!😁

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Thanks Hannah, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻🚍

@simonipswich 3 года назад

Lovely sound! Although when at lights and standing, the brake should be applied in case the vehicle starts to move forward.

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi Simon, thanks for watching, yes she runs sweetly

@thenzbuschannel 3 года назад

Wow! Nick you really know your stuff! 😀 It would be good if they restored it into its original livery “First City Tours”. Great video👍.I can’t wait for next Saturday’s video! 😃

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi Sean, cheers mate , thanks, appreciate your comments, I’ve been enjoying your videos too 👍🏻🚌

@JordanElliott11065 3 года назад

Nice video

@smiffy1071 2 года назад

She looks very nicely restored. They are horrible to work on, but really nice to drive. That is unless you are driving a series 1 or 2.... yours is a series 3. The earlier ones don’t have power steering, so you give yourself a hernia in slow speed manoeuvres! I live just 4km from the Bristol factory where the chassis was made.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi 👋 , I’m lucky we have a couple of great mechanics, so I just get to drive 🚍😜. I have driven another Bristol without the power steering and a full load of cruise ship passengers on city sights, hard day at the office alright😜

@joebutlersnr7017 2 года назад

I drove the earlier bristol don't know what model but it had the four headlights, lots of drivers couldn't get to grips with the gear change, but I found that you could shift quicker than in this video no problem, just as long as you paused between them and just give a slight pause and blip on the throttle but NOT too much, the air drivin accelerator could be a bit tricky to blip though without giving it to much revs , also I found it much easier to let the gear stick rest in it's neutral position without trying to hold it in place with your hand , that way you always shifted from the same reference point believe me I've tried both ways and this way is much easier than trying to hold it in place with your hand, get in tune with it and you have the best semi auto change of any other, my all time favorite bus.

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Joe thanks for watching and your insights. One of my favourites too, good fun to drive 🚌

@joebutlersnr7017 2 года назад

@@busdrivernick thanks Nick .

@ChannelPASM 3 года назад

Almost sound like a Daimler Fleetline with a similar drivetrain same engine. Nothing sounds better than the high pitch from gearbox

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi 👋🏻 interesting comparison I haven’t heard a Daimler Fleetline, I will do some research 🧐. Thanks for the info and watching the video 🚌👍🏻🙂

@CoasterTurbo 3 года назад

Daimler/Leyland Fleetline came with the 4spd, but the gear changing was way faster

@BMF-NJ 2 года назад

Any chance of getting a Wright bud from Hong Kong

@DecalCentralUK 3 года назад

Ex Crosville WTU 494W I've driven that when it was in the UK! Headfirst also have an ex Cumbernauld 1976 VR

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Gidday Lee, thanks for watching 🚌👍🏻. Wow, classic, small world a? That’s what I love about these old buses from the UK, ya never know if one of the original drivers is watching 😄, yes correct we have the ex Cumbernauld too , we name her ‘Clifford’ these days , another fine vehicle. I don’t suppose you have any pics ?

@robdavies7173 2 года назад

DVG494

@kristan999 Год назад

Started out as DVL494, got the Gardner engine later on. The original Leyland 0501 was awful but went like a rocket.

@jimgemmell2831 3 года назад

A VR having delusions of grandeur with that Volvo style badging on the rebuilt front end/grille!!!! Tidy looking VR. Just watched the ex HK Trident vid and knew I spotted VRs in the background...Any particular reason for the first, front two single seats being removed upstairs?

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi again Jim , ya it sort of looks the part 🧐🤣, this bus was bought from another operator who restored the bus . It is a little retro and quirky with the Volvo grill , and interior refurb , I must admit 🧐But they done a nice tidy job and runs beautifully 🚌👍🏻.

@jimgemmell2831 3 года назад

@@busdrivernick It looks the part to be honest, ezpecially the livery. 👌👌👍👍

@jaredini 2 года назад

Lol. Our EYMS drivers always whipped through gears on full throttle up and down. You'd end up with whiplash. Same on Leyland Nationals.

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi Andy, thanks for watching, yes I have that quite a bit , no need to rush them through .👍🏻

@fasttrackblastback8286 Год назад

Does your foot come off the throttle for the change in gear?

@busdrivernick 8 месяцев назад

Yes it does 👍🏻

@richardhaywood4123 2 года назад

That bus is a long way from home! What was its original UK registration plate? Can't believe the neutral light on the gear selector still works!

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Richard, thanks so much for watching, good eye for detail noticing the neutral activation light😀. Not sure on original rego will see what I can find out 👍🏻 and let you know

@paulwilson3083 3 года назад

Gardner diesel engines are a masterpiece of engineering one man would build the engine from start to finish and each engine would be individually tested before dispatch, I used to run them in lorries and have had them do a million and a half miles (not km's) without taking the sump or heads off and there still isn't an engine today that will beat them on fuel consumption, I enjoyed your video but please take that turbo 6 badge from a Volvo off the buses grille as it's an insult to the bus.

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi Paul, thanks for watching and the info on the Gardner engines, very interesting. They are a lovely motor they sound great 👍🏻.

@jaggass 2 года назад

Can it climb the famous steep road in Dunedin?

@busdrivernick 2 года назад

Hi Michael, possibly in first , and empty , not sure 🤔, but turning around at the top would be a problem 😅

@jaggass 2 года назад

@@busdrivernick And trying to keep a steady speed downhill and coming to a stop maybe a problem too.

@micswee Год назад

Nicely restored but the front grill looks like it's come off a Volvo truck.

@busdrivernick Год назад

Hi Michael, yes that’s right , it sort of works 🧐 😆the bus was restored by a previous owner in a little bit of a retro fashion, not sure what the story is behind the grill. Overall though she is very tidy and drives well.

@PJ9629ATEU 2 года назад

Leyland Feetline

@duncanobrien4951 3 года назад

What's with the Volvo badge on the grille?

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Gidday Duncan , thanks for watching, not entirely sure if the reason, was restored by a previous owner.

@CoasterTurbo 3 года назад

Awesome video What is the top speed in 5th gear for this bus? The Leyland Fleetline from Hong Kong comes with the 4spd semi auto with the same engine, the top speed is barely over 60km/h

@busdrivernick 3 года назад

Hi CoasterTurbo . Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching 👍🏻🚌🙂. Ya not far off for our one, around 75km I think.

@wharris302 2 года назад

@@busdrivernick low ratio gearbox then id think, the high ratio 5 speeds can get up to a staggering 55mph lol I think that's 90km/h for you?

@smiffy1071 2 года назад

@@wharris302 it wasn’t the gearbox that dictated the top speed.... it was the rear axle, which was available in different ratios, according to customer needs. So a citybus would have a low ratio for upto about 45-50 mph, while coach use, had a higher ratio for 65 mph or more!

@KarrrRep Год назад

Umm you say its a bristol vr but the front grille is from volvo

@busdrivernick Год назад

Yes , it’s a Bristol VR with a Volvo grill .

@KarrrRep Год назад

When I was a kid growing up in the 70s my mum and grandma used to go shopping in the next town either way from our town and we didn't have a car so used buses a lot. I remember travelling on single deck leyland nationals registered in 1977 and also double deck Bristol vrs. Both had a unique sound to them. Who would have thought that many years later in 2002 I would end up driving buses and coaches. Sadly I have never driven one of these. However I did drive a couple of old buses a leyland tiger and lynx also old volvo ps and b10ms