Drove a lodekker for 8 years, 5 of which in Cumbria.3 in North Yorkshire . Definitely needed 1st gear there and a lot more two handed steering! A very capable bus which kicked back if you weren’t gentle enough. Amazing to experience being in the cab again.thx
I don't know why he keeps starting in first gear, It's quite normal to start on the flat in second gear, and only start in first gear on a hill; where you can 'snatch-change' to second gear. Bristol's always had easy snatch-changes compared to Leyland's.... I drove both types !
I went to Liverpool to University for a year in 1974 and was amazed at the busses. Seemed like antiques to me. Some were even older than others. What I couldn't get over was the idle. They never seemed to turn them off, just idled at what seemed like about 200rpm
