It’s a Wilson pre select gearbox. The “clutch” pedal is a gearchange pedal. You select a gear, depress the pedal and move off. Move selector to next gear and when you’re ready to change depress the pedal to change.
Thanks guy's for showing us through the old london bus it's great to see no one has destroyed it by kid's over time. It would be a perfect restoration project to bring it back to brand new condition
If it was a building it would qualify for Grade One “listed” designation. I remember every detail from my schoolboy days. Very rare restoration opportunity.
@@neumoi3324 I would suggest not. Unless there is rot in the woodwork and the chassis is OK this looks in very good original condition. These buses would have been refurbished several times during their working life. There is a RU-vid video about the workshop where these were maintained. I think they had a fleet of about 7000.
@@christophershrimpton7627 that included a couple of thousand Leyland versions called the RTL and all the different variants of the RT made since just before WW2.
I served my apprenticeship at AEC (Southall) from 1969 to 1976. The “ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT COMPANY” built LONDON’S Buses from 1912 to 1979. This example, the “RT” or “Regent” class of bus had a “Weymanns” body fitted to it’s AEC Chassis. The last of this type of bus finished serving the Capital in 1979. The AEC 6 cylinder Diesel engine was always a great starter in all conditions due to it’s RICARDO performance engineered combustion chambers! The transmission is a WILSON pre-select gearbox and the left hand pedal is an operating pedal, not a clutch, as it has an automatic clutch. Gears are pre-selected and then the operating pedal is pushed to engage that particular gear. You just have to think “one step ahead” always 😇
A great company to work for. I loved the musical RT transmissions going up Shooters Hill - or anywhere else!......and as a kid spent many happy hours imitating that sound! Can I ask for your opinion of AEC's 470 engine?
@@robertp.wainman4094 ….. Not too familiar with that type of engine, my knowledge was with the AV590 and AV690 as fitted to the ROUTEMASTERS😇 and my expertise was with factory electrical maintenance…..
Can always remember chasing these buses and jumping on. Have also seen people jumping off to early including myself. Miss judge it and you would fall over big time 😂
1979 to be exact, the same year its maker AEC was closed down. They were meant to be all withdrawn by 1970 but got a reprieve due to the issues they were having with their new Fleetline deckers and Merlin rear engine single deckers as the RTs were proven reliable.
One foggy night on a 306 or 311 in North Watford (London transport Country Area-green buses) even with the kerb spotlight on, the conductor had to sit on the bonnet cover alongside the driver to inform him where the kerb was.
I do love RT's. The number one most iconic Double Dekker Bus in my view. The Advert at 2 mins 20secs would be from around 1968 to 1971 changing from good old Pounds Shillings and Pence (£sd) to Decimalisation and Pounds and New Pence (£p). Rover ticket at 15p = 3 ahillings (3/-).
I’m curious as to where this bus was in the USA as I remember seeing one by the side of a freeway when I was over in Alabama. As a Brit abroad I was amazed to see a bus just like the one I had travelled on many times to school and into central London as a kid!
Thanks for video very interesting love looking at old machinery like this really I am old enough to remember riding on these old things when I was a kid. Thanks again for the memories so sad to see these beautiful machine in this condition. It would be good if someone could restore. .👍
The thin red cheat line is still there above the windows, inside and on top and some of the London Transport brown around the platform and stairs. These RTs were my universal bus from 1948 to when I left the London area in 1969. Above the driver's windscreen it said Max height 14ft 6inches. Driver would reach up high left to pull starter having pumped up his seat height.
Same here RT's were still being used on the 62 & 193 routes till around 1979 - (April 1979 Chadwell Heath Station) I used to use the 86 mostly (Chadwell Heath to Ilford & mostly Romford) taking the future wife 'home'
Same here, a 321, Watford Junction to Rickmansworth for school, 1959-1967. The paper Gibson tickets said 'not transferable', but putting them on the cream-painted roof and its condensation, the ticket details were indeed transferred to the roof!
So as it's practically a complete example it's possible to trace its history. Hopefully it has been saved for restoration.. It's RT3053 KXW 162 Seems to have been used by London Country Buses, so most likely painted green originally. Saw service on routes 438a 410 and 424 allocated to East Grinstead garage.
RT3053 KXW 162 2/50 CS new, body 5934: Weymann 3RT8 2/50 RG into service on 405, 414 (Reigate) 51-52 RG 9/53 RG to overhaul 10/53 GD (Godstone) 54-60 GD 9/61 GD to Aldenham overhaul 9/61 HF from o/h (Hatfield) 62-5 HF 2/66 HF to Aldenham overhaul 2/66 EG from o/h (East Grinstead), Weymann body 5148, 3RT8 67-8 EG 6/69 EG to Aldenham repaint, and return 1/70 EG conveyed to London Country 4/71 EG used on 438A 7/71 EG used on 424 9/71 EG used on 410 to Biggin Hill Air Display 4/72 GY transfer into store (Grays) 7/72 sold to Omnibus Promotions Ltd, London EC1 bought by J Richeson, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, USA 6/01 J Richeson, Wrightstown
A fine old Regent Type - and certainly not yet beyond salvation into full running order so I do hope it has found a new owner by now who can restore it. By the way if it is like a Routemaster the batteries will be in a compartment at the rear under the stairs together with a master cutout switch. Also the gearbox is an air actuated pre-selector. The pedal you thought was the clutch is actually the actuator pedal.
We've restored much worse ones than this at Ensignbus. The hardest stuff to restore will be the seat trim, 'Rexine' panel coverings inside and the 'Doverite' grab handle coverings....
Eeeee by gum lad. Is thowt soft in t'ed or summat? A'gate y' wasak, it's reet paggered. Shreddin' with t'claw are needed. Skift that rank mess up t'yard at Barnsley for sortin'
The lighted sign ! It would a pre cut destinate type board on the front that would be back by the light so that you could see where the us was going at night . The standard RT type bus had no radio coms
How tall are you guys? The "highbridge" London buses I think have headroom for a 6'2" person to stand fully upright on both decks. They are IIRC 14 feet 6 inches tall. Some other models have a lower top deck, however - the highbridge models can't fit under some bridges, restricting their routes or forcing them to take detours.
Fantastic iconic wonderful vehicle, but you will need a heart of oak and lots of coffee to take on a restoration. A lot of hidden wood behind those body panels. But if you are going to restore, you have my full respect and best wishes!!
That bus is RT (Regent Three) and used ore-select gears where the driver moves the stick-shift but the gear does not change until he engages the clutch, also the voltage is 24 (not 12), the fan switch is wrong and should be changed ASAP .
Not Regent Three, The AEC Regent was non London, The RT was bespoke London design. No one knows for certain what RT stood for but IMHO it was Revised Type, as the previous types were ST (short type) LT (long type) and STL (short type long) (really!)
Looks remarkably complete. if somewhat non original in places. Buying it would be the easy part, the questions to ask are, have you got enough money to properly restore it, garage it, ship it, and generally look after it ? Some people buy these wonderful machines and then fall down on everything else. If I could tick all the boxes, I'd buy it tomorrow & bring it back to its original condition, including replacing those awful seats !
I did not. If I did I would have turned it into a playhouse for the kids or an air bnb. I looked into it and you’d need an oversized permit to drive anywhere
The RT has a lot of character, but these can be huge money pit. The main frame of the body is wood, the outer panels are steel held to the wood frame with steel screws. The wood gets damp and rots. The steel screws embedded in the damp rotting wood rust away. Exterior beading and panels start coming away. In extreme cases the body can begin to collapse. The later Routemaster is an aluminium frame with aluminium body panels screwed and riveted to it. Small amount of wood used in the cab area and top front of bus and platform. Hence one of the reasons Routemasters, though not as interesting to look at, are more sought after than RTs. Having power assisted steering and a semi automatic gearbox are another.
That red round switch with a small rounded point on the right side of the driver is the INDICATOR ( TURN SIGNAL) & it is NOT!!! SELF CANCELLING you must turn it off yourself once you have made your turn or pulled out or changed lanes. This bus looks in a bit of a sorry state but, not impossible to restor & repair ( once you know where to get the spare & replacement parts. Places in England ( specialist & enthusiast ) can really help in others getting the replacements & parts for these classics ( not saying cheap but, WELL WORTH!!! the effort in the end & something to be very proud of achieving. This could be a real challenge but, as long as you get the right help & right parts it could be fantastic & MAYBE use to hire out for special occassions i.e weddings , hen or stag parties birthday parties & even just general day trips to places Once the vehicle ( bus ) has been fully checked serviced & m.o.t'd fueled up DIESEL NOT PETROL if i am correct. & insured of course & then enjoy it 😁😁😁😁👍😉 But, try to keep it under a big roof or very larged shed or similar building to protect it from the wether when not in use. & always keep it clean it once it is fully restored & repaired. It be so nice to see this once it has had all that work done to it. & fully running & it seems a bit strange why it isn't in the UK where it would be expected to be Not in the USA OR CANADA or abroad But, we know the Americans & some Canadians will buy almost anything of our heritage for themselves. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
No it wouldn’t, they do 8-9mpg, there gearing gives them a max speed of 38-40mph, remember these are busses, stop start non stop so not designed for speed an distance……
Much as I am not comfortable asking the depot why they stopped running the London Suburban Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s on routes N26, 30, 121, 230, 271, 349, N279 And 158 why can’t we make the same make of the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Buses but Modernise the insides of these Buses. Also, make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more so there will be more space for the wheelchair users. By the way, if you could remake and Modernise these vehicles could they also make them into a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Version’s that if it will be possible and Modernise the insides of these Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more so there will be more space and even a London Suburban Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more. Why couldn’t we have those London Suburban Buse's Pale red on the top roof Pale red again on the top middle Milk Chocolate brown in the middle Creamy white on the Bottom Middle and Milk Chocolate Brown on the Bottom on most of those kinds of those Particular Double Decker Vehicles? Could you put the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox in the Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also put the Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox in the Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more and also turn most of them to a London Suburban Buses. By the way, could you also make the routes N26, 349, 121, N279 and 271 into London Suburban Buses and have a mixture of a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Versions. Could they also transfer the Arriva Bus Depots from Hackney to Stagecoach company so they can replace all the Arriva buses so that all of them can go to Birmingham and Leeds and they can be replaced by Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles and that includes A Mixture of a Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Engine Northern Counties Palatine One and that Includes a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles A Little Bit More? Can Arriva London Bus Company Replace Most of their Wight Buses so they can also transfer them to Birmingham and Also Manchester so they can be replaced by Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles A Little Bit More Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much. Oh buy the way could the bus Factory Companies also Make More of Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles And that also includes Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC And also Extend the Middle Body part of those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and that also includes The Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus A Little Bit More And Paint Those 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and that also includes The Northern Counties Palatine One with a Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Diesel engines with a Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearboxes and The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles to the Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 and the 103, If all The Leyland Titan B15’s are Fully Red and even Mostly Red, could they also Repaint All of The Leyland Titan B15’s into Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 so they can Reuse them for Only Every Seven and a Half Months and also Reuse them on those Rail Replacement London Bus Routes if that will Be Alright for Only Just Every Seven and a Half Months starting from the Begining of October Please and also Reuse Those Buses Only on the London Bus Routes witch are The 341, N41, 34, 123, N29, 149, 221, N73, 121, 86, 30, 262, 147, 396, 41, and N26 so Please make sure that the builders can do as they are told!!!! And please do something about these Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Important Professional Ideas Please Please Prime Minister and also Includes the Mayor of London.😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😄😄😄😄😄😄😄
When they turn up in the UK a RT wlll cost you 20,000GBP to 50,000GBP in this condition. Many RTs were exported to Sri Lanka in the early 1960s dont know if any exist with the one time Ceylon Transport Board
@@highpath4776 yes, in Sri Lanka Transport Board still have some of them. From 1972 to 1978, I used to go to school in Colombo by this type of buses. Very comfortable. If you come to Sri Lanka, in SLTB Ratmalana Depot (close to Colombo city) a few of them can be seen.
