Classic Bus Histories Episode 3: Bristol VR 

I read an interview with the founder of Citybus in Hong Kong saying that he was glad to miss out on these buses and and was a lover of the Leyland Alexander bodied Olympians

These and National best looking buses from my childhood

I worked at BCV for the last 8 years of their existence. Machined countless parts for VRs including crown wheels and pinions, Gear box housings, Steering arm brackets with their tapered mirror finish hole...to name just a few examples. Made of EN35 steel, that kicked up frightening curly swarf when initially drilled. 17.52 minutes to machine each one...so my memory is till good 40 years on! Also machined parts for the very early BRISTOL Olympians, that I had watched evolve in the experimental shop A very proud workforce where quality was the byword. As for Leyland management, no time for them whatsoever. To my mind they were on a par to what is unfolding with the Post Office Horizon scandal IMO...deceitful. Really enjoyed the video as I can relate to it first hand.

Great video. I drove Cumberland and Ribble VR3s albeit very much at the end of their life and lived every minute of my time behind the wheel of them. Listening to that engine note and whine was wonderful as it bashed along the road ensuring you felt every lump and bump along the way!

3 out of 3 ! It's the crashing of the cab door and vibrating furniture that is so familiar to the ear. The only thing missing on the drive was an Almex machine shuddering on its plinth and the coins jangling in the change tray.

Perhaps some clarification on these vehicles, the prototype VRT3 that went to Western National, fleet no 1078 had a Leyland 510 fixed head diesel with a fully auto box fitted, the electronics for the box taking up a substantial amount of room under the rear seat. When it was taken into regular service, this was stripped out and it was changed to a semi auto box operation as were every other VRT. It was delivered with the full hush kit including the centre under tray which was quickly dumped as it was a right pain come oil change time (and a fire risk due to oil buildup, Gardners weren’t exactly the most oil tight engines) The first batch of MK3s were also fitted with 510s, at Taunton we upgraded 3 of them with coach seats and different gearing to run the X96 service between Taunton and Bristol, the vehicles chosen were the Leyland engined VRs.The gear boxes were fully charged units, that is the oil was common to both the gearbox and fluid coupling and would be circulating around both the gearbox and the fluid coupling and so allowed the fluid coupling to be kept full and not over heat. If care was taken to align everything properly this practically eliminated fluid coupling gland oil leaks, the earlier vehicles suffered quite badly from overheating oil causing the Llewelyn glands to carbon up and fall. The power steering was a godsend as was the air throttle, for power steering on the earlier vehicles there wa an air assisted system that was often fitted, this tended to make the vehicle corner in a series of jerks, it felt as though it was modelled on an old threepenny bit, the steer tyres on those had some interesting wear patterns.

I went to school on a VR (and single decker Leylands) for years. Iconic, I love them as a result. I saw one in Netherlands (Texel) and it still had its uk numberplate in the rear glass window so I could check its history. It was from up north. Near where I live, one is a mobile wood fired pizza shop, a hole cut for the chimney through both decks.

As a kid I remember the early VRTs having a distinctive wailing sound in top gear. It was like they were singing. So from the age of about 7 or 8 they had me hooked. I managed to spot almost all of the Southdown fleet before i became a teenager and gave myself totally to trainspotting. I have never really lost my love for the buses of my childhood though and I'm so pleased that I have subbed to this channel. Cant wait to see if you do the old Leyland Titans (not the 1980s one) We had the old Queen Marys (pd3/4) and I miss being bounced down the road in one of them. Thanks for posting these videos.

Worked on them at the end of their life / start of my apprenticeship, both Gardner and Leyland engine versions. Still mantain and drive several preserved VRs.

Thoroughly interesting little mini documentary. Was aware of the Bristol VR and how successful they were but never had occasion to travel on them. Strange they opted for the in-line engine to begin with. Didn't know there were quite a number of body variations and engines such as AEC AV691 fitted to the FRM I believe. Series 2 look great, nicer styling and pleasing design. I don't think you show all the variations to accompany the narration, but otherwise great stuff!

Another excellent video .. growing up & living in High Wycombe throughout the 60’s/70’s/80’s & 90’s .. had not only the LT Country Area Garage HE but also 2 Thames Valley Garages in Desborough Road & on the London Road at Micklefield… by 1970 they had been replaced by a new bus station/garage at Newlands when the first VR’s were coming into service .. we also had some of those ex Scottish ones (FLF’s going north of the border). That distinctive destination screen was soon replaced by a more standard one though! by 1972 when they merged with Aldershot & District to form Alder Valley these were soon replaced by VRT2’s and they had lots of series 3’s too .. wearing various liveries as the NBC split up after deregulation … but my most remembered time was during the winter of 1984 .. when my car was off the road & I was working in Maidenhead.. had to get the 320 bus to work and in the morning it usually was a Maidenhead Depot ex Hastings & District VR .. that was always freezing inside with ice on inside of the windows! My other memory is on holiday travelling on several of Hants & Dorset’s convertible VR’s between Bournemouth & Swanage via the Sandbanks Ferry; and down in Devon & Cornwall riding through those beautiful counties on the top deck of a VR. Happy Days

VEX 294 X used to be one of my old school buses 'back in the day' looking slightly better in the photo, than when it was being used daily!

I was pleased to see on moving to Lancaster in 2004 a Bristol that was regularly routed to serve the 42 Blackpool timetable. I was told this has been preserved and now wears it's original "Cumberland" colours. (There were also a handful of Titans, not sure what happened to these).

Our school bus was BEY938W. Last owned by Alpine of Llandudno North Wales.

I recall seeing a Devon General liveried VR in Vancouver in 1998, still with its Devon reg plate. The first VR I recall seeing was a flat screen version in Looe Cornwall in 1970.

Once rode on the PMT Cummins engined VR! Absolutely hellfire!

East Midlands used to run this type of bus way back when I was a nipper. They were affectionately known as 'the old boneshakers'

Just found your channel and it's got great content! I love old buses, having been a bus driver for many years, from NBC days and after the disaster of deregulation. I worked for West Yorkshire Road Car, United, Northern General then Go Ahead Northern, Lothian Buses and London Northern. Of all the buses I've driven my favourite bus was the legendary Bristol RE, with the Routemaster a close second!

I remember as a kid watching a Western SMT (Scottish Bus Group) Bristol VR, the 60s, going up in smoke in my home town after that they disappeared, my next encounter was as driver for Brighton & Hove back in 84, they had a few without power steering, they retro fitted some kind of air assisted steering, weirdest thing I ever drove.

Very interesting video. Learnt a few things I never knew before. Many thanks 🙂

Loving this series 😁. Having been used to single door VR’s, I only discovered that 2 door versions were made a few years ago. These must be very rare now.

Thank you for this, fingers crossed and looking forward to the Fleetline episode.

Driver….. let the passengers sit before you take off! And blip the throttle between downshifts, you could lock the rear wheels if not too careful with rev matching. Reminds me of a school bus driver we had. These days you could probably claim for whiplash 😂

I worked for the BET Group which became part of the National Bus Company and drove all three models of the VR. The Mk 1 was in all respects very heavy to drive, with a very hard-to-push throttle pedal and really heavy steering, as well as being slow and ponderous with the Gardener engine, the Mk2 came with the air throttle, power steering and the Leyland 501 power plant and bore little resemblance to the Mk1, they were almost a joy to drive, then the Mk3 arrived, again it bore little resemblance to its predecessor, it retained the power steering and air throttle, but had a Gardner engine again, this time though it was a powerful and responsive unit that became my favourite.

I remember that Western National from Taunton used VRT's, as did Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight.

thanks so much....drove vr`s 1 &11 & RL in Cambridge,,,,

The Bristol VR replaced the Lodekka, and the majority of VRs went to Tilling companies usually red or green. ECW bodywork was standard of all Tilling Bristols, single and double deck, but smaller number of VRs were bodied by other firms, some to small operators.

I remember the first Scottish VRs introduced by Eastern National in exchange for Lodekkas. When they first entered service they were still painted blue with acute trapezoid shaped destination boards. If I recall correctly, their registration numbers all began OWC, although this may have been a later batch.

The curved window variants always made me think of Darth Vader.

I think the first examples were delivered to Eastern Scottish and very nice they were. They proved unreliable and were exchanged for Lodekkas.

Interesting video. I remember riding on the Bristol VR when it was owned by Stevensons of Uttoxeter. My friend used to drive it in the 80s and it was a very quick bus. They also had a fleet of Atlanteans. I do wonder if any of them were preserved when Stevensons closed down.

2 of them made into the Whoniverse. Although the one that went into the dessert got left in that country due to being damaged on unloading.

Please please do a video on the production of the Vanhool Aitzee (the T5) variant that was from the 1988 period? Such a characteristic and bold looking front ended coach bodywork; with an unusual rear end.

Went to School on a mixture of these leyland Olympians/tigers/leopard even a AEC Reliance in the late 90s early 2000s

I wish I could get down to the bus event. I'm in the midlands now but grew up in east Kent. I used to love going on EK Vrs and would often go on the 604/5/6/7 services during the 80/90s.

AEC powered ones would have been very interesting in this layout. We may have seen some emitting the roar of an AH760.

i remember solent blue line in southampton ran these bristol vr's

Why the stipulation of the transverse engine rather than a longitudinal one? Almost like the Government knew what Bristol were up to but didn't want them to be... Incidentally, when I started college in 1979 in Southampton, NEL 116P was my first VR and a regular performer during those days. I shall always remember NEL 116P from my first day at college and my first VR.

Recently I went on the Buses website, and by chance I cast my vote in their Top 10 favourite buses poll. I voted for the Leyland National as it is my favourite. But I was disappointed that VRs weren't on the list - my 2nd favourite sort of bus - and also REs weren't on the list. They did have a vote for your own favourite option.

Without power steering, you had to stand up to get the bastard to turn if you had a full standing load.

Hi i'm viatron from Sheffield, why don't you do a version of CLASSIC BUS HISTORIES video on the open market version of the Bristol Lodekka lowhight double deck bus known as the Dennis Loline which were sold to those local companies outside of the Tilling Bus Group such as Aldershot & District, Walsall corporation & North Western for instance. & this is a new bus story between Bristol & Dennis what who want to build & construct the same lowhight double deck bus known as either a Lodekka or a Loline versions. Thanks for your co-operation from myself David Viatron Esquire of crookes in Sheffield. So stay turned for another episode of the British Bus Histories & that my new idea for you.

Ribble had plenty of VR'S. Lowheight and highbridge versions.

Great episode, hope you have time to do an episode on the Leyland Titan (B15)

I passed my test in a Bristol VR, with Wilts and Dorset.

The Bristol Verity is one of the few historic busses I really miss! I remember about twenty years ago there was one working for First (formerly Western National) which broke an air reservoir tank whilst driving off the Torpoint ferry at low tide. The ferry backed out leaving the bus behind to wait for a fitter to arrive. It was a sorry sight to see as the tide came in and rose up around the back of the aforementioned bus!

Can you do a video on the Volvo Ailsa & Volvo citybus

Bus I used go to Redcar from guisborough tees and district and now arriva who took long term running. 81/63/93 Whitby Scarborough service always used both Bristol vr and Leyland Olympians double decker Thought I do remember 1 Leyland Olympian younger model that pass over to arriva where it's interior was luxury could passed as coach seats and like carpeted Mind today 81 uses crap temsa avenue LF and is only ones in UK there 20 of them though one caught on fire in engine bay unknown reason put rest of operators off

Canny set of bristols ..Large unwieldy to handle but great...

Guy Wulfrunian?

passed my psv in a w reg 1

The VR wasn't exactly reliable Eastern Scottish got rid of them very quickly. Been on a few the broke down back in the early 1970s

Bristol VR = Bad Gearboxes.