Driving a CONVOY of Buses to Fenland BusFest! 

Bloody typical. you wait forever for a bus video and then 5 come along at once.

I can't believe I've just seen a Hartlepool transport Bristol RE in the corner of that bus depot that bus has probably taken me to school more than once it's good to see that some of those great buses are still alive and kicking.

You know your getting old when you remember getting on one of those whippet buses in service. On a side note my dad had a mk1 morris marina 1.8 coupe sprayed by a bloke that worked at whippet in the early 80s. It was sprayed in the light blue they used in the older whippet livery when they were a blue and beige .

The twin front axle design was by Bedford, known as the VAL chassis to which various bodies were fitted. The one in the video looks like a Plaxton bodied example. The extra axle meant that smaller 7.5 ton truck running gear could handle the weight, which meant that the cost of the 9 tyres (8 on the bus + 1 spare) was comparable to the cost of the 7 required for a two axle bus. The smaller wheel size meant a low flat floor was possible, which is probably why it was chosen for the Italian Job as it would be much easier to load minis in to compared to other coaches!

I really don't know anything about buses, and I really don't like being a passenger on public transport, but I seem to have some kind of obsession with them. I'm randomly subscribed to a Japanese bus spotting channel after going down the RU-vid rabbit warren one late night/early hours of the morning and RU-vid decided I'd like to see some Coaches park in a tight car park somewhere in Japan. That was that. After watching many different companies doing that parking ballet, I then saw a ballet at a bus station. 14 or 15 bays, all drive in, and on the dot time wise (probably not needed to mention being Japan :) ), up to half of them all reversing together, fitting into order perfectly and driving away. So satisfying to watch, and how I, not speaking a single other language, sit down to watch this channel regularly with no English subtitles or anything. I've tried some UK equivalent, but I guess it's the 'modern' styling of our stuff that puts me off. I used to be a fan of our Wrightbus coach builders' buses' looks (13:08 That Scania is an example of their previous pre-facelifted design), being Northern Irish like myself, although not the absolute best looking I guess being from here made up for that, but their latest 'development' is just not appealing to my eye in the slightest, mirrorless ones just look even more wrong. The Japanese fleet all look like they're aging 80's/90's boxes, but they often have LED/LCD displays and the like, so they're not outdated or anything, they're just either kept in really good nick in service to make the most out of them instead of scrapping just for the sake of looking modern every few years (*cough UK), and/or they just really don't care for looking modern, a bus is function only so they have a raw 'utilitarian' character about them that is strangely refreshing for me being from the 'new', 'modern' obsessed nonsense of the UK. For me the 'Vanhool' style is appealing, maybe as they're the childhood coach for me. Post that with all the wee lights and unnecessary angles for everything made of plastic and especially the stupid bulbus front of the larger Optare single decker, absolutely hideous. although I don't have experience of the pre 2000's stuff, I can certainly appreciate tasteful chrome and unique styling that clearly identifies 1 manufacturer/coachbuilder to every other. The only pre-2000's bus/coach I've experienced in service was a Leyland Tiger coach as a replacement school bus when the one we were supposed to get, a much newer Wrightbus Volvo I believe, had broken down on the morning run. Got picked up 30 minutes late, and arrived at the destination of the 45 minute journey (on a limited regular bus) 30 minutes later, including all the normal stops. That's one way to etch a bus into the memory of a petrolhead, tearing up a town residential ring road at a solid 50+mph including crossing a small but regular (not mini) roundabout with quite a lot of camber. Maybe this one experience is where the bus thing comes from. My on little Northern Irish 'Speed', but without the onboard explosives. :)

Very interesting points you were making around19:00, and I very much agree. Particularly modern coaches, they're so cramped and dark inside. A coach of the 70s like a Plaxton Supreme or Duple Dominant (which that was one or the other) has big windows, that wood effect laminate which is so typical, and sears that are much, much more comfortable than a modern one. Mind you, it's the same with trains.

Bravo on the narration and commentary! Well done seamless, smooth and concise.

You wait for ages ,then 5 turn up together ! 😂😂😂😂😂

Old vehicles were the product of designers and engineers, modern vehicles are the product of bean counters.

I went to a bus rally a few years ago in Clacton, and one of the companies that was organising it, provided a free return service from London via Colchester (where I live), using an AEC Regent, so took the opportunity to hop on as it was travelling through. Was an excellent experience, and certainly recommend any bus fan to attend one of these and try out the free rides. Wish I could get on a Bristol VR again, such an iconic bus from my childhood.

Pop up to Edinburgh around September when Lothian Buses (formally LRT, the biggest bus company in the area) run their annual vintage running day. Each year they run a selection of vintage stock on a public route (route changes each year). Always a laugh when the bus pulls up at the stop and there is a mix of enthusiasts and regular members of the public not knowing what is going on!

Imagine waiting at a bus stop just to see this convoy hold up the bus you want to ride!

Thank you Lawrie for a very interesting video on buses and the different types & variations that exist. I look forward to seeing your other bus videos.

Worked for Northern Counties when this bus was built. This bus is a Palatine 1, the name palatine came from the street name In which the manager at the time … Nick parsons lived in Blackpool

I remember the day we took 14 ocado vans down the M4 - all in sequence - we had the rainbow twice over :)

i often feel quite isolated in being a vehicle enthousiast that likes both steam,diesel,petrol,etc. but also electric vehicles, it's like you have to be either one and not both.

The Leyland National (HTA844N) is owned by my grandad who snuck in at 11:01

Lawrie just think that the Leyland National is a Pacer Train for the road. 😉

Another great video lawrie love seeing the buses & coaches, love to see more of classic coaches love the chrome on them is so nice to see I just love seeing chrome.

totally get what you mean by the feeling of driving in a convoy, having done the London to Brighton mini run in my classic Rover mini feels magical when you are all going down there in packs of like 10 or so. Great vid as always Lawrie.

Drove H303CAV many times at Whippets, very simple to drive and a quick machine in its day, but it was always a 'shed' to me. Always preferred my Leyland Olympian with its Gardner engine in the back, much nicer machine. The white Bristol RE was probably the best bus there in my opinion, it also used to be owned by an old friend Ray Cuff down in Somerset. Keep up the good work.

Wow all the old classics bus

Excellent adventure.

NICE! Do love a good bus.

Remember these D10M Citybuses well, GM Buses bought a few back in the 90's which passed to First Group. They had no trouble gunning it up the hills around Bury and Rochdale.

The main thing to be aware of is how tall it is, particularly in relation to any bridges you might go under 🙆👷

Ha Ha. I recognized the whole route and Whittlesey, as i am currently living in Wisbech. From your part of world though - Haverhill and do get to the Middy as often as is possible for me. keep up the good work...love the channel!!!

Oh boy, I went to school on one of those buses and I drove the one in "blue bus" livery in service out of King's Lynn depot many moons ago. Nice to see you on my old service driving stamping grounds!

Fun fact Go Whippet WD418 Volvo B10M Olympian was the bus my grandad used to drive before leaving the bus industry

that bristol RE in the national livery is stunning, i hope you have plans for that to be on the channel too

i love buses and Reliants so this is perfection. Also fitted a rev Counter to my Rialto and as it turns out it fits perfectly into the frame of the centre air vent and it works perfectly. at 60mph the Rialto has exactly 3k rpm

Excellent vehicle, the Volvo Citybus.

Great camera work guy’s 👍📸

Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus H303CAV was brand new to Whippet in 1990. The Volvo Citybus has a 9.6 litre turbo diesel engine mounted under the floor. It left their fleet shortly after Tower Transit took them over in 2014. Whippet still exist today and are part of the Ascendal Group.

theres a bus rally very close to me that does similar, many different vintage and current buses all lined up in front of a pub and you can go for rides to the nearby towns and they do the town to town runs just like they used to

Ah there are reasons for the "follow the other bus" routine. Route has to be carefully chosen: 1. No Bridges/overhanging trees to damage double decker buses. 2. Road/bridge weight limits. 3. No narrow lanes or tight corners.

Looked a great day out, Wythall Transport Museum near where I live also put on a great bus rally in the spring and Autumn and have a museum with buses and other items including old milk floats, plus they have a little miniature railway. I agree on the take on the modern electric bus I am not keen on the silent electric era, if they put straight cut gears and old noisy motors on them I may reconsider.

Funny thing, I just went to Fenland busfest today! Oh so many whippet buses

I enjoyed the video !

Hay lawrie a good clue would be the destination signs on the bus 🚌👍

love to bring a USA school bus there! Whippet is almost a rip on Greyhound 🤣 I admit I wants a Routemaster but I want to do it up like Bulgy 😉

the swankey Leyland is my little project with my boss 😅

B10M one of the best engines Volvo ever created.

Driven that road at night, the sky is incredible

My own bus fest is happening in Adelaide SA on 15 May! Will be a great day for buses worldwide! ;)

Love how little he knew about the buses.

Sweet

love the convoy can remember the B10B northern counties paladin in Trent buses livery used to travel on it as a child many happy memories been on a few of them with Trent Barton and with its sister company Notts and Derby its not the bus you want to turn up for the long run from Nottingham/Derby to Manchester seating isn't the comfiest much preferred a optare excel or a volvo B10M plaxton premiere

There is a song named convoy by C.W. McCall and it is a classic american road trip song

There are a couple of extra buttons on most of the the older ZF gear selectors (1&2) that can be used to manipulate the gears but there is a technique to it. There was a guy who had videos on how to use them for the 4 and 5 speed ZF with the 12DNR configuration but his channel seems to have gone.

10:35 haha that's one of my old school buses 😂

fantastic. i would love to drive a bus. how cool.. should just stop and pick up random passengers.. 😅

Haven't been to the UK since '75 When I was there in '75, in London, I remember seeing quite fancy coach style busses that said "Panama III", on the rear quarter panel. Were any of the coach style busses at bus fest Panama III's? What is there to know about these Panama III's?

The red one: a Bristol VR. Standard National Bus Company double decker all through the 1970s. There were thousands of 'em.

funny fact a ruston that was working at the chemical plant on Anglesey is in the Tacla Taid museum near Newborough it is on the dailypost under :New Anglesey home for classic diesel locomotive

I can feel the old school slightly scratchy scrubby fabric.

I live just across road from the redfern travel or Johnson bros bus depot hahaha nice video

Might be an unpopular opinion but the late 1970s/1980s - early 2000s era buses are my favourite era (especially liked the ones you drove in the convoy). The earlier classics are buses I respect and can appreciate but growing up in Bedford in the early 2000s most of our buses were late 80s Leylands, mid 90s Volvos and early 2000s Dennis "plastic" buses, and those are the ones that I have the most fond memories of as a child which is why I think I prefer them. I was at the event last year that you filmed and looking to go again this year as I really enjoyed myself, definitely one of the best local-ish bus events we have and it's great to see you cover it. Looking forward to more bus content from you. At 21:45 were you referring to a 1 2 3 D N R selector?

Hi Lawrie, I'm a volunteer at chasewater railway, and you should come over and possibly review one of the locos and we have a goods gala on the 22nd aswell.

Ooh busses

Lawrie: But i just don't like electric vehicles. Atlas: Am i a joke to you?

I can't remember the date, but there is a vintage bus run to Imber village on Salisbury Plain training area, if you'd be interested in that sort of thing

LOL. And not a Thomas or Bluebird in sight! I own a Carpenter 3800 and drive a Thomas C2 for work.

You should book a ticket next time the fenland light railway is running to come and visit you can look at the booking dates on the Facebook page

4:04, is that what looks like an old railway trackbed?

The best convoy was leaving dent with 15 cars on single track roads. If only you had a drone for that

Lovely sight! Per chance using an Insta 360 X or such?

Knew an old drunkard (ex bus driver) Who surprisingly got a job at a bus company and I saw him with a big grin and no destination/route....Joyriding one of them single decker Volvos through our town. No names No packdrill!

"problem with shooting in the road, bus coming from that way" sorry guys, that was me 😂

Did I see an old railway line next to the road ?

That's the same day as Apedale transport anything goes day

Has anyone else mentioned the abandoned railway line crossing the road at 3:55 ?

The yellow one，is DENNIS CONDOR! Ex HONG KONG CMB😍

driving a bus looks very satisfyling

Does seeing the place I live count as something I enjoy seeing most?

i know a bus it is the BR pacer class (a layland national bus on a chassis based on the HSFV1 recerch vehicle)

I was at Busstock

Yeroooo northern Irish nova

is the volvo u drive a 4 speed automatic gearbox?

Great Video Lawrie. Out of Interest did you need a special bus driving license to do that or is that just if you wanted to carry passengers?

👍🙏

03:56 Looks like Guyhirn

😎😎👍

i want to see you drive edward thomas talyllyn railway

Have you ever driven a Barton Bus before

18:50 why are you not wearing your seatbelt?

There are several vehicles in this video that I made the fleetnames and other vinyl things for!

Anyone know of a Leyland Atlantean from the late 70s/ early 80s from the north east for sale? I’ve been looking for years Please help 😁😁😁😁

I think the only reason ik the Bristol VR as it was part of a plot for doctor who

Double axle in the front can be very dodgy to drive if you hit something on the road you hit it twice can very easily knock your hands off the wheel, don’t ask it’s happened before

A HGV/Bus with two steering axles and one driven axle is known as a Chinese six, re convoys, we all end up in convoys on a daily basis, today they are referred to as queues, shame there were no "classic" cars on display, otherwise a good video.

Your colleague in the one in front was leading you around that same roundabout and back the way you'd come at least twice ↩↪🔄

I love your videos and I love buses I wanted to be a bus driver but because of my disability I can't tho

Most of those 'modern' buses in the comparisons are already 20-30 years old...

Where is busfest ????

The Hong Kong vehicle is not a leyland atlantian it's a Dennis dragon

I always said , if I won a million dollars, I would buy a bus and turn it into a motorhome. Hasn't happened yet , but if it does.....!

Aye lawries driving a volvo olympian

You'd enjoy Cobham rally, held at Brooklands museum these days. They've got the original SuperCar there from the TV adverts in the 90s plus the prototype rear engine Routemaster. I drive for Stagecoach myself so these buses are all familiar to me. Have you thought about taking a PCV test? It feels so different with passengers on hehe.

hong kong bus is a dennis condor