Very fast and hilly ride by London Transport GreenLine AEC Regal IV RF180 (MLL 567) 

very good, this view like sitting on the bus and travelling with diver

As an PSV & HGV license holder with 30 + years experience in both industries and a great fan of AEC buses especially the RF, I found it difficult to watch this video to it's end. I have also been involved in the commercial vehicle and railway preservation scene for many years I have always liked to see vehicles being driven/used rather than standing in museums. However I have also felt we as owners or drivers of these vehicles have a duty of care towards them and I don't think this man, who I cannot believe to be a professional driver was exercising that care either for the vehicle or other road users. Had another vehicle entered one of the narrow sections in the opposite direction he would have a struggle avoid it without causing damage to the bus, himself and probably anyone else on board. This ends up giving the preservation movement as a whole a bad name. I have had many a fast ride on late evening RF country routes when in service but never reckless.

One of my favourite singel-deck buses, A most beautiful and elegant shape. I never lived near an RF route but in the 50's/60s's my nan lived at Lambeth North and I remember Green Line route 701/702, Gravesend to Sunningdale via Blackheath. Great times.

Such lively runners the RF's - I remember one from Easher to Kingston running late - fullcry preselect box and that A219 really put through its paces - brilliant - takes me back!

She`s certainly running well. I guess her top speed is about 45 mph as a Green Line conversion. I used to like driving these vehicles. At Tring garage we had RF 70, which was very fast for an RF, as it had been set up to run on the 727 airport service when at another garage, complete with "chicken coop" in the back for luggage. Unfortunately, it never made it into preservation, as it was my favourite RF. Something else I`d forgotten about until I saw this video, is the little cut out in the cab wall between the screens, which was put there to stop the Setright ticket machines from being knocked off the carrier when the cab door was opened. However, it didn`t stop the Almex machines from whacking the wall, falling off and disappearing down the steps. Good video.

Nothing beats a skilled human operator on a refined machine. Poetry in (loca)motion.

What a Great concept the RF was in having the engine on it’s side mounted under the floor 😇

Always remember them being fast, comfortable and and ultra-reliable on Green Line routes. Used the same engine as the RT, hence the ability to get a move on!

Thanks for posting.....Very enjoyable!

Thank-you!

Video cameras ,not set on wide-angle always give a false illusion of speed and pre-select Wilson- type gearboxes cannot be rushed.Well-driven.

lucky guy to get to play with all these old girls! But I think you drivers are all very skilful in dealing with the modern problems of cyclists, suicidal pedestrians, speed humps and giant tractors on our narrow roads

Brilliant that's my kind of fun on a bus

re earlier comments about the noise levels, they are what they are and what you get when you thrash a vintage bus down country lanes with the entrance doors open.. lots of extraneous noise muffling the delightful engine and gearbox music as a result

nice bus sir ;-)

No power steering? The gearbox sounds something else than the ordinary pre-selective job, but it might be just my ears. Please cast light! And the engine note is like in a Leyland: raw and revving high. Imagination?

Top speed?

Leyland?

Routemaster?

Reckless. This guy, although probably a very articulate driver on the Chiswick track, should not be chucking it about on public roads. Obviously not an ex LT man. Mirror use also appears minimal. That said, reminds me of RF late-running passenger journeys on Routes 391A and 712 in St Albans in the early 70's.