if you was a trendy little something in the swinging 60`s, you were surounded by icons, maybe not then, but now more so.
Big red diesel powered buses with a single rear entrance was first seen and noticed by me in the 1950`s.
I was walking down Becontree Avenue in Dagenham when i saw my first big red routemaster, you heard it coming towards you before you noticed it really, its engine going up and down its pre selctor auto gearbox.
Route 106 it was, a long`ish route through Dagenham to Barking (i think)
Our now London king Boris Johnson plans to get rid of all 390 odd london bendy buses soon, and wants to replace them with a modern version of the old routemaster........designed by Norman Foster & associates
(hope they dont end up bendy like his onetime bendy cross Thames pedestrian bridge).. ...lol
will i ever like or love these new buses.
i`ve been on those bendy buses, and for all the good they are supposed to do, i dont really like them.
oh well, more London trips soon.
i`ll tell more again then........
My memory is the old 661 trolley buses, and other routes, I used them very often, very fast acceleration leaving the infernal combustion engine for dead.
Occasionally a driver would forget which route he was on and of came the conducting arms (whatever they were called) the thing came to a stop, out he would jump drag a pole from under the bus, they as long as the bus, and rehang the arms back on the overhead wires.
Great vehicles, very quiet, warm seats near the front, seats near the doors could be cold late at night when few were on board.
amenity, great find matey.
yes-yes, the old bus garage at Ley Street Ilford was home to the trolley buses until their demise,
the depot went over to buses i think?, may have been a fire station though, but became the transport depot for Redbridge Council,
"then it was knocked down for a new depot"..
(i am now unsure about this part, as i have read part of its buildings still stands)
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum