Buses in Nottingham

[IAN123. 9,325]

Think there is all 3 denominations here?

[Commo 1,292]

You certainly took your life in your hands waiting to board a tram in them days!

[catfan 14,793]

10 hours ago, Deepdene Boy said:

 

Ian, yes some little b******ds, destroyed this, Leyland Atlantean 523, and the last Fleetline ever built, South Notts 117, in an arson attack on 14th February 2007 at GCR (N) Ruddington. The police and many others know who the culprits are but have never had sufficient evidence to mount a prosecution. Good job I never got my hands on them.

The chrome grill & AEC badge & fog lights were never fitted when this bus was stationed at Bulwell. Obviously been restored.

[denshaw 2,872]

There was an inspector at Parlo who they nicknamed the flying Mac.

[catfan 14,793]

1 hour ago, IAN123. said:

The West Indian Inspector who was on Trinity Square..was a gent Den..if i was dashing for the 19..he'd hold it for you.

Insp Tommy Barnes. absolute gent. One of the very best.Worked with him at Bulwell. sadly now left us

 

[denshaw 2,872]

Got booked once for leaving QMC (timing point) one minute early.

[notty ash 371]

Always puzzled me why NCT bought such individually designed buses. Some of the later ones were a bit OTT. Must have added to the cost?

[denshaw 2,872]

They should have invested in power steering and better heaters.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

The Nottingham Standard body was designed and evolved to ensure maximum carrying capacity whilst not sacrificing passenger comfort. The double curvature BET windscreen helped to avoid internal reflections from obscuring the drivers view at night. Whereas some designs are nothing but "form over function" the Nottingham Standard was certainly "function over form", but I personally find it very attractive.

 

[denshaw 2,872]

NCT bus 666 is in there, makes ya feel old when the buses you used to drive are in a museum.

[The Pianoman 1,535]

Yes it is there. Devil of a bus! When I used to see this in its days in service I thought it had been in a front ender and the NCT coachbuilders had bodged it up to get it back in service 

 

[denshaw 2,872]

Apparentley it was at a trade show and no one wanted it so NCT got it on the cheap.

[IAN123. 9,325]

Don't they make a lovely couple?540 and 541.

[roger peatman 337]

Two of my "babies" from the 70's - 541 was the first to be converted to fully automatic - they are both over pits and I remember, it was a bit tight reversing them on when there was cars parked out front.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

21 hours ago, denshaw said:

Apparentley it was at a trade show and no one wanted it so NCT got it on the cheap.

Not so. It was a further development of the Nottingham Standard design by John Lowrie and Chris Bradshaw. Certain elements such as bonding glazing, and the single piece entrance door were incorporated into the later Atlanteans numbered from 401 upwards. It was exhibited at the 1978 NEC Motor Show, but it was built to the orders of NCT.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

19 hours ago, IAN123. said:

Don't they make a lovely couple?540 and 541.

Trent Bridge depot as I remember it when Dad worked there

[Deepdene Boy 642]

11 hours ago, roger peatman said:

Two of my "babies" from the 70's - 541 was the first to be converted to fully automatic - they are both over pits and I remember, it was a bit tight reversing them on when there was cars parked out front.

Roger, I seem to remember that 542 and 543 were delivered as new with G2 automatic gearboxes, but 541 may well have been this first to have been converted from semi automatic. Interesting to note that 540, now preserved at Hucknall, has been re-converted back to semi-automatic and is a much better bus for it.

[catfan 14,793]

1 hour ago, Deepdene Boy said:

Roger, I seem to remember that 542 and 543 were delivered as new with G2 automatic gearboxes, but 541 may well have been this first to have been converted from semi automatic. Interesting to note that 540, now preserved at Hucknall, has been re-converted back to semi-automatic and is a much better bus for it.

160 &161 @ Bulwell, Daimlers were converted to fully auto from semi auto, both were awful to drive & ride as a passenger, truly awful.

The best thing tnat happened to those two was getting rid of them when Clifton routes went one man . We got rid of the lot of em to Parliament Street Depot.

 

[roger peatman 337]

1 hour ago, Deepdene Boy said:

Roger, I seem to remember that 542 and 543 were delivered as new with G2 automatic gearboxes, but 541 may well have been this first to have been converted from semi automatic. Interesting to note that 540, now preserved at Hucknall, has been re-converted back to semi-automatic and is a much better bus for it.

The only reason I remember 541 being the first was because when it became operational , we had nothing but trouble with the throttle release actuator - I was constantly changing and adjusting it,  and I remember thinking , this system will never take off - guess I was wrong - I think the whole fleet was converted.

[catfan 14,793]

3 minutes ago, roger peatman said:

The only reason I remember 541 being the first was because when it became operational , we had nothing but trouble with the throttle release actuator - I was constantly changing and adjusting it,  and I remember thinking , this system will never take off - guess I was wrong - I think the whole fleet was converted.

All the Trent Bridge Atlanteans were, but no one else,s were. Having said that the TB Atlantean auto,s were quite good if I remenber correctly.

[roger peatman 337]

Yep - left school and 2 weeks later clocked in at Trent Bridge Works -1969

[roger peatman 337]

4 minutes ago, catfan said:

All the Trent Bridge Atlanteans were, but no one else,s were. Having said that the TB Atlantean auto,s were quite good if I remenber correctly.

They were, by far, the best buses of the entire fleet at the time - whenever we lent a spare to the "big house" we had a hell of a job getting it back !!

[catfan 14,793]

8 hours ago, IAN123. said:

Is that due to terrain mick?

Edit: nice one Roger...must be great to have a trade.

Could be Ian I think TB drivers were much more considerate. All buses at Bulwell had a hard life. Up & down the green all day.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

21 hours ago, roger peatman said:

They were, by far, the best buses of the entire fleet at the time - whenever we lent a spare to the "big house" we had a hell of a job getting it back !!

Dad, always reckoned they were the best buses he drove, but were much better before they were converted to automatics. He also enjoyed the few remaining AEC Regent IIs that were at Bilborough when he first passed out as a driver.

[roger peatman 337]

16 hours ago, IAN123. said:

Robbie..our old mate on here..he did some work at Trent Bridge Depot in 1979.Alterations were made to the welding and blacksmith rooms..and roofs and doors altered.Wonder if Roger recalls this?

I was the night fitter from the mid 70's so never went back into the Works , apart from the Institute for the odd game of snooker.