Memories #2

Thoughts have been going through my head lately when I look at some of the vehicles that I have to drive now, and I think back to my early days with London Country when it still had plenty of RT and RF vehicles. I can recall occasions when vehicle shortage meant that I was given an RF like the one pictured above, to go and do a full duty on the Green Line. It was a pleasure to drive them after the more modern, but appalling Leyland Nationals. I wasn't the only one who felt like this - regular riders seeing an RF pull up for them would unfailingly express their thankfulness to the driver for bringing a REAL Green Line. To be honest, if I could find anything wrong with a National which would take it off the road, and there was an RF sitting in the yard, I would find it!! The pre-select gearbox was a pleasure to use in London, and if the engineers had kept up with the greasing, the steering was no heavier than power assistance.
Some years after the 708 had disappeared in the wake of the all-conquering 758, I had the privilege of driving an RF over the old 708 route for a group of enthusiasts going to a 'Running Day' at East Grinstead. With their thick seat cushions it was still a comfy ride for such a long distance. It's worth noting that even though the driver's seats on both the RT and RF were 'basic', I never suffered the back problems on the long run to EG that started appearing once the 'all-singing and dancing' suspension seats, and 'ergonomic' designs began to be fitted to buses and coaches.
Looking at the boneshakers that I drive now, I wish I was back on a good old Regal IV!!!

Memories.

Came across the blog of an old colleague a couple of days. I've been reading through some of his entries from the days when we worked together driving the Green Line Coaches, he driving the 706/7 to Chelsham, and I on the 708 to East Grinstead. I lived half-way between Tring and Hemel garages, and could travel in to work at Hemel on the 706, sign-on and take the following 708. Getting back to Hemel at the end of the day, it was a quick pay-in ( I would be cashed up by Watford ), and get out on the stop to travel home on the following 706. This certainly saved a lot of money - which could be conveniently spent in the George and Dragon at Northchurch when the 706 dropped me off - strangely, the coach always seemed to roll just past home before the brakes eventually bit just outside the pub!!!

For an insight into how things used to be on the buses, check out Dave's blog at http://40yearsonthebuses.blogspot.com

It's been a long road.

It's been over 35 years to travel the road from the farmyard in rural England, to the High Desert of Southern Arizona.