love that leyland olympian you've got, when i was at school back in the 1980's arriva or northumbria as they were back then got some F reg of these & they were lovely buses & the cummings engine was lovely, such a sweet sounding machine compared to all other buses they'd been previously using & it had some power as well, they were a fantastic bus to ride in

I'm pleased to see M1441 exists, I drove her several times whilst she was at Bath Bus Co; working the Glastonbury festival shuttles. Have loads of memories of it being a good bus to drive.

I was lucky and were shown that trick of oiling the pump rack when I started running Gardner's the only thing I would like to add is make sure it's a thin oil like 3 in 1, I also used a 20/50 Morris's engine oil to the Gardner's that had passed the million mile mark and 2 million with out rebuilding was possible, if they are still building diesels in a hundred years time they will never be as good as a Gardner. Thank you for taking your time to post and sharing your knowledge.

God damn - seeing the Metro bus is a trip down memory lane! Travel West Midlands must have had hundreds of these in operation when I was a lad - rode them most days growing up in Wolverhampton. Difficult to say exactly when but I think they retired the last of them some time around 2010. I do remember seeing the odd one on the "undesirable" routes after they phased them out on the main ones around 2007. Some of them must have been nearly 30 years old when they were scrapped. Evidently they were well made considering the mileage they did and the abuse they must have suffered.

I used to drive out of Purfleet for Ensign back in the day. They then moved to Dagenham as Citybus until I left them to drive for Kentish out of Hackney Downs. There's a pretty good chance I've driven a lot of your collection. Metrobus, Daimler Fleetline, Olympians and others to name a few. This takes me back some years seeing these and the memories they bring.

@consul58

3 жыл бұрын

Ensign used to have some older buses that I remember on the 365 165 route think they where Dennis had an older less flat shape any idea what they where ?

The metro bus brings back memories. My grandad drove them for London transport out of Hanwell bus garage on E2 and E3 routes when I was a nipper. I used to go with him sometimes. Great times.

M1441 was indeed an Arriva vehicle. Its last depot was TC (South Croydon). I went to school on that bus.

Hi Mike, good to see another video from you and that you're ok and free from the lurgi. The Metro will look great once back to her proper colour, and she does purr nicely. It amused me that you've been putting buses together for all these years, but one little tip about the Gardner engine escaped you. We're never too old to learn. Stay safe mate and keep the vids coming. Chris H

Wonderful collection 👍🏻 must be great being around vintage buses all day.

Well done, a worthy hobby to keep our transport heritage alive.

@rogerramjet8964

3 жыл бұрын

Magic bus...re-appears paintjob on the house

Love these videos! M 1441 spent 1998-2002 in Arriva livery after repaint from tapegrey. I remember it from new on my local 170 so it's a treat to see it survive, with M 1440 that's also as important.

That is grand that you are getting on well with your buses Michael I am hoping to join the club of people who own there own buses.

Thanks for sharing your progress on the busses with us ;)!

Another informative video, look forward to progress on the Metrobus.

Very interesting video Mike, pleased to hear that Roger Wright is available to give you a tip, now and again.

Sounds lovely looking forward to seeing that metro bus restored I grew up with them buses in London 😀

My town had a bus company that was famous of still using loads of vintage stuff from 60s and 70s, they were running all the way to the early 2000s. All of the 90s I went to school on proper classic buses :D There were many Scania Kutter and Volvo based buses, I believe some had Leyland engines. The company stopped operation few years back sadly, but several car restorers have resqued much of the fleet it had. They can still be seen going around Finland, with the original liveries :D

Man man i had completely forgotten about the screws. Long time since i put a spanner on a Gardner. Good luck with your fleet

That Metro bus is certainly a smooth runner.Be great to see it back in its original livery.

Mike, that G reg Limpalong looks bloody lovely...... especially the immaculate chassis. Nice one 👍👍👍👍👍

A lot of my teenage youth was spent travelling on Metrobuses, fond memories of them and I remember travelling on a lot of the T reg vehicles, a lot appeared at Fulwell Garage I remember.. Nice to know M1 is preserved as is M6, WYW 6T iin Cobham. Keep up the great work. :)

Love the Gardener 6XLB sound. Great looking and amazing fleet Mike. Love the Leyland Olympian . I remember the London Leyland Titans very well and the Route Masters when both were still in service, great memories.

Would love to see more of the olympian, a truly magnificent collection

Recently come across your channel great content very interesting

Brilliant work, looking good

@douglasrodway235

3 жыл бұрын

hi i just saw your video of your buses and you said you think that the mcw merobus was under arriva i rode on this bus back in the 80,s on the 29 route wood green to trafalger squar .

great tip on the pump rail I did not know that one

Michael found your videos on the Metrobuses of interest. Remember M1441 when on trial out of Stockwell garage on Route 170. Also know the bus from its time at Cambridge with Ensignbus operation of Cambridge Blue. You are also right about 1441 having run for Arriva South London in red livery with white cow horns. Do hope you put some more videos up of your collection.

You have a awesome condition of buses I wish I was there with you I love the mcw buses I wish I had one.

DMS is my biggesssssssssst love !!! 🧡🧡🧡

Enjoyed the video , very much found it very interesting

@rogerramjet8964

3 жыл бұрын

Every bus should have a lucky cat.

I'm listening to that 6lx while sitting up stairs in KSX713N which has a 6lx that I really need to get running this year...

M1442 was one of the old Mark 2 Airbuses used to Heathrow when with LT.

looking good

Gardner 6LXB a sweet sounding engine.

Hi Mick I see your still going strong.

I,like your green line bus she looks good

I only found your channel very recently and have very thoroughly enjoyed working through your videos. Thank you so much! I could not help but notice the derelict buses in the background - the RML and a Swift/Merlin (?) Is there any chance of your doing a video upon these vehicles too, please? Are these for eventual restoration or else component recovery? Thanks again!

M1441 is a Very Rare Metrobus being a Mark 2 also M1441 did have Arriva Livery it was The Cream "Cow Horn" version

Hi, came across your site / page whilst searching after following the Bus Grease Monkey in the States for a while! Please wear a mike, i am sorry if that was in anyway rude! Thank you :)

Can you do a fueling video? Can you show us the fuel system and how it works? How long you need to change the stagnant fuel? How do you empty the tanks? Will be a great video.

Top bloke!

Hi nice video how did you acquire all those lovely vehicles I see you have an RF Coach and a Merlin or SMS in the background with the RMA by the frame you swapped do you plan to restore all of those

@michaelbiddell8742

3 жыл бұрын

Over the years since 1973 when I got my first one. I acquired them from other bus operators.

I guess that oils the rack and lower pistons as well as a bit of damping?

Nice to see an ex London Bus being looked after.

Hi Michael, I used to drive for you many many years ago on Rail Replacement when you had the Titans etc .... I would love to know if any buses are for sale like that as I want to export on to Australia where I am ... you recall Neil Storer? ex Kentish bus 521, used to be on route 55 22a 22b etc. sometimes on the 19 on a sunday. I am desperate to buy a London bus but prefer the titan lol ... Charlie and Roger of BT.

Scary jacks ! I would not have any confidence in going under a bus on them.

How do double decker busses have so much stability and not wobble or fall over?

Go-North East nee Northern had quite a few of those Metro buses in their fleet. I remember riding them back and forth to school, and into town. They were quite fast once they were moving. Fond memories of less troublesome times.

I used to love driving MCW's when I worked for Hull City Transport, then the dreaded Scottish invasion bought us out and we ended up with all the decent vehicles in the fleet being transferred to other depot's and replaced with junk that was 10 years older than the MCW's and Dennis'!

Is 884 going to be a future restoration.

Have you asked Fuzz Townsend about any spares? He's a bus enthusiast like your good self and maybe able to help you.

Was that an SMS or MBS parked perpendicular to the RM?

@michaelbiddell8742

3 жыл бұрын

Yes it is MBS 588. It was the only bus with red and white paintwork.

Worked at Northern Counties for 27yrs until it’s closure in 2005

What oil goes in the rack please?

Imperial Buses from Outwell! That’s about 5miles from me!

IS THE OLYMPIAN AN NV ONE

I would love to buy a bus but no where to store it!

What happened about the number 38 bus parked in the corner

is that a merlin/swift by that b frame?

@michaelbiddell8742

3 жыл бұрын

Yes it is MBS 588.

@lucythemoggy1970

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelbiddell8742 will it be going into restoration at some point?

@michaelbiddell8742

3 жыл бұрын

@@lucythemoggy1970 Yes it will

@lucythemoggy1970

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelbiddell8742 wicked!

Looking for seats go see ‘Pete and his bus’ he may have some 👍

Extended Bodies for Most of the Buses Much as I am not comfortable to ask the depot why they stopped running the London Suburban Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s on routes N26, 30, 121, 230, 271, 349, N279 And 158 why can’t we make the same make of the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Buses but Modernise the insides of these Buses. Also make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more so there will be more space for the wheelchair users. By the way, if you could remake and Modernise these vehicles could they also make it into a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Version’s that if it will be possible and to Modernise the insides of these Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a Little bit more so there will be more space and even a London Suburban Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more. Why couldn’t we have those London Suburban Buses Pale red on the top roof Pale red again on the top middle Milk Chocolate brown on the middle Creamy white on the Bottom Middle and Milk Chocolate Brown again on the Bottom on most of those kind of those Particular Double Decker Vehicles. Could you put the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox in the Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also put the Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox in the Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more and also turn most of them to a London Suburban Buses. By the way could you also make the routes N26, 349, 121, N279 and 271 into a London Suburban Buses and have a mixture of a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Version’s. Could they also transfer the Arriva Bus Depots from Hackney to Stagecoach company so they can replace all the Arriva buses so that all of them can go to Birmingham and Leeds and they can be replaced by Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles and that includes A Mixture of a Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Engine Northern Counties Palatine One and that Includes a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles A Little Bit More. Can Arriva London Bus Company’s Replace Most of their Wight Buses so they can also transfer them to Birmingham and Also Manchester so they can be Replaced by Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles A Little Bit More Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much. Oh buy the way could the bus Factory Companies also Make More of Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles And that also includes Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC And also Extend the Middle Body part of those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and that also includes The Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus A Little Bit More And Paint Those 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and that also includes The Northern Counties Palatine One with a Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Diesel engines with a Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearboxes and The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles to the Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 and the 103, If all The Leyland Titan B15’s are Fully Red and even Mostly Red, could they also Repaint All of The Leyland Titan B15’s into Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 so they can Reuse them for Only Every 5 and a Half Months and also Reuse them on those Rail Replacement London Bus Routes if that will Be Alright for Only Just Every 5 and a Half Months and also Reuse Those Buses Only on the London Bus Routes witch are The 341, N41, 34, 123, N29, 149, 221, N73, 121, 86, 30, 262, 147, 396, N26 so Please make sure that the builders can do as they are told!!!!!!!!!! And Please do something about these Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Important Professional Ideas Please Please Prime Minister and also Includes the Mayor of London.😉😉😅😅😅😅😀😃😀😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃👏👏👏👏👍👏👏👏👏👍👏👏

Ex ensign bus Purfleet Essex.

Hi Guy's it is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris again I was thinking, Why couldn't you find other more 18 nice fresh Shiny Leyland Titan B15's and repaint them Also into a Imperial Cream and Green like the Essex East London Bus route H1 and 100 so they can Share a chance to run on the London Bus route such as the N6, 41 and that includes the bus route Number Four, if you guy needed that interesting idea's to let us know on the comment's down below so you can reuse those Imperial Cream and Green Leyland Titan B15's on those interesting London bus Route, Please Please can you reuse them within the Begining of Every November within Every Five and a Half Months Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much Guy's😉😉😉😅😉😉😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😃😀😀😃👏👏👏👏

Good vid but sound not the best !

Always wipe your phones camera lens, I can tell it was dirty there is a soft white hue to the footage.

That's not a original London mcw

@michaelbiddell8742

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry to correct you but it is a London MCW. M1440 was the last Mk 1 built. M1441 was new to LT and that was a Mk 2.