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Post by kaytown on Jul 3, 2013 12:14:17 GMT 1
Saw this programme on tv last night. Very interesting insight into London Buses. For anyone who missed it, it's repeated tonight (3rd July) at 11:20 on BBC2. Well worth a watch.
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Post by guyarab on Jul 3, 2013 12:27:39 GMT 1
Yes, a thoroughly enjoyable series, but is there still a need to quote "a red London double decker bus"?
I particularly liked the night bus episode. Must try the N9 sometime.
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Matty
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Post by Matty on Jul 3, 2013 18:56:13 GMT 1
Yes been watching it for last 2 weeks, good program.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 19:46:32 GMT 1
Will probably be on i Player
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Post by stevieinselby on Jul 3, 2013 20:54:55 GMT 1
What particularly got me was the way some of the old-time drivers were moaning about the way everyone was spying on them nowadays, and then producing a litany of the things they used to get away with - precisely the reason that everyone is spying on them now! For heaven's sake, does anyone really think it is acceptable to stop mid-route to let the clippy jump off to do some shopping? No recognition from a lot of them that the London bus scene of the 1960s was a hugely different place to what it is now, and absolutely no way that that relaxed attitude could be tolerated any more (not that it should have been in the first place).
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jul 3, 2013 21:39:42 GMT 1
Didn't they use to stop for longer than scheduled at the terminus so they could meet up with a busty female, only later to be caught out by the inspector who would say how much he hated them?
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Matty
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Post by Matty on Jul 3, 2013 21:56:41 GMT 1
haha I ate' you butler.
London was 50% quieter than what it is today and there was room to leave a bus on the high street for a few minutes and I bet the timetables werent tight either.
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Post by dwarfer1979 on Jul 4, 2013 8:21:45 GMT 1
What particularly got me was the way some of the old-time drivers were moaning about the way everyone was spying on them nowadays, and then producing a litany of the things they used to get away with - precisely the reason that everyone is spying on them now! For heaven's sake, does anyone really think it is acceptable to stop mid-route to let the clippy jump off to do some shopping? No recognition from a lot of them that the London bus scene of the 1960s was a hugely different place to what it is now, and absolutely no way that that relaxed attitude could be tolerated any more (not that it should have been in the first place). I would have loved to have known where these contributors worked because it didn't tie up with the stories from my dad, who used to conduct for LT in the late 60's, where a big part of his memories are about dealing with the timing clocks & mobile & static inspectors and making sure you weren't early or too late when approaching locations where they were stationed (or racing to the terminus to grab a few extra minutes for a cupper if there wasn't an inspector waiting there that day). There were tales of getting off bang on time (not early mind) to avoid the Bingo rush or schools kicking out or hanging on a minute to allow another route to get in front and clear the crowds as the factories closed but none of the more dubious tales that came up in the show (though it is always possible to find crews who worked like that anywhere they are the exception rather than the rule) and LT crews have probably always been the most monitored in the country (whether the supervision dropped off during the 70's when LT started to decline I don't know as my Dad had moved on by then) though when it was by people on the street it was probably easier for the canny crews to pull some of these stunts occasionally when it was known no one was around. Also the over the top hyperbolae over the old Routemaster (and the new Borismaster, passengers are starting to pick up there is no ventilation upstairs and starting to complain) got old very quickly, it wasn't universally loved in fact it wasn't popular with crews initially, the RT was seen as being much superior particularly in regard to space for the conductor.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 20, 2013 21:41:47 GMT 1
It is a great series, the most recent episode about Victoria Coach station was of interest. Having visited it last year for the first time I was surprised how small it is. So little space for people to wait and for coaches to move round safely. Its clearly showing its age and is struggling to cope with the continued increase in passenger numbers.
The series has also proved a great insight into the London bus network, the night buses proving very eye opening. I think I'll stick with daytime buses in London :-)
PS, shouldn't this thread be in the canteen section of the forum?
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jul 20, 2013 23:52:33 GMT 1
How Victoria Coach Station still operates in the manner it does I don't know, I've wondered this both from visiting in person and from last week's programme.
You have passengers boarding and alighting coaches in the middle of the Tarmac with other coaches driving around them. I'm surprised there aren't many accidents.
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