|
Re the name 'lodekker' and the apparent irony, while I was driving buses, most of the deckers were around the same height and were rear engined. Which makes complete sense, I mean why would you make a double decker any taller than necessary?. But we did get a couple of Volvo deckers for 6 months or so, which were the exception to the rule. I was very surprised to learn that they were mid engined as I had, up till then, assumed all deckers to be rear engined (well apart from the classic half-cabs). There was a (naturally) noticeable difference in the floor height (ground clearance too weirdly), which of course had a knock on effect to the overall height of the bus. I can't remember the actual figures, but if memory serves, they weren't far short of a foot taller than our usual rear engined deckers. They drove well enough in town, but on twisty and bumpy country roads, they were quite 'bouncy', with much more body movement!.
Not sure (or can remember) what exactly it was, but in the 1980s one the firms bussing me and others in my area to secondary school had a, old 1950s single decker bus as well the usual coaches. Reminded me later on when the TV series 'Heartbeat' was on. Needless to say it was so slow (the bus) and was embarrassing arriving like that to school. I do remember it having great trouble in getting up some local steep hills.
Ironically in middle age, I wouldn't mind a trip on it (I doubt if it's still around - it always broke down [hence more embarrassment]), rather like the Steam trains (I'm too young to have seen them in action on BR) when I'm holiday in the West Country.
My nearest 'motoring' museum, Grampian Transport Museum (well worth a look for any forum members who happen to be in the area!). Obviously things are a bit low key at the moment, but under normal circumstances there are various events held there. At the bigger of those, one of their classic buses would be used to take visitors from the overflow car park to the museum.
|
