AEC Regal IV NLE679

[@ampersand.]

Wonderful video - thank you for putting it up. I hope Colin will be able to complete the restoration and we might get to see the trusty old girl again. The world needs more Colins.

[@TudorSmith]

I hope so too!

[@ianmaddams9577]

What a beautiful old bus . My hats off to Collin . Hope the restoration is a success. Thanks for the great video

[@TudorSmith]

Thanks Ian. I believe Colin has already made a start. I'm hoping to get to see him soon for a part 2 of the video :)

[@mervynsands3501]

Can't fault it, a lovely restoration project, and a classic bus of it's time. Thanks for sharing.🙂👍

[@TudorSmith]

No problem 👍

[@glenduke5257]

That up view of the top of the bus and sky line ,reminded me of the arrival of a bus similar to this in the late 70s ,that took us on school outings,great days Brings back good memories, thank you

[@TudorSmith]

Glad it brought back good memories 👍

[@brianbrown826]

My fond memory of the RF was a trip on a 713 from Marble Arch to Dunstable. We waited at the bus stop and saw some R Fs arrive along with older model coaches. I felt disappointed to think we would be on an old one, but great joy when the 713 turned up and was an RF.

[@peteterry2877]

That's a lovely example of an old green country area RF - just like the 384 and 390 I used to catch in Old Stevenage High Street in the 1970s.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Lovely 'bus. Its appearance never ages. I lived with these through the 1950s and 1960s in Watford - more used to seeing them in Lincoln green but a red one was always smart too.

[@vernonjones3613]

Great vidieo good luck with the renovation chaps lovely bus

[@TudorSmith]

Thanks Vernon - I'll pass on your comment to Colin who is suggesting more video content: specifically progress on the bus but also different bus videos so watch this space!

[@gordonwilliams5394]

I can remember these busses, I lived in Turnpike Lane around 1953, there were both the single decker ‘red’ and the ‘ green’ version. Known as the Green Line. They were a hourly run to north of Enfield, and all points north. To go on on the Green Line was an adventure out in to the unknown country side. Oh what fun being a child of 10. O’h happy days.

[@essexranger]

That’s it! Green Line! I was trying to remember the name before London Country buses

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Love the RF, my favourite single deck bus owned by LT. 700 built. Last ones ran March '79. Engine similar to the RT. First 25 were short versions. I remember these on Green Line as child, never saw them on local country routes or red central area. Modernised versions were updated in '66. Beautiful vehicle.

[@Mottercar]

Stunning vehicle Good luck with the restoration

[@TudorSmith]

Thanks. Once lockdown us eased, Colin wants me to do more videos on the progress so watch this space 😊

[@simontaylor2319]

My favourite bus, I used to catch one of these a 355 in my home village in the 50's, still see them about. In fact a local kindergarten school there owns a red version with concertina doors....maybe it also doubles as an extra mobile classroom!

[@TudorSmith]

Amazing that the old bus has a second life as a class room 😊👍

[@tonys1636]

I am very surprised that you did not know what a pre select gearbox was as they were very common before auto boxes were developed, even in cars, mainly Daimler's, Lanchester's, Armstrong Siddley's and Riley's during the 30's and up to the 50's. I can remember RF's in the red bus area in the early/mid 50's with conductors and before the folding doors were later fitted. Very cold in winter, which is why people tended to sit at the rear and it was the smoking area. The early ones also had a middle rear seat attached to the emergency exit, the seat folded up to enable the exit to be opened, later removed as a safety hazard. That engine noise brought back memories, particularly of them in the green bus area and if we were lucky sometimes had the luxury of an RFC on the route through the village, on the Addlestone - Woking route, I think it was the 427.

[@dodgydruid]

Pre-selectors proved very reliable for London buses until the advent of automatic clutch gearboxes the cornflake boxes had which made them an absolute doddle to drive. I did get a chance to drive an RT at Catford garage and it was super cool even though it was like 100ft in a straight line and a driver half hanging out the cab helping with the steering lol That ranked right up when I got a go at a class 73 between Tonbridge and Redhill one late night, driver needed the ablutions and I had driven EPB's at Selhurst so had the old girl trundling away for a few miles then handed her back and got lumbered with making the tea.

[@adriangiddins6065]

Occasionally drove one on the 704/705 or 725..... a very relaxing vehicle to drive even in central London. Lovely to see one being used.

[@pauls7520]

A lovely video informative and part of our history. Thanks for making it.

[@TudorSmith]

Thanks. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but Colin gave so much information that makes it interesting 👍

[@jonz2984]

Very enjoyable video, thank you.

[@TudorSmith]

Thank you

[@stephensmith4480]

I remember working on those AEC engines during my apprenticeship, 1976. I also had one of those ticket machines, If you pressed the little button in, below the ticket trigger, you got two tickets out together.

[@maskedavenger2578]

Proper old bus with character nice 👍

[@johnnypoker46]

I might have been on that bus, if it served the Woking - Weybridge area, early 1960s. We had (most of) RF666 up through the 670s, maybe into the early 680s, plus 651. The only one I know I had a ride on with certainty was RF676, but I doubt it was the only one. (We also had RLHs; last rides on 5 and 46) (ALL these buses were green!)

[@donaldmason4959]

My favourite bus to drive out of Staines London Country garage back in the 60's. We had no Routemasters there then, just RT.s and Greenliine Coaches!

[@davidluck4608]

I remember the RF Class ( at our local Uxbridge garage ) as a child and the slow tick over of the AEC engine😇

[@suzyqualcast6269]

With you freind, I lived down Iver Lane and began spotting at Ux garage !! 😉 D'you remember the old trolleybus turnaround just across and down from the Odeon ¿?

[@davidluck4608]

@@suzyqualcast6269 ...... yes, I do remember that 😇

[@mikeattheimagebusiness6215]

Lovely to see the RF again. I went to School on London Country or Greenline buses in Kent, either RFs or RTs. We used to sit right behind the driver and watch the use if the pre-selector and the speedo. One driver always put his gloves over the speedo to try and dissuade us from peering over his shoulder.

[@TudorSmith]

Some drivers are so sneaky ha ha!

[@stendecstretcher5678]

Love the sound of the engine.

[@TudorSmith]

It's kind of comforting isn't it - takes one back to older times :)

[@ianjones4304]

Remember that engine sound at Kingston bus station when you were running for it as it pulled away!!!

[@alexmckenna1171]

RFs were really beautiful looking.

[@kierancurtis8545]

My sentiments exactly!

[@jacksugden8190]

Was on one couple years ago at Amersham, it was on a tour, I couldn’t take the tour, as had to return home, had seen them here and there in London over the years, the last time I traveled on one was on Green Line service into Romford, might have been on the 724 from Hertfordshire, this was sometime in the 1970’s, not traveled on once since they were withdrawn.

[@TudorSmith]

Definitely worth catching one at a bus rally as some of them allow passengers for jolly jaunts 😊😊

[@jacksugden8190]

@@TudorSmith Not been on a bus rally in years, I did a Cobham one 20/25 years ago, saw one at an event in Oxford St London once, the tick over was bad, it was red, we never had them at Brentwood, can’t remember at Romford or Upminster, best regards 👍.

[@kiwijoe7519]

Just beautiful

[@TudorSmith]

Thank you. It’s a wonderful thing isn’t it 😊

[@ralphingo]

How bout a tour of the Magical Mystery Tour bus? Original or modern day. Really enjoyed this tour and glad to know it will be restored!

[@TudorSmith]

The last I read, the original MMT bus is in Las Vagas! Bit far away for me 🤣. The one's in Liverpool are just fancy tour company buses and if I dared to do a video on one of those, I'm sure the tour operator might frown on my voiceover interrupting their own well rehearsed patter!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Remember the green RF's, 458 route (to school) up n down Iver Lane, 459's through to Windsor as well. That was as a child, later, as a spotter, recall sell offs relocated to the Valiant garage at almost into Uxbridge, (in grey/red window surrounds ?) , and LT/Reds at LT garages all over ! I have loads of tickets offof these and several rolls of unused LCBS the drivers used to also shove in the Used Tickets bin. (and x 4 LT/Red RT rad badges !).

[@travelfox4820]

This my favourite bus yu lucky man please look after it and when im next in uk i ll try and find it i i rode on the luton to gatwick crawley green line

[@dougfunnie8321]

Uauuul!!! elegance!!! Very very much elegance!! It's all!

[@davidwebster537]

Can you pass on my appreciation to your friend for his bus and say that The RF is one of my favourite types of bus

[@TudorSmith]

Thanks David. I’ve passed your message on to Colin 👍 His reply: "Thank you. If you search “Ians' bus stop" site on the internet. Then look up Green Rovers club. It’s free to join and he can get rides on RFs and other vehicles.”

[@dodgydruid]

These lingered quite late on the Bromley North B1 route, surviving the come and go of the Leyland Nationals until they were replaced with Transit type minibuses, I also remember a similar version of these on the old Red Arrow's before they got replaced with the racey version of the National missing the middle seats and extra handholds and those silly turnstiles.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Good to see it, and interesting where you met up. It’s many years (in the 1980s) since I went there as part of a group that visited Dungeness ‘A’ power station, while ‘B’ was still under construction. A was still running then, so we had a walk around, including on top of one of the two ‘Magnox’ reactors.

[@TudorSmith]

And now it's all decomissioned! Did it look the same (albeit in the background on my video)?

[@johnkeepin7527]

@@TudorSmith Not quite. The Dungeness ‘B’ station was still under construction then, and the visit was in the old ‘A’ one. There was a walk around in various parts of the building, including standing on top of one of the old ‘Magnox’ reactors, and the turbine hall etc. On the same day, we visited the R&HDR workshops, so a bit of a contrast!

[@TudorSmith]

@@johnkeepin7527 contrast? I’ll bet it was. A miniature railway vs a magnificent reactor lol 😂

[@noggin48]

This Windsor born lad, of 1948, can remember the wonders of the Windsor Garage and the Green Line Routes 704, 705, 718 and 725, plus an array of London Country Routes too.

[@johnlennon3203]

Ah Windsor Garage, I drove from there from 1978 till the demise of the garage due to political decisions, started on R Ts then R Fs We had all the stuff London Transport didn't want, until the Leyland Tigers arrived. They were a good vehicle, saw one of the Windsor ones in Hamilton Bus Stn. some years back, it had all the coach fittings ripped out and was in use by Whitelaws coaches on their bus routes, sadly long gone now. Used to love the 705 route took us past Biggin Hill and into Sevenoaks. Good canteen at Sevenoaks. Happy Days.

[@paulbennell3313]

Looks good and solid, a good basis for a restoration. It'll be stunning when it's done! I'm sure I've been on busses in worse condition in service than that one before restoration!

[@TudorSmith]

You’re probably right Paul. I’m seeing Colin tomorrow as he’s taking the old girl out again so let’s see what work he’s managed to do and perhaps another “interview” 😝

[@paulbennell3313]

@@TudorSmith That'd be great!

[@DaveInBridport]

Travelled many a mile on an RF. Uxbridge route 223 mainly.

[@fluffybadger9832]

I recall the RFs that were modernised for Green Line services, they had a bit deeper padding on the seats. Twin headlights & a curved driver's windscreen instead of the split one.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Yes !!

[@essexranger]

This was the exact model that, in about 1961, I managed to throw up in. We were sitting on the right hand side about halfway down the bus. Mum and I were going to Chigwell from Harlow to my aunties if I recall correctly. It was so bad that everyone had to get off and the garage had to send a mechanic out from the depot with a new seat base. Happened in the wilds of Ongar Essex and I must have been the most unpopular little 5 or 6 yr old sh*t in existence and it must have taken hours. I guess they sent another bus out with the replacement seat.I haven’t spoken about this until now, so if you were on that bus (and still alive of course 🤭) I heartily apologise. I won’t give my name in case someone is still angry and wants to find me...😂 Did it put me off buses? Well I finished off my working life for the last 7 years driving double deckers. 😳😉 Ding Ding...fares please 🤢

[@TudorSmith]

What an amazing story/memory. I hope after sharing with us, you’ve now felt the release of pressure from not having spoken about it since you were 5! 👍😊

[@essexranger]

Ha ha! I was an awful traveller as a kid and would often get sick in the back of cars too. But I have quite a memory of this. I can still remember the distinctive smell of the interior of these single deckers. The old brain is an amazing thing isn’t it? I know that the company that ran them eventually became London Country Buses so they may even have come under the branding of London Transport at the time of my story. Loved buses as a kid, the bus station at Terminus Street Harlow was a wonderful place as I recall, watching all the big mostly green buses coming in and out. ❤️

[@tony-yp6qk]

Love the idling noise of the diesel engine

[@billywindsock9597]

What a lovely machine.

[@zebedep]

Lovely video, thanks!

[@TudorSmith]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ScudoCamper]

Awesome. What a beauty

[@alltransman5033]

A friend of mine owns rf26, I believe the first rf after the 25 rf coach which had slightly shorter wheelbase and roof light windows, his has twin headlights and parcel shelves, which i think were the greenline coach

[@London1064]

Great video. 👍

[@TudorSmith]

Thank you 🙏

[@dodgydruid]

In the 70's, on the Kent side of Lee station in Lewisham was parked a black one of these for years, it was heralded as a stunt bus and the chap apparently jumped over 40 motorcycles on it as opposed to a motorcycle jumping over 40 buses, I always wondered what happened to that as us lads thought it was the coolest thing ever and nobody vandalised it or graffiti'd it cos we would be having words with those who thought about it.

[@highdownmartin]

Kent side was a big slope to the clapboard ticket hall. You’ve jogged my memory, do I remember this? Sure lee not hither green? I lived in southbrook rd with the Lord Northbrook at the Lee end. And the manor caff at the other. 1965 to 1980 when I was 18. Chiltonian biscuits and Clarke’s bakery made it a very pleasant smelling area!

[@advancelast1740]

I used to go to school on one of these. Edit. I went to school on THAT bus. Absolutely brilliant

[@TudorSmith]

That’s amazing. THAT actual bus!

[@advancelast1740]

@@TudorSmith yes . I am 99% certain. I used to get on in Orpington by the tunnel and go along to the bottom of Warren Road to walk up to the primary school....all in another lifetime of course !😂

[@chrisd5610]

Wonderful.

[@travelfox4820]

And i wasborn in 53 the red ones didnt cut it for me .greetings from hong kong .i wonder if they exported any here the pictures show a different model

[@Robslondon]

What a beauty :-)

[@anwaralimari4933]

This bus is good . my age fifty above i am pakistani i have six rocket bed ford bus . i love that age injen saond . i love bed ford compny . he is world best daba buses and trcks . i have one 1970 modle bus . my dad have a ley lad truk 1960 modle .my dad after 4 year sale out that truk . i love bed ford compani. And that loris . i pery for any time bed ford compny . god bles you .

[@daveslawinski9522]

we had to walk to school miles and miles

[@TudorSmith]

ha ha...and you tell kids of today that, and they won't believe you!

[@tuffy3211]

Looks like reg varneys brother .

[@TudorSmith]

Ha ha - that’s what being “On The Buses” does for you 😂

[@lucythemoggy1970]

DG - DUNTON GREEN

[@TudorSmith]

Indeed. Obvious once it’s pointed out eh?