How To Drive A semi-Auto Bus Correctly

How to drive a Bristol RE 6G (Gardner 6HLXB Engine) correctly.

[@OnkelRobinjo]

Wow. That is really fascinating. I have never seen it like this. Amazing transmission whine as well.

[@smada36]

Nicely done. I find that people over rev the engine as well. It makes matching the speeds a lot harder. I appreciate that some of these old girls need a bit more of a push, but the diesels of old had low down torque unlike the modern diesels that seem to be screaming just on tickover. First was just to get it rolling. No time at all and into second. Third was really the only long boot full if you were in a hurry. I do miss that sound though. No need for a rev counter or even maybe a speedo. You knew the speed of the shafts because you could hear them. 😆

[@benjaminphilpot4262]

Brilliantly handled 😊

[@nutsnproud6932]

Could you explain how to change down the gears eg going up a hill?

[@mbo191]

Yep, that looks very familiar. I started as a Bus Driver in 1978 and at my garage all the buses (about 450) had a Wilson gearbox. Some was fairly easy to drive, in others it was almost impossible to get the gear changes right. The 1965-66 Ikarus with a Aluminium body (Volvo B58 chassie, Volvo THD100D engine) was definitely the worst, no-one could drive them with smooth gear changes, not even the instructors in the Driving School. Cheers / B.

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hi There my real Name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you and your teammates can still do those Rebuilding and Repainting those nice fresh shiny Gardner 6LXC, Gardner 6LXB, Volvo TD102KF, Gardner LG1200, and Cummins M11, 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Transmission Alexander RV Buses and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colours just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the North London and East London bus routes such as 141, 168, 179, 210, 275, 125, 173, 24, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 226 of Those Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC, Volvo TD102KF, Cummins M11, and Gardner LG1200, 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Transmission Alexander RV Buses can you and your teammates put most of those Gardner 6LXC and those Gardner LG1200 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Transmission Alexander RV Buses to those East London and North London and that especially is including the London Bus such as those London Bus Routes such as for example the N41, 341, N29, 86, 221 and will also be including the North London Bus Route Number 121 for all of us Grey Green bus lovers in North London and including East London For all of us passengers out there Pretty Please? could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour and put them on the London Bus Routes which are 341, 179, N41, 34, N29, 149, 221, N73, 121, 86, 30, 296, 262, 147, 396, 56 and N26 for all of us Grey Green Bus lovers out there because we are Really Really desperately needed Are those types of colour buses to be brought back again Please? Please do it for all of us customers and passengers in North London and living in those areas such as East London. because it will be Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour. I am a Big Fan of those Gardner 6LXC, Gardner 6LXB, Volvo TD102KF, Gardner LG1200 and Cummins M11 4 Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Transmission Alexander RV Buses Please? Thank You Very Very Very Very Very much for your time, help and support.

[@remjet2512]

You forgot to mention about keeping the gas on as moving out of the gear. Air boxes really liked to cling on to the gears.

[@CityMancBusGroup]

@remjet2512 this bus isn't an air box lol it's electric over electric, our Leopard is air over electric for the gears.

[@miketesh-ff5rd]

Aww yeah I miss those busses

[@David_Crayford]

Lots of turning. How many turns is the steering lock to lock? Is it power assisted at all, or are you an athlete now? 🙂

[@garethparr9482]

Is that a leyland National?

[@johnUB4478]

I'm guessing is BXI 2570?

[@CityMancBusGroup]

@johnUB4478 yes it is lol a fantastic bus.

[@bobfreestone1752]

- or an Atlantean ?

[@CityMancBusGroup]

@bobfreestone1752 this is a 1984 Bristol RE 6G with Alexander Belfast body. BXI 2570.

[@bobfreestone1752]

@@CityMancBusGroup thankyou for this response

[@danielrussell446]

Gardner 6LX?

[@reynardbizzar5461]

My god that is so hard😂

[@CityMancBusGroup]

@reynardbizzar5461 very heavy steering as there's no power steering on those RE'S

[@reynardbizzar5461]

@@CityMancBusGroup We never complained. We just drove them with a quite resignaton😂

[@joansmith8215]

As a bus driver for over 45 years, I make you right with the timing of the gear changing. Have you ever thought about steering the vehicle properly? I doubt that very much.

[@CityMancBusGroup]

@joansmith8215 well as a driver of nearly 30 years myself I know what I'm doing, the steering on this Bristol RE is very heavy so the easiest option for me is to cross my hands while turning, if your referring to using 1 hand at times then that's my personal choice and at no time was I not in control. I highly doubt you've been a perfect driver for 45 years. Besides this video was ment to be abit of fun.

[@KarrrRep]

There is always some critic who likes to think he knows it all​@CityMancBusGroup

[@The5eagull]

​@@CityMancBusGroupthere was an old Leyland training video which said to do the gear changes exactly as you did it. Only been driving 4 years, my understanding is crossing arms for steering is fine for quick steering changes at low speed, only naughty bit everyone has done sometimes is letting the steering wheel go and the steering centre itself, other than that good skills!