Imberbus Ghost Village Bus Service

[@jonswinfield9336]

I’m a huge train fan but Routemaster buses in procession across Salisbury plain it really makes me smile 😊

[@bobrussell3602]

What a wonderful, wonderful video. Thank you . Just right. A little bit of music now & then, but not spoiled by the ear splitting stuff. And those Routemasters ! I remember the first one I ever saw, it was love at first sight ! A Routemaster is THE bus. I used to commute up to Charing Cross. I was a Manager, but NOT when I got on that bus !!! As soon as I was aboard, I was a little boy again, I would go upstairs, sit right at the front...Oh Routemaster I love you !!

[@donaloflynn]

I love how delightfully nonchalant Sir Peter is about the things that most excite Geoff! What a gent he is.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Long live the Routemaster...!!! 😁 Great video Geoff and Vicki...!!! 👌📹

[@dravendevere]

You've successfully combined my love of abandoned infrastructure/towns and public transit/railways! Thank you for making such great videos

[@1973Washu]

12:40 isn't that always the case? You wait ages and ages for a bus then 14 of them turn up all at once...

[@stevenye9160]

And what a loverly sight it is! 😁😀😂🤣😃😉😊🙄😏 How wonderful to have found my way upstairs and had a smoke...

[@Innerspace100]

...then somebody spoke, and I went into a dream...

[@AshishGupta-ql9lq]

i wait ages for a bus and 14 of them turn up all at once but of a different route

[@JeMappelleFrikandel]

This is pretty much what happens in Toronto with the TTC on routes where there is no timetable and buses run on frequent service/10 minutes or less schedule. You end up waiting for half an hour and then they will finally show up with 3-4 buses driving in a column.

[@2DogsVlogs]

Just like the 1970's, If a bus was 30mins late it was on time. Then the '80's & 90's came round and buses were on time. Now in 2018 if a bus is 30mins late its on time again. Full circle.

[@rogerrabbit6185]

Great video, well done both of you. Brought back memories of my father in laws 'Enfield Depot outing', Enfield to Portsmouth on a Routemaster, watching all the open mouthed Hampshire residents as a double decker London bus went through their village.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Bloody marvelous. And yes Geoff, there was nothing like the open end of the Routemaster --- jumping on and jumping off. I miss those days.

[@capcompass9298]

@@simonrobbins8357 Top Deck and Dekka Charters took converted Lodekkas through Europe in the 70s & 80s. Glorious life, it was.

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

I love how Vicki got to play the onboard ticket conductor. Also found it fascinating how the bus was original minus the engine. Really is a testament to how well build old machinery truly was! If I ever can make it over there to England that is on my list of "things to do."

[@chrisharrison3598]

Another gem of a video from you two talented people. Thanks so much for sharing with us all.

[@neilbain8736]

See exclusively a herd of buses in their unnatural habitat as they forage across the Savannah fertilising the sour grass with their nitrogen rich dung, creating a sweet heaven for fussy herbivores and omnivorous artillery. That looked like a fun day out. I could like buses. I was going to write about the time I cycled across Salisbury Plain, directed by a local who knew the roads you won't find on a map, but I saw the Savannah shot instead. Nice one !

[@eattherich9215]

Thanks for the look. For several years I planned to go to Imber, but don't suppose I ever shall now.

[@JohnStewart73]

I have actually driven one of the vehicle that is in this video. At 06:10 we see the vehicle going to Brazen Bottom (RML 2583) which I drove in service when it was based in Camberwell(Route 12) in south London. I drove Routemasters for the first year after passing my test and it was definitely a challenge at times.

[@bishwatntl]

Thanks to this video, I visited Imberbus 2019 yesterday. Fascinating and bonkers in a lovely way. The sun shone for most of the day and, yes, Sir Peter was there again, though I didn't actually see him driving. I did hear him say that each year the team hopes that MoD will let them run the event again and each year, so far, they have said yes.

[@matthewdunderdale8685]

going up to the top deck, thats the equivalent of (you guessed it!!) a 15 storey building!!.... had to be done

[@LisaSimpsonRules]

Also equivalent to 15 double-decker buses on top of each other.

[@matthewdunderdale8685]

Lisa Simpson Rules, haha... yes of course

[@cosmic-fortytwo]

Gosh, that must be like, I don’t know fifteen steps

[@davewhitehead8601]

Lovely film. Can I say thank you to you both for creating this wonderful series. You're showing all the amazing places in the UK and concentrating on visiting and travelling. And the fact that you're *still* doing it and still enjoying it is lovely. Inspired me to take some adventures too...

[@chrisleach8009]

The eccentric’s are one of the things that make the British so lovable

[@caramelldansen2204]

not our impeccable taste in food? :P

[@HenrysAdventures]

I made it to Imber Buses this year! Fantastic event!

[@michaelhannah7189]

I think this is your best yet. I will put that on my wish list for my next UK visit but has to be a ROUTEMASTER BUS

[@MrLargePig]

I had no idea there was such a place! Totally cool, lovely ticket lady, feel bad for the blacksmith, though.

[@krashd]

There's a lot more to Imber than you saw in the video, the area actually encompasses several villages and towns and several hundred square miles of rural land, the Ministry of Defence bought all of it and told the locals it was vital to the war effort and gave them accommodation elsewhere, then the allies, mainly American forces, used the entire region as a mock battleground from 1943 until D-Day to perfect their tactics. Today the entire area - being desolate of communities - is a military live firing range where artillery and other munitions are tested so when the tour guides tell you to stick to the highlighted pathways they are telling you for your own good. The one village the tour buses take you to, Imber, is used by British forces to practice close-quarters combat or CQC and is the only part not being regularly shelled with ordinants. Hence the tours.

[@nonaknight9491]

Best site on this Video for me was the trail of London Routemasters. Brought good memories back to day when we saw a bus perhaps not even stationary but just jumped on.

[@やざわひろやす]

So beautiful country. Beautifully dabble deckers. I went to England 40years ago thank you.

[@ericjamieson]

There's something slightly ominous about a dozen routemasters slowly rolling in single file through the English countryside.

[@Dave_Sisson]

You may have given the script writers for Dr. Who an idea...

[@RoyCousins]

It shoud be, "There's something slightly omnibus..."

[@matthewdunderdale8685]

Roy Cousins I see what you did there

[@jagman84]

It's like Oxford Street after Brexit? ;)

[@GaryJohnWalker1]

Like an Emma Peel era Avengers ep.

[@allypotter8581]

I really enjoyed watching this and I could feel your energy! I am looking forward to attending the event in 2022. Thank you for putting things like this together and for following your enthusiastic passions!

[@radioman1170]

Absolutely love you pair - always make me smile :-) Fantastic video. Like the fact that the man at the top, Sir Peter, still gets involved too.

[@iankemp1131]

Another fascinating ghost village (this time with original houses) is Tyneham, which despite its name is in Dorset. I found it by accident after visiting the Swanage Railway; it is in the Lulworth tank training area but now open a fair amount of the summer, with very good information boards. Like Imber the inhabitants were originally told they were being moved out temporarily "for the duration" but in the Cold War the MoD decided they needed to keep it.

[@rickyg1247]

I live nearby and never been on the Imber bus, maybe next year. Does look like fun!

[@dodgydruid]

Back in the 70's thanks to the red bus rover and patience and a lot of waiting around, I had managed to tick off every LT RM in LT operation I think in 1978 or 9 and I did have a go at the lingering RT's and Merlin's so once upon a time my tukus rode those buses once upon a time lol I remember MD60 (MCW) when it was running the 36b one of my local routes from Grove Park, they were so cool compared to the other cornflakes boxes with all the chrome and that engine and the spoiler on top the roof giving it a racing flair only matched by the Leyland Nationals (collected quite a few of them numbers too) but then I remember when the 36b was RT then RM, now for a really good day out was to get to Penge and pick up the old 12 which went up through North and East London or the 141 Grove Park to other side of Wood Green (man that was a trip but had to be done to ride the cushions for the numbers)... Ironically due to a railwayman father I had free train travel but I did like them old growly chuckly RT's and RM's best :)

[@DinseeNuffin]

Wow!!!! This brought back so many good memories. I drove those buses all over London in the 60's 70's and 80's working for London Transport. The clip at the end, of the convoy, reminded me of a convoy I was in, Route 11 Liverpool Street Station to Shepherds Bush Green, all 10 of us going through Victoria en route back to Liverpool Street. No one would overtake the Bus in front, and the Inspectors were pulling their hair out when we all arrived together back at Liverpool Street Station. Good and Happy times, sadly now just a distant memory.

[@mikesaunders4775]

A fantastic film on so many levels: A rare glimpse of Salisbury Plain,so much of which is out of bounds to non-military personnel . A teasing look at the lost village of Imber( parts of which featured in 'Catch us if you Can' in 1965), and a grand finale of Routemasters crossing the plain like a Wagon Train from a western.

[@lordsonspokenenglishacadem3898]

Schwa sound is coming like anything else, I like that, UK accent is lovely

[@airzulu2733]

I only just saw this , really well presented couldn't of got a better subject the London Bus . Really enjoyed it , wish we could have them back . A British national gem .

[@markj48]

Vicki the Clippie, it a great life on the buses!

[@kenharding8437]

I remember that ticket machine well, unofficial personal protection on a Saturday night drunk run......I've seen it used to great effect.....say no more...wink,wink!

[@mistie710]

Yes, I remember the 247b. Sometimes caught it on the way home from Collier Row and yes, it was far more regular than a Sunday service! It partially shared the same route as the 250 from Romford Station to Passingford Bridge but both routes disappeared when they handed that coverage over to what had been London Country and route 500 came in. When I used it, they were running both the 247b and the 250 using Leyland Nationals.

[@wurlitzer895]

The most unusual place I saw a 77A was in 2001 taking tourists to Niagara Falls in Canada. Really annoyed me as I used the 77A every day to travel to and from Wandsworth Town Hall, and I honestly didn't expect to see the same route on my annual holiday!! :) :) It's a strange life......

[@johnrees7909]

Lovely video....... thanks to you both.

[@rumpus10]

Vicki makes a GORGEOUS bus conductor! Nice to see she knows how to operate the ticket machine, but her "day job" may have helped!

[@matthiasendler7268]

Thank you for the lovely video! Absolutely love the Routemasters... Nice to see that a few Routemasters get the love they deserve! I remember when they were in service in London.

[@rrajdippawskar9853]

Britain surely knows how to preserve and keep its history fresh and running. In India, on the pretext of upgrades, things are just scrapped😔😔Only a few remain.

[@practicallyfamous]

*All The Bus Stops* - I'm waiting for it! :)

[@laptop006]

A better ring than "All the routemasters"

[@peterkay8073]

It's that music again, and how well did it work in the church yard, excellent.

[@Cpr1234]

Is your name actually Peter Kay?

[@RWL2012]

Cpr1234 the real question is, is Will Smith of Vale of Rheidol Railway's name actually Will Smith...? :-P (spoiler: it is)

[@neilcrawford8303]

406F Next service 13/09/18. It's operated by London General. It runs from Epsom station up to Epsom Downs and the race course on race days. 406 is a TfL route from Kingston to Epsom, run by Quality Line (now part of RATP, it was Epsom Coaches). The 406F goes back to the days of London Country and when the 406 went from Kingston all the way to Redhill via Reigate.

[@AllTheStations]

ooh! is it a 'Red London Bus' though, ??

[@LondonBusesOnTheGo]

I saw a D7 with the rear blind displaying "406F" the other day so I think yes, it is

[@neilcrawford8303]

@@LondonBusesOnTheGo That would make sense. The D7 is out of Silvertown garage, Docklands Buses is part of London General.

[@SLTyt]

It is operated with Red London Buses.It is run by a London Bus Company and is registered on the London Service Permit as a public bus service but is not a TFL contracted service So I guess that it counts :-P

[@capiberra4118]

Enjoyed the video. Haven't been to London (or Salisbury) since '75 when RouteMasters were king. Good memories. Thanks!

[@paulscoombes]

Geoff, I couldn't agree more with your comment about riding on the platform of a bus. I am slightly older then the body of Pete's bus so it is a very fond memory of mine from when I was a lad, jumping off the platform before the bus had completely stopped. Wonderful shot of the convoy of buses at the end. I intend to be there next year. Thank you.

[@mojomusica]

I went on a Routemaster, No. 999, the first time I have ever been on one, just the other week in Llandudno of all places! It was doing a one-hour circular tour to Rhos-on-Sea and Conwy, I was amazed at how slow the tickover was, I thought it was going to stall every time it stopped. It did struggle going up some of those Welsh hills, but changing down through the box made a great sound. Another terrific video, Geoff and Vicki!

[@squirehaggard4749]

c. 5000BC...Man: "Is this the bus to Stonehenge?" Conductor: "Sorry mate, you can't bring that 200 ton stone slab on the bus...."

[@nickmendes5458]

Thanks for the idea - I finally did Imberbus this year, having been thwarted by Covid last year. Definitely completely bonkers fun!!

[@andrewholloway231]

Oh wow, what a lovely video. Like you say, bonkers brilliant and, could not resist this, All The Routemasters. And a Cummins powered one to boot as well. Thank you for this.

[@Castlebridge-00]

That was just lovely. I was a school boy using the RT's then the RM came along. I progressed to working in West end of London and loved the hop on/off ability and then being a gentleman and letting the girls go up the stairs first. That was in the 60's. Thanks for showing me something I have never heard of. Barry.Devon.

[@SheeplessNW6]

Strangely, I got to ride on an RT in London not long ago! It was the day of a bus strike, and some preserved buses were running services. I was walking down Gower Street when an RT appeared, so of course I hopped on. An unexpected treat!

[@gloriousbaptistchurches_ar5181]

God of love and compassion bless your families and fellowship abundantly to bring millions of people to His kingdom

[@engineerjim2018]

What a great sight at the end the convoy brought a nostalgic lump to my throat.

[@BristolRE]

Superb, enjoyed every minute of this.

[@richardgeorge8612]

thank you so much for this video. On leaving the RAF I worked on London buses for a few years principal route bein the No 13 from Golders Green to Alydwich, I have to say they were lovely to drive yet unforgiveing at the same time

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Now this I like. I absolutely love Routemaster buses and I’m in the fortunate position I get paid to drive them! Never done Imber but it’s on my bucket list.

[@EandEFC]

I use to have a Gibson ticket machine (As used by Vicky) as a kid so this brought back happy memories!

[@lauriecroad3186]

This is "Ace"...I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm no Bus Geek....but I do like Routemasters - especially ones fitted with a modern Cummins Diesel... that is really cool , and sensible too.

[@milesbrown8016]

Wow, this was so exciting and fun

[@GuyArab]

'Something slightly omnibus about a dozen Routemasters...' Great video and about buses for once. Give us more please!

[@marklongman6882]

That looks like such a great day and seeing the line of buses was brilliant, only in the UK. Let's hope this can continue post pandemic..

[@carltonslaine7756]

Just wonderful just to look at you just can't get bored of these master peace at all London pride yes the route master buses the best And British love them so much big thanks

[@lordleonusa]

The RM was a perfect design, even the open rear platform!

[@hublanderuk]

I went to Imber a few years ago for a Geocaching Meet and to get the Church Micro Geocache. The Information you need is in the Church Yard but the final Geocache is outside the Range. But it was nice to visit in the Winter.

[@sbaig277]

These doubledecker buses were using Cummings engine. We do have Bedford trucks as old as 1970. They are using Euro 6 engine in modified, overhauled shape.

[@TheByard]

Now I'm old enough to remember Routemasters being introduced, what a great day it was. Plus they had heaters to keep passengers warm.

[@mikesheldon1957]

Didn't see any red buses when I was last there, mind you I was in very snazzy camo type jacket, trousers, webbing and carrying an SA80 rifle and radio gear on a training exercise. Was also at Warminster camp taking my STD1 Signals course at the time as well. There is actually a mock German village in the middle of Sennibridge training area in Wales that is no secret as you can see it on Google maps satellite view, that was built especially for the Russian threat during the cold war and has even mock sewers down the center of the streets that we crawled along, was being taught about FIBUA (fighting in built up areas) and DIBUA (defense in built up areas) in the village. Its really weird when you see it for the first time like a ghostly silent german village and feels like you are in Europe, there are NO trips to that village though so unless you are in the army you would never see it as its in a restricted area.

[@scopex2749]

As a Routemaster lover ( i used to travel to school on them) I wish I had know about this! Sadly this is unlikely to ever happen again after 2020 - the 'non year' :((

[@alexlangford6291]

It's happening again this year August 20th from Warminster Station.

[@hootmanwillie]

I counted 15 buses all 23a, brilliant!!!!!

[@adamshaw2932]

September is awesome! Watching this video was like reliving a mix of two events i recently went too, the Trans Lancs rally at Heaton park in Manchester where i got a heritage bus from the museum of transport (& a heritage tram in Heaton park), and my towns heritage day where i explored the parish church and also looked at the parish records! (there were a few more then 0 people in this parish :P) Also I had no idea there was such a thing as Imberbus! thankyou so much for introducing it :) my bucket list is longer now :P

[@marccarter1350]

Hail from Salisbury. Know these places very well. Great video guys :@-)(

[@rob4b]

You guys where having way to much fun, even I got excited.

[@Andy-lm2zp]

Fab video ! well done !

[@jmdoutdoors5729]

Great video, love the buses and the people. Love from California.

[@davidgandar2021]

Got me going emotionally, loved the Routemaster. This is the only I can see them in New Zealand!

[@PoshcatsCamping]

That was an awesome video 👍🏻🤣 loved it thank you 😊 Trev

[@telemachus53]

Like, like, love. I loved this vid and it gave me a great way to spend a day out with my grandkids.

[@jonathanvince8173]

That was very interesting as not many people know about those kinds of buses.

[@roberthorwood4276]

Another great video Geoff and Vicki. I wondered why your vids are so well Produced, now I know, Geoff used to work at the BBC ! thank you, More please, Robert.

[@Jimmer93]

Great video. Funny, I lived in Warminster for 23 years and only did imberbus for the first time in 2017! It's true what they say, you get around to it eventually. Haha

[@03markimark]

This looks AMAZING, I'd absolutely love to attend this event one day! Also I follow all of your videos religiously!

[@watson956]

11:18 This video should have been entitled, "' I'm workin', mate"

[@jezzam2034]

Brilliant. I loved this, but have only been once and unfortunately missed the convoy - I live in Upminster and know one of the Ensignbus drivers, so travelled down and back on RMC1485 (the one at 1:03) in a day. I was out on the first bus (4:58am) and back at around 10:30pm. I was quite sad I missed the massive line-up, but doing it in a day was great for a 'taster' and has definitely paved the way for this weekend every year to become a mini-break! I was shattered for many months to come, and I think I'm still recovering a year after haha!

[@luxford60]

Great video. I have been to Imber, but not by bus. I did not know that such a thing could be done.

[@palashranjanbhaumick5583]

Superb!!!

[@ianmcclavin]

The other nice thing about driving a Routemaster was that because you had your own cab, with someone else at the back dealing with the "customer care" element, it must have been a much less stressful experience for that reason alone. I spent 10 years driving modern front entrance buses, if you were running late for any reason, the "customers" would let you know about it !!

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

It was great fun again this year - very busy too!

[@paulgreen6903]

The first time i came to England, way back in 67, i HOPPED on a double decker bus, went up stairs sat at the front, and listened to the tree branch s sway across the front. That was a great sound. Then i heard....ticket please, and paid my 6 pence s and that sound of the GISON machine.......was heaven. We don t have that in Canada......pitte.... a.

[@simongreene1]

Once drove a Charterplan coach with some TA's from Stockport to Salisbury Plain for some training. Had a a village called FIBUA to aim for. Tried to find it on a map. Was told by the TA leader that I would not find it - it would find me! True enough I was spotted by a military Landrover with a flashing Blue Light and escorted into the 'village'. Found memories of early coach driving.

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

Geoff, there was real toilets on other parts of the bus routes. Like in the pub that the buses passed, or in the local town, or in a local hall.

[@richardmorley9851]

Along the Queen's great highway I drive my merry load At twenty miles per hour In the middle of the road We like to drive in convoys We're most gregarious The big six-wheeler, scarlet-painted, London Transport, diesel engine, Ninety-seven horsepower omnibus. Flanders and Swann

[@henryharesdene4164]

Don't forget - "Hold very tight please - Ting Ting...."

[@royfearn4345]

Thanks for the memory.....

[@BaartFilmProductions]

Great video. Thanks Geoff and Vicky

[@bowlerstuff9589]

the 247B sounds like the 418B thats a minibus on sundays,which is arriva,but the family of routes its in (418,420,420A and the now extinct 419) ran around the epping forest (420:Harlow to Ongar Via Epping 420A Harlow to North weald,same route as 420 but just ends in north weald,there the central connect routes,that trusty bus branded. on weekends 418:Harlow/St Margarets Hospital-Loughton via Church Langley,Potter Street,Harlow only,Epping and Debden 419:Harlow to Epping Via A414,North weald,Both 420 routes and 419 went via potter street

[@AlanLumsden]

Another fandaby video Geoff and Vicki. Loved it. Thank you! :o)

[@baldylocks6]

Their is something about the sound of an old Routmaster. Proper Bus.👌

[@100SteveB]

I totally understand why Sir Peter put a modern cummins engine in, but, nothing can ever replace the sound of the original AEC engines. If you own a Routemaster you need the correct soundtrack to go with it.

[@arnoldroot]

Bonkersly brilliant!

[@senarmthefarmer305]

I'm going to say this takes me back to my earlier years. I'm only 41, wawwww. Slam door trains, proper London busses and in the cadets I shot and practice on that range.

[@PinderProductions]

Looks like a fun day. They had quite a few buses in that convoy.

[@ny-infoblog]

Once again a very very interesting and fun video. thanks and cheers

[@garywoolton1875]

I am more of a bus fan than a train (Regent V is my favourite) but for routemaster there is only two places to sit. Front Left overlooking the bonnet on the lower deck, or the very back seat on the upper deck.

[@boomerrob9223]

Maybe I missed it in the vid, but where did the buses comer from? Are they part of a collection?