London Transport AEC Merlin with Driving Instructor

Driving Instructor talks us through his drive in an AEC Merlin (WMT 624G) dating from 1969. Seems to be filmed around Harrow UK early 70s.

[@roybarford]

bus drivers don't bloody drive like that anymore!

[@pharbi1]

i remember when i was a nipper ( i grew up in belfast in the seventies). busses were in such sort supply because of the damage from the troubles that belfast corporation bought loads of ex london transport fleet to replace destroyed stock. i used to go to school on ex LT merlins. they were pressed into action so quickly that they still wore lovely gold london transport livery...as a kid i thought it was cool.our own bristol r.e has been removed recenty. distintive noise like the rm.rip rm and re

[@JulianShagworthy]

I'm 24 years old, but I so wish I'd been this age in the 60's, 70's or 80's... No internet trolls, everybody talking face to face or posting letters, when business was personal. Now it's just names on a computer somewhere...

[@jack253]

Omg cant believe how much England Changed from 70's onwards England is such a different country now

[@jamesfrench7299]

Yeah, it's not England.

[@paddingtonfire]

Fantastic film, that drone of the Merlin really takes me back to my childhood. LT way ahead of its time with that form of instruction. Brilliant stuff.

[@NextSound170]

When they trained you as a driver

[@1100HondaCB]

@roybarford I do my best to drive to a high standard as a bus driver, but in this video, road conditions are far more forgiving than today and nowadays, it's all rush rush rush, so bus drivers tend to feel pressured to drive quite brisk and with the impression of using a lower standard of driving than is perceived in the video. I enjoy my job far more when I drive as shown in the video, but dislike when I feel pressured to rush.

[@metadyneman]

I hated the MB MBS and SMS buses when they first appeared. They ousted the RT's off the 97 in Ealing (which became the E2).. The MBS was like a cattle truck compared with an RT!

[@ricbonnici4878]

Great video clip when the world run at a slower happier pace

[@vorn29]

Interesting how the guy commentates about the backswing of the Merlin. One of the reasons they were so unpopular and eventually were replaced.. I thought they looked good though.

[@joytuc2608]

I live in this area, fun to see how it was back then. So much less traffic!

[@Gauge1channel]

you dont get drives like you did then all bloody mad these days

[@Bevoin1970]

I really really enjoyed that, was great spotting some classic old cars and lorries in that film. Took me back to my teens. Did the roads seem quiet or is it me ? Probably were back then. Wish I had a time machine....... :-) Thanks for posting

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Type training ,some companies don’t bother westbus don’t ,they say there’s your bus or coach get on with it ,blooming cowboys

[@reynardbizzar5461]

Are Westbus cowboys then😂

[@stevetaylor5933]

Love this journey back in time, I remember when these single deckers were new on the 242 route, I remember the smell inside them, sort of plastic?? And the step up at the back, I think, I'm not sure, but I think it was a single entrance? Brought back some great memories of my childhood,

[@DesElmes]

I'm pretty sure the setting for the first 18 seconds of this film is Whitton Avenue West, Northolt, while the period between 4:23 and 4:37 takes place in Greenford Road, Greenford.

[@sbdonnelly]

Sopers! Remember it well, also the pick n mix at woolies - the Wimpy bar when they were good - grilled meat cooked by dodgy looking greek geezers.. The Granada, the ABC what was the name of the chippy near the ABC?

[@DaveInBridport]

Remember HD SMSs on 114 etc and EW SMSs on 186/286. Only have the destination blinds as memories now!

[@johnblack3498]

I drove SMS's at HD and new Nationals on the H1.

[@joytuc2608]

the hump bridge is North Wembley- I live nearby. The film starts at Barham Park roundabout.

[@scarletmackay]

Harrow, especially in the early 70s can hardly be described as London. It was a sleepy suburb that had stayed the same for over 500 years.

[@sbdonnelly]

Wembley to harrow, through south harrow past the John Lion, sudbury...etc

[@shayclarke]

not many japanese cars in these days!!

[@freefromenvy]

Though not a continous journey - it was a mixture of different clips - it is still a fascinating piece of film.

[@ALANSWEETIES99]

Very nice riding by bus!!!

[@isaywhatilikeandilikewhati1117]

lol...Instructor keeps asking for the handbrake to be applied for any reason. It was the same type as found in RTs & RM/Ls, a mechanical one...can you imagine working that thing every minute of ya shift! I drove RM/Ls in the 80s and the only time I used it was when I put the bus in neutral and got out of the cab! lol

[@Grid56]

Instructor sounds like ken livingston

[@Lurkalotalot]

Thank you, tecmovie, an area with which I'm not familiar. I was a regular user of MB operated route 99 (Woolwich to Erith), on which MB623 was used, sister vehicle to the one in the video. Steve

[@1100HondaCB]

I know he's an instructor, but he sounds like an examiner. Why do examiners all sound the same. When I did my HGV, my examiner sounded exactly like this. It made me even more nervous. At the end of the road turn leeeeeeeeeeeeeft.

[@DesElmes]

Well, I did suggest that 4:23 to 4:37 took place in Greenford Road, Greenford - it certainly looks like the junction with Costons Lane, heading south towards Greenford Broadway.

[@JollyRodders]

I remember these buses on the 110 route with the single door at the front and the double door Merlins on the 111 route with the automatic ticket machines with turnstiles...which everyone avioded by going straight to the driver.

[@Lurkalotalot]

Any idea where this film was shot?

[@MrAlitrab]

@Lurkalotalot sudbury, london

[@TheFokker03]

publicity. film.

[@1100HondaCB]

This video shows when London wasn't plagued by immigrants and thus a far better place to be.

[@derekosullivan470]

What year is this

[@johnblack3498]

Approx.1970