Snout Bus: The Story of East Germany's Bulbous Double Decker Buses [German Bus History]

[@tango22ah]

Jeffrey Merry Christmas from all of us in the UK 🇬🇧 🌲

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you!!! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you too, and thank you very much for watching again!!!!

[@ian_b]

Seconded!

[@SiqueScarface]

4:00 VEB means "Volkseigener Betrieb" (Company owned by the People). It's like "Ltd." or "Corp" - just the type of company. The name of the company is Waggonbau Bautzen - Railcar Production Bautzen, with Bautzen being a small town about 30 miles east of Dresden. Waggonbau Bautzen now belongs to Alstom after the takeover of the previous owner, Bombardier Transportation.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, now I know what it means! Thanks for the extra info - hopefully I'll remember it if I do another German bus video!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@jonathanharris2658]

We had an odd bonnet double decker bus in the UK called the Tynesider built from a modified Leyland pd3 chassis. Converted from forward to normal control to see if it was worth converting older half cab buses for one person operation. Only one bus was converted re-registered MCN30K. It ran with northern general but it worked out cheaper to purchase rear engined double deckers of the time and scrap the half cab buses from 13 years of age.

[@northernblue1093]

Also the Routemaster-based Wearside, which was semi-forward-control in that the driver sat further back than normal but not entirely behind the engine. Both were re-built from accident-damaged buses to enable drivers to collect fares from boarding passengers. In this respect, they were probably quite successful but the complex conversion offered insufficient benefits over the latest generation of rear-engined buses to warrant further conversions. Because of their non-standard nature, making them difficult to schedule into rotas worked by standard buses, both led short and relatively-inactive lives.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh yes, the Tynesider is quite interesting! To me, it looks like a cross between a Routemaster and a Do 54! If I can find enough info, I'd do a video on it!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@Keithbarber]

@@jonathanharris2658 experimental conversions by Northern general who had a batch of 50 forward entrance routemaster buses

[@thesnowman9474]

I just can't get over that long engine hood! Interesting as always, Jeffrey. Merry Christmas.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Happy holidays to you as well and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@verkehrsteilnehmer-berlin]

I'm born 1968 and had opportunities to use it, before they replaced it by articulated busses from Hungary.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Great to hear that you rode on these interesting buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@bertspeggly4428]

I think "Snout Bus" is a perfect name for this bus. Great video, thanks.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@frankhoffmann1533]

I ended my Education at a Bank hin Berlin at the Corner Unter den Linden/Friedrichstraße in 1973 and used this Busses every day. That was the line 57

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Awesome! Must have been great to ride them! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@david5845]

Cheers and THANK YOU! Happy New Year

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you, and Happy New Year to you, too! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@JiisuriG3]

Hey Jeffrey, Merry Christmas and thank you for this video. You are absolutely right in calling them big snout busses. We call them "Schnauzenbusse" as well. Also, number 010 is not in Berlin anymore. It was sold to the Leipzig Tram Museum in 2020 and has been repainted into LVB colours, receiving number 77. It is in running condition but currently not registered. I think the most interesting bus of East Berlin was the the LOWA ES6. A single prototype double decker trailer trolleybus. It was numbered 2001+201 and in service from 1955 until the mid-60s on a single line (O40 - Robert-Koch-Platz - Ostbahnhof) after which the tractor was converted into a tow truck while the trailer was being sold to a horse racing team.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Glad you liked the video and thanks for the additional info! I read that the Leipzig bus had a three-part door, and I did see pictures of 77, but it had a four-part door, so I thought it may have been a repaint of a Berlin bus. So I guess I was right... And thanks for the info a bout the ES6 - looks interesting, and if I can find enough info, I may do a video on it. Happy holidays to you, too, and thanks very much for watching!!

[@matthewhopson964]

Thank you for a fascinating and very enjoyable video. Wishing you best greetings of the season from us here in the UK.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glady you found the video interesting! Happy holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@michaelfrenzel5925]

Thank you for this great video. I often rode to school in buses like this when I was a child.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you liked the video, and it must have been interesting to ride those buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@rotheryberlin7772]

West-Berlin had many more doubledecker busses than the east. Büssing and MAN was the manufacturer. MAN had delivered until 2009 doubledecker busses for Berlin. Since 2020 we've Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 from Britain.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for the additional information on Berlin's buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@becconvideo]

and still have ...

[@Stefan-o8e]

Well actually Büssing and later on MAN just provided the the plattform an drivetrain. The busses themself where build by Gaubschat until early 70s, then they went bankrupt, O&K until 1980 and Waggon Union until 1992. The first 3 series of dubbledecker where constructed by Gaubschat, calls series D2U, DE and SD. I don't know actually who constructed the D series and also the later models.

[@rotheryberlin7772]

@Stefan-o8e D86 - D92 Waggon Union at Miraustraße West-Berlin, later unificatet Berlin. DN95 ABB, ex. Waggon Union DL04 - DL09 NEOMAN Plauen.

[@Stefan-o8e]

@@rotheryberlin7772 sorry, actually i'd knew who build the D series but not from the DN and later. But you're right, the DN we're build by ABB. Funfact, Waggon Union also build the 480 series S-Bahn and F8X U-Bahn trains. Now there are different smaler companies at the former factory side. My office is there as well.

[@paulbennell3313]

That's er... unusual. I reckon calling it the Big Snout Bus is right on the money! Merry Christmas mate!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, it seems "Snout" is unanimously a good name for it! Happy Holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching!!

[@geebs76]

I enjoyed this episode Jeffrey. Merry Christmas to everyone from Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video! And happy holiday and Merry Christmas to you, too!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@anth5122]

Another great video 👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Very glad you liked it!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@kevincrowley4586]

A, Duck billed Platypus on wheels! I really like the Tractor/Trailer bus - that does 'Float my coach' 🤣 Thanks again Jeffery, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, you're right - a platypus is what I should have compared it to!! Happy holdiays to you, too and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@milksheihk]

It only makes sense to have the snout so far in front of the front axle if it was longitudinal fwd.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, that sounds about right!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@tonys1636]

The 4 abreast seating and sunken gangway on upper deck very similar to LT's Weymann bodied RLH's also 13'4" high, marked in cab as 13'6".

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh yes, I knew that seating on the top deck was similar to some UK buses! I can understand why the height limit would be marked a little higher than it really is! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@jonathansmyth9249]

A very interesting city, Berlin and fleet. The big snout bus describes it very well. A simple design which worked well, easy to convert to one person operation. I love rear engine buses but are too difficult to look after. I have believed for a long time a simple vehicle would keep the service more reliable for the passengers. In England in the 70s in Newcastle they converted a Titan PD3 to OPO by putting the driver's position behind the engine with a Routemaster style bonnet, it was the only city to operationed new Routemaster apart from London . Possibly even now a much simpler vehicle would save many off a service. A very interesting video please do more on Berlin. A happy new year to you sir.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very happy you liked the video and will look into more Berlin stuff for the future. Happy Holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching!!

[@lindastreet-ely9780]

I agree, the big snout bus! Merry Christmas, Jeffrey! We are enjoying your videos!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Great that you agree with the "Snout" designation, LOL! Happy holiday to you, too, very glad you like my videos and thanks for watching!!!

[@danieleregoli812]

Love the long snout😂❤ amazing video! Merry Christmas Jeffrey

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Glad you liked the video! Thanks very much for watching again and happy holiday to you, too!!

[@danieleregoli812]

@JeffreyOrnstein Have a lovely Christmas Day Jeffrey - you are my favorite KZbinr ♥️🥰

[@ptonpc]

Seasons Greetings! Those are interesting buses. I can see why they were built the way they were.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! A good holiday to you, too! Glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching!!!

[@DarrenWalley]

Merry Christmas Jeffrey & Merry Christmas to everybody watching this. 👀 Best wishes from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🙏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Darren, thank you very much, and happy holidays to you, too! Very glad you like my videos and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@DarrenWalley]

@@JeffreyOrnstein You are welcome, Jeffrey. Thank you for the content. 🙏

[@discogareth]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thank you for your videos this year. I’m so glad I found your channel!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm so glad my videos somehow found you, and that you like what I do! Happy holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching!

[@AidanEyewitness]

Very interesting and very well researched! When I lived in (West) Berlin, these double deckers were already gone, but the West Berlin BVG had their own style of double decker - without a snout! Frohes Fest! Happy Christmas!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video about these Berlin buses! Happy holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching!!

[@ManxAndy]

Another interesting vlog, Thankyou Jeffrey, and a very Merry Christmas….👍🇮🇲🎄

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very happy that you liked the video and have a great holiday, and as always, thanks very much for watching again!!

[@Broomswillow]

Merry Christmas from France Jeffrey. Thanks again for another one of your insightful videos from a Brit, ex USA, now FR🎄

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Happy holiday to you, too, and thanks so much for watching my videos from France, much appreciated!!

[@daviestewart2510]

Best wishes for the holiday season Jeffrey, I'm looking forward to seeing what you have lined up for us in the new year!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video and I hope to do more interesting bus videos in the coming year! Happy holiday to you too, and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@johnkennett6013]

Another super bus story from Jeffrey please keep them coming l think they are really great and have learnt a lot by them

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you liked the video, hopefully I will be able to do more interesting bus stuff! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@WhitfieldProductionsTV]

jeffery has kept me entertained for hours, if it's buses or trains my adhd stops and I focus.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! That is so great to hear, I'm so glad you find my videos entertaining! Thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@jeffclark2725]

Good morning from wlWestern Washington ,great video, didn't know these busses existed, learn something new from somewhere else around the world,

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks so much for watching at such an early hour on the West Coast!!! Glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@autumnmatthews3179]

Definitely the big snout bus. Best wishes for the holiday period from the UK

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Happy holidays to you too, and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@roberthuron9160]

Merry Christmas,and a super New Year,Jeff! Thank you for the past year! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Robert, thank you very much, glad you like my videos! Happy holidays to you, too! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@ViatronTumpington]

Hi i'm viatron from Sheffield, but I remember they was a similar type of known as the bonneted double deck & it wasn't in Birlin, no. In Newcastle Upon Tyne or Tyne & Wear, Northern General Bus Company had decided to rebuilt a standard half cab double deck bus such as the Leyland Titan PD3/4 forward control bus chassis into their very own version of the East German long bonneted double deck bus via of shortening the M.C.W. Orion rear entrance double deck bus bodywork & putting the entrance at the front, plus adding a 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox with fluid flywheel & also adding a full bonneted version using a A.E.C L.T.-style Routemaster front grille & this known as the N.G. TYNESIDER. Well the N.G. TYNESIDER is now preserved by the Tyne & Wear Bus Preservation Group of Newcastle via a striking resemblance as the East Birlin versions. Thank you for your co-operation on this very special unusual vintage british double deck bus rebuild N.G. TYNESIDER bonneted double deck bus subject from David Viatron Esquire of crookes in Sheffield, England.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, if I can find enough info, I would do a video on the Tynesider! Thanks for all of the extra info, and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@StephenAllcroft]

Thanks Jeffrey, didn't you tell us previously that Hollywood put a prosthetic snout on a Yellow Coach Queen Mary for a Hitchcock film? I have a model Do56 as well as as a couple of their pre-war predecessors, the snouty Bussing -NAG D38 and more recent snoutless Berlin double decks. I certainly think of these and the D38 as snouty. Large vehicles in the early 1930s in Germany but also in Italy and The UK had a similar layout to put more payload on the back axle, a change in overall length rules here put paid to the Leyland Rhino, the Albion RL58 and the like. Merry Christmas Jeffrey from Scotland.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Stephen! Oh yes, in my Queen Mary video, they dressed up a Yellow Coach double decker to look like a Berlin bus! Thanks for all of your great comments throughout the year, and very happy holidays to you, too! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@peterlau4683]

This remind me I saw a picture of Northern General Leyland PD3 bus with modified AEC Routemaster style bonnet but not that big and long snout.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, the "Tynesider" which was a really odd-looking bus. I would like to eventually do a video on that one! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@crabbymilton390]

Big snout is certainly fitting. At first glance, it looks like the 1962-1978 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER LOADSTAR school bus chassis and trucks. Those were everywhere you looked back then and now your lucky to find a dead one. Blessed Christmas Jeffery.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, it does have some likeness to an American school bus, but since it is double decker, I think the front nose is more strange-looking on this bus. Happy holidays to you as well and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@shnorth888]

Love German buses particularly the old Berlin double decker buses. My favorite is the D38 tri- axle from the 30s.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, old Berlin buses are quite interesting!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@towgod7985]

Good morning Jeffrey, I posted a week ago, and watching this video and these omnibus Abhorrations! I will say again. A double-decker bus made outside Britain is BLASPHEMOUS! I am really enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work. Cheers. 😎

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! LOL! Oh yes, I recall that comment! Definitely not as refined as a British double-decker, that's for sure! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@highpath4776]

@@JeffreyOrnstein I think he is wrong, were not the owners of London General buses from Paris where the double deck horse drawn had been developed (I am not sure in London who came next after Shillibeer and went for the double deck buses before General was incorporated - the buses themselves may have even been built initially in paris too,

[@Steve14ps]

Berlin has lost its wall and almost lost all of its double deckers, there are now less than 200 deckers in the BVG fleet

[@obelic71]

on the other side the tram network who only existed in former east Berlin and went extict in former west Berlin is expanding more and more truh Berlin. Even deralict for decades unused S-bahn lines ( Siemensbahn ) are being rebuild and put into service.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Well, that's 200 more double deckers than New York!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@Steve14ps]

@@JeffreyOrnstein New York did have some Leyland double deck buses similar to the ones operated in Manchester

Fascinating video. It would have been interesting to see an image showing the engine, front-wheel and steering layout I assume the bus was rear-wheel drive.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, I wish there were more images of the engine other than what was in the video - wasn't easy to find everything I wated to show! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@glenjones6980]

A random YT recommendation just popped up from a German channel which seems to show a later (replacement?) for these which is the forward control style. Wheelbase seems to be the the same and with the driver right at the front interior space should a little longer, this seems borne out by the additional side window on each deck. Upload is called 'Alte Doppeldeckerbusse in Berlin' by TheTraintv

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the info, will check it out! And thanks very much for watching!!

[@MartinIbert]

Very nice video, Jeffrey! A few comments. - Kudos for doing a decent job of pronouncing German names. I have heard far worse from English native speakers! - I don't think they are all that different from the Routemasters of London. Okay, the snout of a Routemaster is only on one side, with the driver cab besides it, and here the snout and driver cab are arranged differently, but it's a lot more similar than to, say, a modern bus with a fully integrated body. - What is shown at 2:18 is actually in West Berlin. It's what was left of Nollendorfplatz subway station. - The bus shown at 2:21 is a DO 36. This is probably a colourized photo of bus 627, which was in use in West Berlin until 1956. - 3:11: it's actually "Doppeldecker". - 3:58: "Built by VEB" doesn't really make sense. "VEB" means "Volkseigener Betrieb" or "People-owned works"; it's more like "Inc." or something like that. It denotes the legal organization; it's not really the name. - I don't mind you calling it the "Big snout bus". 🙂 - It's unlikely that buses were delivered new to other transit agencies in the GDR. I don't know if that was true here, but usually, East Berlin got all the new shiny things, and when there weren't as shiny anymore, new shiny things were delivered to East Berlin, and the no-longer-shiny stuff was distributed to other agencies.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Martin! I was hoping you would give more insight, so thank you for your comments! Going in, I knew there would be some errors on my part, so thanks for the clarifications! But I decided to do the video anyway, becuase the bus is quite interesting... :) If I do another German video, I will try to remember some of these items you brought up! So I guess it's possible those nearly 200 Do 54 and 56 buses got reallocated after their service in East Berlin. Interesting to know. Thanks again for your comments and for watching!!!

[@MartinIbert]

@@JeffreyOrnstein You did a great job there, thanks for that! If you want to do more videos on German buses, and you require the help of a German native speaker, you can message me, and if I can, I will assist you.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

@@MartinIbert Thanks!!

[@TheWacoKid1963]

There is one bus similar to the DOs that survives in the UK. The UK versions is a Leyland PD2, originally registered NNL 49, that was converted by it's owners, Northern General Transport, to one man operation and re-registered MCN 30K & named the Tynesider. The snout was built using Routemaster panels and bonnet. There was also a second bus converted to OMO but this was an accident damaged Routemaster named the Wearsider. Ps maybe you could a video on the Tynesider

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, that Tynesider is really interesting - I'm trying to find enough info on it for a future video!!

[@robertmatthews8302]

Joyeux fetes Jeffrey 🎉 ! From Brittany, France . Thanks for your interesting and well researched videos. 😊

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Robert! Thank you very much, and happy holidays to you, too!!! Glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@MelanieRuck-dq5uo]

It certainly is not like a typical UK double deckers bus. But, it does look a little like one of the Routemasters that was experimentally converted to One Person operation that was given its own 'snout' in the process. Actually, thinking again, maybe it wasn't a Routemaster. Anyway, we liked the festive ending to the video, by the way. Best wishes for 2025 to Jeffrey and everyone watching.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Melanie! Happy holidays to you too!! I think that bus you are describing is the "Tynesider" and yes, it was modified with Routemaster parts, or was itself a modified Routemaster. I'd like to do a video on that bus!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@MelanieRuck-dq5uo]

@JeffreyOrnstein Hello and thank you for your wonderful reply. God heavens, Mr Ornstein! Is there anything you don't know about buses in the UK, and the rest of Europe for that matter?! I only know what I know because of my husband (and he kept this weird hobby of his quiet until well after we were married, but it begins to rub off on you after a while!), yet you put his knowledge completely in the shade! I think you must be a secret advisor to the British government's Department of Transport! Yes, you definitely should do a video on the Tyneside Routemaster, or, indeed, all of the small fleet that went to the North East, the only place outside London to take new Routemasters, as you know. Have a very happy New Year, and keep up the excellent video work in 2025 - that is, when your work for the Department of Transport here allows you the time to do so!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

@@MelanieRuck-dq5uo Hello Melanie! Gee, how did you know about my secret "advisor" job?? LOL. It's hard to do videos and that other job at the same time!!! Thanks so much for watching and have a happy new year!!

[@paulnolan1352]

Thanks Jeffrey, an interesting video and the Bus looks like a Duckbill Platypus. Merry Xmas.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, yes, I think that was the animal I was looking for as a comparison!!! Happy holiday to you, too and thanks very much for watching again!!

[@leylandlynxvlog]

I’d always wondered about these buses. I wish someone would make these older Berlin buses for the simulator OMSI 2. I find it fascinating that European buses were built to 2.5m width from early on, whereas British ones were narrower until I believe the late 50s. Thanks for the great video

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very happy you liked the video! Yes, British buses were less than 8 feet wide until the 50s as you say (at least I think so...) Thanks very much for watching!!

[@johnledingham852]

Big snout? I'll go along with that Jeffrey. But I also noticed the big steering wheel. Like it was a whopper. Fishermen could get their hands onto that wheel quite comfortably. Like when they describe the size of the one that got away. Between the eyes! Great video Jeff!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video! Oh yes, that steering wheel is more like for cruise ship, LOL! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@mikeklinger1712]

Jeff you should do a video on those double decker semi buses 9:57

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, maybe in a future video I'll do trailer buses! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@glenjones6980]

Whatever you think of them they're not to be sneezed at.

[@dancedecker]

Groan!! Lol.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, that's very funny!!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@Keithbarber]

I may sneeze at them if I "a-choo-se" too

[@glenjones6980]

@@Keithbarber Gesundheit

[@Keithbarber]

@glenjones6980 a.k.a. health

[@nlpnt]

I will never be able to unsee the resemblance of the grille/headlights/hood and fenders to the IH Loadstar trucks.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Interesting comparison indeed!

[@dminalba]

Merry Christmas 🎄 Jeffrey and a happy New Year all the best for 2025. I’ve been playing OMSI2 in a West Berlin M.A.N. Waggon Union SD200 recreating late 1980s West Berlin. The 4 abreast upper deck seating was very weird indeed.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Happy holidays to you, too! Yes, that seating is definitely odd! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@ccjelley2390]

@2:08 - 2:14 the ruined Konditorei Telschow behind the 74 bus, the corner of Linkstrasse at the junction of Potsdamer Strasse and Potsdamer Platz, the border between East and West Berlin, open at the time. Unrecognisable today.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for the added info about Berlin! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@roberttisdale4441]

Distinctive is a mild way of describing that snout. Abnormal might be more apt, but "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", as they say. I am surprised that it only seated 52 - I think you said 52. In the UK, most half-cab double deckers seated 54 or 56, without having a "snout", in that era - the 1950s/60s - so it seems odd to create such a strange looking vehicle. However, we now have duck-billed high speed trains in Spain that also look abnormal. My personal favourite would be the Bristol Lodekka, both for looks and functionality.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for your comment on the snout bus! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@highpath4776]

Some Dennis single deckers in UK were known as "Flying Pigs" (Dennis Ace ?) so the snout is not bad. Here it seems that a standard Lorry chassis could be cheaply and easily built of straightforward parts, and the body just put on the body mounting locations common to the lorry? giving the destinctive appearence for such a large vehicle

[@highpath4776]

The (west) Berlin bus livery that Matchbox king size Daimlier Londoner Fleetline made , looks more like a Berling bus than the red livery ever looked (from the rear dimensions) anything like a London Bus

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, I had one of those large matchbox London Fleetlines! Thanks very much for watching again!

[@mikeklinger1712]

This is really odd. Usually when a vehicle has an extended hood the front axle is more under it!

[@aapje180]

Interesting video! Fascinating to see how a country, after a devastating war, finds its solutions with limited capital and resources. The bus is an excellent example of European post-war design, from 1960s and 1970s Western and Eastern European design began to differ. Could it be that from the 1970s the Hungarian brand Ikarus took over the bus production for all Warsaw Pact countries?

[@StephenAllcroft]

That was the plan, but it never entirely came to be.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you found the video interesting!!! And yes, it's interesting to see how bus designs in both east and western Europe had diverged!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@frankhoffmann1533]

Thats right

[@22pcirish]

(Humorous, for those with a sense of humour Bypass) Meanwhile back in the 1950’s: Hans! You forgot something! What!, what did I forget? An ENGINE???? Ach! Scheisse! I knew there was something! Hans, you realise there’s no room inside, what will you do? I have it! We’ll put in on the front in a big nose! Oh Hans………..🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MartinIbert]

While that works as a joke, if you watched the video closely, you know that that wasn't the reason. Cab-over-engine trucks weren't common in those days, and hence the truck chassis that the bus was built on also had a snout.

[@22pcirish]

@ it was meant to be funny. I’ve edited it just for you!

[@MartinIbert]

@@22pcirish I knew it was, as i said. Just making sure everyone understands why there is a snout.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, ok, now I know it's just a joke!!! It is kinda funny! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

To our eyes who aren’t used to this format, it does appear like an engine bustle was stuck on as an afterthought.

[@RedRouge-j4j]

I have seen historic footage of a double decker in NY City. Maybe a tourist thing, but it didn't look like anything seen in UK archive shots. Probably 1950s vintage. Anyone else know of this?

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello, yes, I believe you're describing the Yellow Coach double deckers that ran on Fifth Avenue until 1953. I did a video on the history of those buses. You can search for my "Queen Mary" video, as that's what those buses were called. They also ran in Chicago. Thanks for watching!

[@Stefan-o8e]

Well, I have some things to add. BVG was the name for the Public Transport company in Berlin scince around 1920 for Berlin. Befor the where many different companies responsible for the Public Transport. For Busses the bigges company was ABOAG for example. In east Berlin the Name BVG was soon changed to BVB, while in west Berlin the name remained BVG and its still in reunited Berlin. Another thing is, you dind't mentioned the reason for the snout, because the Doubledecker busses in West-Berlin at this time dind't had a snout. That was because in east Germany they had just standig inline engines, so they had to place them in front of the Bus. Büssing build in the same time underfloor engines, so they could place in the middle of the bus. The underfloor engines were tilt 90 degrees to the side, so they were flat.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for the additional info! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

My god! That thing is gastly, hideous and depressing! Reminds me of a big boot.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, that's another good analogy! Thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@JeffreyOrnstein your welcome and thanks for the good videos to you bring us!

[@philipgoldenstein8247]

Hiii, I have always loved busses! Thank you for all of your research and for keeping it entertaining. Bye.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@davestark2015]

Definitely an interesting vehicle

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, it is a very interesting bus! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@maestromanification]

Hi Jeffrey, that is some ugly bus! Merry Christmas, thanks for the great videos Cheers Russ

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, it certainly is an odd looking bus! Happy holidays to you, too and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

You haven’t seen a Sydney Mark 1 Leopard! Speaking of, you haven’t done the Leyland Leopard as a topic yet.

[@nlpnt]

I think these were the last East German-made buses before they started using Ikarus buses from Hungary. In any case, the Politburo stopped investing in the DDR auto industry in the early 1960s, resulting in the 1964 Trabant 601 still being in production to a years-long waiting list (*how* long varied by district and whether the Western reporters in 1989 were told how long people then getting their cars had waited or what people placing orders were being quoted for a wait time). Early in its' run it had been exported to a few Western markets like the Netherlands! By the '80s the only East German vehicle exports outside the Soviet bloc were heavy trucks.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the additional information, and thanks very much for watching!

[@becconvideo]

The passenger car story is one of its own. East Germany built successfully smaller and mid sized lorries for acricultural and military use and sold them to many countries mainly in Eastern Europe and Afrika. (IFA W 50 and Robur Lo)

[@mikethespike7579]

This type of bus was manufactured in east Germany, but it was used only in west Berlin, not in east Berlin. Also, the logo for the west Berlin transport authorities on the side, the black bear with the letters BVG, clearly points this out. They were taken out of commission in the 1960s due to constant shortages of east German spare parts.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the info...didn't see that in my research that they only operated in the west! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@frankhoffmann1533]

This information is Not right! Die linenumbers 9, 27 and 57 are where all in East-Berlin

[@mikethespike7579]

@@frankhoffmann1533 My comment is correct. Although these buses were built in East Germany, they where exclusive to West Berlin. Double decker buses were never used in East Berlin because they didn't fit under most of the bridges there.

[@willemventer3935]

Interresting 😮🎉

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you liked the video! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@michaelsmith9590]

Double-decker buses once ran in Chicago, post-WW 1 through 1920's, 1030's and 1940's. Post-WW 2 new bus purchase program did not include double-deckers.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, those Yellow Coach double-deckers ran in Chicago and New York - and I did a video on those as well! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@and3583]

Happy Christmas 🎄 🚌

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Happy holidays to you, too, and thanks very much for watching my videos!!

[@theogantenbein7870]

I have to be that guy. It’s „Doppeldecker“, not „Doppledecker“. A merry Christmas to all of You from Mr. Know-it-all 😁🎄!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the clarification! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

It just looks wrong to my eyes but the front engine bustle was stylish at least. That’s an awful lot of weight overhanging the front. Two advantages are engine access and one hell of a buffer zone in the event of a crash.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, yes, it looks like the driver would be well-protected in the event of a crash!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@anth5122]

Hiiiiiiiiiiii this is Jeffery 👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, that's me! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@anth5122]

@ Looking forward to more great videos in 2025 🚌

[@SevenBee-q2j]

That design would have made more sense if it: * Used the same engine/chassis as another truck for ease of production * Had a front end that was simply removed by half a dozen bolts, to give complete access to the engine/gearbox considering the levels of maintenance required for such vehicles.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thanks for your insight and thanks for watching!!

[@cedarcam]

Sounds a good description. I suppose all round access to the engine was a reason for having the long snout but not sure about the steering with all that weight ahead of the front axle. Best wishes for 2025

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, must have been a bit difficult to drive that thing around all day! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@petermumford265]

Most buses have the driver well in front of the front wheels. This design loses a lot of space, I noticed this when the when I heard the weight of the bus. It only amazes me that it wasn’t a Two Stroke!!!! 😅 HAPPY CHRISTMAS JEFFERY, to you and your family!😊

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Peter, thank you, and happy holidays to you, too! Glad you liked the video and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@becconvideo]

They didn't care. Unlike the UK with its narrow city streets where the footprint of the bus is an issue, Berlin has wide open spaces and in the East at least in the 50ies not much traffic. So length was no issue - autharky was. Just buying buses from the traditional suppliers Büssing, Daimler etc. was not an option anymore and with some rather unfunded optimism and megalomism they just took a lorry chassies and nailed a wooden body on it and made it look like it was known to Berliners before - a double decker bus. Later reality kicked in and the communists started their socialist integration project (RGW in German, Comecon in the West) - so the Hungarians made buses, the Czech tramways and East Germany electric locomotives. (while the Diesel ones came from Ukraine) This was not alway welcomed as this was a "planned economy" defined by buerocracy - not so much by preferences and market conditions.

[@petermumford265]

@@becconvideo I agree, the East was always “Down to a Price” not up to a standard. In the East, Near Enough was Close Enough, when you built buses, nuclear reactors, or spacecraft!!!

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

They must have been truly awful to drive. It would have felt like an eternity to turn, especially when the bus was empty of passengers. Even in the pictures you feel like if you wait a few minutes, that snout/engine will surely drop off.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, you may be right in that it was quite an uncomfortable bus to drive!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@imautuber]

You sir have a storytellers voice, you should be doing professional voice over. Great video and Merry Christmas.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you very much for the nice words, very much appreciated! And very happy holidays to you, too!! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@lawrencemonaghan926]

Merry Christmas Jeffrey, you and the family have a blessed time, Leith Scotland

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Leith! Thank you, and happy holiday to you, too and thanks very much for watching again!!!

[@bustersw1760]

That`s one ugly machine, even by the standard of odd buses you dig up, but still a great and interesting video. The front wheels are set back too far, and a normal control looks OK on a single decker, but a double decker just have to be forward control. Oh, and have a really Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! LOL, it is an odd looking bus! And have really good holiday! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@nightlurker]

I think they should be called "Jimmy's", after the comedian Jimmy Durante.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, the "shnoz!" Thanks very much for watching!!

[@becconvideo]

Do was not "Doppledecker" but "Doppelstockbus".

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Ok. thanks.

[@tonymento7460]

Go on E-Bay and punch in HO scale buses and you will see this model bus up for bid

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Awesome! Maybe I'll go look at what they're going for! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@BobAbc0815]

Ne echte Berliner Schnauze, Weltniveau! And merry Christmas everyone 🎄

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, that's true! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@billy4072]

Jimmy Durante tribute bus.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL! Good analogy!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@davidluck4608]

It wouldn’t look quite so bad if the front wheels were further forwards………

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

You're probably right!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@1208bug]

This is kind of nosey Jeffery lol!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL! It sure is a "nosey" kind of a bus! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Hideous. Interesting design though, but ugly. The RTW you show is preserved and is a world of difference. Foreign double deck designs certainly don't see aesthetics as a factor. Like the 1950's interior. Although a lengthy 32' long, one sixth of it is all snout! The updated DO 56 is just as odd. Srangely, it's nice to see it in updated model form. Interesting story.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, it's interesting to see how different countries design buses! Thanks very much for watching again!!

[@NickRatnieks]

Vorsprung Durch Schnauze as they say in East Berlin.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, that's true!!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@karelc1137]

Diese Kommentarsektion, nun wohl bekannt, gehört der Bundesrepublik, im deutschen Land 🧐

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Ok, danke, aber ich bin nicht sicher, ob ich die Botschaft verstehe, die Sie vermitteln möchten … Danke fürs Zuschauen!!

[@gustavfenk4021]

Snuffleupabus.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, yes, it's like that Sesame Street character!! Thanks very much for watching!!