Taking Three Cs X12CCC from Ringshall for its inspection at Little Finborough

[@S7EVE_P]

Very nice and such a smooth bus. I believe this uses the same legendary Volvo diesel fitted to FH12 (d12d?). Thanks for sharing this trip, lovely scenery👍

[@richardwalker_]

I’m glad you enjoyed watching the Suffolk countryside go by; you can see the seasons changing across the different videos. Lovely coach this one; I do enjoy a Volvo.

[@alangad2007]

Aw Wow Richard Amazing Video About Going From Ringshall To Little Finborough On Volvo Plaxton I Like It

[@richardwalker_]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@daddybob6096]

Good morning Richard. When i drove service cars many years ago, some passengers would suggest to me, that it must be difficult to drive a large coach. To which my stock answer was, ' It's just like sitting in an armchair at home with a steering wheel in front of me", especially when we got new Volvo's for the first time, replacing Hino's, and older mid engined Bedfords, which struggled to maintain speed on the hills.

[@richardwalker_]

Yes - it's like sitting in your favourite chair. I always remember the first trip out in a coach when I was learning to drive (a Volvo B58 Irizar), everything seemed huge; and yet, after a couple of days everything suddenly became second nature. You're right about Bedfords - can detect a hill before they start to climb it; at one of the places I used to work we had some old Ford R1114 coaches that were even less powerful - in them seemed to be changing gear forever, even on the flat!

[@robertp.wainman4094]

​@@richardwalker_I once guided a party of Norwegian tourists on a tour of Yorkshire - and the only coach company I found who were prepared to climb the long twisting 1in 4 ascent of Sutton Bank used a Ford......I began to have doubts about it's abilities earlier on the tour when climbing a much less steep hill.....and by the time we eventually made it to the top of the 'Bank' - at less than walking speed - with engine screaming and the smell of overheating filling the interior, the poor driver suggested I take the Norwegians on a lengthy walking tour of the area whilst the old Ford cooled down. I always remember one of the group remarking: "Next time you should buy a Volvo!"

[@richardwalker_]

@ Something of a marathon for a Ford, Sutton Bank! I remember we used to have a group hire holiday back in the 1970s, and the regular vehicle was a Ford (DCA20S) - one year it overheated at the top of a hill in Scotland, another time broke a half shaft on the hill out of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. I later I got to drive a couple or three of them, and realised what hard work it was maintaining any sort of speed, even in the relative flatlands of East Anglia!

[@James-zs3cn]

Time for a new B11R

[@richardwalker_]

Would be nice, but the one we have has hardly done any work. This and the older coach are more suited to schools work.

[@James-zs3cn]

@richardwalker_ do you do any Euro 6 work

[@richardwalker_]

@@James-zs3cn Very rarely - RL15RSL sometimes goes into London. I've taken it twice in 2 years into the LEZ. Most of the work is schools, private hires and group organised trips.