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Post by kris on Dec 29, 2021 15:54:41 GMT
I’m developing a short film set in a 60’s era Routemaster.
The plot can be described as a spy story set in post-war London, at the rise of the Cold War.
So I was wondering if there are any interesting public stories about espionage happening on public transport. I am aware of several stories happening on bus route 11 during WW2.
Also, what personnel would work on a bus. I take a driver and a conductor? Would the conductor always be at the rear entrance of the bus doing their job?
Thanks!
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Post by selbiehouse on Dec 29, 2021 16:38:35 GMT
Personnel working on a bus. As you say the driver and conductor. The conductor would collect the fares, as required in both saloons. He/she was expected to be on the platform at all compulsory stopping places to supervise alighting and boarding. In addition roving revenue inspectors would board a bus to check that all passengers had paid their fares and were in possession of a valid ticket. The conductor would be on report if any irregularities were found.
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Post by theblackferret on Dec 29, 2021 22:34:17 GMT
I’m developing a short film set in a 60’s era Routemaster. The plot can be described as a spy story set in post-war London, at the rise of the Cold War. So I was wondering if there are any interesting public stories about espionage happening on public transport. I am aware of several stories happening on bus route 11 during WW2. Also, what personnel would work on a bus. I take a driver and a conductor? Would the conductor always be at the rear entrance of the bus doing their job? Thanks! Slight variation-on trolleybuses there used to be fare stage fares under a glass case by the seat nearest the conductor's platform, usually on the right as you entered the lower deck-I think they had them, or route maps on Routemasters as well, but can't be sure. I think these may have been changed by inspectors only,because the cabinet was locked. For your story,might be interesting if microdots were planted in the fare data?  |
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Post by oe on Dec 30, 2021 4:15:42 GMT
Mother in the Avengers had his own adapted bus but it was an RTL (1557).
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Post by Chris L on Dec 30, 2021 9:33:48 GMT
I’m developing a short film set in a 60’s era Routemaster. The plot can be described as a spy story set in post-war London, at the rise of the Cold War. So I was wondering if there are any interesting public stories about espionage happening on public transport. I am aware of several stories happening on bus route 11 during WW2. Also, what personnel would work on a bus. I take a driver and a conductor? Would the conductor always be at the rear entrance of the bus doing their job? Thanks! Slight variation-on trolleybuses there used to be fare stage fares under a glass case by the seat nearest the conductor's platform, usually on the right as you entered the lower deck-I think they had them, or route maps on Routemasters as well, but can't be sure. I think these may have been changed by inspectors only,because the cabinet was locked. For your story,might be interesting if microdots were planted in the fare data? Fare tables were displayed on all crew buses including RMs. It was on the door to the conductor's locker under the stairs. The door was opened with the same standard key that opened the rear destination blind. |
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Post by kris on Jan 22, 2022 19:27:17 GMT
Some more questions:
How would a bus stop at a specific stop in the late 50’s? Would they ask the driver, or is there a button to push? Would a red light shine somewhere, or is that too much of a stretch?
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Post by selbiehouse on Jan 22, 2022 22:01:40 GMT
Some more questions: How would a bus stop at a specific stop in the late 50’s? Would they ask the driver, or is there a button to push? Would a red light shine somewhere, or is that too much of a stretch? There were two types of stops - compulsory and request. The driver was supposed to stop at all compulsory stops. Any passenger on the bus wishing to alight at a request stop was required to ring the bell once. If waiting at a request stop the passenger would raise their left arm as a signal for the bus to stop. Compulsory stop flags had a white background an request red. |
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towerman
My status is now now widower
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Post by towerman on Jan 22, 2022 22:02:22 GMT
Either push the button on the platform/upper deck once or pull the cord on the lower deck once to alert the driver (by bell)you require to alight at the next stop.The conductor then rings the bell twice to tell driver it’s OK to proceed.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 22, 2022 22:40:22 GMT
In this short video you hear the bell being activated with one ring shortly after 2 minutes and a double ring by the conductor after the passengers have alighted.
A minute or so later you hear the buzzer being used (plus on-screen comment about this) - the buzzer button is upstairs at the back of the bus / near the steps.
The bell cord is located above the seats on the left side of the lower deck and it extends the full length of the lower deck seating area. There was also a button on the platform at the back of the bus and (I think) another button on the other side of the bus under the stairs.
To see all this for yourself maybe you would wish to visit a living museum which has some real buses? I'm thinking of the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden or the London Bus Museum which is somewhere like Brooklands just outside south-west London.
The footage in this video was filmed in a Routemaster bus carrying passengers from the Epping Ongar Railway to Epping station. They also use other types of former London red and green buses. Bus travel is included as part of the entrance fee for the Railway and the train rides.
Hope this helps
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Post by norbitonflyer on Jan 23, 2022 8:40:29 GMT
Also, what personnel would work on a bus. I take a driver and a conductor? Would the conductor always be at the rear entrance of the bus doing their job? Thanks! The conductor would move ar0ound the bus collecting fares, but should be on, or at least in sight of, the platform when giving the starting signal. It is for that reason that there is a pull cord downstairs, so a signal can be given to the driver anywhere downstairs, but just one buzzer button upstairs, at the top of the stairs , where there is a clear view of the platform. However, it seemed to be commo0n practice, if a conductor was at the front of the top deck, to knock loudly on the floor above the driver to give a starting signal. The platform could be seen in the mirror at the top of the stairs (whose primary purpose was to look the other way, to allow a conductor on the platform to see how busy it was upstairs) Other unofficial signals I've heard were "three bells" - we're full up: don't bother stopping until you get a "one bell" meaning someone wants to get off. four bells or more - emergency - stop now (not at the next bus stop). Used for example when someone is being dragged, or a parent and child have been separated. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Jan 23, 2022 10:08:24 GMT
Also, what personnel would work on a bus. I take a driver and a conductor? Would the conductor always be at the rear entrance of the bus doing their job? Thanks! The conductor would move ar0ound the bus collecting fares, but should be on, or at least in sight of, the platform when giving the starting signal. It is for that reason that there is a pull cord downstairs, so a signal can be given to the driver anywhere downstairs, but just one buzzer button upstairs, at the top of the stairs , where there is a clear view of the platform. However, it seemed to be commo0n practice, if a conductor was at the front of the top deck, to knock loudly on the floor above the driver to give a starting signal. The platform could be seen in the mirror at the top of the stairs (whose primary purpose was to look the other way, to allow a conductor on the platform to see how busy it was upstairs) Other unofficial signals I've heard were "three bells" - we're full up: don't bother stopping until you get a "one bell" meaning someone wants to get off. four bells or more - emergency - stop now (not at the next bus stop). Used for example when someone is being dragged, or a parent and child have been separated. Really bad luck for someone wanting to get off at a compulsory stop. |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jan 23, 2022 10:44:43 GMT
However, it seemed to be commo0n practice, if a conductor was at the front of the top deck, to knock loudly on the floor above the driver to give a starting signal. The platform could be seen in the mirror at the top of the stairs (whose primary purpose was to look the other way, to allow a conductor on the platform to see how busy it was upstairs Or use of the staff budget key against the front bulkhead containing the destination equipment. |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Jan 23, 2022 20:31:31 GMT
Other unofficial signals I've heard were "three bells" - we're full up: don't bother stopping until you get a "one bell" meaning someone wants to get off. Really bad luck for someone wanting to get off at a compulsory stop. I always rang the bell if I wanted to get off, as I wouldn't know if it was a request stop or not. Or a conductor seeing a passenger making for the exit would ring the bell anyway. |
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Post by brigham on Jan 24, 2022 8:55:17 GMT
Kris:
Just to keep the dialogue right; a conductor would say 'inside', or 'on top', not 'downstairs' or 'upstairs'.
(I'm guessing from the bells discussion that it's going to be a talkie).
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Post by selbiehouse on Jan 24, 2022 17:38:29 GMT
Kris: Just to keep the dialogue right; a conductor would say 'inside', or 'on top', not 'downstairs' or 'upstairs'. (I'm guessing from the bells discussion that it's going to be a talkie). This is quite correct and no doubt dates from the days when the buses had open top decks.
The three bells for "full-up" was quite official as it is mentioned in the rule book. There were also two emergency signals which the conductor could give - four bells meant pull in to the left and stop and a rapid number of rings of the bell meant stop immediately.
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Post by kris on Jan 25, 2022 12:25:34 GMT
Kris: Just to keep the dialogue right; a conductor would say 'inside', or 'on top', not 'downstairs' or 'upstairs'. (I'm guessing from the bells discussion that it's going to be a talkie). Thanks! It is going to be a talky, but I'm not sure yet if there'll be a conductor who'll talk. But that is very interesting information. Thanks! |
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Post by kris on Jan 25, 2022 12:28:21 GMT
In this short video you hear the bell being activated with one ring shortly after 2 minutes and a double ring by the conductor after the passengers have alighted. A minute or so later you hear the buzzer being used (plus on-screen comment about this) - the buzzer button is upstairs at the back of the bus / near the steps. The bell cord is located above the seats on the left side of the lower deck and it extends the full length of the lower deck seating area. There was also a button on the platform at the back of the bus and (I think) another button on the other side of the bus under the stairs. To see all this for yourself maybe you would wish to visit a living museum which has some real buses? I'm thinking of the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden or the London Bus Museum which is somewhere like Brooklands just outside south-west London. The footage in this video was filmed in a Routemaster bus carrying passengers from the Epping Ongar Railway to Epping station. They also use other types of former London red and green buses. Bus travel is included as part of the entrance fee for the Railway and the train rides. Hope this helps Oh this is brilliant. Exactly what I needed. We do have a working bus to shoot in, but it's mostly used for weddings, so I'm not 100% sure if the bell will still work or not. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Jan 25, 2022 13:35:27 GMT
It's so weird watching this Routemaster nostalgia, when I can remember, as a six year old, the excitement when a brand new, super modern, Routemaster would roll up.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 29, 2022 22:51:01 GMT
It's so weird watching this Routemaster nostalgia, when I can remember, as a six year old, the excitement when a brand new, super modern, Routemaster would roll up. I would very much have preferred more of what came before - electrically powered, clean air in the streets, etc. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Jan 30, 2022 9:52:18 GMT
It's so weird watching this Routemaster nostalgia, when I can remember, as a six year old, the excitement when a brand new, super modern, Routemaster would roll up. I would very much have preferred more of what came before - electrically powered, clean air in the streets, etc. There were no trolly buses on the route that I used most frequently. My recollection of those is that, apart from the benefits you mention, they were so smooth and, of course, quiet. |
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Post by billbedford on Jan 30, 2022 10:31:29 GMT
I would very much have preferred more of what came before - electrically powered, clean air in the streets, etc. There were no trolly buses on the route that I used most frequently. My recollection of those is that, apart from the benefits you mention, they were so smooth and, of course, quiet. ...and they could out-accelerate* Boy Racers at traffic lights. *At least the Cardiff ones could. |
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Post by brigham on Jan 31, 2022 9:45:05 GMT
...and they could out-accelerate* Boy Racers at traffic lights. *At least the Cardiff ones could. Only if you jammed the canopy switch! (Is it still called the canopy switch on a trolleybus?) |
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