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Post by q8 on Oct 28, 2005 9:07:51 GMT
Oh well, the end of an era approaches men. The RM's stop running on the last but one route today. (The 38's) Seems like last week when I saw the very first one running on the number 2's 50 years ago. I wonder if they are the last buses with pre-select gearboxes on the road? A wonderful vehicle made when bus firms could get buses made to order and not off the peg like nowadays.
By-the-way. How many of you can name the only other bus firm to buy RM's brand new? (Ssshhhh Sam)
There were also 5 different varieties of the vehicle made. What were they?
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Phil
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Post by Phil on Oct 28, 2005 9:54:13 GMT
By-the-way. How many of you can name the only other bus firm to buy RM's brand new? (Ssshhhh Sam) There were also 5 different varieties of the vehicle made. What were they? Nice question Q8 but I could name well more than 5 varieties even as delivered, let alone after modification! |
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Post by q8 on Oct 28, 2005 10:27:25 GMT
Ah No. You misunderstand Phil. What I mean is that there were 5 basic types of RM. I don't mean variations on the theme.
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Post by rayb on Oct 28, 2005 11:31:10 GMT
There are a few specials on the route today - I've seen the Silver RM already, and I'm told RM1 is out and about.
There has been a good turnout of specials and extras for most of the conversions, one of the best attended was the 8.
If the opportunity permits I'll get a snap or two today.
RayB
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Post by Dmitri on Oct 28, 2005 14:04:34 GMT
Oh well, the end of an era approaches men. The RM's stop running on the last but one route today. (The 38's) Seems like last week when I saw the very first one running on the number 2's 50 years ago.  But the 50 years on the road is incredibly long. RM, RML, RMC, RCL & RMA. |
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Oct 28, 2005 15:46:56 GMT
I can't see any of the current stock of busses lasting 25 years, let alone 50.
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Post by orienteer on Oct 28, 2005 17:30:56 GMT
The only other company to buy new RMs (actually RMFs, forward entrance versions like the RMAs for the BEA airline) was Northern General.
I too remember riding on the prototypes, except RM2 which spent a lot of time off the road. The gearboxes were hydraulically-operated automatic, not air-operated preselective like the RTs. Did manage to spend six weeks working in the bus development office in Chiswick in the mid1960s, with Colin Curtis, as part of my engineering education!
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solidbond
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Post by solidbond on Oct 28, 2005 20:17:38 GMT
But what about the FRM and (already mentioned) RMF?  ;D |
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Post by q8 on Oct 29, 2005 3:26:56 GMT
The FRM was a one-off experiment and was in the X fleet series number list. Therefore was not classed as a type. The RMF were the RMA's relettered and were used on the 175's after BA sold them. Also the RMF had a peculiarity not used on any other PM series. What was it?
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solidbond
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Post by solidbond on Oct 29, 2005 9:39:08 GMT
The FRM was a one-off experiment and was in the X fleet series number list. Therefore was not classed as a type. The RMF were the RMA's relettered and were used on the 175's after BA sold them. Also the RMF had a peculiarity not used on any other PM series. What was it? Actually, the first RMF was 1254, and was a specific design of its own. The RMA's came later when BEA used them. When they were used on the 175 they were known as RMA's. The FRM was always called FRM 1 rather than being in the X series |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2005 9:39:54 GMT
OK you lot, what were the two main mechanical differences between a normal RM and an RMA?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2005 9:47:19 GMT
The FRM was a one-off experiment and was in the X fleet series number list. Therefore was not classed as a type. The RMF were the RMA's relettered and were used on the 175's after BA sold them. Also the RMF had a peculiarity not used on any other PM series. What was it? I think you are thinking of the Atlanteans and Fleetlines, which were in the XA and XF series, as Solidbond says FRM1 was a class of it's own. I also think that had AEC developed it properly, and a bit earlier, it would have been a winner. As it was, Leyland and Daimler had the rear-engined market sewn-up by the time the FRM came along. Cooling has always been an achiles' heel for AEC. |
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Post by q8 on Oct 29, 2005 11:37:04 GMT
I know the FRM was numbered as just that but for admin purposes and I think accounting it was classed as part of the experimental fleet. I was told that by a guy from Chiswick works.
Now as to my question about the RMA's RMF's beside the obvious body difference they were equipped with two things no other RM had. Can you name them?
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Post by orienteer on Oct 29, 2005 15:34:48 GMT
The RMAs had tow bars, as they originally used trailers for air passengers' luggage. Don't recall any other difference.
The Greenline coaches had larger engines, air rear suspension and higher axle ratio, and disc front brakes I think.
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Post by q8 on Oct 29, 2005 16:22:33 GMT
Other diffrences were a DPA fuel pump and not an in-line one. Also they had two separate heating systems The normal forced air and the 'Webasco' type which could be run off parrafin. (Airlinres liked that as it meant they could use fuel they already had to buy.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2005 18:47:27 GMT
Orienteer, you have got one of the mechanical differences right :-)
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Post by orienteer on Nov 3, 2005 16:32:14 GMT
So what was the other one?!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2005 21:39:46 GMT
So what was the other one?! The RMAs had air suspension and were semi-automatic, rather than auto like an RM. |
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Post by orienteer on Nov 4, 2005 16:53:04 GMT
OK, that's the same as the Greenline RMs, so not unique to the RMAs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2005 19:53:59 GMT
OK, that's the same as the Greenline RMs, so not unique to the RMAs. Appologies  *Goes away to read book about Rotemasters* |
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Post by Colin D on Nov 9, 2005 16:21:04 GMT
We have a tour operator in Niagara Falls who uses RMs. I drove for him about 15 years ago and back then he still had some RTs, in fact he used the RTs until about (I think) six years ago. Nice armstrong power steering in those beasts. I think they still run about 12 to15 RMs in the summer. Quite a sight to see 5 or 6 parked near the Maid Of the Mist.
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;D
