Reminds me of the 25 Ailsas with Van Hool-McArdle bodies which Eastern Scottish bought from SYPTE at deregulation. They made the exact same noises and could fairly bowl along when given the chance - because of this, they gained a cult following amongst Edinburgh-area enthusiasts. It's fair to say that you knew when an ex-SYPTE Ailsa was approaching as you could hear the sound of one long before you saw it coming into view!
I remember these buses on the W8 bus route where I live in Enfield, back in the early 90s I think it was. I would catch one to and from work every day. I loved riding them and the sound they made. I wish they were still in service.
The Ailsa Truck and Bus Company - Scottish built Volvo's had double headlights making them a wee bit more distinguished from their single headlighted Swedish partners. Around the same time (1960s) the Ailsa double decker bus chassis was introduced which unusually for a flat floored double decker was front engined. These excellent bus chassis' sold in thousands to bus operators all over the UK and were well known for giving excess of 20yrs service they were so well made. Ailsa trucks were such a success they soon grew out of their Barrhead base and moved to a massive new assembly plant in Irvine, North Ayrshire. Another successful venture for Jim McKelvie. Ailsa Trucks soon became Volvo Truck & Bus UK of which Jim McKelvie became a member of the board of directors.
Fantastic soundtrack. South Yorkshire PTE ran a fleet of these and I use to love the noise they made as they whistled past. Rubbishy fully loaded on hills as they relied heavily on the turbo charging and couldn't get up to speed to get the turbo doing its job on a decent hill with a load which ultimately led to their short stay in service as Sheffield and Rotherham had their share of gradients.
we had formidable hills in Medway and they're not bad. This is mine and it's semi-auto so you can knock it down a couple of gears and get the turbo working on hills and it will still pull like a train even with a full load on. Not sure if the SYPTE examples were fully auto - they were hopeless in full auto with no proper kick down.
The ailsa in full flight is a joy to behold. Drivers must have felt privelaged, if a little apprehensive at first, as they effectively escorted the engine next to their seat around town. Turbo would play havoc on your hearing over time tho!
The gearbox sound is similar to the Routemaster. I would like to hear how one of these would have sounded with a Leyland O.600 engine! I have read that such a vehicle did exist.
Reminds me of the 25 Ailsas with Van Hool-McArdle bodies which Eastern Scottish bought from SYPTE at deregulation. They made the exact same noises and could fairly bowl along when given the chance - because of this, they gained a cult following amongst Edinburgh-area enthusiasts. It's fair to say that you knew when an ex-SYPTE Ailsa was approaching as you could hear the sound of one long before you saw it coming into view!
You stole my Ailsa's ;-;
Exactly how an Ailsa should sound! Excellent
Totally agree remember the Ailsas in the West Midlands well
Good stuff.keep up the good work.
I remember these buses on the W8 bus route where I live in Enfield, back in the early 90s I think it was. I would catch one to and from work every day. I loved riding them and the sound they made. I wish they were still in service.
Love the noise buses are dull and boring now I know I sound a nerdy but the highlight of my childhood was riding on these❤
Sounds gorgeous :)
I remember these in Doncaster, regulars on the Highfields and woodlands routes. That sound though.
The Ailsa Truck and Bus Company - Scottish built Volvo's had double headlights making them a wee bit more distinguished from their single headlighted Swedish partners. Around the same time (1960s) the Ailsa double decker bus chassis was introduced which unusually for a flat floored double decker was front engined. These excellent bus chassis' sold in thousands to bus operators all over the UK and were well known for giving excess of 20yrs service they were so well made. Ailsa trucks were such a success they soon grew out of their Barrhead base and moved to a massive new assembly plant in Irvine, North Ayrshire. Another successful venture for Jim McKelvie. Ailsa Trucks soon became Volvo Truck & Bus UK of which Jim McKelvie became a member of the board of directors.
Fantastic soundtrack. South Yorkshire PTE ran a fleet of these and I use to love the noise they made as they whistled past. Rubbishy fully loaded on hills as they relied heavily on the turbo charging and couldn't get up to speed to get the turbo doing its job on a decent hill with a load which ultimately led to their short stay in service as Sheffield and Rotherham had their share of gradients.
we had formidable hills in Medway and they're not bad. This is mine and it's semi-auto so you can knock it down a couple of gears and get the turbo working on hills and it will still pull like a train even with a full load on. Not sure if the SYPTE examples were fully auto - they were hopeless in full auto with no proper kick down.
No, is sound
Rotherham refused to have them as they werent deemed good enough
Apologies for the bad language aimed at the driver of that black Citroen C3... she didn't give me a lot of room.
The ailsa in full flight is a joy to behold. Drivers must have felt privelaged, if a little apprehensive at first, as they effectively escorted the engine next to their seat around town. Turbo would play havoc on your hearing over time tho!
I love the whine on that engine....looks like the ticket machine has been removed?
It didn't sound this well when it was in service with Black Prince and a regular on the 88
Know the sound well, from the N,P & R-reg ones with Alexander's Fife (Fife Scottish).
The gearbox sound is similar to the Routemaster. I would like to hear how one of these would have sounded with a Leyland O.600 engine! I have read that such a vehicle did exist.
The prototype Ailsa was fitted with a Leyland engine by Citybus in Hong Kong.
Bloody Cyclist! lol lovely sound the Ailsa makes tho
that cyclist must have added about 3 minutes to the journey time just no way by him at all!
1:13
Hong Kong 's china motor bus Av1－Av8..