The South Yorkshire Van Hool-McArdle-bodied Ailsas produced exactly the same sound effects as heard here - it reminds me of the Ailsa/VHMAs that Eastern Scottish ran in Edinburgh for five years after deregulation.
What a trip down Memory Lane it was seeing this. I can clearly remember driving this bus. Among experts it was known as the "Whistling WonderBus" due to the fact that whenever a Bad Driver was behind the Wheel you could hear something that resembled a Whistling sound. If you listen closely in this video you can almost hear it I'm sure. Since this video the bus was lovingly restored and shipped over to Jersey where it now serves OAPs at a Holiday Village.
Great stuff! I used to travel on these with Clydeside Scottish. Great memories. They worked them hard up there, lots of hills! 890 was fully auto, all the rest were semi.
I dare say as the guy behind the wheel owns the bus and pays for the running costs so that people can have the honour of travelling on such a bus in 2007 he can feel fully justified in changing gear exactly how he likes.
Can't the owner of the vehicle drive it the way they want and how they remember them - the way i remember them, to me, this is an Ailsa being driven properly.
This is the only way to drive an Ailsa. They love to be thrashed:) Tiny turbocharged engine needs to be kept on the boil or it is sluggish when the turbo drops off boost
I've driven one of these fine machines (ex-tayside OSN 852Y), but jeezohlou are they bloody noisy brutes! At 50 MPH they're deafening! Love the way though that the turbo is so vocal, though! Also with the engine being right next to you when driving, your never stuck for heating in the winter!
Love this! grew up with Ailsa's (ex-tayside examples) and they have to be, in my opinion, one of the best sounding machines of all time. Thanks for uploading!
At Wythall was the first time I actually rode on 1 of these on the Car Park Shuttle as well. In all the years they were in services I only saw them coming out of the old Bullring Bus Staion. These had a great engine noise espcially the whistle of the turbo
Nice whisling and whininging form the bus shame no modern bus in service comes close to it! made in Irvine, scotland as the SBG didn't like the bristol VR. Still not actually ridden on one of these buses yet!
I drove 4771 out of Sutton garage in 1976. The first Volvo to come to Sutton. Lovely vehicle.
throstle67 1 year ago
wow! what a wonderful noise! brings back some memories
andyrad29 1 year ago
why dont it sound like the cardiff bus ones like b55 engine cheers what type have this one got
raylyd 1 year ago
The South Yorkshire Van Hool-McArdle-bodied Ailsas produced exactly the same sound effects as heard here - it reminds me of the Ailsa/VHMAs that Eastern Scottish ran in Edinburgh for five years after deregulation.
StevieO1974 2 years ago
What a trip down Memory Lane it was seeing this. I can clearly remember driving this bus. Among experts it was known as the "Whistling WonderBus" due to the fact that whenever a Bad Driver was behind the Wheel you could hear something that resembled a Whistling sound. If you listen closely in this video you can almost hear it I'm sure. Since this video the bus was lovingly restored and shipped over to Jersey where it now serves OAPs at a Holiday Village.
LanceMcKenzie1 2 years ago
What on earth are you on about?!
4738 2 years ago
Comment removed
LanceMcKenzie1 2 years ago
outrageous vehicle!
lynxguy1 3 years ago
2:25 max speed anyone? outrageous! lol
sounds exactly like an ailsa should - remember the fife ones late 70s
also the doors were 3 panel, not 2 or 4, but 3 - that was interesting at the time (to me anyway *sad*) lol
keef71 3 years ago
All Alexander Ailsas had 3 panel front doors mate. Wasnt room on the platform to fit standard 2 or 4 panel doors
craigybus1 2 years ago
yeah that's what i meant! everything else had 2 or 4 panel, then these weirdo ailsas come along with 3s! this was exotic to me in 1977 ish! hahaha
i used to look at the linkages etc to see how it would work and you couldn't ignore the racket from the front anyway
keef71 2 years ago
I'm guessing top speed on one of these would be around 50-55mph???
wrexhamcrosville 2 years ago
You used to get these buses ALL the time in Dundee, right up until the very end of the 90's.
idiotsdream 3 years ago
Lovely Noise :D
CrazyStingbee 4 years ago
Great stuff! I used to travel on these with Clydeside Scottish. Great memories. They worked them hard up there, lots of hills! 890 was fully auto, all the rest were semi.
RM1859 4 years ago
Those Clydeside Ailsas were fab; the ones fitted with GKN rear axles were different too. Lovely interiors too.
4738 4 years ago
myylordsssss nice one keith
arrivayorkshire 4 years ago
Comment removed
glenrea 4 years ago
I dare say as the guy behind the wheel owns the bus and pays for the running costs so that people can have the honour of travelling on such a bus in 2007 he can feel fully justified in changing gear exactly how he likes.
4738 4 years ago 4
Can't the owner of the vehicle drive it the way they want and how they remember them - the way i remember them, to me, this is an Ailsa being driven properly.
e37405 4 years ago 3
the way this is being driven is exactly the way i remember it being driven...perhaps all WM Travel drivers were at fault?
dgr64 4 years ago
This is the only way to drive an Ailsa. They love to be thrashed:) Tiny turbocharged engine needs to be kept on the boil or it is sluggish when the turbo drops off boost
craigybus1 2 years ago 2
I've driven one of these fine machines (ex-tayside OSN 852Y), but jeezohlou are they bloody noisy brutes! At 50 MPH they're deafening! Love the way though that the turbo is so vocal, though! Also with the engine being right next to you when driving, your never stuck for heating in the winter!
themanmaschine 4 years ago
You drove 52? I remember that bus - it was always on the 9/10/11/12 in the mid 90s
christophermennie 4 years ago
Yes, it was a school bus by 2002, good fun to drive, until the gearbox packed up!
themanmaschine 4 years ago
@themanmaschine osn 852y is currently lying behind taybus premises in arbroath. I'm not sure if its for spare parts or to be restored
melaniegraham1 1 year ago
Love this! grew up with Ailsa's (ex-tayside examples) and they have to be, in my opinion, one of the best sounding machines of all time. Thanks for uploading!
wrexhamcrosville 4 years ago
Yes, excellent sounds.
christophermennie 4 years ago
Takes me back to 1990's Dundee
christophermennie 4 years ago
At Wythall was the first time I actually rode on 1 of these on the Car Park Shuttle as well. In all the years they were in services I only saw them coming out of the old Bullring Bus Staion. These had a great engine noise espcially the whistle of the turbo
Squiz1971 4 years ago
A fuc*ing NOISY Volvo ailsa B55
hz6761 4 years ago
But at least this is better than Leyland Guy Victory MkII in Hong Kong
winelight1 4 years ago
did this used to belong to black prince of morley as im sure this came back for the last day of their running????
Startrekkevster 4 years ago
Not sure if it belonged to Black Prince, but I believe it was used for their last day of service.
wmtlynx 4 years ago
Nice whisling and whininging form the bus shame no modern bus in service comes close to it! made in Irvine, scotland as the SBG didn't like the bristol VR. Still not actually ridden on one of these buses yet!
hamster1992monton 4 years ago