Comments on: The M defended.

By: Danny Gillespie

Danny Gillespie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:46:47 +0000

Best bus route in London: ROUTE 73
Best Bus from the 90’s: Stamford hill’s Leyland Olympians J…BSH Models Alexander body (Last ever Leyland buses bought in London)

By: Danny Gillespie

Danny Gillespie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:43:13 +0000

I love the Metrobus and the Titan. The Titan had a fantastic engine sound i loved the gearchange noises. The metrobus had a more squeely engine noise on the early models especially on slowing down, The C Registration models that appeared at Tottenham (AR) and Wood Green (WN) had a much different engine noise when it reached a speed it would give a wail, but as they got older it was was less noticable.
The Titan shades it for me, it was more comfortable, Arm rests on the rear lower deck back seat, and lots of warmth from the engine. The stair position and missing bench seat on modern buses is a not preferential. My favourte journey was the Old 144 from Edmonton to ilford. The 144 and 123 used to turn off early and come round the back to park in a side street.

By: Andy Moore

Andy Moore — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:21:59 +0000

Does anyone have a full list of preserved Metrobuses be it london or outside…

By: Al Norman

Al Norman — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:40:28 +0000

I loved driving Metrobuses ,and conducting in previous times as well. They made a pleasant change from sitting in a freezing RM cab in winter I can tell you.
I also think they were a better drive than the NVs I later drove and particularly enjoyed a run out on the 420 when the chance arose to escape the 93.

By: andy moore

andy moore — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:07:16 +0000

good to see the page is still going.. anyone know of any preservation groups solely for metrobuses.

any gen gratefully received.

By: David

David — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:32:08 +0000

Just stumbled across this site while searching for Metrobus info. I was bought up on Metrobuses (and Routemasters, LS’s and BL’s) as an electrician at the then Cardinal district first at Norbiton and then Hanwell plus as a cover electrician in the other Cardinal garages and finally at the Stamford Brook accident centre. To me they were the best off the peg bus ever purchased by LT. They were the longest running large fleet of buses since the RM, the DM may have been a larger fleet but size times longevity puts the metro way ahead. The Titan was more than 300 vehicles less in size and withdrwals began long before the Metro. That to me is success. Of course they cannot touch the RM but as an owner of one of each I still secretly prefer the Metrobus.

Since leaving LT I have worked on all of the types they owned (As London Transport) up to privatisation including the Titan. The Titan is still a genuine London bus and I hope to own one in the very near future (subject to space and my wifes approval) but the Metro will always be the one. I look forward to the book being completed. As I haven’t yet read the Titan book I do not know of it’s content but hope that it and the Metrobus book look deeper into the subtle (and hidden) differences between the batches. If this is not readly available please let me know and I can certainly find technical (especially electrical) details as well as work procedures such as rotas, testing, modifications etc that may enhance the details usually published.

By: Edward Pearce

Edward Pearce — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:38:08 +0000

They are running in High Wycombe, Borehamwood and in Harlow I believe. Durham and Newcastle still?

By: Andy Moore

Andy Moore — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:26:26 +0000

Anyone know the current “hot-spot” for Metrobuses be it Ex-London or Provincial!!!

By: Andy Moore

Andy Moore — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:22:25 +0000

Glad to see that the debate we started is still going strong.

It proves my point that rear-engined buses, be it Metrobus, Titan, Olympian or DMS…all have a dedicated following.

Thanks to “London Buses in Exile ” for creating this page and those who have given comments…

By: Rob G

Rob G — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:21:07 +0000

I grew up in S E London in the 80s, which was awash with Titans. I really took them for granted until they started to disappear at the turn of the Millennium, now I wish we had them back! We did have a few Metrobuses at Sidcup Garage and I do remember riding on one of the C reg examples on the 51. The gruff Gardner engine of the Titan is really missed as is the characterful whine of the Metrobus.

I doubt anyone will care when the current generation of DAFs, Tridents, Volvos, bendyboxes come to the end of the road!