Cartman
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Post by Cartman on May 27, 2021 21:01:54 GMT
Daimler buses had a peculiar kind of semi automatic transmission called a pre select. You moved the gear select never to the next gear you wanted to change to, and the change was actually made by a change pedal, which was in the same position as the clutch pedal would be.
It was ok if used properly, but if you got it wrong, the select pedal would kick back violently, as it was spring loaded, and it would come out further than normal so the driver would get a painful ankle. Also, you had to push the pedal back to reset it, and it was hard to do, against the very powerful spring.
I think a similar set up was used by Daimler in some of their cars.
I'm in a Facebook group about Manchester and Salford buses and some of the ex drivers on there have talked about getting clobbered by these Daimler pre select pedals as both Manchester and Salford had large fleets of them. Only the front engine half cabs had this transmission, when the rear engined Fleetline came out, they were fully automatic.
The last few front engined Daimlers which both operators had, Manchester 4650-4 and Salford 189/90, reverted to crash boxes, and both sets of crews did not like them at all, one bloke said he had to drive one of the Manchester ones from Old Trafford to Queens Road in second gear all the way because he couldn't change gear!
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Nightfly
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Post by Nightfly on May 28, 2021 11:59:04 GMT
On the trains, we used to try and jump in the front seats directly behind the driver on the old DMU's - there were windows looking into the cab and you got a drivers view of the line ahead. I used to love doing that too (well into adulthood as well, when I started a daily commute to work !), but often the driver would pull down the blind to prevent prying eyes. Shortly after they were replaced by the Pacer boneshakers. On the line I use, we briefly got a taste of the old days of slam door carriages when they electrified the line and used old 1960s Class 308's for 5 years before we got brand new models (which themselves are now 20+ years old).
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on May 28, 2021 18:15:12 GMT
On the trains, we used to try and jump in the front seats directly behind the driver on the old DMU's - there were windows looking into the cab and you got a drivers view of the line ahead. I used to love doing that too (well into adulthood as well, when I started a daily commute to work !), but often the driver would pull down the blind to prevent prying eyes. Shortly after they were replaced by the Pacer boneshakers. On the line I use, we briefly got a taste of the old days of slam door carriages when they electrified the line and used old 1960s Class 308's for 5 years before we got brand new models (which themselves are now 20+ years old). And the pacers are all gone... (apart from those that were lucky enough to earn a reprieve and end up in Preservation)
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Nightfly
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Post by Nightfly on May 28, 2021 20:16:57 GMT
And the pacers are all gone... (apart from those that were lucky enough to earn a reprieve and end up in Preservation)
Still working and commuting during lockdown last year, it was a bit of surprise to see 20 old Northern Pacers all lined up on the Keighley & Worth Valley line which runs next to the main line at one point. As the KWVR line had to close during lockdown, they offered to store the Pacers for Northern until they found buyers. I think they plan to keep one for themselves.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on May 28, 2021 22:11:49 GMT
Yes the KWVR have preserved one of the 144s
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on May 29, 2021 6:23:14 GMT
Yes the KWVR have preserved one of the 144s When we last visited Midland Railway at Swanwick, they had a Class 141 running alternate services with a Loco Hauled top & tailed Class 25 and Class 45.
Quite a mixed bag!
They used to do a great classic car show there on August Bank Holidays too.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on May 29, 2021 16:58:09 GMT
At 6pm, exactly 40 years ago today - this episode of ATV-Today went out in the midlands.
For non midlands viewers - this was the weekday local news slot; the News Headlines at 6pm, Crossroads at 6.05pm, and the main news programme at 6.30pm. This is an extended programme, as it's a friday. Also included are the advert breaks and some ATV continuity.
Nick Owen was then a Sports Reporter/Presenter at ATV; Anne Diamond would have been there as a reporter, as would have Geoff Meade (of Sky News) Terry Thomas pops up with the fishing too.
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on May 30, 2021 13:01:51 GMT
Sparks, I remember Wendy Nelson (the presenter on that ATV news clip) later produced/presented a show called something like 'Find Me a Family', which appealed for foster families to help rehome disadvantaged kids. Nick Owen is of course still presenting the BBC local news show in the west midlands, Midlands Today.
Vi
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on May 30, 2021 13:58:11 GMT
Sparks, I remember Wendy Nelson (the presenter on that ATV news clip) later produced/presented a show called something like 'Find Me a Family', which appealed for foster families to help rehome disadvantaged kids. Nick Owen is of course still presenting the BBC local news show in the west midlands, Midlands Today. Vi Wendy was head of News for the Central West region throughout the 1980s and into the 90s - at the same time she was Producer / Advisor and various other programmes.
We spoke to Wendy in 2005 as part of the ITV50 project - sadly due to time constraints quite a hefty amount of her interview had to be left out. Which is a shame, as that would have made a feature on it's own - very interesting (no disrespect to all those others we spoke to) ad plenty of tales - given the fact she had been Present, Producer, Advisor - so had worked across the board.
Think she owns a Guest House / B&B now.
I do have all of the interview rushes we shot on DVD - including those with Chris Tarrant Shaw Taylor, Bob Warman, Nick Owen, Gary Newbon, Lenny H etc.
Not sure on rights with them as they are viewing copies; so wasn't wanting to risk putting them on YT or similar for fear of a visit from ITVs "Men in Black"... will think of something!
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Post by Arthur Pringle on May 30, 2021 16:14:02 GMT
Having watched a number of ATV news clips I've noticed that whenever Chris Tarrant, John Swallow or whoever encounter a woman they'll often say things like 'it's not very ladylike is it?' In the clip above John Swallow introduces the stuntwoman with 'it's an extraordinary way for a pretty young lady to make a living isn't it?' & later says 'for a dental receptionist that was, this is quite an extraordinary stunt'.
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