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What was the difference???

  • Thread starter Thread starter daimlerman
  • Start date Start date
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daimlerman

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As far back as i can remember, all of our beautiful fleet of buses had charichterisics that made them identifiable by the makers sound. Even though some had common engines, they sounded very different as they plied their trade through the streets of Birmingham.

I can well remember the sound of the Daimler engined vehicles, they were quiet vehicles, always seeming to me as a child, very lady-like and well mannered. The Crossleys had a sort of "northern growel" with seemingly long gaps during the gear ghanges and always seemed a little out of breath.

The Leylands had a very powerful zing to their engines and never seemed out of breath and would gallop along on the flat with what seemed a very "tall" top gear producing plenty of speed for small revs.

Now for the Pub quiz question. Both the Gardner engined Daimlers and Guys from the 1950's, had (i think), a Gardener 6LW engine of similar size and power output. So why did the Guys Roar their heads off to the point of rattling house windows and the Daimlers with similar engines did not?.

I probably asked this question when i was a boy at Miller Street and was probably given an answere that is not repeatable on a public domain, ha ha. I'm sure the Drivers remember it all so clearly and i would hope that the Fitters amongst us could provide the answere.:confused:
 
Yes they both had Gardner 6LX engines, daimlerman, but the Guys had 'straight through' silencers with fewer internal baffle plates to restrict the flow of exhaust gas, so the noise wasn't silenced as well! They had softer springs, too, and when cornering hard on right hand lock could drag the platform edge along the road surface with a loud grating noise and a shower of sparks!
 
Do you remember the 'lightweight' buses with 5 cylinder engines? They sounded like the pre-war ones,which also had Gardner 5's in them.
3002 had been out of use for 35 years before being returned to the road in 2007.
[video=youtube;GDRhnDOKt2c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDRhnDOKt2c[/video]
 
There are about ten places going for a ride on 55-year old Guy Corporation double decker 2976 on Saturday 5 July leaving from outside the 'Old Contemptibles' at 2 pm for the Wythall vehicle museum and returning to town by around 5.30.
All web friends are very welcome, but they must book with me on this site or by instant message first, to make sure that we don't overload the old growler. There is no charge, but I am asking everyone to make a donation to this website of at least £6, which will cover the return journey and admission to the museum. I'm afraid if anyone does not oblige, the conductor will put the leather-bound chain across the platform entrance.
Please come, it'll be a nice afternoon out, and the web site needs the money.
Peter
 
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