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12-09-2005, 06:29 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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the british airstream has been retired!
hello all
well today was the last run.
the roadmaster bus, for many people worldwide, it's double decker profile is the image of london.....but no more.
these british icons made their last offical runs today and were retired. this has been coming for awhile but still the finality did not seem real till now.
does lightweight alloy construction, stressed skin design and aircraft heritage sound familiar?
just like our airstreams the roadmasters were designed and built to be as light as possible; not rely on traditional body on frame construction, instead using the stressed skin (monoque) principles. pieces were meant to be interchangeable and replaced/repaired. like their airplane cousins they had a "expected service life" but this was extended by ongoing inspection, maintence and repairs.
suspension/drivetrain segments were mounted on segments of subframe for/aft while the bus coach was supported by it's aluminum ribs and skin. at 14000lbs they do weigh a bit more than our trailers but also carry 60-70 people.
saw this in the paper today. will likely be on the evening news...
here's a photo and link.
http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/buses/rm.html
i'm sure some of you know lots more than i and admire the roadmasters....
cheers
2air'
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12-09-2005, 06:55 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Belleview
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,635
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I guess I'm one of the few who can say "I've driven one." During an election year I got to drive one that belonged to a congressional candidate in MD. It was a beast. Top end was about 45 MPH. Very cool crash box transmission. RH drive was different. You get more looks than an Airstream going down the road too.
Lots of room for all your stuff if you did a MoHo conversion.
__________________
Glen Coombe AIR #8416
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Former Rolling Showroom & PuttLab (now party bus)
"I'm not an expert. But I did sleep in an Airstream last night."
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12-09-2005, 07:38 PM
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#3
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We can tow it!
1996 28' Excella
Where the water tastes like wine
, Michigan
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,625
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Sorry to see them go--times change...nice pix
Talk about an icon going by the wayside. Heard that on the radio tonight, couldn't believe my ears.
On the other hand as a moho conversion a person could fit more kayaks, bikes, and the 4 leggeds could have their own window...dibs on the green one.
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12-09-2005, 08:07 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,410
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What a bummer! Fisrt time we rode in one and came to a Round A bout, almost had heart failuer! WE GOING THE WRONG WAY. Then we realized it was the right way there. Sorry to see them go!
__________________
'74 Overlander (T-O-Bee)
'46 Spartan Manor (Rosie)
'54 Cruiser (Bogart)
'60 Overlander (Hoagy)
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax
WBCCI 1754 - AIR # 6281
www.balrgn.com
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12-09-2005, 08:40 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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as i re read this thread, realized i misspelled airstream in the title.
please forgive my transgression. since we're only allowed 11 seconds for editing, i cannot correct it.
here's some rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr's for whoever needs them.
and here's another shot of the bus in cabriolet.
looks like the roadmaster may have been airstreams inspiration for the skydeck.....imagine the hanky panky that could go on up there!
these buses actually had some seats arranged near the back of the bus for....how shall we say.....lovers.
the british are so practical about basic human needs.
cheers
2air'
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12-09-2005, 10:22 PM
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#6
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Vintage Alum. Enthusiast
1959 24' Tradewind
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: I currently do not own a 2nd Airstream
Posts: 4,360
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I wonder what's in store for all those retired double deckers. I'll take the first red one. Looks fairly new and would convert quite nicely to a moho. If they're aluminum, they'll polish up nicely. Kitchen, dining, living and bath room down stairs, upstairs for the sleeping quarters. The morning views would be awesome next to the lake. Wonder what it would cost to have one shipped over here.
Brad
FF
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
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12-09-2005, 11:00 PM
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#7
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,684
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You can build an exact (almost) duplicate of this same bus. All it takes is vision and hard work.
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Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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12-10-2005, 03:11 AM
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#8
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Very american 4 a french
1971 27' Overlander
DUNKERQUE / FRANCE
, Nord
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 633
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Hi there;
I've heard you can buy one for €8000, now; With that, no need to tow an Airstream, all the space is inside and on the top... like the newest A/S MH but with a small price...
Bruno.
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12-10-2005, 05:37 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2004 22' International CCD
Spotsylvania
, Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 663
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Just watch out for those overpasses!
__________________
Bob
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"THE BAUXITE BUNGALOW"
2004 22' CCD
1997 F-150
TAC VA-12
AIR# 4749
ex WBCCI# 1430
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12-10-2005, 07:11 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Belleview
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,635
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The registry shows lots just north of us up in Canada. If you really wanted to convert one it would be far more economical to find one up there than ship on over from the Brittish Isles.
Also for those who have never ridden on one the upper deck only provides about 5'6" or 5'4" headroom.
A lot of US highways are built to accomodate the standard height trailer of 13'6" with a little grace.... but 14'6" would have you looking at every route prior to passing.
You'd also have to do something about the driveline as they are built for city work and not geared for highway speeds.
Disney or NASA had some double decker units for sale last year that where newer designed USA units with LH drive.
__________________
Glen Coombe AIR #8416
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Former Rolling Showroom & PuttLab (now party bus)
"I'm not an expert. But I did sleep in an Airstream last night."
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12-10-2005, 08:52 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,335
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I was born and raised in London, so Routemasters (pronounced Rootmaster, please!) have been part of my life. The distinctive feature is the rear access platform with a vertical grab handle. This enabled one to get on or off the bus while it was in motion. Imagine the challenge for us kids! Jumping on at speed looked heroic, but jumping off was the scary bit. In 1947 my mother was travelling in a Routemaster through London with my brother, aged 5, and me in a carry-cot, aged 3 months. My mother got off at stop with my brother, and forgot that I was still on the bus. When she arrived at her sister's house, my Aunt said "Where's baby Nick?" I was later found at the coach station. My 90 year old Aunt still laughs about it.
Nick.
__________________
Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
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12-10-2005, 09:15 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Tonka Bay
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 770
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Just in the Nick of Time
No pun intended Nick.
I'm glad I got the chance to ride them in London last year.
__________________
Davydd
2015 Sprinter Class B Camper Van
(Former 1971 vintage Airstream Owner)
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12-10-2005, 09:53 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1983 27' Excella
French Settlement
, Louisiana
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 85
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I was in NY city last year or should I say I was on Manhattan and they have the open top buses for tour of the city .It was winter and snowing and they had some people up top. It was a sight Billy
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12-10-2005, 11:08 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Yorkshire
, England
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 685
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Lol Nick...
...Say Nick, I was born in Essex ( Great Chesterford - Saffron Walden ), bk in '53, My Gran ( Bless Her ), used 2 go-up-smoke, & told Me many a good story, one realy made Me laugh was when She & a few of Her Friends would "" Jump the bus "" ring the Bell & jump off asap...LOL..., She says She done it one day in winter & slipped on the ice, in2 a street lamp, She nvr said if She done it agn...Mmm. I 2, used 2 "" Smoke "" London in the late '60s / early '70s, at Victoria Gardens, Gee I don't ever recall payin My bus fair... ( Shame on ME )... but Hell it WAS FUN... Carnaby Street, Baywaters Road street market on a Sunday mornin... SIGH !...DON'T ASK *** LOL Soho, done all the discos, I was a MOD bk then, done the London 2 Brighton run on a Lambretta SX200, Hey Man, Geared Man, absolutely Geared Man...LOL Fantastic, Cool, With-It Man... & all the rest...Blah blah, blah... The Beatles, Kinks, Stones, Small Faces, Fortunes, Oh ! & ELVIS of course... But I DO agree abt the BUSSES...JUS one "Q" tho... WHY ????? ...London revolves around the ROUTEMASTER, FX Taxi Cabs, Boutiques & Hyde Park...Famous ALL over the world, & many were indeed sent ALL over the world... Chris.....
**** I bought a black SHIRT from the Baywater Rd market, it was FAB, apart from havin one LONG & one SHORT sleeve, I wore a GLOVE on the short sleeve arm, the weatherman said it may RAIN, but ON THE OTHER HAND...it may NOT rain... LOL, U with Me Nick ???... ( IT did HONEST, & it cost Me a ruddy FIVER, GUV. ) Got bk from our vacation in Florida jus Yesterday, after 21 perfect days, & I MISSIN the place already... even talkin abt our NEXT trip out over the pond...LOL...
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It's NICE 2B Important...but it's more Important 2B NICE...Chris.....
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12-12-2005, 09:50 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,335
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canny_banjo_man
U with Me Nick ???.
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Sure am. I respect the raw power of your scooter! Mine was only a Lambretta LI150, and I could never afford loads of mirrors! My brother bought it for me for my 16th birthday for 5 pounds in 1963. I used it to visit my GF (now my wife) every friday night, 20 miles across the smoke near Twickenham. One night I lost control at a roundabout near Tolworth, and slid on my side into a bus shelter, scattering the surprised occupants. The next week, the same roundabout, the same time, the same bus shelter, the same occupants! On another subject, the Kinks were playing at Plymouth, UK, in October 2005! Have fun. (BTW, I recall being ejected by the bouncers at the Orchid Ballroom, Purley. Those were the days!) Nick.
__________________
Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
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12-14-2005, 01:54 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Yorkshire
, England
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 685
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Scooooter.....
Hi Nick... I owned a Li 150, a '57 model, red 'n cream, took Me many a mile, & many a yard down the road on My Bum... summat 2 do with the fixed headlamp, NOT bein able 2 C around the bends...LOL... soon mastered it tho, got sick of KISSIN tarmac...LOL, KINKS...WOW, I saw the Beatles in the early '60s, at the Doncaster Gaumont... FAB, don't kn abt the 4, more like FAB A MILLION... The " Good 'Ole days ". U must have bn real bad 2 get bounced outta the Orchid, din't U have enough flower-power on Yr Shirt ???... LOL.
Funny how the City still called "The Smoke", I doubt there's a smokey chimney left now, is there ?... Bet U never capsised a boat at Hyde Park did U ?... I lost My shoe in the MUD... & My brand new Timex watch got flooded, even tho it had stopped, it WAS still right, twice a day...jus a lttl hard 2 work out when...LMAO...Chris.....
__________________
It's NICE 2B Important...but it's more Important 2B NICE...Chris.....
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