Life in the old TUB.
Of the seven built, only two representatives of Foden's aborted latter day dalliance with Northern Counties and the bus industry remain and both are currently in the same hands. TUB 250R was delivered new to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, where, like its sisters, it didn't compare well with other 'deckers in the fleet. Thankfully it survived, passing to John Cherry of Aintree Coachlines and Helms of Eastham where it worked for half a dozen more years in sympathetic hands. I'm grateful to John for a ride today at the NWVRT's annual rally, and for a description of the highs and lows of the type. The Achilles heel was a bespoke Foden gear train and casing which took the drive down from the high mounted Gardner 6LXB to the Allison AT640 gearbox ... and in the process stepped the speed up in order to marry the two units to be a workable combination. The component proved to be a weak feature which was further tested by the inclusion of the alternator drive, which, if that unit seized, also had catastrophic effects. Because of the low pre-production numbers built and the fact that mass production never happened, spare parts were always going to be nigh on impossible to obtain and one by one, the few built slipped away. As mentioned, TUB 250R is a fortunate survivor and currently the only one operable. However, the restoration of the ex West Midlands PTE example is gathering pace and perhaps next year, the two might be seen out together.
Above, the Northern Counties bodied bus is seen on a run out this afternoon in Kirkby with the owner at the wheel.
Life in the old TUB.
Of the seven built, only two representatives of Foden's aborted latter day dalliance with Northern Counties and the bus industry remain and both are currently in the same hands. TUB 250R was delivered new to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, where, like its sisters, it didn't compare well with other 'deckers in the fleet. Thankfully it survived, passing to John Cherry of Aintree Coachlines and Helms of Eastham where it worked for half a dozen more years in sympathetic hands. I'm grateful to John for a ride today at the NWVRT's annual rally, and for a description of the highs and lows of the type. The Achilles heel was a bespoke Foden gear train and casing which took the drive down from the high mounted Gardner 6LXB to the Allison AT640 gearbox ... and in the process stepped the speed up in order to marry the two units to be a workable combination. The component proved to be a weak feature which was further tested by the inclusion of the alternator drive, which, if that unit seized, also had catastrophic effects. Because of the low pre-production numbers built and the fact that mass production never happened, spare parts were always going to be nigh on impossible to obtain and one by one, the few built slipped away. As mentioned, TUB 250R is a fortunate survivor and currently the only one operable. However, the restoration of the ex West Midlands PTE example is gathering pace and perhaps next year, the two might be seen out together.
Above, the Northern Counties bodied bus is seen on a run out this afternoon in Kirkby with the owner at the wheel.