Scania-MCW Metropolitan MD60

A special album to celebrate the completion of restoration of now-rare former London Transport 1975 Scania-MCW Metropolitan MD60 (KJD 260P) by Ensignbus and Paul Almeroth.

The Scania-MCW Metropolitan was a remarkable double-decker in the early 1970s when it first appeared. British rear-engined double-deckers then comprised noisy, howling Leyland Atlanteans or lumbering slow Daimler Fleetlines (both good buses in their own ways, living out long lives unlike sadly flawed Metropolitans).

All of a sudden, came the Scania-MCW Metropolitan. A quiet engine sat low in the chassis, allowing a remarkably bright, airy and fumes-free rear to the lower deck - in huge contrast to Atlanteans, Fleetlines and Bristol VRs, all of which were hot, fumes and noisy at the rear. The Metropolitan was not hot, or smelly at all.

Performance of the Scania-MCW Metropolitan was outstanding - hugely fast, with its two-speed gearbox coupled to a tremendously powerful Scania engine, that was also remarkably quiet given its power output.

So whereas Atlanteans and Fleetlines would grind through their gears (1st-4th), the Scania swept ahead far more quickly, with just two-speed gearboxes giving almost unbroken acceleration.

The ride quality, especially at the front, was remarkably good given independent suspension, which (even now in 2014) gives a far, far better ride than almost anything on the road today, even coaches.

Sadly, rear-end galloping rot problems quickly saw an end to these remarkably fast, powerful, popular and comfortable buses, with London Transport specially.

Paul Almeroth and Ensignbus are to be congratulated for saving and completing the restoration of this now superb example of this bus, far ahead of its time.

It is now in the Ensignbus Vintage Fleet and is available for private charter and filming work - call Ensignbus on 01708 865656.

Grateful thanks to both Ensignbus and Paul Almeroth for providing the vehicle for the B&CP photoshoot and also accompanying HD filming.

To sample rides on this bus, please see my YouTube HD videos:

Start-stop town ride:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVAllNnNNa4&list=UU7Sf0DfEeLo...

Hills and stops short ride:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5kKgIFPGU4&list=UU7Sf0DfEeLo...

Stops and then fast open road ride:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rksXXhxOeJg&list=UU7Sf0DfEeLo...

Full speed open-road ride from upper deck:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8oq_cbmzyg&list=UU7Sf0DfEeLo...

Thanks very much for calling by to look at some of my photos!

STRICTLY COPYRIGHT:
All photographs in this gallery (and my Flickr site) are copyright John G. Lidstone.
You may download a copy of any image for your personal use, but it would be an offence in law to do anything else with my material and/or to post it elsewhere without my express permission as copyright owner.
Please do not use these images anywhere on websites, blogs or other media without my prior permission.
It is also an offence to remove or obliterate my copyright lettering on images.
Thank you for respecting this and I hope you enjoy viewing my pictures.