Failure in the line of duty.
In the naming of the ‘Bristol VR’, the one thing that the letters ‘VR’ didn't stand for was 'Very Reliable'. The 200 MCW bodied Bristol VR Mk2 variants that WMPTE operated in the 70s and 80s were certainly not noted for their reliability, as they suffered abysmally with transmission failures, and combined with a constant need for brake re-lines every 4 to 6 weeks didn't add to their popularity with engineering staff. There was of course the structural issues with the MCW bodies, but that was more down to WMPTE and MCW trying to make a body designed for a Fleetline chassis fit on to a VR Chassis, in an attempt to make up for shortages of new vehicles in the mid ‘70s!
This picture (not an uncommon sight), taken on the 25th April 1986 reinforces the point regarding the VR's unreliability. Walsall based 4672 is seen stranded on the A34 facing Birmingham at Perry Barr with a transmission failure, as Perry Barr based Metrobus Mk2 2501, makes its way around the disabled VR on the 52 service to the Beeches Estate. The Walsall recovery crew were already in attendance by the time I stopped to take this picture, and their well used towbar is seen attached to 4672 for the journey back to Walsall behind the tow truck. This was the swansong year for these buses, as the last examples were withdrawn by WMPTE on 25th October 1986, meaning that 'Travel West Midlands', who succeeded WMPTE on 26th October 1986 didn't operate the type.
Now from what I've said here, you might be led to think that I didn't like these buses, but in actual fact I did like them (a lot). When they did run properly, they went like the wind and had a unique sound all of their own. I did drive them in service for WMPTE in the early 1980's, and I can honestly say that they were quite exhillerating to drive flat out down a very quite and empty Darlington Street, Wolverhampton at 6am in the morning, with all that lovely transmission noise bouncing off the surrounding buildings. The only downside to them from a driver's point of view was the holding down of the very, very heavy accelerator pedal. Oh, and that they were freezing cold to drive in the middle of Winter.
Failure in the line of duty.
In the naming of the ‘Bristol VR’, the one thing that the letters ‘VR’ didn't stand for was 'Very Reliable'. The 200 MCW bodied Bristol VR Mk2 variants that WMPTE operated in the 70s and 80s were certainly not noted for their reliability, as they suffered abysmally with transmission failures, and combined with a constant need for brake re-lines every 4 to 6 weeks didn't add to their popularity with engineering staff. There was of course the structural issues with the MCW bodies, but that was more down to WMPTE and MCW trying to make a body designed for a Fleetline chassis fit on to a VR Chassis, in an attempt to make up for shortages of new vehicles in the mid ‘70s!
This picture (not an uncommon sight), taken on the 25th April 1986 reinforces the point regarding the VR's unreliability. Walsall based 4672 is seen stranded on the A34 facing Birmingham at Perry Barr with a transmission failure, as Perry Barr based Metrobus Mk2 2501, makes its way around the disabled VR on the 52 service to the Beeches Estate. The Walsall recovery crew were already in attendance by the time I stopped to take this picture, and their well used towbar is seen attached to 4672 for the journey back to Walsall behind the tow truck. This was the swansong year for these buses, as the last examples were withdrawn by WMPTE on 25th October 1986, meaning that 'Travel West Midlands', who succeeded WMPTE on 26th October 1986 didn't operate the type.
Now from what I've said here, you might be led to think that I didn't like these buses, but in actual fact I did like them (a lot). When they did run properly, they went like the wind and had a unique sound all of their own. I did drive them in service for WMPTE in the early 1980's, and I can honestly say that they were quite exhillerating to drive flat out down a very quite and empty Darlington Street, Wolverhampton at 6am in the morning, with all that lovely transmission noise bouncing off the surrounding buildings. The only downside to them from a driver's point of view was the holding down of the very, very heavy accelerator pedal. Oh, and that they were freezing cold to drive in the middle of Winter.