Singing Bus Driver

[tc4332]

Some stupid folk on the road. These coaches have air suspension. They can kneel, fully lower and raise for bad bits like that. All he had to do was raise it and ease the vehicle back. They actually move off in 3rd gear but there is a crawl position which forces and holds 1st gear. It is similiar in reverse where crawl forces a low gear.
Over the years I have had a few adventures. The one I am thinking about was a B10M Volvo with myself and a newish driver touring a school party. We were staying in Ovronnaz in Switzerland. One day we set off to visit the Saint Bernard Pass. On the climb to Sembrancher the engine decided to make an obnoxious sound as a con rod snapped. The other lad who was driving panicked and I had to take the wheel. This was before mobile phones. I gently turned the coach round and headed down hill to the Volvo garage in Martigny using the electric retarder to control the speed, keeping the engine ticking over for electric power. The company I worked for decided it would be cheaper to send a tow truck than allow the Swiss garage to do the repair. When our Volvo tow truck arrived the official driver had never driven in Europe before and was a bit wary, so after hooking up I did the return overnight run. Swiss/French border I was just waved through. Calais just waved straight onto a ferry. Only hold up was Dartford Tunnel where they insisted on an escort. I pushed the escort until he got out of my way, 20 MPH was too slow for me, I wanted home. Left Martigny at lunchtime and back in Wigan 25 hours later. About two days before they expected us. Surprising what could be done with good equipment.
Could not do it now, we have Tachographs!!!

I did have another frightening experience in Ovrannoz but I'll leave that for another day.