>>2057030Who could not want to drive something with gearbox like this? The in-town models of what preceeded the Routemaster had a 4-speed gearbox taking them up to 30mph, the speed limit. But the out-of-town models had an overdrive fitted with a second neutral between 4th and 5th.
This meant that if you misjudged it and came to a complete stop in 5th you could not then get back to 1st. You could only go to 4th then turn the engine off and try rocking it into a lower gear. Or letting it roll downhill slightly to move the straight-cut cogs then start up again and drive off in 1st.
There are a number of bus preservation societies and if I volunteered I think I could wangle a go on one with a learner licence.
