Classic Bus Histories Special. The London Transport DMS Class Fleetline.

Hello.

Although I've covered the Daimler and Leyland Fleetlines in a previous episode, here is a bus that is worthy of an episode itself. The much misunderstood DMS.

Originally introduced as The Londoner, they were meant to herald a new beginning for LT bringing One Man Operation (no sexual equality in those days - sorry!) to the capital. However, as history shows, they were soon thrown out of London finding new lives all over the world. This video takes a brief look at the story of one of the most Marmite London buses ever built.

I hope you enjoy this video. As I always say, it's a snapshot of the life of a vehicle and there may be bits I've left out or not mentioned. Apologies if that is the case and it's nothing personal against anyone from Grimsby that I didn't mention Grimsby Cleethorpes running DMS' (to use that as an example!).

Please like and share this video, and don't forget to subscribe to my channel too as this helps the channel grow and makes sure you receive notification when I release new content.

Thanks for watching. Bye for now 👋🏻

[napierpaxman]

Love the B20 with the 'chimneys' :)

[ThePleb]

The original headlamp layout on the DMS (closer together) reminds me of the front end of a 1972 Stock Tube Train

[bobanob]

As a teenager the DMS replaced my 277 route RT In London, hated them! Hated the boring box shape, hated the coin machine, hated never knowing if it would breakdown, again!

[christopherdalton]

I just about tolerated riding on a DMS. I didn't like the internal decor of blue seat moquette with green stripes grey wall panelling and white ceilings. Yes they were clean and bright colours matching that used on the Merlin and Swift single deckers. But it led to a colder environment. Almost tartan style seat moquette, burgundy and sung yellow ceilings used on Routemasters and the XA/XF was a pleasant colour scheme as was green and the cream ceilings used on RTs and RF/GS single deck types.

The RM/RT both gave me a thrilling experience in all aspects engine sounds and all and I couldn't get the same feeling from a DMS.

It is only my opinion I'm not just taking a swipe at the type.

I've travelled on worse!

[johnrafferty]

Loved deeply by the late Jill Vinee. Remember her at Norbiton in the late 80s. She the odd dime want to swap a Metro for a DMS

[craigsibley]

Nice one 👍👍👍
As far as I'm concerned the DMS looks better than the RM any day...

[jnigeb]

I used to work for Chesterfield Transport in the 80's we had 16 DMS's they were as good as anything else.

[sddsddean]

We had them on our school route in SE London. The 124 and 124A used to run from Catford/Forest Hill area to Welling, straight past Crown Woods school, which at the time (1972ish) was the largest comprehensive in the country with over 2500 pupils. A couple of weeks before the DMS came into service, we had one parked in the school car park, so that everyone could have a practice at putting 2p in the machine at 3:30. Of course, when they came into service, most of the kids cramming onto the bus at school out time just squeezed past the turnstile!

[johnmichaeldorienjohn]

I Use to Drive for a Bus company that had, bought 3 Dms's for School Runs, & Service work, Once I got the hang of Driving them, l loved driving them!
I totally agree with you, that you, that they earned a bad rap from London Transport! Great Upload!

[stephenport]

I have vague memories of the DMS in Ilford my favourite livery is London Transport but the Leyland Titan was a massive improvement and had the opportunity to drive them in service as Stagecoach East London were steadily phasing them out

[Peoplebob]

OJD192R and OJD232R were still operating for Morley's of Whittlesey in 2005, right up until their demise that year.

[warweezil]

Sutton garage (A) had the re-engineered ones from about 88 onwards with the Iveco engine. They flew but suffered from severe body judder when stationary in traffic. The upgrade gave them a distinctive final drive (?) whine. I hated it when the MCWs replaced them.

[rororp]

Thanks for the video.

I used to get these to school from the age of 11/14.
I remember the first day of service on my local route and I went for a 3p test run. They replaced RMLs.
In the 3 years that I travelled on them, I never saw one broken down or had a breakdown on a journey.
I used to love the rear seat, for the warmth in winter ( not so good in summer) and the sensation of turning right or left at a junction, always felt like you were on a fairground ride.
Many years later I was acquainted with EnsignBus and still got to go and see them.
Two of the buses I travelled on to school, one ended up in Dover docks and the other I was very surprised to see in Hong Kong.
I think looks wise they have faired well, they still look modern today.

[jamesfrench]

I came across them as open top with Big Bus in central London back in 99 and recall one with a Voith gearbox easily audible. Perhaps that's the form I'd want to preserve one in. That red one featured here sounds really good.

[thisiszaphod]

Great love for the DM/DMS here.
This one was lucky enough to ride on brand-new ones, on their day of introduction on various routes as a kid.
Southend Transport's livery was this one's favourite, outside of London.

[jadeboswell-rzly]

Think my fav livery was the CMB light blue and white. Great video. I still hold fond memories of them as trainers with LCBS. They ran well and as a mechanic I found them easy to work on. AN's could be shall we say pigs.

[johnmontgomery]

Western, Clydeside, Highland Scottish took quite substantial batches along with independent operators such as Graham of Paisley and the Ayrshire Bus Owners group A1.

[DiecastPowderCoating]

I used to drive them at Kingston bus, I think they were brought out off the driver training department. We also had the MCW Metrobus. At the time we used to say Oh no I've got a DMS. Looking back, given the chance today I would prefer the DMS

[moleyofsouthend-on-sea]

I worked at Southend Transport in 86/87 and we had Some ex-LT DMS's (I recall DMS's 820/822/1849/926/1008/1015 and 1029) which were sturdy buses but as I was a Conductor horrid to conduct on our 1 Southend-Rayleigh and 3A Southend-Canvey . We operated the former Culture Bus 614 and on at least 1 occasion a DMS was used by us in London on the route-64 on the scrolls (As 614 not on the scrolls) 2 hours running time on the circular route with 1.5 on Saturdays in them days. Retrobus of Northfleet still have 1 they use on PH's 🙂

[DarrenChilvers]

As always an enjoyable video, but unfortunately for me there was a lack cab footage and interior footage like upper deck and stairs etc,