M5

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Introduction	Latest News
MCW Metrobus - London Transport M5 This webpage was set up to provide a central point of reference for the group that took on the responsibility for the restoration and preservation of London Transport's fifth and final prototype MCW Metrobus, known as "M5". The page was not originally intended to be viewed by the world at large, but as so many have already found this site, the doors have been opened wide!	20 September 2011 - Missed Showbus We were very disappointed to have not been able to attend Showbus this year, butamjor overhaul isunder way instead. 19 November 2011 - Overhaul review Roof now sealed, lower members replaced and some new body panels fitted. Video here or photos here.
M5 Statistics
Chassis: MCW DR101/3 MB5014 Body: 1M1 LT fleet number: M5 Registration number: THX105S Track: Front 6ft 10 3/8inch Track: Rear 6ft 2 13/32inch Overall length: 31ft 4inch Wheelbase: 16ft 3inch Front axle: 562 Kirkstall beam Rear axle: Kirkstall D65 Semi Drop hub reduction 5.56:1 Gearbox clutch: Voith D851 Torque converter with retarder Transmission: Engine to angle HSP1600 series-converter to rear axle 1700 series Engine: Gardner 6LXB 6 cylinder oil. 170 bhp at 1850 rpm Suspension: Full air front and rear. Front axle bellows support. Rear suspension "H" frame with 4 bellows Brakes: Clayton Dewandre Power. Hydraulic 3 stage retarder operated from brake pedal. Automatic slack adjusters. Swept circle: 62ft 5inch Steering: 5 turns lock to lock. ZF power assisted recirculating ball Weight: 9 tons Laden weight: 16 tons Overall height 14ft 4.25inch Width: 8ft 2.5inch Passengers: H46/29D+5 (when crew operated) [query: quoted as H46/28D when new ? ]
History	Photos
Built and licensed prior to 1/8/78 (So retained -S reg) Delivered to London Transport, Aldenham 1 September 1978 To Fulwell 27 October 1978 - used as trainer To Cricklewood 5 July 1979 for 16/16A/N94 Possibly worked on 266 Converted for opo 4 December 1981 Delicensed and to overhaul at Aldenham 4/11/82 Passed WASP 6/7/83 and relicensed to Cricklewood (in advance of expiry 5/7/84) Presumed to have re-entered service on 7/7/83, in allover red Used on 112 in 1984 Repainted May 1987 Repainted January 1990 Cricklewood to Edgware Feb 1991* Trainer September 1992 onwards* Edgware to Cricklewood 6 March 1993* (Cricklewood Garage became an outstation of Edgware Garage. M5 believed to have actually remained at Cricklewood "outstation") Sold to Metroline 7 October 1994 Used as trainer December 1997 Blind box panelled over February 2000 Withdrawn and sold to Ensignbus June 2002 Sold to Redroute Buses, Kent August 2002 Used on many Kent routes Used on London 185 September 2002 Laid up January 2003 Back in use September 2003 Used on Kent routes 423 and 489 December 2003 (presumed used on rail replacement and various Redroute services 2003-9) Withdrawn and used as a store February 2009 "Officially" withdrawn March 2009 INTO PRESERVATION* Sold to Peter Figg on behalf of the Small-Brown-Figg preservation group 1 August 2010 Was due to be moved to London Bus & Truck, Northfleet, Kent for assessment 1 August 2010, but due to an apparent communications error at LB&T access was refused. Believed actually moved to London Bus & Truck for assessment c.6 August 2010 Assessed by LB&T 11 August 2010 and report received 15 September 2010. LB&T asked to restore to MoT condition 23 September 2010 subject to estimated costs. LB&T confirmed that work has begun 28 October 2010. Blinds delivered 18 November 2010. 28 January 2011: The domain name "www.thx105s.tk" has been registered to replace the earlier long url within another site. This domain name should remain active so long as it receives a small number of hits each month. 4 February 2011: Restoration work done so far by London Bus & Truck reviewed and assessed. Some more photos added to http://earthfish.fotopic.net/c1939164.html. 18 May 2011 : Replicar Mark 1 grille ordered 20 May 2011 : Entry form for North Weald dispatched. 3 July 2011 : Didn't make North Weald :-( . 18 September 2011 : Failed to make Showbus :-( - no MoT.	25 July 2010 Initial inspection 1 August 2010 Final inspection and purchase 1 August 2010 M609 - inspected for spares (rejected) 4 February 2011 At London Bus & Truck, Northfleet Other photos already on the net: (Those on Fotopic may no longer be available) Parked up (at Redroute?) Parked with 322 Lakeside blind display Private Hire display - Wayne Stanton Central Line Rear Showbus (Official) In Tonbridge Steve Thomas Rail replacement offside Rail replacement nearside LTS Rail Victoria Line 185 Dulwich (Showbus 2002?) With a coach Offside With a Lynx Blind! Dark Leytonstone On 185 Central Line Metroline trainer 245 at Golders Green Central Line with RedRoute
Projects (suggested - not yet confirmed)	Links
Goals (suggested - not yet fully discussed) Mechanics restored by LB&T to MoT standard (underway) Repanelling - LB&T subject to acceptable quote Repaint to 1978 condition (subject to tender) Storage - Secure undercover sites in Essex Spares run to Yorks -tba Public debut - now revised to be LBPT 2012 Internal restoration "at leisure": Cab repaint to black Doors to brown Steering wheel centre (obtained) Retrim of seats (gradual - but lower deck a priority) Replace "Titan" seat Replace etched windows (quote requested) MCW dummy gauge for cab (obtained) Major projects: Original style grille (replica received) Rectangular foglights Reg plates restored to original style	Possible insurers Footman James Rigton - quote received Towergate Possible parts suppliers PSV Transport Systems Squirrel Preservation Geoff Ripley West Midlands Vehicle Maintenance The Bus Business Stafford Bus Centre McKenna Brothers Trevor Wigley Gardner Rallies Events diary Yahoo Groups MCW Metrobus MCW-Metrobus UK-Bus-Preservation UKBusPreservation Other links MCW Metrobus on Wiki London Bus & Truck Marden's Self Preservation Society Technical Resource Guide

Paper M5	Email addresses



Based on a template from CountryBus	Peter Figg - pfm5@dotorgdotuk.org.uk Paul Small - psm5@dotorgdotuk.org.uk Jamie Brown - jbm5@dotorgdotuk.org.uk Joel Bleau - jgm5@dotorgdotuk.org.uk *(Spam is NOT WELCOME at these addresses*)
	The fate of the prototype Metrobuses
	SDA831S - Claimed to be the first M built. Scrapped SDA832S - Claimed to be the earliest M preserved TOJ592S Demonstrator - preserved at ? Museum, ? THX101S M1 - Ensignbus Museum / PSV 2010 THX102S M2 - Sullivan Buses / PSV 2010 THX103S M3 - sold for scrap by Imperial 2009 THX104S M4 - sold for scrap by Redroute Buses 2009 THX105S M5 - Small-Brown-Figg / preserved 2010 * These claims MAY be based on WMTE's first Ms (?) TOJ592S on YouTube M1 nearside M1 offside M1 offside rear M2 on 32 M1069 (NOT M1062). Driver Figg at the wheel?
News in pictures
With London Transport outside Palmers Green Garage Adrian Baum
The first photo of M5 in private preservation Looks no different to the last photo in redroute ownership. 1 August 2010
First replacement parts The item on the left is actually the rarity. £37 from ebay August 2010
At London Bus & Truck, Northfleet 30 August 2010 Stuart Boxall
New blinds "N94" not quite correct. 18 November 2010
Review of restoration progress (Trying to spot the difference 6 months later) 4 February 2011
Entered for North Weald (fail) In the programme but not fit for MoT test on the day. July 2011
Entered for Showbus 2011 (Another fail - still no MoT) This is where we should have been.
Some new panels. November 2011
Service manual obtained. December 2011
What we are aiming for (but with non-DipTac rails) The future, 2012?
Rev 20111230