*FAST* Preserved: London Northern: V1 (A101SUU) Volvo Ailsa B55-10/ Alexander RV

Let's keep some of the preserved bus action rolling now with a triple-bill of Volvos from the Low-ish Floor Running Day, starting off with the oldest of the vehicles filmed, we have a veteran Volvo V1, an audible Ailsa, A101SUU.

V1 was new in 1984 as one of three Ailsas trialed as part of the Alternative Vehicle Evaluation (AVE) where it was compared alongside 3 Leyland Olympians, 3 Dennis Dominators and a pair of Mk 2 MCW Metrobuses. As part of the AVE trials, the buses were based at Stockwell (SW) garage and use on route 170 until transfer to Potters Bar (PB) in 1986 to 1995 during which time it was privatised to London Northern, and after a brief stint at London Suburban's Edmonton (EM) garage transferred north to MTL Liverpool, in 1996, V1 passed to Yorkshire independent Black Prince of Morley before passing to Isle Coaches of Owston Ferry in 1999 and withdrawn by 2001 and purchased for preservation in 2005.

Today's video comprises a couple to clips where V1 performed a shuttle service to and from Purley via Whyteleafe and Caterham to the event between East Grinstead and Godstone via Lingfield.

A101SUU is powered by a front-mounted Volvo TD70H engine coupled to a Voith D851.3 3-speed automatic gearbox. There is a reason this is one of my favourite preserved buses, and well, I hope you will see why too and enjoy.