Ghost Bus Tours Stay Roadworthy
Hydraulics Online repairs vintage steering rams for the theatrical and iconic Routemaster fleet
"If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?" Hydraulics Online!
Anyone involved in maintaining a classic car or vintage vehicle will understand the challenges of sourcing parts. But when your vehicles are used commercially, these pressures are even more keenly felt and can send shivers down your spine.
After speaking with Hydraulics Online, I knew these guys know what they are talking about. (David – Head of Transport, Ghost Bus Tours)
Ghost Bus Tours’ vehicles are classic Routemasters, offering a unique and immersive tour experience through three of Britain’s most historic cities: London, Edinburgh, and York. These destinations are steeped in dark historical deeds and ghost stories, providing the perfect setting for passengers aboard the Ghost Buses.
Each Routemaster has been transformed – painted black, with lamps in the windows, and equipped with sound and visual effects – adding a theatrical edge to these delightfully macabre journeys. But keeping such a vintage fleet roadworthy is no small feat. Now over fifty years old, these British engineering icons present challenges when it comes to sourcing replacement parts, particularly for buses enhanced with hydraulic components and immersive features.
Repairing The Obsolete Component
When the power steering ram of one of the Ghost Bus Tours vehicles failed, David reached out to several regular suppliers. All of them said it “couldn’t be repaired.” In desperation, he turned to the internet – and discovered Hydraulics Online.
They invited him to send over the part for inspection. Wanting to place it in the hands of a team willing to try, David immediately dispatched it. The news came back: the part was no longer manufactured, and no identical alternative could be sourced – but Hydraulics Online confirmed they could repair it.
This was more than a stroke of luck – it was the preferred solution all along, ensuring this vintage ghost bus stayed on the road, spine-tingling tours and all.
Discovering a Trusted Hydraulics Supplier
Hydraulics Online’s technical expertise covers a full spectrum of support services for hydraulic systems and parts, including precise and effective component repair. With the failed part installed on-site, the team delivered an immediate and comprehensive fix for Ghost Bus Tours.
Keeping a fleet of aging Routemaster buses running is essential to the commercial success of Ghost Bus Tours. David, Head of Transport, notes how vital it is to find reliable supply chain partners who understand both the complexity and urgency of such operations.
The service was quick. The pricing was good. The quality was good. It was spot on. I am already in the process of sending them a second one to repair and I’ll probably send another two or three later this year. Hydraulics Online are now our go-to guys for power steering rams and we will probably use them for other hydraulics requirements too.
So, the next time Ghost Bus Tours needs hydraulic repairs or parts… who they gonna call? Hydraulics Online, of course.
Whether you're a production line manager sourcing present-day hydraulic components or – like David – needing to repair obsolete legacy equipment to keep the show on the road… we're here.
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I didn’t know where to start and thought it would be too complicated and way too expensive to make it a reality.
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