Maxson Goh reports from the 2025 rendition of the popular Low-ish Floor Running Day
It’s that time of year again when young bus enthusiasts make their annual pilgrimage down south for an event tailored just for them. Unlike most running days, this one showcases a fleet made up mostly of newer buses (at least by preservation standards), a real treat for younger fans who grew up with these vehicles. On 13 July 2025, buses operated between Godstone Green and East Grinstead on two routes, both stopping at Lingfield to allow easy swaps between vehicles throughout the day.
Organised by The North London Collection, there was a strong turnout of familiar favourites offering free rides, including the likes of Volvo B7TL, Dennis Trident, and DAF DB250. The event also welcomed several international visitors, such as an Irish-registered Volvo Olympian that made the trip from Dublin, and a left-hand drive Volvo B10M from Madeira, preserved in the UK by the Riding with Rodoeste Preservation Group. “It’s nice to have a running day where everything’s simple and high frequency, where people can just rock up and get on buses,” said Shayne Howarth, who was behind the wheel of the B10M. “It’s just like a normal bus service, but with vehicles of interest. The intensity of it, the fact that you’re passing vehicles coming the other way all the time and there’s photographers all over the place, it’s all very pleasant.”
The undeniable star of the show was the former Kowloon Motor Bus Volvo Super Olympian from Hong Kong, making its UK public debut courtesy of Replacement Bus Hire. CBW readers can look forward to learning more about this rare vehicle in an upcoming issue. Hong Kong bus enthusiast Reagan Chan shared: “I am a returning attendee of Low-ish Floor Running Day, and I found the event very enjoyable as usual, albeit more chaotic compared to last year due to a few incidents happening throughout the day. The Volvo Super Olympian was my favourite part of the event as it was very nostalgic for me. I have been on the same bus on route 88X three years ago in Hong Kong, and as all the Super Olympians were retired two years ago, it was very special to see one again and go for a ride.”
Visiting from Singapore, Calvin Teo has no regrets about making the long trip. “It was well worth coming all the way to the event, as the era of buses running were very relatable for me – not too old but old enough that you won’t find them in regular operations any more,” he said. “Going to school in the 2000s, this was the era of buses I rode on frequently back in the day. I particularly enjoyed riding the Volvo Super Olympian, which is a very rare find in the UK, as it was operated only in Hong Kong and Singapore and all units have since been retired.”
Now, to address the elephant in the room: yes, there were a few incidents of poor behaviour by a select few individuals. As I noted in the editorial of this issue, organising an event of this scale is no small feat, and it’s certainly unfair that the people who took time out of their day to organise the event are facing lots of criticism online for things that were largely out of their control. Shayne agrees: “I was extremely saddened to see the negative comments about the event because to be honest, we didn’t experience anything negative all day. The event was very well-planned; you know exactly what you will be doing in advance. If you had any questions, someone was always there to answer. You’ve got all the information on email, then you get your pack when you get there, which is fantastic.”
As I leave you with these pictures, let’s focus on the positives and celebrate this event for what it was – a nostalgic journey down memory lane, that was enjoyed by many.
