Red London Trolleybus 1935-1962

London Trolleybus 1930s-60s

What is your favourite bus of all time?

When the London Passenger Transport Board was formed in July 1933 it absorbed the tram and trolleybus system of London United, among others, and decided soon afterwards to replace the trams with trolleybuses, due to their greater flexibility and lower renewal costs. Conversion of tramways to trolleybus operation started in 1935 and over the next few years a vast network emerged of over 1800 vehicles that for many years formed the largest system in the world. After the war,it was decided that the future lie entirely with oil-engined buses and in the short space of three years (1959-1962) this vast system was dismantled.

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T Type Vintage London Bus 1929

T Type Bus

What is your favourite bus of all time?

A total of 801 vehicles carried the classification T over thirty-three years, this label used to group many of the single-deck fleet of London's buses and coaches,whether petrol or diesel-engined. In this manner the T class could lay claim to be the longest running class in service, although later examples bore little resemblance to the original types. Based on the Regal chassis type 662, or, if oil-engined, 0662 the first vehicles in the class were fifty rear-entrance 30-seat buses bought new in 1929.

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Guy Arab G Type Old WW2 Wartime London Bus

Guy Arab G Type Bus

What is your favourite bus of all time?

Only 435 wartime Guy Arab buses were allocated to London Transport and most were of the Arab II type with forward-mounted radiator. All had the Gardner 5LW engine and therefore rather limited performance with their increased weight due to the non-availability of aluminium together with a rather ponderous gearchange.

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AEC Q Type London Red Bus 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936

AEC Q Type

What is your favourite bus of all time?

The revolutionary Q type design was produced in 1932 for service in London. The AEC Q type design featured a diesel engine mounted slightly inclined on the offside chassis. The positioning of the engine in this manner enabled the whole of the body floor to be utilised for passengers so that as many as 37 could be seated within the width of 2.29 metres (7 1/2 ft) and 8.38 metres (27 1/2 ft) length. The production models of this type were all single deckers with all-metal bodywork constructed by Park Royal Vehicles Limited. Probably too far ahead of its time, the Q type didn't find favour with many operators and sadly production ceased in 1936.

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STL Type Old Red London Bus Bus 1946

STL Type

What is your favourite London Red Bus of all time?

The standard double-decker in London for over a decade, 2649 STL type vehicles were constructed for service in London up to 1946. Introduced in 1932, only 10 years after the first NS type, the differences in design were extensive. The original STL had 60 seats in a box-like body, being built at Chiswick and following the ST and LT designs. In 1933 the capacity of the vehicle was reduced at the design stage to 56 and the London Passenger Transport Board started to build its first bus. The model employed a greater slope at each end, so getting away from the box effect of earlier LGOC STLs but reduced the upper deck capacity by four.

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AEC LTL Type "Scooters" London Red Bus 1931

AEC LTL Type

What is your favourite London Red Bus of all time?

Nicknamed the "Scooters", the single-deck LT class first appeared in 1931. These vehicles had fleet numbers which ran from LT1001 to 1201 (except for LT1051 and LT1137), although the technical classification was LTL, which gave a clue to the fact that they were longer than the double-deck LT class AEC Renown six-wheelers. Built on the 664-model chassis giving nominal overall length of 30ft, they were originally provided with petrol engines, normal clutch and crash gearbox, but later the petrol engine on a large number was replaced with a 7.7-litre oil engine salvaged from the withdrawn doouble-deckers in 1949-50.

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AEC Renown LT Type Vintage London Bus 1947

AEC Renown LT Type

What is your favourite London Red Bus of all time?

The Lt class of AEC Renown six-wheelers was still a mainstay of the fleet in 1947, with 1184 licensed double-deckers of this type forming the second largest class. Most used AEC 8.8-litre oil engines, the majority of these being converted from their original petrol specification.

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AEC ST Type Old London Bus 1930

AEC ST Type

What is your favourite London Red Bus of all time?

The first 4-wheeled AEC Regent chassis entered the LGOC fleet early in 1930 when ST1 was placed in service although the original ST vehicle in the fleet of London Transport's predecessors was built in 1929 and entered service in July of that year with Autocar Services Ltd. of Tunbridge Wells, before being transferred to East Surrey Traction. This bus did not receive its London Transport fleet number, ST1139, until after 1933 when the East Surrey Company (by then London General Country Services) ceased to exist and became part of London Transport. A total of 1139 ST type chassis were built, the class becoming a standard for London.

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AEC NS Type London Red Bus 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927

AEC NS Type

What is your favourite London Red Bus of all time?

The NS made its first appearance in 1923. With a wheelbase of 15ft 6in, it was able to carry bodywork of 25ft length and 7ft 3.5in width. Fitted with an AEC 4-cylinder 35bhp petrol engine, it had a multi disc clutch running in oil, a 4-speed 35bhp petrol engine, it had a multi disc clutch running in oil, a 4-speed constant mesh helical gearbox and double reduction rear axle. The NS type was initially fitted with solid tyres, although many were later converted to pneumatics. Models 405-408 were produced exclusively for London General Omnibus Co and its associates and it was not until 1925 that the 409 model was introduced and made available to other operators. Production ended in 1927 with the arrival of the advanced NS model, the 422.

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New Fordson Major Tractor 1952

New Fordson Major

What is your favorite classic tractor?

One of the most popular post-war tractors was the Fordson Diesel Major (also available with vapourising oil and petrol engines), which replaced the E27N Major in 1952. The petrol-engined version had a capacity of 3261cc whilst the diesel and TVO models were both of 3610cc, the former rated at 31.4/37.7hp. Six forward and two reverse gears were available. The Major was the basis of many conversions to all-wheel drive and half or full-track.

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Nuffield Universal Tractor 1948-1969

Nuffield Universal Tractor

What is your favorite classic tractor?

In 1948, Lord Nuffield made a noble attempt to break into the world of tractors with a new model made by his Nuffield Mechanisations firm that had built military vehicles during World War II. Produced in Birmingham, his tractor featured sophisticated hydraulic systems, a five-speed gearbox and some useful diesel expertise gained initially from the Swiss firm of Saurer. Nuffield's orange tractors earned a good reputation and became popular in the 1950s. They were offered in a variety of sizes and lasted until 1969 when British Leyland was formed.

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David Brown 30D Tractor 1950s

David Brown 30D Tractor 1950s

What is your favorite tractor?

Following on from the original VAK-1 models, the David Brown company came onto the diesel scene with its Cropmaster model. In 1953 an improved version, the 30D arrived, which produced 34-horsepower from its direct injection diesel unit. A 30C model was also available for those preferring a gas-kerosene engine. With the purchase of the makers of Albion implements in the mid-1950s, David Brown were able to offer a full tractor and implement line from 1955. David Brown were now the third largest manufacturer of agricultural tractors in Britain.

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Turner Yeoman of England Tractor 1950s

Turner Yeoman of England Tractor 1950s

What is your favorite tractor?

An interesting new make of tractor to come to the British market was the Turner Yeoman of England in 1958. Power came from a 40bhp V-4 diesel of Turner's own make and based on a marine engine. Unfortunately, although it was a well designed tractor and pleasant to drive with an upholstered bucket seat, it suffered from mechanical failures, and that, plus the high price stopped production in 1957. The Turner was one of the first tractors to use a dry air-cleaner although this was not successful and was soon replaced by an oil bath type. Dry air-cleaners would become almost standard in later years.

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Classic London Taxis: LT1 TX1, Metrocab, Winchester

London Taxis

What is your favourite London Taxi?

The London Taxi is surely one of the most instantly recognisable motor vehicles in the world, as much a part of London as Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. This guide features the specifics of some of the classic London Cabs:

Austin FX3

Produced 1948-58. FX3 (petrol) 1948-58; FX3D (diesel) 1950-58

Specification 1948 (petrol)

Engine: 2,199cc, 4-cylinder ohv.
Transmission: 4-speed manual.
Wheels and Tyres: Disc-type wheels with six securing studs; 5.75x16 Super Taxi Dunlop tyres.
Brakes: Girling mechanical.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 96km/h (60mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.81m, track, front and rear, 1.42m; overall length, 4.401m; overall width, 1.715m; height 1.797m
No. Produced: 7,267 examples
Bodybuilder: Carbodies

Beardmore Paramount Mk7

Produced 1955-67
Beardmore Mk 7 (diesel) 1958-67

Specification1955 (petrol)

Engine: 1,508cc, 4-cylinder ohv (Ford Consul)
Transmission: 3-speed manual, column change.
Wheels and Tyres: Pressed-steel wheels with Dunlop 5.75x16 tyres.
Brakes: Lockheed hydraulic.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.642m, track (front) 1.441m, (rear) 1.432m; overall length, 4.228m; overall width, 1.743m; height 1.829m
No Produced: 656 examples
Bodybuilders: Windovers, with later examples by Weymann.

Austin FX4 (& Fairway)

Produced 1958-97. FX4 (diesel) 1958; FX4 (petrol) from 1962; FX4R from 1982; FX4S from 1985; FX4S Plus from 1987; Fairway from 1988; LT1 Carbodies Fairway from 1992.

Specification 1958 (diesel)
Engine: 2,178cc, 4-cylinder ohv, diesel (Austin)
Transmission: 3-speed automatic (Borg-Warner).
Wheels and Tyres: Disc-type wheels with 5.75x16 Super Taxi Cord tubeless Dunlop tyres.
Brakes: 4-wheel hydraulic.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft)
Maximum Speed: 96km/h (60mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.81m, track, front and rear, 1,42m; overall length, 4.566m; overall width, 1.743m; height 1.765m.
No. Produced: approx. 77,000 examples (FX4/Fairway)
Bodybuilder: Carbodies.

Winchester

Produced 1963-72. Series 1 (diesel) 1963-64, Mk2 1964-66; MkIII 1967-68, Mk IV 1968-72

Specification Mk IV

Engine: 1.6 litre petrol (Ford).
Transmission: 4-speed manual.
Wheels and Tyres: 14-inch wheels and tyres.
Brakes: Drum.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 105km/h (65mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.69m, track, front and rear, 1.64m; overall length, 4.36m; overall width, 1.72m; height 1.83m.

No. Produced: approx 50 examples.
Bodybuilders: Wincanton Engineering.

Metrocab

Produced 1987-99. Metrocab Series 2 from 1995; Series 3 from 1998.

Specification

Engine: 2,496cc, 4-cylinder ohv, diesel (Ford).
Transmission: 4-speed automatic.
Wheels and Tyres: 5JX16 pressed-steel wheels with 175R 16 radial ply tyres.
Brakes: Dual-circuit hydraulic to all four wheels.
Turning Circle: 7.7 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 129km/h (80mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.90m, track (front) 1.45m, (rear) 1.47m; overall length, 4.505m; overall width, 1.44m; height 1.755m
No. Produced: 4283 to end 1996.
Bodybuilder: MCW (S1 and 1995 model year S2s). Hoopers (post 1995 S2 and S3).

LT1 TX1

Produced 1997-on.

Bronze, Silver and Royale.

Specification 1997

Engine: Nissan 2.7-litre
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic.
Wheels and Tyres: 5Jx 16 pressed-steel wheels with 175R 16 radial ply tyres.
Brakes: Dual-circuit hydraulic to all four wheels.
Turning Circle: 7.7 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 145km'h (90mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.9m, track (front) 1.45m, (rear) 1.47m; overall length, 4.505m; overall width, 1.44m; height 1.755m
No. Produced: 60 a week in 1997, increasing to 70-80 a week in 1999.
Bodybuilder: Carbodies (LT1).

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