B-type buses were built in Walthamstow and replaced the X-type bus. It had a 34-seat capacity and is often considered to be the first mass-produced bus.[1] The first bus began carrying passengers in 1911.[2][3] By 1913 over 2500 had been built.[3]
The B-type was designed by Frank Searle, who was chief engineer of the LGOC. It had a wooden frame, steel wheels, a worm drive and chain gearbox. Its top speed was 16 miles per hour (26 km/h), which was above the legal speed limit at that time of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h). However the vehicle could reach 30–35 miles per hour (48–56 km/h) under the right conditions.[4]
B-types carried 16 passengers inside and had seats for 18 on the uncovered top deck. These outside seats were fitted with wet-weather canvas covers. Electric lighting was introduced from 1912, and headlights in 1913. Before this, it was thought that interior lighting would render the bus sufficiently visible at night.[4]
World War I serviceedit
A total of 900 of the buses were used to move troops behind the lines during World War I.[2] After initially serving without any modifications and in their red-and-white livery, they were painted khaki.[2] It was soon found that the glass windows on the lower deck were prone to breakage, mostly from contact with the men's rifles and packs. The glass was therefore removed and replaced by planks nailed to the sides of the vehicle.[5] Others were converted to lorries or vans, with the bus bodies being placed in storage. [6]
The B-Type could carry 24 fully equipped infantrymen and their kit. Some were converted into mobile pigeon lofts to house the pigeons used for communication along the front.[4] They served until the end of the war when they were used to bring troops home.[2]
Ole Billedit
B-type Omnibus "Ole Bill" troop transportOle Bill If you know of a better ‘ole . .
The Imperial War Museum preserves a B-Type bus, B43, which was built by AEC in 1911 and ran on London bus routes until being purchased by the War Office in 1914.[7] B43 served in France and Belgium until 1919 when it was repurchased by the LGOC. On 14 February 1920 B43 was inspected by King George V at Buckingham Palace, becoming the first bus any British monarch had ever boarded.[7][6][nb 1] During the early 1920s the bus was retired from service and preserved by the Auxiliary Omnibus Companies Association, who renamed it Ole Bill after Bruce Bairnsfather's celebrated caricature of a British soldier.[7]Ole Bill continued to appear in commemorative parades,[nb 2] before being presented to the Imperial War Museum in April 1970.[11]
Post waredit
In 1920 more than 60 buses were converted to single deckers with new bodies based on that of the K-type.[12] The last double decker was withdrawn from regular service on 12 October 1926, though a few were held in reserve until 9 August 1927. The single deckers were all withdrawn by 18 October 1927. In all over 2,900 had been built.[13]
Galleryedit
British troops boarding "B types" following the Battle of Arras (May 1917)
^ abcImperial War Museum (2012). "AEC B Type Bus (B43 Old Bill)". Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
^"Old Bill - King Inspects Bus". www.britishpathe.com. British Pathé. 1920. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
^"Steadily... Shoulder To Shoulder". www.britishpathe.com. British Pathé. 1930. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
^"Old Bill AKA Historic Transport". www.britishpathe.com. British Pathé. 1960. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
^. Imperial War Museum: Your History. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
^Taylor, Sheila, ed. (2001). The Moving Metropolis. London: Lawrence King Publishing. p. 125. ISBN1 85669 326 0.
^Lee, Charles E (1974). The Early Motor Bus. Westminster: London Transport. p. 25.
Further readingedit
Thackray, Brian (2001). The AEC Story:Part 1. Venture Publications Ltd. ISBN1-898432-37-6
Thackray, Brian (2004). AEC Vehicles: Origins to 1929. Venture Publications Ltd. ISBN1-898432-44-9
Townsin, A. A. (1980). Blue Triangle. Transport Publishing Company. ISBN0-903839-34-2
Robbins, G.J., & Atkinson, J.B. The London B-Type Motor Omnibus, 1970
Bruce, J.G. & Curtis, C.H. The London Motor Bus, London Transport, 1973. ISBN0-85329-036-9
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LGOC B-type Bus.
November 04, 2023
lgoc, type, model, double, decker, that, introduced, london, 1910, both, built, operated, london, general, omnibus, company, lgoc, b340, owned, london, transport, museum, london, brighton, 2006overviewmanufacturerlondon, general, omnibus, companybody, chassisd. The LGOC B type is a model of double decker bus that was introduced in London in 1910 It was both built and operated by the London General Omnibus Company LGOC LGOC B typeB340 owned by the London Transport Museum London to Brighton Run 2006OverviewManufacturerLondon General Omnibus CompanyBody and chassisDoors1 doorFloor typeStep entrance Contents 1 Design and pre war service 2 World War I service 2 1 Ole Bill 3 Post war 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further readingDesign and pre war service editB type buses were built in Walthamstow and replaced the X type bus It had a 34 seat capacity and is often considered to be the first mass produced bus 1 The first bus began carrying passengers in 1911 2 3 By 1913 over 2500 had been built 3 The B type was designed by Frank Searle who was chief engineer of the LGOC It had a wooden frame steel wheels a worm drive and chain gearbox Its top speed was 16 miles per hour 26 km h which was above the legal speed limit at that time of 12 miles per hour 19 km h However the vehicle could reach 30 35 miles per hour 48 56 km h under the right conditions 4 B types carried 16 passengers inside and had seats for 18 on the uncovered top deck These outside seats were fitted with wet weather canvas covers Electric lighting was introduced from 1912 and headlights in 1913 Before this it was thought that interior lighting would render the bus sufficiently visible at night 4 World War I service editA total of 900 of the buses were used to move troops behind the lines during World War I 2 After initially serving without any modifications and in their red and white livery they were painted khaki 2 It was soon found that the glass windows on the lower deck were prone to breakage mostly from contact with the men s rifles and packs The glass was therefore removed and replaced by planks nailed to the sides of the vehicle 5 Others were converted to lorries or vans with the bus bodies being placed in storage 6 The B Type could carry 24 fully equipped infantrymen and their kit Some were converted into mobile pigeon lofts to house the pigeons used for communication along the front 4 They served until the end of the war when they were used to bring troops home 2 Ole Bill edit nbsp B type Omnibus Ole Bill troop transport nbsp Ole BillIf you know of a better ole The Imperial War Museum preserves a B Type bus B43 which was built by AEC in 1911 and ran on London bus routes until being purchased by the War Office in 1914 7 B43 served in France and Belgium until 1919 when it was repurchased by the LGOC On 14 February 1920 B43 was inspected by King George V at Buckingham Palace becoming the first bus any British monarch had ever boarded 7 6 nb 1 During the early 1920s the bus was retired from service and preserved by the Auxiliary Omnibus Companies Association who renamed it Ole Bill after Bruce Bairnsfather s celebrated caricature of a British soldier 7 Ole Bill continued to appear in commemorative parades nb 2 before being presented to the Imperial War Museum in April 1970 11 Post war editIn 1920 more than 60 buses were converted to single deckers with new bodies based on that of the K type 12 The last double decker was withdrawn from regular service on 12 October 1926 though a few were held in reserve until 9 August 1927 The single deckers were all withdrawn by 18 October 1927 In all over 2 900 had been built 13 Gallery edit nbsp British troops boarding B types following the Battle of Arras May 1917 nbsp As mobile pigeon loft in WWISee also edit nbsp Buses portalList of busesNotes edit The inspection was filmed by a newsreel cameraman for Pathe Gazette 8 At least two such appearances were recorded by Pathe cameramen in 1930 and 1960 9 10 References edit B type LGOC open top motor bus bonnet No B340 registration mark LA9928 1911 Retrieved 23 May 2018 a b c d Livesey Jack 2007 Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World Wars I and II Southwater p 84 ISBN 978 1 84476 370 2 a b Ward Rod 2007 AEC Album Part One to 1945 Zeteo Publishing p 7 OCLC 1014414977 a b c Exploring 20th Century London Buses Museum of London Retrieved 30 May 2008 Destination Western Front London s Omnibuses Go To War R Larkin 2010 ISBN 978 0 956501400 a b Ward 2007 p 9 a b c Imperial War Museum 2012 AEC B Type Bus B43 Old Bill Imperial War Museum Collections Search Retrieved 18 February 2012 Old Bill King Inspects Bus www britishpathe com British Pathe 1920 Retrieved 15 August 2012 Steadily Shoulder To Shoulder www britishpathe com British Pathe 1930 Retrieved 15 August 2012 Old Bill AKA Historic Transport www britishpathe com British Pathe 1960 Retrieved 15 August 2012 Ole Bill Bus Imperial War Museum Your History Archived from the original on 13 December 2013 Retrieved 15 August 2012 Taylor Sheila ed 2001 The Moving Metropolis London Lawrence King Publishing p 125 ISBN 1 85669 326 0 Lee Charles E 1974 The Early Motor Bus Westminster London Transport p 25 Further reading editThackray Brian 2001 The AEC Story Part 1 Venture Publications Ltd ISBN 1 898432 37 6 Thackray Brian 2004 AEC Vehicles Origins to 1929 Venture Publications Ltd ISBN 1 898432 44 9 Townsin A A 1980 Blue Triangle Transport Publishing Company ISBN 0 903839 34 2 Robbins G J amp Atkinson J B The London B Type Motor Omnibus 1970 Bruce J G amp Curtis C H The London Motor Bus London Transport 1973 ISBN 0 85329 036 9 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to LGOC B type Bus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LGOC B type amp oldid 1175777510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
