| LGOC B-type | |
|---|---|
 B340, owned by theLondon Transport Museum; London to Brighton Run, 2006 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | London General Omnibus Company |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 1 door |
| Floor type | Step entrance |
TheLGOC B-type is a model ofdouble-decker bus that was introduced inLondon in 1910. It was both built and operated by theLondon General Omnibus Company (LGOC).
B-type buses were built inWalthamstow and replaced theX-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 byFrank 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]
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 paintedkhaki.[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]
TheImperial War Museum preserves a B-Type bus, B43, which was built byAEC in 1911 and ran on London bus routes until being purchased by theWar 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 byKing George V atBuckingham 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 itOle Bill afterBruce 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]
In 1920 more than 60 buses were converted to single deckers with new bodies based on that of theK-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]
