IAN'S BUS STOP: The LONDON TRANSPORT Pre-war and mid-war Bristols

The LONDON TRANSPORT pre-war and war-loaned Bristols

This page created 23rd July 2020.

London Transport was not a great user of Bristol buses. It was tied commercially to AEC, and politically to Leyland (whose large export business was deemed to be enhanced by its London buses). But the LPTB did acquire some at its formation, when in October 1933 it took over the Lewis Omnibus Company of Watford. That provided two coaches and two buses of Bristol B-type. The coaches were very soon disposed of, but the buses were used by LT locally in Watford, and one later in Hertford. They were sold in May 1936.

Then during the war, after the Blitz, an appeal was made for buses from the provinces to help out in London. This was probably a public relations exercise, as London was not short of buses, but lacked drivers. 390 double-deckers and 85 single deckers duly were taken on loan. They included fourteen B-type Bristols from United Automobile (Darlington), which arrived in October/November 1940. These 1929 veterans had rather old-fashioned but substantial 32-seater bodywork by United.

They were distributed around the Central Area, mostly to garages with single-decker routes. (You may remember that not a few petrol-engined LT scooters were in store). After just a day or two (literally), when presumably they had opportunities to be seen and appreciated for moral support by the public, all fourteen were sent off to Hertford for a few months. That allowed some of Hertford's Ts to be reassigned. They gradually went into store during the first half of 1941, and were returned to United in the summer.

Bus Histories:

These histories are not complete. They are being patched together as I gather information from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been:

London Bus Magazine (LOTS), especially LBM107: comprehensive article by Malcolm Papes
"London Bus File 1933-39 Single Deckers", Ken Glazier, Capital Transport 2002
Bristol Vehicles website

Bristol B single-deckers taken over by LPTB


B 1   RO 7064   */27    new to Lewis Omnibus, Watford: Bristol B144, Strachan & Brown, C32F
               10/33    taken over by LPTB
                3/34 WG (Watford High Street)
               10/34    withdrawn 
                        sold

B 2   RO 7065   */27    new to Lewis Omnibus, Watford: Bristol B145, Strachan & Brown, C32F
               10/33    taken over by LPTB
                3/34 WG (Watford High Street)
               10/34    withdrawn 
                        sold

B 3   UR 3831   */29    new to Lewis Omnibus, Watford: Bristol B408, Strachan & Brown, B32R
               10/33    taken over by LPTB
                3/34 WG (Watford High Street)
                3/35 WG used on 312 to Watford
                     WA garage relabelled
                1/36 WT transfer (Watford Leavesden Road)
                5/36 HG withdrawn 
                5/36    sold

B 4   UR 3832   */29    new to Lewis Omnibus, Watford: Bristol B409, Strachan & Brown, B32R
               10/33    taken over by LPTB
                3/34 WG (Watford High Street)
                     WG used on 315 to Abbots Langley
                3/35 WG used on 312 to Watford
                     WA garage relabelled
               c1/36 HG transfer (Hertford)
                5/36 HG withdrawn 
                5/36    sold

Mid-war loans from United Automobile: Bristol B single-deckers

 
      VF 5103   */29    built for United Automobile #L3: Bristol B420, United 1632, B32F
B103           11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 UX allocated (Uxbridge)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                3/41 HG withdrawn into store
                8/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5105   */29    built for United Automobile #L5: Bristol B422, United 1634, B32F
B105           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 K  allocated (Kingston)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5106   */29    built for United Automobile #L6: Bristol B418, United 1635, B32F
B106           11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 EW allocated (Edgware)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                3/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5110   */29    built for United Automobile #L10: Bristol B426, United 1639, B32F
B110           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 P  allocated (Old Kent Road)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                8/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5118   */29    built for United Automobile #L18: Bristol B434, United 1647, B32F
B118           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               10/40 EW allocated (Edgware)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                     HG used on 308A to Hertford
                     HG used on 308A to Little Berkhamsted
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5129   */29    built for United Automobile #L29: Bristol B445, United 1658, B32F
B129           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               10/40 D  allocated (Dalston)
               11/40 T  transfer (Leyton)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5134   */29    built for United Automobile #L34: Bristol B451, United 1663, B32F
B134           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 ED allocated (Elmers End)
               11/40 EW transfer (Edgware)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                5/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5139   */29    built for United Automobile #L39: Bristol B452, United 1668, B32F
B139           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 AD allocated (Palmers Green)
               11/40 MH transfer (Muswell Hill)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                5/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5159   */29    built for United Automobile #L59: Bristol B478, United 1696, B32F
B159           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 K  allocated (Kingston)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5164   */29    built for United Automobile #L64: Bristol B484, United 1702, B32F
B164           10/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 K  allocated (Kingston)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5165   */29    built for United Automobile #L65: Bristol B482, United 1704, B32F
B165           11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 CF allocated (Chalk Farm)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5192   */29    built for United Automobile #L92: Bristol B510, United 1732, B32F
B192           11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 ED allocated (Elmers End)
               11/40 EW transfer (Edgware)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                6/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

B205  VF 5205   */29    built for United Automobile #L105: Bristol B523, United 1675, B32F
               11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 CF allocated (Chalk Farm)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                3/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

      VF 5210   */29    built for United Automobile #L110: Bristol B529, United B32F 1687,
B210           11/40 CS loaned to London Transport: received at Chiswick
               11/40 PB allocated (Potters Bar)
               11/40 HG transfer (Hertford)
                3/41 HG withdrawn into store
                7/41    returned off-loan to United

Photographic References

A key to the references is in the bibliography.


LPTB           UR 3831  LBM107 p21   3/35  WG on 312 to Watford, East Barnet
                        VHD p55      3/35  WG on 312 to Watford, East Barnet  

LPTB           UR 3832  LBM107 p21         WG on 315 to Abbots Langley
                        LBF339S p91        WG on 315 to Abbots Langley

United  B118   VF 5118  LBM107 p22  c1941  HG on 308A to Hertford
                        VHD p66     c1941  HG on 308A to Little Berkhamsted

Bus Stop B: pre-war and war loan. bus histories photo refs B: post-war loan.
London B class.