Horse Bus Staff and Wages
Who were the people employed by the horse bus companies? What did they do? How much were they paid? Read on to find out more...
History of London General Omnibus Company (1956-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
"When were you 21?"
London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) employee G Savidge reminiscences about his experiences gaining his horse bus conductor license
Horse buses were operated by a driver and a conductor. According to a personal account by London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) employee G Savidge, in the 1890’s conductors were required to apply for a licence at New Scotland Yard, shadowing experienced conductors for three days without pay.
Tickets and wages (1891-05-26)TfL Corporate Archives
Wages differed depending on grade: established drivers were paid 7 shillings per day, conductors 5 shillings per day, horse keepers and washers 4 shillings. The average working day for drivers and conductors was around 12 hours but could extend up to 16 hours a day
LGOC Chief Veterinary Surgeons were salaried at £50 per month (c.£5,287 at 2024 prices), while their assistants were paid £33 6s 8d (c.£3,489).
Extract from London General Omnibus Company Ltd minutes confirming the appointment of Chief Veterinary Surgeon and Superintendent of Shoeing, Mr C T Bray and Mr C H Martin as Assistant Veterinary Surgeon and their wages
Drivers built up strong bonds with their horses, often seeing them as their “pet” and visiting them on their days off.
History of the London General Omnibus Company (1956-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
"A busmen's holiday!"
LGOC employee G Savidge remembers the strong bond between drivers and their horses, who would visit and ride with them on their day off
Reminisces of London Road Car Company employee (1956-02-02)TfL Corporate Archives
"What I remember most of all however was the lovely horses"
Correspondence from London Road Car Company employee Jonas Hardcastle reminiscing about his horse Eramus, who told him he enjoyed working for the company
Remember horses were staff too! Discover more about how they were looked after in our Horse Stabling andMaintenance story
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
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