From Horse Bus to Motor Bus
The London General Omnibus Company revolutionised bus travel in London at the turn of the 20th century. Find out more below...
"B" type motor bus at Oxford Circus (1914-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1910, after experimenting with 30 different models, the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) introduced the “B” type motor bus – the first standardised motor bus
"From Horse Bus to Motor Bus" (1938-05)TfL Corporate Archives
"...it sometimes faced the opposite direction"
One employee remembers his first experience driving a motor bus: “the ponderous vehicle skidded so badly on asphalt that it sometimes faced the opposite direction”
Over time, company experiments with various bus engines improved conditions for drivers and conductors greatly
The First "B" Type Motor Bus (1928-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The LGOC's new motor bus arrives at Windsor in 1914
The last LGOC horse-bus ran in October 1911 between London Bridge and Moorgate Street, the last into central London ran in March 1912 and the last of all in London ran in August 1914, after which many of the horses were required for war service
"'A Horse 'Bus. Still Running Daily in London" (1932-01-04)TfL Corporate Archives
Newspaper cutting discussing the final horse bus operating in London, between Baker Street and Chessington Zoo
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.
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