Reconstruction of the Shillibeer horse bus from 1829 (1929) by London General Omnibus CompanyLondon Transport Museum
The first public bus system was introduced in Nantes, France, by Stanislas Baudry in 1826. These omnibuses (from the latin meaning, 'for all') were horse-drawn carriages that could carry up to 16 passengers. The public response was enthusiastic, and the idea quickly caught on.
This is a reconstruction of one of the first omnibuses to be built in London. It was made by George Shillibeer in 1829, and was directly inspired by the type of vehicles in use in Paris. It offered the growing middle classes an easy and economic way to travel the city.
London General Omnibus Company 'garden seat' type horse bus (1881) by London General Omnibus CompanyLondon Transport Museum
Fifty years later, this horse bus was operated by the London General Omnibus Company from 1880-1911 on the route between Waterloo and Baker Street. It was the lightest and strongest vehicle of its type in the world and could carry 28 people at nearly 8mph.
B-type LGOC open top motor bus bonnet No B340 (1911) by London General Omnibus CompanyLondon Transport Museum
By the late 19th Century, the age of the horse was over. Motor buses had existed since the 1890s, but the 1910 B-type bus was the world's first mass-produced model. By 1919, there were no more horse-drawn buses in London.
B-type LGOC open top motor bus bonnet No B2737, registration mark LH8186 (1913) by London General Omnibus Company, WalthamstowLondon Transport Museum
During the First World War, over 900 B-types were shipped to France - some were painted a drab khaki, but others still displayed their London adverts - to carry troops to the Western Front. This bus, no. B2737, has been faithfully restored to its wartime appearance.
1927 Blue Bird School Bus (1927) by Luce, Albert L, 1888-1962 and Ford Motor CompanyOriginal Source: http://collections.thehenryford.org/Collection.aspx?objectKey=357533
This 1927 Blue Bird is the oldest surviving school bus in America. Albert Luce, Sr., built his first bus in 1925 by mounting a steel and wooden body to a Ford truck frame. It was a success, and he started building school buses full-time.
L Series bus (1952)Heritage Transport Museum
The International Harvester Travelall is a classic piece of American automobile design, but it's almost famous in Australia. In the 1950s, many L Series buses were exported there, and commonly seen on Australian roads. Some travelled even further; this bus ended up in India.
K2-class trolleybus No 1253 registration mark EXV253 (1939) by Leyland MotorsLondon Transport Museum
From 1931 until 1962 London was served by a fleet of Trolleybuses. These vehicles, a cross between an electric tram and a motorbus, were very popular for their comfortable interiors and quiet and smooth ride. Sadly, their reliance on overhead cables meant they were inflexible.
Routemaster double deck motor bus bonnet No RM1737 registration number 737DYE (1963) by Associated Equipment Company/Park Royal VehiclesLondon Transport Museum
In 1954, London Transport developed the Routemaster. This iconic bright-red double decker became a symbol of the city. It was a technologically-advanced, fast, light, nimble vehicle that was heavily influenced by aircraft engineering of the Second World War.
Interior of RM-type double deck motor bus No RM1737 (1963) by Hugh RobertsonLondon Transport Museum
Perhaps the most memorable feature of the Routemaster was its moquette upholstry. Designer Douglas Scott devised the colour scheme for the interior of the Routemaster carefully; the maroon, yellow and green of the interior mirrored in the fabric pattern.
Rosa Parks BusGeorgia Public Broadcasting
Buses aren't just design objects, some have played major roles in political history. This was the racially-segregated bus on which Rosa Parks was riding in December 1955, when she refused to give up her seat to white passengers. That small protest sparked a wider boycott.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott inspired civil rights activists to challenge transport segregation via the courts. By the end of 1956, the US Supreme Court had affirmed the decision of Browder v. Gayle, that segregation of buses was unconstitutional.
