B-type motor bus, 1911

© Transport for London
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The B-type was London's first reliable, mass-produced motor bus. It was designed in 1910 by Frank Searle, Chief Engineer of the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC). The Museum owns B-type bus No. B340, which was built in 1911, the year the LGOC replaced the last of its horse buses with the successful new motors. It entered service from New Row (Victoria) garage. Many B-types were used as troop transport on the Western Front during the First World War (1914-18), but B340 was used on Home Defence work.