Road vehicle; B-type LGOC open top motor bus fleet No B340 registration number LA9928, 1911

Open this image in your browser's fullscreen mode

Open this image in your browser's fullscreen mode

License this image

Share this item

Add to collection

Main details

Main details for this item.

Reference number	1981/514
Description	The B-Type was the first mass produced motorbus in the world. In 1912, 20 were built per week. By 1919 B- types had replaced all horse buses and most motor buses in London. In the First World War, over 900 B-types were used by the army on the Western Front, some of which were converted into lorries. This one transported wounded troops around London from 1914 to 1916. It then returned to regular bus work before being withdrawn in 1924.
Manufacturer	London General Omnibus Company, Walthamstow
Dates	1911
Collection	Vehicles
Object type	Road vehicle
Location	Acton Depot
Topics	B- type B type LGOC WW1 Bus
Completeness	100% 100% ?

• Physical description

  Dimensions

  Attribute	Value
  Height	3850mm12ft 5in
  Length	6925mm22ft 9in
  Width	2083mm6ft 11.5in

  Weight

  Attribute	Value
  Laden	6tons 2cwt 2qts
  Unladen	3tons 11cwt 1qts

  Colour

  Attribute	Value
  Colour	Red White Black gold

• Build and type

  Attribute	Value
  Deck	Double
  Type	B-type
  Body number	2705 4502
  Chassis number	B340
  Fleet number	B340
  Registration number	LA9928

• People involved

  Role	Person(s) involved
  Manufacturer	London General Omnibus Company, Walthamstow, 1911

• Associated companies, people and places

  Company

  Attribute	Value
  Garages	Middle Row, 1911 Kingston, December 1916 Tottenham, 1921 Turnham Green, 10/12/1923 - 25/07/1924 Kingston, 25/07/1924 - 17/03/25 Chiswick, 17/03/1925 - 28/03/1925 Athol Street, 28/03/1925 - 10/09/1926 Hornchurch, 10/09/1926 - 29/10/1926 Earls Court, 29/10/1926 - 20/02/1928 Chiswick, 20/02/1928 - 01/03/1935 Chiswick Tram Depot, 01/03/1935 - 11/12/1935 Chiswick, 11/12/1935 - 26/02/1936 Hudson Bay Company, Canada, 26/02/1936 - 20/10/1936 Chiswick tram depot, 20/10/1936 - 07/01/1938 Chiswick, 07/01/1938 - 17/01/1938 Chiswick tram depot, 17/01/1938 - 01/12/1941 Guildford, 01/12/1941 - 17/01/1946 Reigate, 17/01/1946 - 01/11/1949 Chiswick, 01/11/1949 - 15/11/1949 Reigate, 15/11/1949 - 1960 Museum of British Transport, Clapham, 22/02/1960
  Operated by	London General Omnibus Company, 1911 - 1914 War Department, 1914 - 1916 London General Omnibus Company, 1916 - July 1924

  Places

  Borough	Waltham Forest,

More about buses

Why are London buses red?

Read the story of why London buses are red

A short history of London’s buses

Buses have evolved from basic wooden open-topped vehicles to highly sophisticated and intricately designed pieces of computerised technology. A short history of London’s buses.

The motor bus revolution, 1900 - 1914

Although the first motor bus operated in 1899, early experimental vehicles were not practical or reliable. Learn how sturdier buses began to emerge and how London’s biggest bus companies operated them.