BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

It is amazing how tremendous (and passionate) the bus hobby is in Great Britain.

Since the 1950s, there have been numerous bus preservation and enthusiast's groups, not to mention many hundreds of books (as well as monthly magazines) published on British buses and coaches, particularly those focusing on vehicles that ran in London.

There are many bus preservation groups who sponsor historic bus raillies and shows; in fact, 2014 was, in Great Britain, officially declared "The Year Of The Bus".

This gala celebration featured historic (and modern) buses and coaches for all over Great Britain converging upon London for public exhibitions, heritage runs, and other most enjoyable bus-related events.

Several times that year, Regents Street was closed to traffic, so that dozens of historic buses and coaches could be exhibited.

Here at home, things are not the same.

The famed GREYHOUND museum has sold off its collection of historic buses; here in New York, the MTA's historic bus collection (once running in holiday service each year) has been in limbo for a number of years now, and it is doubtful that these beautiful and historic buses will ever run again.

The London Transport Museum at Covent Garden is light-years beyond spectacular; here there are many magnificently restored London buses, coaches, trams, trolleybuses, and Tube cars on display....truly a magnificent sight!

In closing, it is QUITE obvious that Brits are VERY passionate about preserving historic public transport vehicles, especially buses; too bad we will never see the same amount of passion and dedication here in the States......

"NYO"

["142A UXBRIDGE STN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting page on the London Transport Museum..............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Transport_Museum

["42 OLD KENT RD/GOLDERS GREEN STN"]

(it is also interesting to note that the father of London's current Mayor, Sadiq Khan, was once a London Transport bus driver!)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Some of the magnificently restored buses and coaches on display at the LTM..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23637

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23641

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23642

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23635

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23644

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["462 WEYBRIDGE/UPPER EPPING"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This legendary transport oriented British publishing company has long been revered by Britain's vast legions of bus and rail enthusiasts..............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Allan_Publishing

["38 HOLBROOK-CHISWICK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "RT" and the "RM" (Routemaster), the most iconic (and revered) buses to operate in London.

Interestingly, the "RM" was the last bus designed specifically for service in London; they were also the last buses designed to be operated by a two-man crew.

Thankfully, many examples of both types survive today.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Regent_III_RT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Routemaster

["355 BECONTREE HIGH ROAD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Yet another outstanding bus museum in Great Britain (these Brits indeed take their public transport history SERIOUSLY!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bus_Museum

["SHEPHERD'S BUSH VIA HOLBURN-52"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's yet another excellent British bus museum............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Bus_Museum

(note the interesting MORRIS COMMERCIAL deck-and-a-half coach!)

In Great Britain, coaches of this type were often known as "observation coaches"; I have a vintage DINKY version in my collection.........

["244 CHESTERFIELD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In Great Britain, trolleybuses rate their own museum (in the photo at top left, note the highly-unusual "electrified 'Scenicruiser'")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trolleybus_Museum_at_Sandtoft

["669 NORTH WOOLWICH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's yet another British bus museum boasting a magnificent collection (great photos here!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewsbury_Bus_Museum

["SOUTH KENSINGTON STN-345"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

As I stated earlier, bus preservation in Great Britain is QUITE intense and, indeed, is a labor of love.

Many rare examples of historic buses and coaches have been saved from the torch, to be preserved for future generations.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_preservation_in_the_United_Kingdom

["79A TUNBRIDGE WELLS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Check out this great page for the British Trolleybus Society; be sure note the Fishbowl trolleybus in their colorful and eye-catching collection!

https://www.britishtrolley.org.uk/

["634 CHISWICK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The humble "GUY ARAB", perhaps the most memorable of London's wartime "utility" buses; as was status quo for London buses for decades, the bodies were built by any of a number of builders, some of which also built rolling stock for the "Tube".............

www.countrybus.org/Guy/G2.htm

["86A HAMMERSMITH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Not at all surprisingly, bus preservation is also a major undertaking "down under".

This museum's handsome collection includes restored buses from the 1920s through the 2000s.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Bus_Museum

["19 MELBOURNE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the long-defunct trolleybuses in Sydney; four of the electric coaches survive today.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Sydney

["ROCKDALE STATION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Check out this magnificent and stunning collection of restored historic buses and coaches....."Blimey!"

https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/london-bus-museum

["WATFORD-GREEN LINE"]