10 significant road vehicles from our collection

This horse bus was operated by the London General Omnibus Company from 1881 to 1911, on a route between Waterloo and Baker Street. Until the arrival of the motor bus, vehicles like these dominated London’s streets. It could carry 28 people at a speed of nearly 8mph. The name ‘garden seat’ comes from the forward-facing benches on the upper deck.  

Though trams ran on rails, they were an important part of street level travel in London, particularly in the first half of the twentieth century. Manufactured in 1910, this type of tram became the standard design operated by London County Council Tramways and the most common to run in London. It was in passenger service until 1952.  

This bus was in service between 1911 and 1924. The B type was the first mass produced motor bus in the world, rapidly taking the place of horse-drawn buses in the years leading up to the First World War. This example was requisitioned for home defence work during the war, when it carried wounded troops around London. In the 1920s it was replaced on London’s streets by the K type, which could carry more passengers. 

This brown bus, operated by the Chocolate Express Omnibus Company between 1924 and 1934, highlights how not all London buses were red. At the time it was one of many buses operated by smaller independent bus companies, known as ‘pirates’ because they attempted to steal passengers on popular routes. When London Transport was created in 1933, all London buses were brought under one unified organisation. 

This electric-powered trolleybus from 1931 was the very first London trolleybus. It was introduced by London United Tramways, part of the Underground Group. Trolleybuses were cheaper to run and safer than trams, being able to pull into the kerbside, and so were very popular with passengers. This one ran from 1931 to 1948. 

This bus was in service between 1930 and 1949. LT types were designed to improve capacity and comfort and were a common sight during the Second World War. This one was restored in 1979 to its wartime appearance, with blast-netting on the windows and shaded headlamps and white-painted mudguards so it could be seen in blackout conditions during air raids. 

This red bus was manufactured in 1934. The STL was the last type to be developed by the London General Omnibus Company before it became part of a unified London Transport in 1933. It was the dominant type of bus in London in the 1930s, 1940s and into the early 1950s, with 2,700 in service. 

This quirky-looking green bus was manufactured in 1935. Its innovative design, including the engine being mounted upright behind the driver, inspired many later bus designs.

This example ran on route 49 from Farningham to Erith in Kent, so as a country bus it was painted green. It was in service from September 1935 to April 1953.

This striking gold bus was manufactured in 1954, running on routes in central London as a red bus. RT type buses were among the first to have metal frames and interchangeable parts. This one was acquired by the Museum in 1978 after it was withdrawn from service. In 2002, it was painted gold for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. 

The RM type, best known as the Routemaster, is the most famous London bus with its flowing lines, red colour and rear staircase. This is the very first of its type, manufactured in 1954 as one of four prototypes. The RM served London’s streets until being withdrawn from general service in 2005, having outlived the buses bought to replace it in the 1970s. It was voted one of Britain’s top ten design icons in 2006.