BusTalk

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As was the case with FACCo, London's bus operations began with horse-drawn omnibuses (the first entered service in the 1830's, and soon greatly increased in numbers throughout the Capital)

By 1900, nearly 4000 double-deck omnibuses were in operation in London; though there already been experiments with self-powered motor buses, none were successful.

However, the first self-powered LGOC bus to be licensed by the Metropolitan Police was a CLARKSON steam bus, which began running in 1904.

As the motor buses in London grew in number (many were owned by "indy" operators), there became a tremendous need for standardization.

The first "standard" LGOC bus was the "B"-type, which entered service in 1909; these pioneer motor buses set the stage in bus development until after WW1.

Like FACCo, a number of the early London motor buses were built by the De DION company.

In 1907, FACCo became an entirely motorized operation; by this time, though, motor buses were now the dominant non-tram public transport vehicle in London on the streets, some of the old horse-drawn omnibuses were still to be seen swaying along the streets, but would soon disappear.

In 1916, the French army commandeered 25 De DION Bouton chassis for which FACCo already had bodies on order; FACCo met the challenge by beginning to build buses in their own shops.

During WW1, the British army requisitioned over 1,000 London buses to be sent to France, and allocated them to the British Army Services; most, but not all, were used as troop transports, with boarded up windows, wrapped in barbed wire, and painted army drab.

Some of these buses were converted into military lorries (trucks)

Though many of these war-weary buses came back to London after the War ended, many, sadly, did not, like many of the brave British troops they carried while on duty in France......

"NYO"

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See:

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

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

There are many vintage/modern-era photos here, showing a tremendous amount of variety (imagine the "Em-Tee-Yay" operating some of these!)

Personally, I sure wouldn't mind seeing one of the "new generation" ROUTEMASTERS sporting classic FACCo paint!

"NYO"

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Horsepower......

As mentioned earlier, the last horse-drawn FACCo bus ran in 1907; the following year, the now-retired horses that had once hauled the coaches were sold at auction.

In London, interestingly enough, the omnibus horses only worked three hours a day, with short rests at certain locations; by contrast, the crews themselves were on the road for up to 15 hours a day.......

"NYO"

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Interesting illustrated history of horse-buses......:

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

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Roller signs (FACCo/London).......

In this respect, FACCo was far more advanced than London, when it came to motor-bus destination signs.

FACCo was already using front roller sign boxes prior to WW1; in London, however, wooden sign boards, displaying the routes and areas served, dominated the London fleet through the 1920's (the Metropolitan Police insisted that as much information be given on these early signs as possible; Chiswick Works was the main location for the production, alteration, and instillation of wooden sign boards and roller curtains. This department alone once was staffed by well over a hundred men)

In fact, it was not until the mid-1920's where sign boxes began to be experimentally used in London; it was not until about 1929/1930 when new, enclosed top buses (such as the "LT" and the "ST" types) began arriving, already furnished with illuminated roller curtain boxes......

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Omnibus service in London had been commonplace for several decades by the time the first Fifth Avenue vehicles began running in 1885, running between Bleeker St. and 89th St. (initially, the first omnibuses were operated by the Fifth Avenue Transportation Company)

In London, the first omnibuses began operating in 1829; these early vehicles were single-deck; double-deck omnibuses did not appear until the 1840's.

The original double-deck omnibuses featured "knifeboard" seating on the upper deck (in this arrangement, the passengers sat back-to-back, facing the sides); it was not until the 1880's that forward-facing upper-deck seating became commonplace.

On an interesting note, bus drivers/conductors in London did not begin wearing Company-issued uniforms until 1909......

"NYO"

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Here's a page on DE DION; interesting to learn that the company, under license, was building motor cars (for a brief time) in Brooklyn.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Dion-Bouton

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Photo collection of single- and double-deck DE DION buses.......

https://www.pinterest.com/gbforth/classic-vintage-buses-de-dion-bouton/

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Just came across this wonderful "double-header" FACCo view from 1913......

https://www.shorpy.com/node/1409/

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"What Was It Like To Travel In Early London Buses?" (experiences were virtually the same on 5th Avenue!)

https://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-buses.htm

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Also of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_General_Omnibus_Company *

*(Note that this company was originally an Anglo-French enterprise, and was also the largest omnibus operator in the world)

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In a strong sense, FACCo was "more of the future" than London; at the time the "Queen Mary" buses were entering service, rear-engine double-deckers were were still far into the future in London.

Once the last open-top FACCo double-decker were retired in 1946, FACCo now rostered a fleet where all buses had rear-mounted engines.

It would not be until the 1960's that rear-engined double-deckers appeared on the streets of London........

"NYO"

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"ROLLING DOWN 5th AVENUE" (there's an interesting article, and two rare photos on this page, circa-WW1)

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/rolling-down-fifth-avenue

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Note here that FACCo built a number of single- and double-decker buses for Toronto (scroll down page for photo gallery)........

https://transittoronto.ca/bus/8512.shtml