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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:18 am Post subject: |
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Further on the ex-London "RT's" in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).......
Though many buses remained easily recognizable from their London days, there was also much in the way of adaptation and re-vamping, as these buses entered their new life from from London.
Also, given the fact that London's climate is far removed from the humid, tropical heat of Ceylon, it is not at all surprising that the former LT buses assumed modifications in view of this (NO a/c, however!)
Some buses had sliding windows at the front of the upper deck installed; many buses had their original lower-deck windows replaced with sliding ones.
A number of the old "RT's" had the lower panels of the engine compartment removed, to provide increased ventilation to the engines.
With inadequate repair facilities and less-than-professional mechanics, it is no wonder that these old veterans of London soon became decrepit, battered, run-down wrecks.
Yet, somehow, these old workhorses STILL kept on running for a number of years more, before they were retired......
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:33 am; edited 4 times in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:28 am Post subject: |
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....those old "RT's" that went on to serve in South Africa and Asia soon found themselves in a unique segregated services (which, thankfully, no longer exists)
In this now-gone service, the buses used on non-white routes used flashing indicators (and electric sign boxes) to denote that this particular bus did not carry white passengers.
In Colombo, bus stops were marked by overhead metal signs, mounted on poles, reading:
"MOTOR BUS HALTING PLACE"
In later years, some of the old "RT's" were stripped of their bodies and converted into lorries (trucks)......
"NYO" |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:43 am Post subject: |
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The photo of this battered "RT" operating in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) dates to 1972.
Note the overall raffish condition of the bus; also, note the missing mudguard "fender) and, also, the new sliding windows installed at the front of the upper deck.
The total lack of outside advertising is quite the opposite of London.....
https://sltbbus.blogspot.com/2015/06/an-ex-london-transport-leyland-rtw.html |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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.......though we have often heard of the many ex-London "RT" buses exported to Ceylon (now Sri Laka) many "RM" Routemaster have likewise traveled to Sri Lanka.
In total (AFAIK) forty-one "RM's" were shipped to Sri Lanka, as part of an international aid package.
Following a re-orgniztion of the nationalized Regional Transport Boards in 1990/1991, each depot (garage) became a separate subsidiary company in is own right, and these companies became known as the "Peoplised Transport Company".
Thee companies were later merged into eleven larger companies in 1997. Disposals of the "RM's" had commenced by this time, and while several had since passed on to private owners, a number of buses have sadly been scrapped (clearly, the "RM's" did not serve Sri Lankans as long as the older RT's")
In a report from 1999, it was found that at least five "RM's" remained in regular service, but, more than likely, there were still others on other parts of the island.
Oddly enough, not only were these buses maintained far more decently than the old "RT's", but, they also carried advertising posters (some were even painted with the logos of the products that were being touted on their flanks)
Some buses were re-equipped with ASHOK engines, and these buses were easy to spot due to their rebuilt fronts......
"NYO" |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Also of interest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Routemaster
www.countrybus.org/RM/RM.html
Interestingly, FACCo was quite a bit more "up to date" than LT, regarding its double-decker fleet.
FACCo introduced one-man double-deckers when the "Queen Mary" buses entered service in the late 1930's; however, it would not be until the 1960's when the first front-entrance, one-man double-deckers entered service in London.
Also, these new one-man double-deckers also introduced rear engine double-deckers to the LT fleet; FACCo did the same in the 1930's......
"NYO" |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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....recall, also, that FACCo was already operating single-deck buses by the later 1930's; in London, however, it would not be until 1952, when the new "flat face" buses/coaches ("RF" class) would begin to replace the older, front-engined "T" types.
Outside of the "RF" types, it would not be until the 1960's that non-"RF"-type, single-deck buses would become commonplace in London, the "Merlins", as an example ("OMO" buses).....
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:39 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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Though none of FACCo's horse-drawn buses were ever converted into mail transports, in London, however, a number converted omnibuses were used by the Post Office to transport the Royal Mail ("Royal Mail Parcel Coaches"), beginning in 1887.
Scroll down the page for a rare photo of one of these converted omnibuses......
https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/victorian-mail-transport/ |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Two "early" rear-engine FACCo/NYO buses:
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154382
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154384
At the time that these FACCo buses were new, it would still be a decade or more before the first rear-engine (single-deck) buses appeared in the LT fleet.
And, it would not be until well into the 1960's, that single-deck buses (with rear doors) began to enter service in London......
(courtesy: nycsubway.org) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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Single-deck, front-engine FACCO #2500.......
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156385
(courtey: nycsubway.org)
Though very much in the minority, the first single-deck buses in London appeared about 1910; the earliest of these buses loaded from the rear platform (as was the case with the single-deck DE DIONS)
Interestingly, that arrangement remained commonplace in Paris through the 1960's........
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 57 Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 2410 Location: New York, New York, USA
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | Two "early" rear-engine FACCo/NYO buses:
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154382
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154384
At the time that these FACCo buses were new, it would still be a decade or more before the first rear-engine (single-deck) buses appeared in the LT fleet.
And, it would not be until well into the 1960's, that single-deck buses (with rear doors) began to enter service in London......
(courtesy: nycsubway.org) |
#154382 was Madison Avenue Coach, a NYCO subsidiary which was affiliated with FACCo. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
I've always liked reading of old bus companies (like railroads) that seemed to be "competitors", but were, in fact, affilates.
In London, pre-LPTB, though there were affilates, to be sure, there were far more competitors.
GREEN LINE was closely associated with LT for many years (this long-established company served the far suburbs); however, a number of LT bus routes reached the innermost fringes of suburban (or "country" territory) served by GREEN LINE.
In fact, it was not at all uncommon to see LT double-deckers (or single-deckers) sporting roller blinds reading: "GREEN LIFE RELIEF", when there was a shortage of buses in the GL fleet, or, during traffic surges)
To make things even more interesting, you'd also see green buses in the "country" areas, sporting LT insignia!
However, in later years, both LT and GREEN line bus operations were handed over to the new NATIONAL BUS COMPANY......
"NYO" |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22536 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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..........recall, also, that, back in its heyday, LT was much like the "Tee-Yay", operating both the buses (with the exception of a few "indy" companies) as well as the Underground tubes.
When the MTA took over GREEN BUS, STEINWAY, etc., some years back, it truly achieved a monopoly; remaining competition was now in the past.
In the early years of the Underground, there were a number of separate companies operating the Tube trains, much in the way the IRT and the BRT/BMT were operating the subways and the elevateds, pre-1940 Unification (remember, too, the B&QT's streetcar and trolley bus networks)
TARS was, of course, an "independent" streetcar company, whose routes were later replaced by SURFACE buses; it had no rapid transit "connections", as did the BRT/BMT.
Today, in London, LT is now more, and, as it was in the early day of motor buses in London, a plethora of independent companies are now moving the masses about......
"NYO" |
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