| MB 629. AML 629H. Service 99. Woolwich - Upper Belvedere - Erith. Seen
in Plumstead High Street at the Plumstead Corner bus stop. This is near
St Nicholas Church, behind the bus is The Plume of Feathers public house.
The MB was the first generation of 'one man buses' in the central area and were used to replace RT operated routes. Restrictions were in force so driver operators could only be used on single deck buses. When these were lifted the MB was quickly replaced by DMS double deck buses. See DMS buses in this same part of the road. Photograph. John King. |
| MBA18. SMM 18F.
Service 500, Red Arrow. (Victoria Station - Marble Arch - Victoria Station) August 1968. Photograph John King The Red Arrow was a new concept in bus services. It was a flat fare
bus with coin operated turnstiles and, had front entrance and centre exit
doors. They had few seats with lots of standing space.
See a picture of this bus after conversion to MB on the 108 at Greenwich |
| MB 30 VLW 30G. (ex MBA 30 ).
Service 108. Bow - Blackwall Tunnel - Blackheath - Eltham. At the bus stand, Blackheath Standard. The seating capacity of the MB was 50. Photograph. John King |
| MBS 443. VLW 443G On Service P1 This was the standee version
of the Merlin, it had turnstile entrance with coin machines for fares.
people were reluctant to use these machines and often still paid the driver
The coin machines were often out of order, probable due to being driven
over all the pot holes in London Streets which upset their delicate mechanisms.
They were higher capacity buses than the standard MBs due to the sets in front of the central doors being removed to make room for standing passengers. These held 32 seated plus 34 standing. Photograph taken in Verney Road, the Canal Bridge Sunday terminus of the route. March 1969.
|
| Another picture of MBS 443. VLW 443G, on service P1 a circular
route in Peckham, New Cross. The coin in the slot emblems can be seen on
the front of the bus.
Seen in Achilles Street, New Cross, which is the stand for Clifton Rise. March 1969. Photograph. John King. |
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