ID of English Bus on Miss Marple

**Fifth Columnist** · 28th October 2016, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Fifth Columnist,

So what would the green beastie be?

It's the Guy Special (Known as the 'GS') built for London Transport.

Thanks for the link.

**Lionelgee** · 28th October 2016, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Fifth Columnist

It's the Guy Special (Known as the 'GS') built for London Transport.

Thanks for the link.

Hello Fifth Col.,

Thanks for the information - 1953 Guy Special country bus GS34; accessed October 28, 2016 from, 1953 Guy Special country bus - GS34 - London Bus Museum

Plus a slide show of another Guy Special being restored accessed October 28, 2016 from, [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlect0dGHVA[/ame]

But wait - there's still more ....accessed October 28, 2016 from, [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KobrYIPuY9Y[/ame]

Kind Regards
Lionel

**Dark61** · 29th October 2016, 09:10 AM

I remember that font "used tickets" "don't talk to the driver" etc from when the Routemasters were introduced in the 60's. I also remember being fascinated as a kid , going on the train for the Summer Holidays from South London (London Transport Co.) to the South Coast (Southdown Transport Co.) and knowing we were getting near to the coast as the colour of the buses changed from red (London) to Green (Country). I went to the London Transport museum back in the mid 90's and was tempted to buy an old Conductors ticket machine for GBP50.00 ish. I didn't because I thought it was a bit steep! I wish I had now!!
Thanks for posting this stuff.
cheers,
D

**Avion8** · 29th October 2016, 03:18 PM

Going to school in the late 50's/early 60's on East Kent AEC buses I remember the only reading literature was: "Please tender exact fare & state destination"

**Dark61** · 5th November 2016, 10:09 PM

saw this when I took the Hound for a sniff earlier - it has a Rover engine in it.
cheers,
David

**Fifth Columnist** · 5th November 2016, 11:53 PM

All those steel body compound curves needed some massive press tools.
Must have been volume production.

**V8Ian** · 6th November 2016, 12:08 AM

The only "volume" produced bits were all forward of the windscreen or below the chassis, Dakar. Probably formed on an english wheel, by hand.

**Chops** · 6th November 2016, 11:02 AM

Still,,, they're beautiful lines.

**Lionelgee** · 6th November 2016, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dark61

saw this when I took the Hound for a sniff earlier - it has a Rover engine in it.
cheers,
David

Hello David,

That would be a 1947 - 1950s REO Speed Wagon Bus that when it was first made would have come fitted with a Gold Comet 331 cubic inch petrol 6 cylinder engine.

I have a 1934-35 REO Speed Wagon truck waiting for me to get a life and to restore it.

This is what that bus could look like if it was restored to its former glory - apparently according to this website it was photographed in Norway. Photograph accessed November 6, 2016 from https://myntransportblog.com/2014/12/24/reo-motor-car-company-lansing-michigan-u-s-a-1905-1975-2

Here is a school bus version of a similar REO there will be differences in the passenger area of the bus due to local coach-builder's variations in styling. Accessed November 4 2016 from https://au.pinterest.com/pin/305892999663254358

Kind Regards
Lionel

**JDNSW** · 6th November 2016, 07:30 PM

Interesting. The generally similar bus I travelled on as a child in the second half of the forties was, I am pretty certain, built on a ex-military Ford truck chassis. The main things I remember about it are the almost inaudible idle of the flat head V8, and the noise from the gearbox in anything except top.

Also remember that it had, in elegant gold lettering above the door "Safety First", presumably to make passengers less likely to jump off while the bus was moving. The door was a concertina canvas one, and was never shut while the bus was in service.

In the early fifties, they got a couple of somewhat larger forward control buses. One of these even had a diesel engine. I think the other one was still a Ford V8.

The other thing that would be very noticeable to most of you today was that all of these buses had mechanical hands that were slid out by the driver with a distinctive sound to signal stopping, slowing or turning right - no turn indicators or stop lights. While a few vehicles had stop lights, these did not become a legal substitute for hand signals until the mid to late fifties, and turn indicators a few years later.

John

Thread: ID of English Bus on Miss Marple

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