Battle Bus - London Transport Museum

The story
of B2737
London Transport
Museum’s restored B-type
bus, fleet number B2737,
began service in January 1914.
It served Route 9, between
Barnes and Liverpool Street.
When war broke out, it was
commandeered by the War Department.
Returning to London after the war still in
its khaki livery, B2737 served as a ‘Traffic
Emergency Bus’ – a ‘no-frills’ solution
to relieving pressure on congested bus
routes. In 1922 it was finally sold to the
National Omnibus & Transport Company
for use outside London.
#ltmbattlebus
About us
LGOC staff in 1919
inspecting a bus
returned from
France. Four years
of heavy use in
appalling conditions
have taken their toll.
A hundred years later
– the restoration
This type of vehicle was constructed from parts
made to such fine measurements they were
interchangeable. This made them reliable and
easy to maintain, and extended their life – though
few have survived for 100 years. B2737 has
been restored using original parts found from
all over the world, even as far away as Australia.
Missing or damaged components were specially
remade by skilled craftsmen and engineers.
The restoration to operational condition has
taken over 12 months.
The chassis of B2737 ready
for testing in March 2014
From 2014 to 2018 bus B2737 will take part in events in
the UK, France and Belgium. The restoration of the
bus and a five-year community programme marking the
centenary are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund,
London Transport Museum Friends and donations from
the public.
London Transport Museum is a heritage and educational
charity. We conserve and explain the history of London’s
transport, offer people an understanding of the Capital’s
past development and engage them in the debate about
its future.
As an independent charity, we rely on support from
individuals, companies and grant-giving bodies to carry
out our day-to-day activities, education programmes and
special projects like the restoration and operation of the
Battle Bus.
Cover image: Boarding a bus in Arras, France in 1915
Battle Bus:
the London bus
that went to war
The B-type – a bus for London
On the Western Front
The B-type developed by the London General Omnibus
Company (LGOC) was the first successful mass-produced
motor bus. Introduced in 1910, it was designed and built
in London. Until then, most buses had been horse-drawn.
By 1913 there were 2,500 B-type buses in service, each
carrying 340,000 passengers along 600 miles of the
busiest roads in and around London.
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, buses were
commandeered for the war effort. Many drivers and
mechanics were recruited along with their vehicles.
The resulting staff shortages in London meant that
women were employed for the first time as bus
conductors to keep the city moving.
During the war over 1,000 LGOC buses, one third
of their fleet, were sent to the front. Most served in
France or Belgium, but some went as far as Greece.
The buses were fitted with protective boarding
and painted khaki. Most were used for transporting
troops to and from the front lines. Each vehicle
could carry 24 soldiers and their equipment,
compared to 34 seated passengers in London.
The buses also had other uses: some were
converted into lorries, others served as ambulances
or even mobile pigeon lofts. After the war, surviving
buses that could be repaired returned to the streets
of London.
A convoy of London buses passing through a war-torn town
Piccadilly Circus 1919
Troops on the move
A wartime scene from the home front, 1917