London's last Leylands

摘要

From all that you may have read and heard recently, you might imagine that the only era ending in London this year is the long one of Routemasters, conductors and open platforms. But the move to 100% low-floor operation has also spelt the end for the Leyland (and Volvo) Olympian — and the best part of 70 years of Leyland double-deckers bought by London Transport, its successors and contractors. While AEC won a 10-year contract to supply 90% of LT's motorbuses from the undertaking's formation in 1933, Leyland was a significant supplier. It built many of the trolleybuses, STD-class Titans before and after World War 2, supplied LT with its first rear and underfloor-engined single-deckers and built 1,631 RTL and 500 RTW-class double-deckers between 1948 and 1954.