Manchester Corporation Transport bus and London Transport wartime service
There's sometimes a bit of a discussion about this well known photo that was taken as a publicity shot to illustrate the loan of 'provincial' vehicles to London Transport during shortages of buses during the Second World War. Several operators answered the 'call to arms' including as you can see here Manchester Corporation Transport and so bus 227, VR 5470, is seen apparently having its Manchester destination blinds 'removed' and LT ones fitted by a chap looking none too happy ona ladder and LT bus crew looking on. The 'posed' nature is such that Manchester buses didn't have intermediate screen ont he rear of the bus and the Manchester blind seen here is an intermediate!
London wasn't the only place to 'borrow' buses, usually released from 'operators who had spare vehicles or capacity' or those who had vehicles in store following the 1939 instruction to operators not to scrap redundant buses. Needless to say those 'available' were often not the best as who would wish to part with their best in the circumstances! Other operators who recieved 'buses sometimes did quite well such as Huddersfield's loan of Bournemouth Corporation trolleybuses in their bright yellow livery; at least Manchester's buses were red like London's!
Manchester Corporation Transport bus and London Transport wartime service
There's sometimes a bit of a discussion about this well known photo that was taken as a publicity shot to illustrate the loan of 'provincial' vehicles to London Transport during shortages of buses during the Second World War. Several operators answered the 'call to arms' including as you can see here Manchester Corporation Transport and so bus 227, VR 5470, is seen apparently having its Manchester destination blinds 'removed' and LT ones fitted by a chap looking none too happy ona ladder and LT bus crew looking on. The 'posed' nature is such that Manchester buses didn't have intermediate screen ont he rear of the bus and the Manchester blind seen here is an intermediate!
London wasn't the only place to 'borrow' buses, usually released from 'operators who had spare vehicles or capacity' or those who had vehicles in store following the 1939 instruction to operators not to scrap redundant buses. Needless to say those 'available' were often not the best as who would wish to part with their best in the circumstances! Other operators who recieved 'buses sometimes did quite well such as Huddersfield's loan of Bournemouth Corporation trolleybuses in their bright yellow livery; at least Manchester's buses were red like London's!