Notes About This Vehicle

In October 1929 the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) introduced its ST type, built on AEC’s new Regent chassis. Regulations at that time restricted 2-axle double-deck buses to a maximum body length of 25ft.

In 1932 the regulations were relaxed to allow a 26ft length body and higher gross weight. In response to this AEC lengthened the Regent chassis and the next generation of bus, the STL, was born. London Transport (LT) was formed on 1st July 1933 though the first batches of chassis were ordered by the LGOC, with bodies designed by themselves and built at its Chiswick Works, only some of which were in service by LT days. As with preceding models, STLs went through many changes, with the earliest quite dissimilar to the last and eventually reaching STL2701.

LT coded design variants of its buses with the class name surrounded by the chassis and body type numbers. When new, the majority of the batch of STLs from 453 to 608 formed those classified 7STL3/2. The ‘nose-up’ attitude of these, and the earlier vehicles from STL203 onwards, attracted the nickname ‘leaning back STLs’.

STL469 was new in July 1934 and was equipped with a petrol engine, replaced in 1939 with a diesel power unit, along with the rest of this batch and caused the front to be raised a little more. Owing to the resulting chassis and body modifications, these were re-classified 2/16STL18. STL469 started life with body number 14393 and ended it nearly twenty years later with the slightly earlier body 14252 as depicted here. Swapping bodies at overhaul was the norm.

Some visible external differences this bus had at the end of its life compared to when new were: new-style offside mirror and one added to the nearside; the previously fully glazed conductor’s ‘signalling window’ changed to a half metal panel; removal of most of the safety rails across the fixed windows; radiator cap changed from LGOC metal type to new rubber LT type; no route numbers stencils on both sides; livery evolved to all red with cream relief band. In addition, a slender angled vertical metal windshield had been added to the front of the cab opening (cab doors were to come later). With the bus ending up with an earlier body: broader, wooden, horizontal moulding at wheel arch level; nearside cab emergency exit of the earlier type.

With all manner of materials in short supply during the Second World War, London’s buses commonly ran with route number and associated display panels blanked and with ‘restricted blinds’ fitted instead, as shown here. Still in that condition, STL469 is recorded as having been withdrawn on 1st January 1954, though it is likely this was actually the day it was de-licensed. It was retained for preservation in March of that year.

When on display at the Museum of British Transport in Clapham, and later at the London Transport Collection at Syon Park, it had full blind displays. It is presumed the present restricted blinds displays were retro-fitted to put it back to its post December 1950 condition and as when it was last overhauled. This seems to have been done when it was re-painted, probably at Aldenham Works, before it went on display at the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden after that opened in 1980.

Notes About This Drawing

The drawing is based on about ninety close-up and general photographs taken at the London Transport Museum Depot at Acton, followed by extensive measuring of the vehicle.

I have inferred as much contemporary detail as possible of adverts likely to have been carried on this class of bus, close to its time of withdrawal.

The colours of the adverts are based on as they were re-created by Richard Hussey and myself for the Museum, after much painstaking research, applied in April 2024.

It should be understood that all four elevations are seen here as one would see each part of the vehicle at a truly perpendicular angle. In real life this is of course impossible.