Reiss O’Neill has put together this fascinating collection of photos of buses from all over London mostly taken between 2009 and 2019.
The book starts with a short history of London’s bus services from the formation of the London General Omnibus Company in 1829 to the present day, including the two world wars, the establishment of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1931 and the iconic Routemaster and RT vehicle designs including heritage routes 9H and 15H (although since the book went to press Transport for London has announced that route 15H, the last remaining heritage Routemaster service, will be permanently withdrawn having not run in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic).
There are then chapters covering each of the current main operators of TfL bus services: Stagecoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead, Metroline, Tower Transit, CT Plus, Abellio, London United, and Sullivan Bus. Each photo has a detailed caption giving an outline history of the bus route concerned. A variety of vehicles are featured, ranging from the more conventional single and double deckers to the ill-fated “bendibuses” and the famous Borismasters (a.k.a. New Bus for London).
At the back there are chapters on heritage routes, sightseeing tours, and special services featuring Routemasters and other vintage buses such as RTs and RFs.
Hardback. 286 pages. Approximately 280 colour photographs.