The LGOC X-type is an early model of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
double-decker bus
A double-decker bus or double-deck bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. They are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and also in cities such as Sydney; the best-known example is the ...
.
History
The X-type was the first bus built by
London General Omnibus Co. Ltd (LGOC). The manufacturing part of LGOC became
AEC in June 1912.
In 1908 LGOC merged with its two main rivals, London Motor Omnibus Co Ltd (commonly trading as "Vanguard"), and London Road Car Co. Ltd (using the "Union Jack" fleetname). The combined company, using the "General" fleetname, had a fleet of 885 motor buses, although horse-buses remained common. The Chief Motor Engineer,
Frank Searle, proposed the LGOC build its own vehicles in premises at Blackhorse Road,
Walthamstow
Walthamstow ( or ) is a large town in East London, east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London and the Historic counties of England, ancient county of Essex. Situated northeast of Chari ...
, and designs for an initial 20 were put underway.
The prototype vehicle was completed on 12 August 1909 and received its police licence just before Christmas.
[ (subscription required)] It was of normal control layout, with the driver behind the engine. The bodywork resembled that of the last horse-bus designs, with an open top deck and seats that ran longitudinally along the sides.
A total of 60 X-type buses were built, together with one
lorry
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
. Production ended in December 1909, and was followed by the
B-type.
References
*Thackray, Brian (2001). ''The AEC Story:Part 1''. Venture Publications Ltd.
*Thackray, Brian (2004). ''AEC Vehicles: Origins to 1929''. Venture Publications Ltd.
*Townsin, A. A. (1980). ''Blue Triangle''. Transport Publishing Company.
{{AEC range
AEC buses
Double-decker buses