UNFORTUNATELY LONDON Q IS NOW OUT OF PRINT, THEREFORE THIS ITEM IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ORDER.
In 1932 the Chief Engineer at Associated Equipment Company (AEC), G J Rackham, designed the Q type, a bus radically different to those that had preceded it. In a move to dispense with the customary half-cab layout Rackham produced a chassis with the engine and radiator placed off-centre, situated behind the front axle, which enabled the area to the side of the driver to be used more productively.
In The London Q the author, Ken Blacker, looks at London Transport’s fleet of 238 Q type buses, purchased for use working around London. His thorough research of the subject has produced a very readable account of the history of the Q types operating in the Capital between 1932 and 1953.
The first of the 238 Q type buses to enter service was a single-deck, Q 1, which was acquired by the London General Omnibus Company in 1932. Following on from this AEC produced four double-deck versions, Q 2-Q 5, however this format did not prove popular and was very quickly shelved. Nevertheless, London Transport was happy to put in an order for 100 of the 4Q4 single-deck version (Q 6-Q 105) for use with the Country Bus & Coach Department, following up later with another two (Q 186 & Q 187). They also purchased a batch of 80 of the 5Q5 single-deck version (Q 106-Q 185). Q 188 was a one-off, a 3-axle double-deck coach; after which 50 coaches (Q 189-Q 238) were produced for use as Green Line coaches.
An appendix giving full details of the routes operated by the Q type is included.
140 black & white illustrations. Hardback. 128 pages.