London Bus Garages
A - AV

Sutton Bus Garage - Bushey Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM11QJ

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	A
Garage opened	Jan 1924
Max Bus Capacity	105
Current Garage PVR	80*
Current Routes Operated	80 93 151 154 213 413
	N155, N213
Current types operated -	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer (LDP)
	Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander Pointer (LDP)
	Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 2 (EVL)
	Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President (PVL)

* - Includes London Transport tendered routes only.

Opened by the LGOC in January 1924 at cost of £30,000 Sutton bus garage had a capacity for 100 buses. During its early years less that half of the garage was put to use, holding only 40 buses by 1926. This would change somewhat by the extension of the underground to Morden and major house building projects in the area. By 1952 the garage had a PVR of 128, achieved mainly by parking buses in surrounding streets. However this would soon fall again, to 100 in 1966, 82 in 1976 and 62 in 1987. The garage was passed over to the re-born ‘London General’ bus company in the run up to privatization in 1985. Sutton garage also partly took control of route 200 at a yard in Colliers Wood (AA) in 1989 after Cityrama withdrew from their contract. Sutton was responsible for providing drivers for the service whilst Merton Garage were contracted to do the maintenance. By 1994 the garage PVR had grown to 85 and again to 92 in 2001 including 10 buses subcontracted to Surrey County Council. The garage in still used by London General but the company is now owned by the Go-Ahead Group

Twickenham Bus Garage - Cambridge Road, Twickenham, TW.

Street map reference

Garage code -	AB
Garage opened	1912
Garage Closed	1970
Max Bus Capacity	70

Built in 1912 by London General Twickenham had a varied History. The garage was taken by the Air Force during the first world war reopening in 1919. Another change of use came about in 1921 when the garage assisted Chiswick in building bus bodies. Reopened again as a bus garage in 1924 and following some reconstruction of the roof it was mooted for closure in 1939 but this was staved off. Closure finally came however in 1970, although this wasn't to be AB's last association with buses as it was leased by the Routemaster Heritage Trust, a forerunner of the RMOOA, and filled with RM's, Ironically a type it never operated. In Early 1974 the site was sold off to developers and flats were built on the site.

Willesden Bus Garage - 287 High Road, Willesden, NW10.

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AC
Garage opened	1902
Max Bus Capacity	130
Current Garage PVR	112
Current Routes Operated	6 52 98 260 302 N52 N98
Current types operated	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (DLD)
	Volvo B7TL/ Plaxton President

Opened in 1912 Willesden was used for major Chassis overhauls before Chicswick Works opened in 1921. During world war II it was also used to provide major body overhauls. Prior to the war it's allocation consisted mainly of ST's and STL's whilst RT's and RTW's were the main allocation afterwards. Prototype RM (RML3) was allocated to the garage in 1958, and then ran the first production RM's on route 8 in 1959. These moved on for trolleybus replacement later that year but RM's reappeared in 1965 to replace the RTW's. Inprovements to the garage were made in 1975 to enlarge it's capacity from 90-120 in order for the stonebridge allocation to be moved in, although the talk of providing staff housing on the site never materialised and Stonebridge work didn't move to AC, but to Westbourne Park (X). In 1994 Metroline became the first ex-London Buses company to expand when it bought Atlas Bus & Coach, regaining the 52 which it had earlier lost under tendering although it continued to be operated from Harlesden until 1995.

Palmers Green Bus Garage - Regents Avenue, London N13

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AD
Garage opened -	1912
Max Bus Capacity	75
Current Garage PVR	54
Current Routes Operated	102 125 329 617 629
Current types operated	Volvo B7TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini
	DAF / Plaxton President
	DAF / Alexander ALX400

Opened in July 1912 by the LGOC to house their Central London route in competition with the MET trams. Just before World War II the allocation at AD was entirely STL, whilst afterwards it was allocated RT, RTL, RTW and SRT's the only garage to be allocated all four standard double deck types, although none could fit in the garage until the roof could be raised by 10 inches which was completed in 1952 after a process taking 20 weeks. The garage was further modernised in 1974 by which time the PVR was 60 buses. RM's arrived in 1969 replacing the SRT's, but the RT's lasted there until 1978. OPO buses in the form of RF's began arriving and were followed in time by SMS, DMS, and M's. The RM's lasted on route 29 until the late 1980's, but by 1994 the allocation was 51, entirely M's. In latter years the allocation has increased slightly and other than Metrobuses, Volvo Citybuses(VA) and DAF/ALX400 (DLA) have been allocated.

Hendon Bus Garage - Babington Road, Hendon, NW4

Street map reference

Garage code - AE
Garage opened	1913
Garage closed	1987
Max Bus Capacity	100

Opened in 1913 by the LGOC it first allocation was for vehicles from the MET and Gearless motor company. It was also the first garage to have purpose built recreational facilities and a mess room, although many followed suit down the line. Hendon was the first garage to operate the sigle deck LT type and a few years later home to the first STL's. In 1937 all 100 of the Leyland STD buses were allocated and most lasted until withdrawal in 1954 being gradually replaced by RTL's. RM's for route 13 were allocted in the early 60's. Hendon garage was modernised in the early 70's, being completed in 1974, in order that it could accomodate more modern buses, resulting in an alloction of DMS's in late 1974. By 1986 the garage was completely Metrobus following the OPO conversion of route 13, although this lasted less than a year with work being split between other garages and closure in June 1987.

Putney Bus Garage - Chelverton Road, Putney, SW15

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code - AF
Garage opened	1912
Max Bus Capacity	110
Current Garage PVR	108
Current Routes Operated	14 22 74 85 424 430
Current types operated -	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (LDP)
	Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini (VWL)

With it's ancestry going back to the horse bus days of the 1880's, Chelverton Road Garage was converted to a motor-bus garage in 1912. The garage is well hidden in a side road with a modest frontage, yet it has an allocation of 112. It has been modernised twice, firstly in 1935 and then again in 1985. The garage was well known for being allocated the pre-war RT's in 1940 which displaced the STL's. During the war the garage was underutilised and was used to store de-licensed buses. Re-named to Putney in 1963 after the closure of Putney Bridge garage(FB)it started to recieve RM's and later RML's for it's central London routes. The RML's remained at the garage until July 2005 when both the 14 & 22 were converted to Low Floor OPO buses. Recently some of the single deckers in the fleet for route 39 have been outstationed at Plough Lane follwoing frequency increases to many routes following the extension of the congestion charge in West London. The garage in still used by London General but the company is now owned by the Go-Ahead Group

Ash Grove Bus Garage - Mare St, Hackney, London, E8

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AG / AE / HK (HCT)
Garage opened	1981
Max Bus Capacity	200
Current Garage PVR	44+28
Current Routes Operated	38
	153 388 394
Current types operated	Arriva London
	Mercedes Citaro Articulated
	Community Transport Plus
	Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Slimbus (DCS)
	Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Nimbus (HDC)
	Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 2 (HTL)

One of three new garages opened in 1981 by London Buses at a cost of £3.5 million, it had space for 140 buses undercover and a further 30 in the yard. The roof was unusual in being carried by 10 35 ton triangular trusses, said to be the largest in the UK, supported on reinforced concrete columns. Although technically in Hackney, buses showed "CAMBRIDGE HEATH Ash Grove Garage" on their blinds. The garage on opening assumed Hackney's operation of Red Arrow routes 502 & 513 using brand new Leyland Nationals which had been stored at the garage, and also the entire Hackney and Dalston allocations. Unfortunately Ash Grove found itself in the London Forest operation, and also had a reputaion for staff militancy and closed in 1991. The garage re-opened in 1994 for use of Kentish Bus to house thier Leyton area route gains, although they refered to it as Cambridge Heath. It was also used over the years to house stored vehicles for the LT museum, and again in 2000 to store additional RM's that had been aquired to supplement shortages in London. It also operationally re-opened again in 2000 for use by the London Buses company "East Thames Buses" which took over the former Harris Bus routes after that company ran into financial difficulties. Hackney Community Transport also moved into the garage yard in recent times to house it's routes won in the London area. East Thames Buses have now moved to new premises at Mandela Way (SE1) and were replaced at the garage by Arriva's new Citaro Articulated buses for route 38 following the conversion from Routemasters in November 2005.

Streatham Bus Garage, Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 6HX

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AK
Garage opened	1913
Garage closed	1992
Max Bus Capacity	90

Opened in June 1913by the LGOC, within a month was full with 99 buses. These were not General buses however, they were blue MET B types which remained until after the war. Roof modernisation was undertaken in 1932 to allow it to accomodate the buses of the time and until 1970 operated a steady number of LT, ST, STL & RT's. With the newer buses being larger the capacity reduced to around 70. RM's and SMS's started to arrive in the early 1970's although it was 1975 before the last RT left. By this time it had been announced that Streatham was to be rebuilt, although this did not begin until 1984 when all the operations and buses temporarily transferred to Clapham (CA). The garage re-opened in 1987 at a cost of £6.5m with a full allocation of 90 vehciles on 6 routes consisting of RM's and Leyland Olympians. Deregulation caused great pain to the 'South London' bus company with many of it's routes being lost on retendering and the garage was to close in 1992. The garage still stands and is used as a go cart track and terminal point for routes 60 & 159.

Merton Bus Garage, High Street, Colliers Wood, SW19 1DN

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AL
Garage opened	Nov 1913
Max Bus Capacity	150
Current Garage PVR	133
Current Routes Operated	44 77 118 155 163 164 200 219 270 280 355 655
	School routes: 163, 655, 668.
Current types operated -	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer (LDP)
	Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President (PVL)
	Dennis Dart SLF / Enviro 200 (SE)

Merton was for many years the largest of the LGOC's garages, and in 1935 had an allocation of 222 STL's. By 1950 it had an allocation of all of the first 181 Utility Daimlers putting out 50 each day on route 88 as well as the allocation from Hammersmith with the last Daimler leaving in 1953. Merton Garage was modernised in 1960, but the parking area was still long and narrow, and the garage was further modernised in 1991 when a new roof was fitted and various stores and welfare areas moved to provide a large unobstructed parking area. Some buses were parked at a yard in Colliers wood during the rebuilding project. Over recent years the allocation total has fluctuated between 83 and 134, never really coming close to its capacity. Merton was also responsible for the maintainance of vehicles for route 200 after the withdrawl of Cityrama, whilst Sutton operated the route. Buses were based in a yard in nearby colliers wood (AA). The garage in still used by London General and has recently become the Go Ahead London company's head office following the sale of Raliegh House (Mitcham) and the aquisition of the former pub next door which is being converted into a modern office block.

Seven Kings Bus Garage - High Road, Seven Kings, IG3

Street map reference

Garage code - AP
Garage opened	1913
Garage closed	1993
Max Bus Capacity

Seven Kings was opened by the LGOC in 1913 to house motor buses to serve the rapidly growing areas around Ilford and Dagenham. The garage was reconstructed in both 1961 and 1976 to modernise the appearance and praticality of the garage. The first RM's for AP did not arrive until late 1976, ironically at a time when they were being phased out in some area's, such was the longetivety of the RT's in the East of London some of which lasted until 1977 at AP. By 1977 any routes that were not RM operated recived DMS's. Titans replaced both the much maligned DMS's and RM's in the early 1980's. A first for that garage happened in 1992 when barnd new Optare Deltas were allocated, the first single deck vehicles for AP. They were not to remain long however, the garage closed in early 1993 having lost many of it's routes under retendering.

Tottenham Bus Garage - Philip Lane, South Tottneham, N15

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AR
Garage opened	1913
Max Bus Capacity	169
Current Garage PVR	119
Current Routes Operated	41 76 123 168 243 W4 N41 N76 N243
Current types operated	DAF DB250LF/ALX 400 (DLA)
	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL)
	Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 (VLA)
	Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini (VLW)

Tottenham garage was built in 1913 by the MET to run buses to support their tram network. The buses were requisitioned during the war, and then between 1917-1919 the garage was loaned to AEC. Before the second world war in 1939 the allocation consisted on ST, STL & LT’s, but during the war it was the first garage to receive utility G’s, and later in 1949 London’s first 8ft Wide buses. When route 236 moved with its RF’s to Dalston in 1971 it signalled an absence of single deckers at the garage that would last until 2001 when route W4 was won on tender. M’s & RM’s were the staple diet of the depot for many years until the new DLA’s arrived. The final RM's left Tottenham Garage in May 2005 when route 73 was converted to Bendi-bus (Citaro Artic's) and moved to Lea Valley (LV).

Acton Tram Depot - Uxbridge Road, Acton, London, W3.

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code -	AT
Garage opened	1983
Max Bus Capacity	50
Current Garage PVR	22
Current Routes Operated	427
Current types operated	Dennis Trident/Plaxton President

Acton garage is still known today as Acton Tram Depot. Originally opened in 1896 as a horse tram depot, and later saw electric trams and trolleybuses before being used as a storage facility for LT's Cables division storing underground electricity cables. It was opened as a bus garage in 1990 with buses for route 207, and in 1993 together with a new site at Greenford it replaced the large Hanwell garage. In 1996 to celebrate the centenary of the garage all the allocated buses were adorned with commemorative badges. Today the garage houses just 22 TN's for route 427. The garage also handled maintainance for the ECA (Mercedes Bendies) on route 18 whilst the garage at Willesden Junction was comleted.

Hounslow Bus Garage - Kingsley Road, Hounslow, Middx.

Street map reference - - Garage Photo's

Garage code	AV
Garage opened	1913
Max Bus Capacity	142
Current Garage PVR	122
Current Routes Operated	81 110 111 120 203 222 H32 H37 H98
	N9 N27 School Routes 696 697 698
Current types operated	Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (DP)
	Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander Pointer 2 (DPS)
	Dennis Trident/ ALX 400 (TA)
	Volvo B7TL/ ALX 400 (VA)
	Volvo B7TL/ Plaxton President (VP)

Hounslow garage was opened by the LGOC in 1913 on the former site of the district railways Hounslow Town Branch. The garage along with many others was requisitioned in the First World War. Hounslow was the subject of two firsts in 1925 and 1930 with the first Pneumatic tyre buses and the original Dennis Dart were allocated respectively. The garage had one problem though, the roof was too low and only open toppers and single deck vehicles could use the depot until the mid 1930’s when the roof was raised. A London Transport survey in 1947 found that 92 vehicles were allocated to Hounslow, a garage with a capacity of 72!! This was mainly achieved by parking buses on a plot of land behind the garage that was also used to stand vehicles terminating there on layover. The garage was rebuilt in the early 1950’s and included a new bus station in front of the garage. The planned allocation was now up to 120 vehicles, although the allocation in 2002 was 127. With the allocation still high Hounslow runs a number of night services on behalf of other LU garages to enable it to fit the buses into the garage. AV was also the first garage in London to operate a Low-Floor bus with the arrival of Dennis Lance SLF/Wright Pathfinder LLW1 direct from the bus & Coach show.

Abbey Wood Bus Garage - Abbey Wood Road, Abbey Wood, SE2

Street map reference

Garage code - AW
Garage opened	1910
Garage closed	1981
Max Bus Capacity	86

Built for the LCC in 1910 to accomodate trams on the Plumstead-Abbey Wood extension. Further expansion into Central London brought an expansion from 25 cars to 86. Trams remained at the garage until the last day of tramway operations in 1952 and some say that due to delays, the last tram into Abbey Wood was the last tram running. A diet of RTL, RT, RM and DMS was the allocation for the next 29 years until MD's arrived in 1981. Unfortunately the garage could not be expanded, unlike the local housing estates that just kept growing, and a decision was taken to close both Abbey Wood and Plumstead (AM) and merge them into a large new purposely built garage at Plumstead High Street.

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