ST922 (GJ 2098) - new in 1930
- Chassis : AEC Regent I
- Engine : AEC A145 7.4 litre petrol
- Gearbox : manual
- Body : Thomas Tilling
- Capacity : 27 passengers upstairs, 21 downstairs
Withdrawn : 1946 (16 years)
Acquired by the Museum : 1984
Status : on display in the Museum
ST922 is the sole survivor of a Tilling ST with open staircase and entered service with Thomas Tilling, a major south London operator, in November 1930. The bus was taken into London Passenger Transport Board stock with the formation of the Board in 1933.
Later it was kept at Tunbridge Wells garage as a “Guard Room” from August-December 1940, and then sent on loan to the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co, Smethwick from December 1941 to November 1944. On return to London, it stayed in service until the end of 1946.
In early 1947, it was then converted into a mobile staff canteen, serving as fleet number 693 J, until withdrawal in November 1954. It was disposed of in May 1955 to British Road Services, later passing to a dealer.
It was purchased by Prince Marshall for restoration in December 1966. It eventually returned to service in London in the early-197s, being re-certified for passenger service to run for London Transport on daily sightseeing tour duties. Even more remarkable was the extremely high level of reliability of ST 922 during its summer seasons when operating generally for around 10 hours a day, seven days a week.
In 2016 it was repainted in original Thomas Tilling livery, making its first public appearance at the open day at Bromley Garage, its first home when new.
photos:
top: at Bromley garage (TB), its first home in 2016 [Ian Jackson]
above left: at Wisley in LPTB livery, in 2011 [Michael Wickham]
left: on the annual HCVC London-Brighton run at NMadeira Walk, Brighton, 2013