|
1950s |
|
 |
1950s - early
The LT class of bus
were distinctive six-wheelers affectionately known as
‘Scooters’. Working out of Croydon Garage in the very early
1950s, LT1090 is seen heading south in Manor Road, Wallington,
on its way to Purley.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection |
|
 |
Sometime between February
1950 to October 1952
Standing outside St. Elphege’s church in Stafford Road,
Wallington, EGO 522 was one of only
24 vehicles of the LTC class bought specifically by London
Transport for private hire work.
LTC18
entered service in December 1937 in the then current London
Transport Green Line livery which was three shades of green,
with bright green side panels, light green relief and dark
(Lincoln) green skirt, roof and wings (but with London Transport
lettering). The vehicle entered war service as an ambulance in
this livery but with white markings on wings etc. After the war
it was repainted into the newer Green Line Livery (although
still with 'London Transport' lettering), which then was dark
Lincoln Green all over except for light green window relief, and
glazed roof panels were fitted - this is how we see it here.
The photo
shows the vehicle with a bonnet 'snout' (of three inches) which
it acquired when the petrol engine was replaced by a diesel one
(longer than the petrol one it replaced) in February 1950, after
which time it was allocated to Merton Garage for Private Hire
work until withdrawn from service in October 1952. The photo
therefore dates from between February 1950 and October 1952.
The church
was ultimately to become a social club, hall and meeting rooms
when the new church was erected alongside it in 1972.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection (Thanks to Gordon Mackley for the detailed caption
information) |
|
 |
1950s?
The signal depicted is the down distant for Belmont on the
Sutton to Epsom Downs branch. The post had also held the down
home for the (race day only) Intermediate signal box, which can
just be seen in the distance on the right of the tracks in front
of the bridge. The (potential) use of that arm ceased as from 13th
September 1927. The strange appearance of the signal is an
optical illusion, enhanced by lack of recent painting and of
aspect glasses, and by the ladder being positioned in front of
the post (a common feature of these ‘race day’ signals). The
Intermediate signal box, little more than a hut, is just visible
on the right near the bridge which carried the private road to
(what was later) the Henderson Hospital. Ventnor Road bridge
would be immediately behind the photographer.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1952 - 1st July
Oliver Bulleid was better known
for his development of some quite ground-breaking steam
locomotives for the
Southern Railway: his role in the development of diesel traction
is less generally well known. Seen passing through Wallington,
Bulleid's prototype shunter 11001 was designed to haul freight
trains at a then-faster speed of around 45mph. When in service
it was generally based at Norwood, but, by 1959, had been
withdrawn. Note the many cycle racks available on the platform,
and Wallington signal box sitting up above the station canopy
where it provided a view of the goods yard that existed behind
the train at the time.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection |
|
 |
1953
We are able to date this picture to between the 1st January and
5th May 1953, the date on which the D class was withdrawn from
the 80A. As with D12 above, the picture was taken in Brighton
Road, south of Sutton station, and this time shows a later
example of the D class, D187. This later class was slightly too
tall for Merton garage, and they were allocated to Sutton
garage, so expanding the familiarity of the travelling public
with Daimler buses on local
roads.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1953
D197, from the same batch of Sutton Daimlers as the vehicle in
the picture above, is depicted stationary, in Oakhill Road,
opposite Sutton Green. The building under construction can just
be seen behind D207 in the picture below.
Picture Copyright © The
Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1953
D207 is pictured at Sutton Green with the distinctive landmark
of All Saints Benhilton in the background. The bus is on its way
to Epsom, the long-time terminus of the 164.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1953
For the last in the series of D class pictures we see D228
leaving Sutton station on a 164 to Epsom. The Ds lasted on the
164 until the 18th May 1954 - the following day they received
brand new RT buses, a positive turn of luxury for the
passengers, and a type that would see service on the 164 until
1976.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1953
The single-decker AEC RF bus was to become, to the single deck
London Transport fleet, as ubiquitous as the double deck RT bus.
They became familiar to many in the London suburbs in the smart
Lincoln green livery on the longer-distance Green Line routes.
The 711, which is the likely service that RF57 is seen on here,
started its journey at High Wycombe, and travelled through the
centre of London, past Sutton station where this picture was
taken, and onwards out to Reigate
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1953
Pictured in Brighton Road, just south of Sutton station, London
Transport's D12 heads towards Belmont, a destination the route
only reached on Sundays. The bus was allocated to Merton Garage,
and would have travelled south from Acton Green in west London.
The D class Duple-bodied Daimler buses were introduced by London
Transport in the post-war austerity years, and were a class of
vehicle associated very closely with routes in the Sutton area
at the time.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1958
-
11th September
Trolleybus 75 stands alongside Mellows Park in Stafford Road on
it way to Crystal Palace. Note the adverts for Outspan oranges
on the front of the vehicle, and Walls Ice Cream on the side.
The 26 B1s
required for the 654 were based at Carshalton Depot in Westmead
Road, and were fitted with additional breaking (a Ministry of
Transport requirement for the route) to avoid accidents on the
very steep Anerley Hill on the run up to, and down from, Crystal
Palace.
From the Sutton Local Studies Collection |
|
 |
1959
B1 class Trolleybus
number 79 awaits its departure from Sutton Green to Crystal
place in 1959 – early parking restrictions indicate the growth
of motor car usage is beginning to make an impact on bus
services.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection |
|
 |
1959
Turning out under the
turning circle from Bushey Road into Sutton High Street at the
end of the route 654, B1 class trolleybus number 89 begins its
long journey under wires to Crystal Palace in 1959.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection |
|
 |
1959
B Class Trolleybus
fleet number 86 preparing to turn left from Boundary Road into
Stanley Park Road at Boundary Corner, Wallington in 1959. The
mass of overhead wires indicate the presence of a little used
trolleybus turning circle at this point.
From the Sutton Local Studies
Collection |
|
 |
1959 (?) - early (?)
Trolleybus 64 turns out into Sutton High Street from its stand
under the turning circle at Bushey Road, the western end of its
journey to Crystal Palace. Route 654 operated out of Carshalton
Depot, in Westmead Road. The silver-painted 'fluted' traction
poles which held up the trolley wires were introduced at the
insistence of Sutton Council when the route was extended from
the old tram terminus at The Grapes in Sutton.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1959 (?) - early (?)
Trolleybus 493 turns out into
Sutton High Street from its stand under the turning circle at
Bushey Road, the western end of its journey to Crystal Palace.
The 654 was eventually replaced with motor buses in 1959 and
renumbered 154. With the exception of Ruskin Road and Park Lane
/ Boundary Road (which were left without buses when the route
was diverted via Carshalton Beeches station in April 1977) and
the deviation from Sandy Lane to Plough Lane via Roundshaw in
1981, the
route through the Borough of Sutton remains today as it was in
trolleybus days.
Picture Copyright © The Mike Morant Collection |
|
 |
1959 - immediately prior to 3rd
March
Trolleybus on route 654 standing
at the bus stop in Stafford Road, Wallington, just west of Sandy
Lane South on the way to Wallington and Sutton. DCY 483 was a D2
class trolleybus, a change from the more usual B1 class. This
picture dates from
the last few days of trolleybus working on the 654 through
Sutton. Note the new bus stop that has re-placed the stop that
would have been on the soon to be removed traction pole behind
it.
Picture Courtesy of the Sutton Borough Archive |
|
 |
1959 - immediately prior to 3rd
March
About to turn from Stanley Park Road into Boundary Road, this
scene would shortly never be witnessed again as motor buses were
introduced to replace the 'silence' of the electric
trolleybuses.
From the Sutton Local Studies Collection |
