P21
1949 Titan 7RT Reg. KGU 4 Chassis No. 491072 Engine: Leyland O.600 9.8 Ltr 125hp Diesel Gearbox: Wilson 4 speed pre-selective.Body: 1951 Metro-Cammell 56-seat D/D bus (All-metal construction) RTL554 was built in 1949 and was one of almost 7000 "RT'type" vehicles built for London Transport between 1939 and 1954. With ever increasing car ownership by the late 1950s, there was a surplus of these buses in London and many were sold for use elsewhere in the UK and abroad. The RTL type, being non-standard, was withdrawn first and by the early 1960s many had already been removed from service. Considerable numbers were exported to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and served for up to 20 years throughout the island. Some also went to South Africa but only a few remained in the UK. By 1966, the last service buses were withdrawn and a few were retained as training vehicles. RTL554 was sold to Acrow Engineering in London for use as staff transport and was used by them until it was sold for preservation in 1972. At that time, the vehicle was in a poor state but has been restored over many years. The interior was refurbished in 2005/6 and the exterior repainted in 2006, the period adverts are typical of those carried in the 1950s.
Entered by Mr. I. Macbeth of York.
© Leyland Society, 2008