This page prepared by Ian Smith 22nd March 1998, updated 26th October 1999.

The Private Hire LTCs: LTC1-24 (total 24) 1LTC1


LTC drawing The LTC coaches for London Transport were SHORT six-wheelers. That is, they were 3ft less than the legal limit for single-decker six-wheelers of 30ft. At 27ft long they were even shorter than their immediate design predecessors, the 9T9 coaches for Greenline, which were 27ft 6in long.

But London Transport had thought carefully about its private hire market. It had a motley collection of Regals, Tigers and Daimlers that it wanted to replace with a quality product.

Six wheelers were thought to give a smoother ride, but they would have allowed a thirty foot body (like the ex-Hillman Renown), seating 34, whereas the shorter wheelbase actually chosen limited the length to 27ft, and the seating to 30. Petrol engines were specified even at this late date (1937), because of their quietness compared with diesels. In the event the petrol engines were reconditioned units from LT double-deckers, which received new diesel engines in replacement.
The new coaches were based on the 9T9 design, slightly abbreviated at the rear, and a with a front nearside wing cantilevered from the body in the way that was to become familiar with the 10T10s and the RT family. No headlights were fitted, but two spotlights rose from the chassis on scrolled ironwork. The gutter did not need to be raised to clear roofboards on these Private Hire vehicles, so followed the natural bodyline. And on top of them two pairs of sliding panels opened to slide down the roof curve to give the important sunshine roof. Radio was fitted to some, with prominent aerials on the rear roof panels (If you've got it, flaunt it!).
Livery was initially three shades of green, with a black trim line and an aluminium waist-band.
The bodies were built by Weymann at Addlestone, and the completed buses entered service in November 1937.

War-time

Thus they only had two summer seasons before the outbreak of war in September 1939, when they were requisitioned to work as ambulances. They were modified to carry up to eight stretchers, and carried Emergency Medical Services (EMS) markings as well as their LT fleetnames. Some were repainted in green and white. When they returned from war duties at the very end of 1945 they went into store to await refurbishment. They emerged wearing the post-war two-tone GreenLine livery, like the 10T10s. At least three had quarterlights fitted in the roof panels.

Post-War

postwar LTC drawing London Transport had more pressing immediate concerns than Private Hire work, and the LTCs often found themselves on Greenline coach work or even central bus duties. About half the class were allocated to Country garages in 1947, to help out, while the others did sporadic private hire work and rush hour extras in the Central Area. Neither Greenline nor stage carriage work suited them, as the narrow gangways, even with lighter seats fitted, inhibited free movement of both passengers and conductor, and their fuel consumption was colossal. (I wonder if it was more than a Leyland National?) Their weight (8tons 5cwt) also meant that they were slow in stop-start work.
The Olympic Games, and the resumption of the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions brought more suitable work for the class, and the easing of the bus situation brought a full return to Private Hire work.

A major change in 1950 was the substitution of 8.8 litre diesel engines (from scrapped LT double-deckers) which stretched them to 27ft 3in.

They worked alongside TF9 (the only private hire TF to survive the war) until the private hire RFs and the RFWs arrived in 1951. Even then they soldiered on, finding plenty of work during the Festival of Britain in 1951. Some received the post-war Country livery of Lincoln green with cream lining, that did not make the most of their rather ponderous lines.

Finally redundant, eighteen were retired at the end of October 1951, with the final six following after the 1952 season. They were sold for scrap in 1952-3, although some chassis were reported exported to Spain.

LTC histories LTC photo references Bus Stop LT index. Part 6: Green LTLs. LTCs.