The LONDON TRANSPORT AEC Q class

This page created 7th January 2001, using Notepad, by Ian Smith.

The 1Q1: the prototype Q

Chassis: AEC Q, 18ft 6in wheelbase, AEC A167 petrol engine
Body: LGOC, 27ft 6in, B38C.

The prototype was certainly very different from anything seen in Britain before. The first obvious point of departure was the front, with its lack of a radiator and full-width glazing. This when LT was still struggling to gain acceptance for drivers' windscreens on its half-cabs. Then there was its overall sleekness and curved panelling. Chiswick gave it a heavy waist-moulding that detracted somewhat from the smooth lines of the AEC design model, but it was still a blazingly modern design. Chiswick also raised the position of the huge headlamps to the waist-band. Such high lamps must have been a real headache to cars in front. Initially it had small discrete destination indicators on front and back.
It had a centre doorway on the nearside, and seated a massive 38, with bench seats over the engine and front nearside wheelarch and seats in the front corner alongside the driver.

Mechanically it was revolutionary too - or counter-revolutionary! The engine rotated anti-clockwise, and was fitted with the manifolds on the offside, for easy access. It was tilted too, to fit under a bench seat in the bus. A special starter, oil pump and worm were required to deal with the queer engine. The offside mounted engine drove back through a gearbox that was also mounted outside the frame, to a differential just inside the splayed rear frames. Large single tyres on the rear allowed the drive line to be almost straight. The weight distribution was so uneven that each wheel had different springs.

Livery was red with a cream waist-band, and an unusual black roof and rear dome.

Trials and modifications

• the nearside windscreen was made a single panel, instead of two;
• twin vertical sideways-sliding windscreen wipers were installed on both front screens;
• standard size destination boards were installed at front and rear;
• a tubular bumper, triggering a lifeguard under the bus, was mounted below the front;
• the front number plate was mounted on the bumper;
• the sidelights were moved down from the cant-rail to the waist-band;
• larger air-vents were placed on the roof;
• a driver's offside door and step were fitted
• the engine covers were tidied up;
• storm louvres were installed above the windows;
• sweep-backs were painted behind the rear wheels.

Into service

The following month, once the fuss had died down it was moved from Riverside (R) to Nunhead (AH) where the quiet 621 suited it much better.

Dates	Route No	Route	Garage
September 32	11	Liverpool St - Strand - Victoria Stn - Hammersmith - Shepherds Bush	R
October 32	621	Peckham - Nunhead - Peckham Rye	AH

The LGOC bought the AEC share of the bus in January 1933, and London Transport took it over in July.

London Transport loaned it to the Country Area in December 1933 for Green Line trials, and then allocated it to Reigate for bus duties from February 1934. It was repainted in green with a black waist-band and silver roof.

It pottered around on Reigate local services during the remaining pre-war years. Alterations at overhaul saw the headlights lowered to a more sensible position, and a foglight fitted. It also acquired a 4Q4 style front end at some time, although with a proud-standing destination box to suit its lower roof profile. It was delicensed in September 1942, and stored at Tunbridge Wells and Guildford before its sale in January 1946.

After London