This page created 1997 by Ian Smith, updated 2nd July 2020.

The Pickup open-top STLs

Histories

These histories are incomplete, and may contain inaccuracies. They have been compiled from a variety of sources.
Particularly useful have been:

3        GW 1744  2/32    new to Charles Pickup, #3, AEC Regent 6611802, A162, crash gearbox
                          Park Royal open top, O30/26R (Lothian Road)
                          used on 21, 37B, 73D, 70D (Suns)
STL 553          10/33    taken over by LPTB, body number 14281: remained at Lothian Road 
                  1/34 P  transfer (Old Kent Road)
                  1/34 TC transfer for use on 254 (Croydon)
                       TC unusually used on 59, open-top
                  1934    fitted with A140 engine
                  5/34 CS to Chiswick Works: 
                  9/34    fitted with 5-bay top	
                       TC used on 59 to Chipstead Valley, South End Grn, Chiswick top
                  */39 TC used on 130 to Croydon, Gravel Hill Rd
                 c1943 TC used on 59A
                  4/47    fitted with later standard roofbox body: 12STL12
                  */47 TC used on 133
                  4/49    body renovated: painted red with cream uppers
                  5/49 TC used on 12
                  6/49 TB transfer (displaced by RT) (Bromley)
                 c7/49 TB used on 138
                       Q  (Camberwell)
                  2/50 Q  withdrawn from service, body 17947
                  2/50    sold to R.L.Daniels (Rainham) for scrap


1        GW 1224  1/32    new to Charles Pickup, #1, AEC Regent 6611801, A162, crash gearbox
                          Park Royal open top, O30/26R (Lothian Road)
                          used on 21, 37B, 73D, 173E, 70D (Suns)
STL 554          10/33    taken over by LPTB, body number 14282: remained at Lothian Road 
                  1/34 P  transfer (Old Kent Road)
                  1/34    fitted with A140 engine
                  1/34 TC transfer for use on 254 (Croydon)
                  5/34 CS to Chiswick Works:
                  6/34    fitted with 5-bay top
                  3/40    overhaul: glass louvres - metal rainstrip
                  5/41 TC destroyed by air-raid
                  6/41    remains scrapped at Chiswick


2        GW 1785 2/32     new to Charles Pickup, #2, AEC Regent 6611803, A162, crash gearbox
                          Park Royal open top, O30/26R (Lothian Road)
                          used on 21, 37B, 73D, 173E, 70D (Suns)
                          converted to Lockheed hydraulic brakes
STL 555          10/33    taken over by LPTB, body number 14283: remained at Lothian Road 
                  1/34 P  transfer (Old Kent Road)
                  1/34 TC transfer for use on 254 (Croydon)
                  1934    fitted with A140 engine
                  5/34 CS to Chiswick Works
                  9/34    fitted with Chiswick top
                  4/36 ED transfer (Elmers End)
                  6/36    reverted to triple-servo braking: 12STL8
                 10/36 AE transfer (Hendon)
                 11/36 TL transfer (Catford)
                  1938 TL on 124 to Eltham
                  war     overhaul: glass louvres - metal rain-strips / curved window tops
                  9/45 TB transfer (Bromley)
                  5/46 TB used on 47
                 10/48 TB used on 126
                 10/48 TB withdrawn into store, body 14283
                  1/49    scrapped

4        GX 167   3/32    new to Charles Pickup, #4, AEC Regent 6611804, A162, crash gearbox
                          Park Royal open top, O30/26R (Lothian Road)
                          used on 21, 37B, 73D, 173E, 70D (Suns)
 STL 556         10/33    taken over by LPTB, body number 14284: remained at Lothian Road 
                  1/34 P  transfer (Old Kent Road)
                  1/34 TC transfer for use on 254 (Croydon)
                  1934    fitted with A140 engine
                  5/34 CS to Chiswick Works:
                  9/34    fitted with 5-bay top
                       TC used on 12, 133
                  1940    overhaul: glass louvres - metal rain-strips / curved window tops
                          oval window removed
                       TC 
                  1/48 CS to Chiswick Works
                  2/48 TC from o/h to store, then out
                  */49 TC used on 12 to Oxford Circus
                  4/49 TC withdrawn from normal service
                  4/49    transfer to Special Events fleet
                  6/49 TB (Bromley), on race service, Morden and Epsom
                       V  (Turnham Green)
                  7/49 V  withdrawn from service, body 14284
                  7/49    sold to R.L.Daniels (Rainham) for scrap


7         GY 839  7/32    new to Charles Pickup, #7, AEC Regent 6611846, A162, crash gearbox
                          Park Royal open top, O30/26R (Lothian Road), Lockheed hydraulic brakes.
                          used on 21, 37B, 73D, 173E, 70D (Suns)
STL 557          10/33    taken over by LPTB, body number 14285, 1/12STL8: remained at Lothian Road 
                  1/34 P  transfer (Old Kent Road)
                  1/34 TC transfer for use on 254 (Croydon)
                  1934    fitted with A140 engine
                  5/34 CS to Chiswick Works: fitted with 5-bay top
                  4/36 ED transfer (Elmers End)
                 10/36 AE transfer (Hendon)
                 11/36 TL transfer (Catford)
                  193* TL used on 21
                 c1/43    repainted brown
                  9/45 TB transfer (Bromley)
                 c1947 TB used on 51
                  1/48 TB
                  7/48 TB withdrawn ..
                  7/48 CS ..to Chiswick Works.. 
                  7/48 CS ....body 14285 scrapped
                  9/48 CS chassis scrapped

Photographic References

For key to the references, see the bibliography

STL 553  CV 1744   LB2939 p83   1932    Pickup service, route 21 to Wood Green, open top.
                   STL p34      1932    on 37B to Peckham, Richmond, open-top, Pickup red/white
                   LYG p101     1932    on 37B to Peckham, Richmond, open-top.
                   STL p34      1933 TC on 59 to Coulsdon, Camden Town, open-top, "General"
                   LBM52 p33    1933 TC on 59 to Coulsdon, Camden Town, open-top, "General"
                   LBBW p32          TC on 59 to Chipstead Valley, South End Grn, Chiswick top
                   LBBW p130    1939 TC on 130	to Croydon, Gravel Hill Rd
                   H3945p152   c1943 TC on 59A to Addiscombe, red/white/black/brown/war
                   STL p112    c1947 TC on 133 to South Croydon, Bank, rebodied: roofbox
                   STL p122     1949 TB on 138 to Hayes, Bromley North, rebodied: roofbox

STL 554  GW 1224   BBB7 p35     1932    Pickup service 173E to Hammersmith, open-top
                   STL p33      1932    on 37B to Richmond, Clapham Common, Pickup open-top
                   LBBW p33     1934 TC on 254 to Sth Croydon, LT livery, open-top

STL 555  GW 1785   LB2939 p84   1938 TL on 124 to Eltham, with top
                   BBB7 p81             on 124 to Eltham, with top
                   STL p35      193* TL on 124 to Eltham, Forest Hill
                   H46 p54      5/46 TB on 47 to Shoreditch
                   H48 p134     1948 TB on 47 to Shoreditch, Bromley Garage

STL 556  GX 167    H3945p134    war  TC on 133 to Liverpool Street
                   LBF405p36    war  TC on 133 to Liverpool St, Telford Ave
                   LBF469p37         TC on 12 to Oxford Circus, South Croydon
                   LBM130 p34        TC on 12 to Oxford Circus, South Croydon
                   H48 p61      1948 TC on 12 to Oxford Circus, South Croydon
                   TBX49 p43   c1948 TC on 12 to Oxford Circus, South Croydon
                   STL p131     6/48    Morden Stn & Epsom Downs, Special Events fleet
                   STL p121     5/49 TC on 12 to Oxford Circus, South Croydon
                   LB&TA p21         TB with top fitted, on race service, Morden and Epsom.
                   LBiC p68          TB with top fitted, on race service, Morden and Epsom.
                   CB36 p40	6/49 TB on Morden Stn & Epsom Downs special, boiling up

STL 557  GY 839    STL p35      193* TL on 21, Turnpike Lane
                   LBM155 p34   193* TL on 21, Turnpike Lane
                   LBF469p38    194* TB on 51 to Sidcup Stn, Farnborough, rear

Bus Stop Pickup text histories photo refs Redline STL