Thomas Tilling operated twelve Regals for the 109 route through Bromley, that encountered a succession of low bridges at Clock House, Shortlands and Chislehurst Water Tower. (This route, Crystal Palace - Penge - Beckenham - Bromley - Chislehurst - Welling, was later better known as the 227 in the London Transport numbering).
The Tilling Ts were actually bought new by the LGOC in 1932 for Tillings to operate. They naturally had 26ft long bodies for bus work, with forward entrances and a central rear emergency exit. In Tilling fashion they had narrow windows, and plenty of bays, but were most readily identified by the very wide display boxes that stood squarely proud of the roofs at front and rear. These had space for a separate route number window as well as one for destination and via points. (In LT ownership the actual displays were reduced to a single standard combined display at front and rear, but the wide boxes remained.)
They went into service on the 109 from Bromley garage in September 1932,
and were taken absorbed into London Transport with Bromley garage in 1933.
Traffic growth on the 227 meant that they were replaced by longer LTLs,
(operating from Elmers End), and were moved to Kingston.
In the usual way of things they were later to be found mixed amongst the other Ts
at garages around the Central Area.
They survived the war, being withdrawn from service in 1949, some after enjoying the change of operating doubledecker trunk routes during the 1949 vehicle shortages.
T317 survived somewhat longer than the others, as Chiswick's Accident Demonstration Unit,
followed by a spell as a trainer,
as which it survived until January 1953.
T307-318: bus histories
Bus Stop
contents
Private Hires
Tillings