Turnpike Lane Bus Garage, Early Seventies

Comment by StephenBln on December 27, 2011 at 20:21

This 1973 Ford Escort was a 'second generation' control car .. used by 'Gold Badge' area inspectors. It replaced the original Ford Cortinas delivered in 1965.

Comment by Geoff Dent on January 1, 2012 at 16:33

My Dad, Tommy Dent, drove this car despite not holding the magic gold badge.  He had been told that he could start doing the job and the promotion would follow but, strangely, the latter bit got overlooked!  Nevertheless he liked being in the car where there was less chance of being abused or assaulted by members of the public, can't really say I blame him.  Dad retired in 1978 after nearly 30 years with LTE.

Comment by StephenBln on January 1, 2012 at 17:03

Thanks for that Geoff.. You Dad sounds as if he belonged to that large group of LT employees who after being de-mobbed went directly  'onto the buses'. In 1948, a job with LT was still seen as being very secure, but the pre-war prestige had been lost.

London Transport made huge efforts after the war to improve services, the first priority being the replacement of worn-out buses and the remainder of the trams. With limited finances, no opportunuty was seen to re-start the pre-war (1935) Undeground extension scheme and in fact, some half-built and proposed extensions were scrapped, including the Finsbury Park - Alexandra Palace extension of the Northern Line.

The 1948 Olympics also put a short term strain on services.

Comment by John D on January 1, 2012 at 17:14

Happy New Year Stephen. Hope you enjoyed " Dinner for One "

Comment by Geoff Dent on January 2, 2012 at 16:46

Hi Stephen and a happy 2012 to you!

Dad initially joined as a conductor but I cannot find any pictures of him in that uniform.  Frustratingly, he was on Pathe news (I think) collecting his flare during the heavy smogs in the 50s - I have yet to find out if the footage still exists.  He was also filmed at Alexandra Palace c1963 helping to dig out one of the RFs which had ground to a halt on the slope.  I've no idea if that exists either but I did find him in the background of the news report when Ernest Marples opened the new crossing system in Green Lanes in 63 - he was clearly a frustrated film star!!  

Comment by Hugh on January 2, 2012 at 17:40

This video, perhaps, Geoff?

Comment by StephenBln on January 2, 2012 at 20:09

Thank You Geoff..

Comment by StephenBln on January 2, 2012 at 22:36

Geoff, I checked out the London Transport Magazines from 1962 & 1963 that I still have in my collection. Unfortunately, no photos of RFs at Ally Pally.

But this one of a RT on 31/12.1961 - Fifty Years Ago:

London Transport Magazine - February 1962
Buses on Knights Hill, West Norwood, in the great snowfall of Sunday December 31, 1961.
Unprecedented weather conditions with which the New Year 1962 opened.
The worst in living memory (1962).

Comment by Geoff Dent on January 4, 2012 at 17:25

Thank you Stephen - I remember the old LT mag, Dad used to bring them home and I loved looking at the bus pictures because that was my Dad helping to run them.  Aaah memories...  Thanks again and a happy 2012 to you.

Comment by StephenBln on January 5, 2012 at 15:43

Yes, London Transport was a very unique operation and something London should have been proud of.. That is until the tories tried to make money out it and ruined the whole thing - like they did most of everything else they tried to milk..

BTW, I do have a 'Gold Badge' in my collection, but unfortunately not a bus one, but a 'yellow' Underground one.

Each division had it's own colour badges:

Central Buses - Blue

Country Buses - Green

Underground - Yellow

Trams & Trolleybuses - Red

Top to bottom:

Bus Driving instructor's badge

pre-1970 'blue' Busmen's cap badge

pre-1970 'green' Country Bus & Green Line badge

Underground 'Gold Badge' - there were also 'Silver Badge' inspectors too!

pre-1970 'yellow' Underground badge

pre-1963 'red' Tram & Trolleybus badge

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