London Passenger Transport Board inherited a number of small buses from various independent operators during the early 1930s, followed by the introduction of the Leyland Cub around the same period. The introduction of the big-bus policy saw many of the small buses withdrawn from service. The 1950s saw the introduction of the GS-class Guy Special for use on the lightly-trafficked country routes. More smaller buses entered the London Transport fleet in the form of the Ford Transit and Bristol LH / LHS saloons. The mid-1980s saw a resurgence in small-bus operation as a cost-cutting exercise. Many new types entered service with London Buses Limited and other independent operators. The introduction of these minibuses saw a number of new services introduced to serve previously unserved areas of London. However, the success of these small buses led to their replacement by the larger Dennis Dart midibus. Whilst the introduction of varying lengths of Darts catered for many of London's needs, other types of mini and midibuses were taken into stock by London based operators for fill in gaps. London's Mini and midibuses takes a look at the various types of mini and midibuses that have operated on routes in the Greater London area. AUTHOR: David Beddall is a life-long enthusiast who has had an interest in buses since the age of seven. Originally his interest was confined to the area where he lived around Bedford. However, as time went by this has widened to areas in and around Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the whole of the country. He lives in Northamptonshire, where he continues to pursue his interest in buses. 100 colour, 100 b/w illustrations
