Let's return to some heritage action now, with the only bus video I managed at the Barking centenary, and a bus I unsuccessfully had tried to video before, we see pioneering London Fleetline DMS1.
DMS1 (EGP1J) was new in 1970 as the first of 2646 Fleetlines that were new to London Transport for them to begin converting routes from crew to OPO. From 1970 to 1976 it was based at Shepherd's Bush (S) garages, mainly for route 220, with a small 1-month stint at Fulwell (FW) as a trainer in 1973. 1977 saw a transfer to Merton (AL), a loan to Norbiton (NB) at the end of that year before transferring to Catford (TL) in 1980, Walworth (WL) four months later, back to Catford, back to Walworth before withdrawal in 1982, and after being stored was bought by the London Transport Museum in 1984 for preservation, and mostly resides at their depot in Acton. DMS1 also retains its original coin-operated turnstile at the front of the bus over the wheel arch.
Today's journey sees us on the routes running as part of the Barking Bus Garage Centenary event and was running on route 145 only between Redbridge Station to Dagenham, New Road via The Drive, Ilford, South Park Drive, Barking Bus Garage, Martins Corner, Becontree & Dagenham Village. While DMS1 never ran from Barking (BK), the route operated twice with DMS Fleetlines, firstly between 1974 & 1980 under LT, and secondly between 1986 & 1991 when Ensignbus ran the route, ironically using ex-LT Fleetlines.
DMS1 is powered by a Gardner 6LXB engine combined with a 4-speed SCG (Self-Changing Gears) semi-automatic gearbox. So if you fancy a flashback to the 1970s, I hope this is video is just for you. Enjoy!.
Start: Barking Bus Garage
Finish: Dagenham, Oval Road North