L.T. STL CLASS FRONT ENTRANCE  WEYMANN BODY

The Forward Entrance STLs

 Before the formation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 the London General Country Services ordered a small number of low height AEC Regents for use on route 410 (already produced in model form by LBC). These buses, nicknamed 'Godstone STLs', because of their association with that garage, had neat Weymann bodies with forward entrances with sliding doors and they proved very popular with passengers. LPTB felt the need to order a further 139 forward entrance STLs in two batches also for service in the country. But, surprisingly in view of the success of the Godstones, these vehicles had open entrances. The entrance was a curiously angled affair, which its designers were sure would provide a draught free environment obviating the need for the expense and complication of a door. This proved not to be the case and the vehicles had a reputation for draughts and the ingestion of airborne rubbish. In hindsight, given that many normal rear entrance STLs saw country service, one wonders why forward entrances were bothered with at all, especially as they seated fewer passengers.

 Apart from the entrance and the resultant location of the staircase, the LPTB front entrance STLs were of the same general appearance as the much more numerous 'standard' rear entrance examples. The first batch of 89 vehicles had LT produced wood framed bodies. The later batch of 50 had Weymann metal framed bodies. The two matches were almost identical in exterior appearance. The most noticeable differences were the front indicator display layout and the three rear bumpers of the second batch rather than the earlier two, but there were numerous other small differences making it impractical to produce a model kit that could serve as either type. Internally, the main difference was that the later batch used the new aluminium framed seats that LPTB had standardised.  

 In model form:

 LBC has chosen to model the second batch, partly because of the existence of preserved example, albeit that is one that was converted by LT into an open top service vehicle for lopping overhanging trees. Construction is straightforward, although note that the white metal base plate needs to be slid in place from the rear of the vehicle.

Sample of STL6/1

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