Rail Depot Maintains Buses
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BECAUSE of pressure on the facilities available at the Chiswick works of London Transport, it was decided to turn the rail depot at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, over to bus maintenance. Repairs to all post-war vehicles will, in future, be carried out at this depot, and to speed up bodywork repairs a " float"
of six spare bodies 'is available there.
By the latter arrangement it is now possible to replace a damaged body within a matter of hours, the vehicle being back in service within three days. Previously, such a vehicle would be off the road for as long as 12 weeks.
Aldenham is also the receiving centre for all new deliveries; destination blinds, fare boards, advertisements and so on are fitted at this depot. There, new vehicles are finally inspected and licensed for public service. This has necessitated the laying out of an area for testing the turning circle, the installation of a weighbridge and tilting machine, and the formation of a licensing department. A point of interest is that destination and route blinds will be made on these premises.
A small number of low double deckers and under floor -engined coaches, as well as London Transport's fleet of 600 miscellaneous vehicles, ranging from motorcycles to mobile canteens, are also based on Aldenharn for maintenance. It is at this new depot that the pre-war STL-type buses are being converted to post-war standards.
The two 15-ton gantry cranes, which were installed at the depot for lifting railway cars, are now being put to good use in the handling of buses and other road vehicles.