AEC "Merlin" AML588H (ex-London Transport MBA588 of 1969)
Reg No: AML 588H
Operator: London Transport
Chassis: AEC Merlin
The AEC Merlins, known by their manufacturer as Swifts, were arguably the least-liked of all London's buses.
Purchased in quantity before proper operating experience was gained, their length made turning difficult and strained the buses' bodies, and their engines and gearboxes tended to overheat in the everyday stop-start requirement of stage-carriage work. (To the chagrin of the LT Executive, they fared much better when sold on to coach operators, often overseas).
Some 665 were bought between 1966 and 1969, ushered in by the promise of the Wilson government's "new bus grant". (A further 838 shorter versions, with smaller engines, came in 1970-1972).
At the same time that Anglo-French "entente cordiale" was culminating in aerospace's Concorde superliner, these buses were the down-to-earth equivalent in collaboration between London and Birmingham. Chassis came from AEC's famous Southall works in Middlesex, these then mated with bodies designed at LT's Chiswick works but built by the renowned Metro-Cammell-Weymann shops in east Birmingham.
Mechanically, the units were powered by a transverse 6-cylinder diesel engine of 11.3 litres, rated at 165bhp. Structurally, the usual pair of aluminium skins was screwed onto horizontal beech transoms and vertical fillets within the steel hoops between window bays. Fibreglass and rubber made up the extremities of roof and skirt, respectively.
As new buses, these "MBs" were advanced. An external public address system allowed the driver to address queuing passengers (or those confused by the central exit). The Country Area variants had a "magic eye" interlock, preventing drive-gears engaging until the exit doors were safely closed.
They were expensive, at c.£9000 each. This became truer still when most left traffic after only 8-12 years, many passing to scrappers for £400 each. However, dozens did go on to long and trouble-free running in Australia, Mauritius, and (often more briefly) in Belfast. Film catering companies and airport handling authorities also took some, favouring the large "standee" space between entrance and exit.
In total, 598 units ran in red livery (with "flake grey" waistband), and 67 served the "Country area" (in Lincoln green with canary yellow).
My own bus spent its entire London life on the "Red Arrow" services. These were flat-fare express routes in the central area. It was based just south of the Thames, at Walworth garage, near Camberwell, having been delivered in May 1969 and originally registered VLW588G. With many of its sisters, it was down-seated (to boost space for standing passengers) before entering traffic that September, then taking fleetnumber MBA588.
My example was the first London Transport vehicle to sport the solid 15-inch white roundel, their main graphic device for 15 years from 1975. This was part of an experimental livery worn from August 1972 to May 1976, which became the template for corporate colours until 1978.
The bus ceased revenue-earning service in June 1981, and next became the Feltham Community Association shop. Its third life was as a pub garden playbus, taking it to Sussex in 1998.
I’m fond of this type because it filled the 1970s roads in Harrow and Edgware, where I grew up. As a young teenager, I enjoyed collecting bus numbers on liberating trips all over the capital, then moved to taking photos.
It wasn't till my late 30s, after riding on a newly-restored London RF, that I thought "Am I just a passenger?"
So, at the end of 1999, I found myself being offered this Merlin by a man I’d never met, who'd heard I was interested in another in a Warwickshire boatyard.
In the last decade, my Merlin has been a fun recreation and my vital hands-on therapy. Since coming to the museum in February 2002, I've replaced most body timber and repanelled completely. She even drives now!
Once painted the proper red, all that will remain is lots of mechanical work, new floor-covering, retrimming seats, and replacing burgundy Rexine on the walls!
Tim Clayton
Kings Heath, October 2011
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 Email: enquiries@wythall.org.uk
