Class SRT

Class SRT
Overview
Manufacturer	AEC
Production	1949
Assembly	London, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Doors	1
Powertrain
Engine	AEC 7.7-litre inline 6
Capacity	~64 passengers
Dimensions
Length	26 ft (7.92 m)
Width	8 ft (2.44 m)
Height	11 ft (3.35 m)
Chronology
Predecessor	STL
Successor	RT

The SRT was a class of London bus introduced in 1949. It was a rebuild of the pre-war STL type, an AEC Regent I with a 7.7-litre engine, fitted with an RT-type body. These buses were underpowered due to the additional weight of the RT body, and they were confined to central London routes, for example, route 24. As new RT chassis became available, the bodies were transferred, and the STL chassis were scrapped.

Design and development

The SRT buses were an interim solution to modernise the aging STL fleet after World War II, using available STL chassis while adopting the more modern RT bodywork. Despite their improved appearance, the heavier body caused performance issues, which limited their operational deployment to inner-city routes with lower speed and lighter traffic demands.

Operational history

SRTs served primarily in central London and were gradually phased out as more RT buses entered service. Their use was short-lived, with most being scrapped or converted as RT chassis became available in the early 1950s.

References

• Ian's Bus Stop – The London Transport SRTs
• Brown, Stuart J. London Buses: A Brief History. Capital Transport Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978-1854143065.
• Aldridge, John. London Transport Buses: Post-War Developments. Ian Allan Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-0711038907.

External links

• Ian's Bus Stop – SRTs