Double-Decker Bus Stability Demonstration

Behold a classic London double‑decker of the early 1930s being tilted at an extreme angle in a dramatic stability test. Marked “GENERAL” and bearing the fleet number JJ 4335, the vehicle is shown on a purpose‑built ramp, its chassis and springing under scrutiny as engineers verify that, even leaned over beyond 45°, the bus will not topple. Onlookers in work overalls inspect the underside, while large dial indicators record the precise angle of tilt.

Historical Context In the interwar years, London’s burgeoning motor‑bus fleet—run by companies such as the London General Omnibus Company—needed to reassure a wary public that these tall, heavy vehicles were safe on the capital’s uneven streets and sharp corner profiles. Demonstrations like this, held at workshop yards and bus depots, showcased advances in chassis design, low centre of gravity and leaf‑spring suspension. They helped win public confidence in motor‑omnibuses as the modern alternative to trams and trolley‑buses.

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