TLB - The London bus

The London Bus is LOTS' monthly newsletter and our principal publication, having been produced for around 40 years. Now in A5 format with full colour cover, it is sent to members every month. The closing date for contributions is normally the first Friday of each month and, after preparation and printing, TLB normally arrives with members within two weeks.
TLB reports on the operations and vehicles of around 120 companies working local bus services in Greater London and the Home Counties within a region roughly corresponding with the original London Transport bus operating area bounded by Gravesend, Sevenoaks, Crawley, Guildford, Windsor, Aylesbury, Luton, Harlow and Tilbury. Each issue has around 40 pages, 8 colour photos and about 22000 words, with references to around 300 bus routes and 1000 vehicles including those delivered, sold and transferred. Recent and future route changes for every operator are listed, providing a historical record of bus services. Most operators supply us with official information, and this is supported by many members reports, so as to provide an unrivalled and authoritative service. TLB also contains business and political news, and reports on publications, forthcoming exhibitions and rallies, and much more. An example issue is available to view on-line.

LBM - London Bus Magazine

The London Bus Magazine is another flagship publication from LOTS. In regular production since 1972, it is produced four times per year, in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. It is a fully illustrated, glossy 64-page magazine, with around 90 pictures per issue. One or two major articles feature in each issue, including historical events covering a century of buses in the capital and current events. There are features on bus classes, garages, areas of operations, manufacturers and operators in our area, as well as selected photographic reviews.

Each issue includes a section entitled "Around & About" devoted to recent developments, supported by illustrations and informative captions. In the Autumn or Winter issues we include a review of the London area events of the preceding year.

An index to all articles is available here.

LBM can be obtained on subscription, or individual copies can be purchased from our sales list or from our sales stand at events and meetings, and at some transport bookshops.

FBK - Fleetbook

The London Bus and Tram Fleetbook is a pocket-sized book of 128 pages, containing the fleets of more than 70 operators in London and the Home Counties. Stock and registration numbers, chassis and body types, seating capacities, summaries of where to find main vehicle types are included. FBK is produced each Spring, and is an essential "bible" for the London bus enthusiast.
2012 edition available now.

SUPs (Supplements)

TLB supplements provide specialist, supplementary information to that published in TLB and the Fleetbook. Many have been produced over the years. Currently available are:

SUP15B - Lists support vehicles past and present with illustrations. Includes Underground and private operators' vans, lorries and cars. Updated in spring 2005.

SUP24D - Current support vehicles with a full fleetlist and allocations. Updated June 2009.

SUP36 - Issued about every eight months, lists current vehicle allocations for the major operators in the LOTS area. It does't give the full information contained in the Fleetbook, but acts as a quick check on where each bus is based . It can be kept up to date by reference to TLB. It tells you which buses are based at AD, HT or TC, and at all the other places - and de-codes the letters on the sides of London's buses.

SUP37 - Also issued about every eight months, gives a complete summary of vehicle requirements for bus routes in the Greater London area. If you want to know that route 83 needs 19 double deck buses to run the schedule, or that route 161 needs 13 buses and route 234 needs 10, and want to find out which company runs them and from which garages, then this publication is for you. SUP37 is the ideal companion to Mike Harris' The Greater London Bus Map.

SUP44 - London Bus disposals - "Where Are They Now?". Lists all known former London Buses built from 1902 to 1998/9 and still in existance in the British Isles. Includes all ex-LT/LCBS and successor companies.

Other SUPs dealing with specific London bus subjects are issued from time to time.