
The Friern Barnet Photo Archive
No: 946 Contributor: Friern Barnet & District Local History Society Year: 1977 District: Friern Barnet
BusesThis mobile canteen was based at Muswell Hill Garage and was usually to be found parked on the roundabout at Muswell Hill Broadway to provide refreshement to bus crews. See also image number 10482 for a more recent photograph.
Picture added on 24 November 2009 at 12:33
www.londonbusmuseum.com/museum-exhibits/service-vehicles/bedford-o-702b/
Mobile canteen services were provided from Muswell Hill (MH) garage to two locations.
Arnos Grove tube station was served from 1944 to 1950. Originally by a converted bus but post war by these purpose built vehicles. The facility was no longer required when a canteen was established at the tube station.
The second location was Muswell Hill Broadway as noted and this occurred until late 1961 when a canteen was established in the 'chalet' building on the roundabout bus stand. The initial service was provided by a converted bus and from 1948 with the vehicle type illustrated.
The vehicle illustrated is in fact made up of two separate parts a tractor and a trailer.
LT had 10 tractors and 13 trailers delivered from 1947 to 1949. All were disposed of by 1969 with the tractors going by 1967 leaving the remaining trailers to be moved by other tractor units.
This particular combination never saw service at either of the locations. However the tractor was based at MH garage with another trailer from 1948 to 1955 during the MH operational period.
After LT service this particular combination was sold to Liverpool Corporation and served as a mobile canteen for them from 1959 to 1974.
The combination has now been fully restored by the team at the London Bus Museum with the recent completion (April 2019) of the trailer restoration.