PublicatiOns
Books and Publications
The Society publishes books under a number of imprints.
The principal ones are the Provincial Historical Research Group (PHRG) and the London Historical Research Group (LHRG), both of which add new titles on a regular basis.
Additionally, there are occasional books produced by the OS (of which only one is currently in print).
PHRG publications are available from MDS or Dinnages Publishing.
LHRG publications are available from LHRG direct or (in some cases, see below) MDS or Dinnages Publishing.
OS publications are available from MDS or direct.
Publications issued jointly with the PSV Circle can be bought from their website www.psvcircle.org.uk
Current titles in the individual categories are listed below, including full details of how to obtain them.
Trade Enquiries also welcome - click here.
Provincial Historical Research Group
The following books have been published under the Omnibus Society - PHRG name.
For more information view the Provincial Historical Research Group page here
Buses in Lakeland
The late David Grisenthwaite devoted much of his long life to studying operations in the Lake District, where he was brought up. This masterly account of developments in the area during the Second World War and in the resurgence of operations after it was based upon his own recollections and contemporary notes. This is one of the many manuscripts he deposited with the Bus Archive and has been edited and illustrated by members of the PHRG. It contains a wealth of material not available elsewhere and the detail expected from the author. The print run is limited and demand is expected to be high. Order from MDS at £16
George Ewer & Co
The third book published jointly with the PSV Circle, this book contains a full history of the Ewer Group companies (including Grey-Green) and their antecedents, including fleet details. Available from the PSV Circle website for £28.00, but OS members can purchase copies for just £21.00. To get this discounted price, members will need to create an account on www.psvcircle.org.uk to verify eligibility, and then should use the special code PHRG25.
Delaine Buses Limited
Another joint publication with the PSV Circle, published when Anthony Delaine-Smith was OS President, this fleet history of Delaine Buses details all the fleet from 2023 back to the very early days of the business in 1919 plus maps, photos and route details. Available from the PSV Circle website for £12.00, but OS members can purchase copies for just £9.00 - members should use the special code PHRG25 but you will need to create an account to verify eligibility. www.psvcircle.org.uk
The Ortona Motor Company Limited
Published jointly with the PSV Circle, this book contains a full history of the company, including fleet details and a summary of routes operated. Available from the PSV Circle website for £12.00, but OS members can purchase copies for just £9.00 - members should use the special code PHRG25, but you will need to create an account to verify eligibility. www.psvcircle.org.uk
The Region's Favourite - The Story of South Yorkshire Transport
This is a personal history of the company from the inside, giving background information on what, where and why decisions were made in running the bus company. Hardback, casebound, 260 pages with over 480 colour photographs, now priced at £12.00.
Country Roads - some Municipal rural bus services
This book covers a novel subject on which little if anything has been written. It describes a variety of unconventional operations by municipal undertakings, which did not fit into the usual pattern of corporation transport provision. 96 pages, £11.95.
Sittingbourne's Forgotten Bus Operators
by Clive Cheeseman, published September 2020, priced at £9.95. ISBN 978-1-909091-23-8
BUSES ON THE A696 - OPERATIONS IN NORTH WEST NORTHUMBERLAND
by David Holding, based on research by C R Warn. Published July 2020. 72 pages, fully illustrated £10.95.Orders
Obtainable (online or at sales stalls) from: MDS Books (www.mdsbooks.co.uk) or Dinnages (www.transportpostcards.co.uk/home/books/omnibus-society).
London Historical Research Group
The following books have been published by LHRG.
For special offers, more information and amendment sheets, please view the London Historical Research Group publications pages
Please note that Roger Torode's Waltham Forest and London's Buses Volume 3 are available through MDS Books or Dinnages, not direct from LHRG.
Volumes 1 & 2 of the latter were published over 30 years ago and are out of print, but second-hand copies may be available via Busmart.
ST, DL and ACQUIRED VEHICLE HISTORIES: VOL 1
Introduction & ST1-600. Illustrated Published Nov 2022, 220 pp, £15.00 plus £2.50 P&P ISBN: 978 1 909091 35 1
ST, DL and ACQUIRED VEHICLE HISTORIES: VOL 2
ST601-1140, DST, DL, TD, TC, MY. Published Nov 2022, 200 pp, illus'd £15.00 plus £2.50 P&P ISBN: 978 1 909091 36 8
ST, DL and ACQUIRED VEHICLE HISTORIES - 2 VOLS ****special offer****
Two illustrated volumes, 420 pp Published November 2022, £30.00 post free
Around Waltham Forest by Bus, Tram and Train, by Roger Torode
120 pp. Price £15.00 plus postage
Available from MDS Books
ISBN 978 1 909091 34 4
London's Buses Vol 3: Country Independents 1919-1939 - Part Two
Published 2019, £35.00
512 pages, hardback
Available from MDS Books
ISBN: 978 1 909091 25 2
Shades of Green, with a photographic history of Leatherhead Garage
Rod Lucas on London Country
Published 2018, 128 pages
£22.00 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 16 0
---- Bulletin Extra ---- Fred Ivey's Pictures
66 photographs in B&W and colour, 1949-1979, with detailed captions Published summer 2021, 36 pages £5.00 plus £1.25 P&P
London Bus Recollections
The Complete 'Chit Chats' of Alan Cross, with over 70 AB Cross photos Published by OS 2006, 180 pages £14.95 plus £3.25 P&P
LT, LS and LTC vehicle histories: Volume 1
Published January 2021, 200 pages
****** Sorry, now sold out ******
May be available from distributors
ISBN: 978 1 909091 18 4
LT, LS and LTC vehicle histories: Volume 2
Published January 2021, 192 pages
***** Sorry, now sold out *****
May be available from distributors
ISBN: 978 1 909091 29 0
They Also Served - Bus Route 410
The story of the buses that served RAF Biggin Hill and the area
Published 2019, A5, 32 pages
*** Sorry, now sold out ***
May be available from Dinnages (see LHRG page)
Surrey's Spring Line
A history of country bus route 408 72 pages, over 70 images
****** Sorry, now sold out ******
May be available from distributors
ISBN: 978 1 909091 30 6
LBUT - second edition
LONDON BUS AND UNDERGROUND TIMETABLES
Published 2016, 130 pp, illustrated £10.00 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 14 6
LBUT Supplement
LONDON BUS AND UNDERGROUND TIMETABLES - Supplement
Published 2018, 16 pp, illustrated £4.00 plus £1.50 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 17 7
* SPECIAL OFFER *
LBUT second edition
AND
LBUT Supplement
£13.00 plus £2.00 P&P
London Transport Second series bus bodies 1939-1960
142 pp. ISBN: 978 1 909091 04 7
Sorry, now sold out, but a colour PDF is now available to download, see LHRG Publications page
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 1
1899 - Nov 1908
Second edition, 64pp
Sorry, now sold out, but a PDF is now available to download, see LHRG Publications page
MORiL SPECIAL OFFER
MORiL Volumes 2 to 9A inclusive
£80.00 plus £9.00 P&P
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 2
November 1908 - December 1912 Revised edition (2007).
78 pages £7.50 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 52 1
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 3
January 1913 - February 1915
Revised 2015, 128 pp, illustrated
£10.00 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 13 9
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 4
March 1915 - December 1919
132 pages
£9.95 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 61 3
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 5
January 1920 - December 1921
100 pages
£8.50 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 64 4
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 6A
January 1922 - November 1924
180 pages
£17.00 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 71 8
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 7A
December 1924 - December 1926
184 pages
£16.50 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 65 1
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 8A
January 1927 - December 1928
196 pages
£18.50 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 0 901307 74
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 9A
January 1929 - December 1930
192 pages
Slightly imperfect £9 + £2 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 02 3
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 10A
January 1931 - December 1932
Published 2014, 204 pages
**** Sorry, now sold out ****
ISBN: 978 1 909091 09 2
Motor Omnibus Routes in London Volume 11A
January 1933 - December 1934
Published 2015, 232 pp, illustrated
Small stock available £13 + £2 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 12 2
Buses in Brentwood
A brief history by Chris Stewart
Published 2016 jointly with PHRG
A5, 32 pages, fully illustrated
£4.75 plus £1.25 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 15 3
A History of the Buses, Trams & Trolleybuses of Enfield & Edmonton
By David Domin, fully illustrated.
Published 2014, 96 pages
£10.00 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 909091 10 8
A London Anthology - Bulletin articles to mark 50 years of LHRG
Published 2013. 108 pages
£8.00 plus £2.00 P&P
45 articles, list on LHRG pages
ISBN: 978 1 909091 05 4
LONDON’S FORGOTTEN BUS OPERATIONS – Public Motor Transport in Bedfordshire 1899-1919
By J.M. Cummings. 48 pages
£4.50 plus £2.00 P&P
ISBN: 978 1 901307 54 8
Vanguard - an important chapter in the early history of the London motorbus
Published 2001, 52 pages
ISBN: 978 0 901307 62 9
Returned stock (slightly worn) £9.95 plus £2.00 P&P
Early London Motorbus Registrations (excluding B-type)
Compiled by John M. Cummings
ISBN: 978 0 901307 63 7
**** Sorry, now sold out ****
Orders
Orders and payment for all LHRG publications (except Waltham Forest and London's Buses Volume 3, available via MDS Books) may be made electronically - details on the LHRG Publications page.
Alternatively, orders by post should be addressed to:
LHRG Distribution Officer,
Curry Farm,
Halstead Lane,
Knockholt,
Sevenoaks,
TN14 7EP
Cheques payable to "Omnibus Society (LHR Group)" please. Overseas postage extra.
For more information view the London Historical Research Group page here
Titles Published Directly By The Society
Majestic - The story of the BET group's smallest fleet.
A brief history of this Manchester based company including competition on the London service in 1930. Researched by Maurice Bateman, John Bennett, Michael Eyre & others.
32 pages, Cover price £6.90
ISBN 978 1 909091 03 0.
Eastern National: Memories of a Bus Company
Edited and compiled by Andy Gipson on behalf of the Eastern & Southern Branch. Published November 2020, to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the creation of Eastern National. The book has stories of life on and off the buses from people who worked and had an interest with the company. 168 pages. Cover price £12.00 plus £3.00 p&p for non OS Members.
ISBN: 978 1 909091 276.
***SORRY - NOW SOLD OUT***
Orders
Obtainable (online or at sales stalls) from: MDS Books (www.mdsbooks.co.uk)
Please note:
The Eastern National book is available ONLY from Ian Barlex, E&S Branch Distribution Officer, 3 Caledonian Close, Ilford IG3 9QF, E mail. IB@chadwellassociates.co.uk
An order for the book can be made by bank transfer or if you prefer by collection at 3 Caledonian Close, Ilford IG3 9QF. You must contact Ian at IB@chadwellassociates.co.uk in advance to confirm your details for either option.