Omibus Society

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. 

MDS Booksales

128, Pikes Lane
Glossop
SK13 8EH

MDS BOOKS

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

George Ewer & Co Cover

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.

PO2 Delaine Cover

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

PO1 Ortona Front Cover

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

Mainline Book Cover

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, priced at £29.50.

Country Roads Cover

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 Cover2

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 Book Cover

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.
Anthology

ANTHOLOGY 1985-2010

ANTHOLOGY 1985-2010: EXTRACTS FROM THE FIRST 25 YEARS OF PHRG. Edited by David J Bubier, published October 2018. ISBN 978-1-909091-20-7. 88 pages, fully illustrated £10.95.
The Brutonian Story

THE BRUTONIAN STORY: A SOMERSET INDEPENDENT

by Michael Wadman. ISBN 978-1-909091-21-4. 60 pages, 3 maps, 29 photos (12 in colour). £9.95.

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 Front Cover Vol 1

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 Front Cover Vol 2

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 Front Covers

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 FRONT Narrow

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

Bulletin Extra Fred Ivey Cover

---- 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

Chitchats Cover

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
Spring Line Cover

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

Robertson London Buses Frontcover 220819

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

LT LS LTC Vol 1 Front Cover

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 LTC Vol 2 Front Cover

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

Biggin Hill Bus Booklet COVER Front

They Also Served - Bus Route 410

The story of the buses that served RAF Biggin Hill and the area
Published 2019, A5, 32 pages
*** SOLD OUT ***
Available from Dinnages (see LHRG page)

Shades Cover Front

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

Lbut Cover Front Only

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 Front Cover

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

LBUT Plus Supp Front Covers

* SPECIAL OFFER *

LBUT second edition
AND
LBUT Supplement
£13.00 plus £2.00 P&P

Londontransportthumb

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

Moril1thumb

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

Special Offer Image

MORiL SPECIAL OFFER

MORiL Volumes 2 to 9A inclusive
£80.00 plus £9.00 P&P

Moril2thumb

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

Moril 3 Cover

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

Moril4thumb

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

Moril5thumb

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

Morilthumb6a

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

Morilthumb7a

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

Morilthumb8a

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

Morilthumb9a

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

Moril10a Thumb

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

Moril 11A Cover

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

Brentwood Front

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

Enfield Thumb

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

Anthology Cover Thumbnail

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

Londons Forgotten Bus Operations

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 Front Coverthumb

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 Reg Cover Image

Early London Motorbus Registrations (excluding B-type)

Compiled by John M. Cummings
ISBN: 978 0 901307 63 7
* Sorry, out of print *

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

The following titles are published directly by the Society.

Majestic

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.

EN Mems Book For Os Website

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.