Rare pictures of when horses tried to out-run the buses
It remained a feature of life until recently in some cities to hop on and off a passing bus through the open back door, but as these rare pictures from the archive remind us, it wasn’t the only part of the vehicle to have been exposed to the elements.
Motor buses have been part of the urban landscape since the end of the 19th century – although, as we can see from one picture, the horse and cart initially tried to give them a run for their money.
They were not entirely new. The first “horse bus” service had been established in Manchester as early as 1824, with passengers picked up and set down along a predefined route, just as today.
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Hide AdThe motorised era brought greater speed but not necessarily comfort. Not only the upper decks but also the staircases were “outside” and the upstairs seats unupholstered.