Westbourne Park bus garage open day

Westbourne Park Garage in north west London will open its doors to members of the public. It is the last in a series of bus garage open days that follow similar events staged in 2014 as part of the Year of the Bus.

Visitors to Westbourne Park Bus Garage, which is operated by the Tower Transit bus company, will get the chance to:

· View a select range of buses dating from 1910 to the 1970s on display, as well as more modern vehicles including the highly popular New Routemaster bus;

· Take a free trip on vintage and other interesting buses from Westbourne Park Bus Garage to Notting Hill or Maida Hill (Chippenham).

· There will be tours departing from the garage forecourt every 15-20 minutes from 11:00 to 16:00;

· Visit the TfL’s Safety and Citizenship team as they promote the safe use of the transport system, raise awareness of personal safety, and communicate respect for other customers and transport staff.

· Experience heritage vehicles including London Transport Museum’s remarkable B-type Battle Bus B2737 – complete with interpretative actor, its Gold RT4712 and the second ever Routemaster bus, RM2. B2737 is one of four surviving B-type buses in known existence. It began service in January 1914 on Route 9 between Barnes and Liverpool Street. When the Fist World War broke out, it was commandeered by the War Department. It has now been restored with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the support of London Transport Museum Friends.

· Learn about women in transport, their stories and those of the women who preceded them during the First World War, through a mini-exhibition ’A Driving Force: 100 Years of Women in Transport’ and join Museum volunteers in a community storytelling activity inspired by the Women in Transport exhibition and the story of Battle Bus.

· Take a trip in a bus through the bus wash!

Westbourne Park Garage replaced Garages at Middle Row and Stonebridge. It was built in 1981 and this red brick building has an unusual roof in the form of an elevated part of the A40.

As with previous bus garage open days, all proceeds generated from the event will be donated to charity, in this case St John’s Hospice in St John’s Wood.