These FARE STAGE plates were a new way of showing fare stages at bus stops. Fare stages were the points from which a new fare was calculated. They previously had been shown by means of a small circular black disc near the top of the post. In a few cases, such as on bus shelters or in bus stations, there was not a suitable pole and an “E” plate was used instead, sometimes placed in runners on top of the shelter. It was a short-lived method, and was subsequently changed to a tall vertical red strip, the depth of the bus stop flag, attached between the post and the flag.

A head stop sign was used to indicate to bus drivers of crew operated (rear entrance) vehicles that they should stop with the front—or “head”—of the bus at the bus stop post. They were needed in cases where just forward of the stop there might have been a driveway or some such which was not to be obstructed by a stopped bus, or the bus stop post could not be located in the normal position for some reason. Head stop signs became more common when one-person-operated buses were being introduced, and shared stops with conventional rear entrance buses. (If there was only a rear entrance bus serving the stop, the bus stop post would normally have been moved further back about 10 meters (30 feet) so the bus could stop in the correct position.) Sometimes the sign was on a red G3 “Q” plate the width of the stop flag, but where there were a number of routes stopping and space was tight, the message was placed on a conventional “E” plate. Similarly, there were also tail stop signs. The latter were quite unusual.

“E” plates showing arrows were used on top of aluminium bus shelters to show whether people should queue to the left or right—or in the case of double arrows, in two separate queues. How successful they were is unknown, it is not believed they were common, and were most likely to have been used in bus stations in the country area. They are now exceptionally rare.

In traditional times London Transport went to the trouble of producing enamelled blank plates which could be used to stick temporary numbers on if a need arose until proper enamel plates could be produced. Blank “E” plates were also used to fill spaces behind the wider “G” and queue plates so that the “E” plates above would not slip down behind, although sometimes simply a square piece of aluminium would be used.

It has been suggested that these “E” plates were used at bus or Underground depots—perhaps as signs on doors—since there is (unused) self-adhesive tape on the back for affixing them. Given that they sport the more modern roundel rather than the two-colour bulls eye used up through the 1960s or the outline style of the ’70s, I think that these plates are most likely souvenirs.

Route 123 was introduced in 1960 as a replacement for trolleybus route 623 and ran daily between Manor House and Ilford Station via Tottenham Hale, Forest Road, Walthamstow, South Woodford, Southend Road and Gants Hill. In 1968 it was rerouted at Tottenham Hale to run to Enfield Town instead of Manor House via Bruce Grove, Turnpike Lane Station, Wood Green, Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill. In 1977 it was withdrawn between Winchmore Hill and Enfield Town, and in 1988 it was withdrawn between Wood Green and Winchmore Hill.

Route 221 was introduced in November 1961, replacing trolleybus routes 521/621. It ran daily between North Finchley and King’s Cross via Friern Barnet, New Southgate, Bounds Green, Wood Green, Turnpike Lane Station, Manor House, Finsbury Park, Holloway and Caledonian Road. It was extended on Mondays to Saturdays and some early Sunday journeys to Farringdon Street. In January 1966 it was extended on Mondays to Saturdays from North Finchley to Edgware via Woodside Park, Mill Hill East and Mill Hill Broadway. In June 1970 the evening service was withdrawn between King’s Cross and Farringdon Street. From June 1972 the terminus at Farringdon Street was altered with buses now standing at Holborn Circus. The 221 was converted to one-man-operated DMS buses in March 1973. In March 1979 the Sunday service was standardised to run to Edgware, in line with the Monday to Saturday service. In February 1992 the service was withdrawn between King’s Cross and Holborn Circus apart from a few Monday to Friday early journeys. In April 1995 the 221 was withdrawn between Turnpike Lane Station and Holborn Circus.

A second copy of this plate surfaced on ebay in November 2007.

Route 294 was the number that was going to be used for route W2 if agreement with the unions had not been reached in September 1968 over the introduction of new high-capacity one-man single deck buses. All of the new one-man lettered-prefix routes did have conventional route numbers allocated to them, which found their way onto signs owing to the late agreement being reached. However, the W2 was introduced in September 1968, running between Turnpike Lane Station and Finsbury Park via Hornsey, Priory Road, Alexandra Park (Victoria), Crouch End and Stroud Green.

This one is especially unusual as it is rare to find signs produced for routes that were never introduced.

This is a very old plate which would have been positioned on top of the old aluminium style shelters, and would have come from a Country Area bus station such as Hertford (illustrated here). Point identifiers in the central area used stop letters rather than numbers as there could otherwise have been confusion with route numbers.

These signs were in brass frames and located at the entrance to bus stations and garages (obviously!). Some were mounted back-to-back in pairs when affixed to poles or posts. Although having approximately the same proportions as a “double-vertical” “E2” plate, it is about 30" high × 17" wide. The more common version read BUSES ONLY rather than BUSES & COACHES ONLY.

London Coastal Coaches Ltd. was an association of coach operators. The company provided London terminal facilities, most famously the Victoria Coach Station which opened in 1932. In 1968 LCCL became a subsidiary of the National Bus Company.

This Coach Stop flag was located in Uxbridge High Street 20m south of Harefield Road. The flag is flat and appears the same size as the London Transport BUSES ONLY – NO ENTRY… signs, in a similar bronze frame. Unusually, it is not set in London Transport’s Johnston typeface, which is used for virtually all their signage.