Buses (RWS)

Buses are road vehicles that can transport many passengers.

Many of the buses on Sodor are owned by Sodor Roadways and provide a connection to the railways by picking up and dropping off passengers. There are several known buses, such as Bertie, Bulgy and Algy.

Biography
A double-decker bus was at Elsbridge when Thomas and Gordon were talking.

When Percy collided into the luggage trolley, a double-decker bus was seen on the bridge above. The bus had an advertisement for The Railway Series book, Troublesome Engines.

Toby's Old Tramway went bankrupt due to the buses taking over Toby's work. One of these buses was a green bus.

Magazines and Annuals
Two double-decker buses were introduced; the Special Bus Service and the The Open-Topped Double-Decker Bus. A single-decker hospital bus was also introduced.

A bus with a digital sign reading 401 was at Wellsworth Bus Yard while Bertie was having snow removed from him.

Basis
Many of the single-decker buses are based on AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area buses. Eight of these buses are known to survive in preservation. One of these buses, T31, is believed to have been the first bus to be privately preserved in England. Bertie and the green bus are also based on this bus. Prior to being rebuilt, Algy was also based on this bus. The redesigned Algy and a blue bus are based on the Albion Victor FT.

Many of the double-decker buses are based on AEC Regent V buses. Bulgy and his friend are also based on this bus.

Livery
The single-decker buses are painted in different liveries, such as red and dark blue. The dark blue bus has a triangle painted on its sides in white along with a white rooftop. The double-decker buses owned by Sodor Roadways are also painted in different liveries, such as red and light blue.

The red livery is based on the famous red bus livery used by London Transport.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Tank Engine Thomas Again - Thomas, Terence and the Snow
 * Troublesome Engines - Tenders and Turntables
 * Henry the Green Engine - Percy and the Trousers
 * Toby the Tram Engine - Toby and the Stout Gentleman
 * Four Little Engines - Old Faithful

Companion Volumes

 * 1995 - Percy the Small Engine and the Scarf

Trivia

 * Awdry had a model of a cream and maroon double-decker bus on his Ffarquhar Branch layout. It had banners advertising "Watneys Pale Ale" and "DUNLOP" on its sides. The model is a Dinky Toys Leyland Double Decker bus #290.