An early view of SMS 369, taken around 1971/72 Photo: M. Bennett

SMS369 (EGN 369 J) BUILT 1970

SMS 369 entered service on the 30th January 1971 at Merton garage(AL) replacing RTs on route 200 between Mitcham and Raynes Park. From the 18th September it was also used on the 57 from Streatham to Kingston. On the 13th November 1977 DMSs replaced Swifts on both the 200 and 57. 369 was then sent to Aldenham for overhaul in December 1977 where it was one of a few Swifts to be recertified for a further 3 years service despite a general rundown of the type. It emerged from Aldenham in a revised livery with yellow entrance doors and white roundels instead of red fleetnames. It was then allocated to Edgware(EW) where it ran on routes such as 142 and 286.

It eventually became one of the last five Swifts (excluding the Red Arrow examples) still in normal service with London Transport. These were kept on for a few weeks longer while their new Metrobus replacements were settling in. It was finally withdrawn in December 1980 after ten years service and sold for further use as a school bus. It wore a blue and grey colour scheme during its three years of school service but was repainted into the later style of LT livery by the next owner who kept it for ten years until the bus was acquired by me in May 1994.

Passing Wimbledon Town Hall on 9/4/74 whilst allocated to Merton garage.
photo: Ken Mosley

Nearing the end of its career with London Transport.
photo: Geoff Rixon

Withdrawn at Edgware and awaiting its fate. photo: M. Overton

Outside the premises of Allco, in the livery of Pardes House School. photo: M. Overton

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