L163 is a 1911 AEC Double Deck Bus

1911 AEC Double Deck Bus

Transport Museum of London

This early double decker was operational in London from 1911 until 1924. Between 1914 and 1916 it was commandeered by the War Department to transport wounded soldiers. The external driver's cab is a simple wooden construction like that of a horse-drawn carriage. It has solid rubber tyres, an open, external metal staircase at the rear, and could carry a total of 34 passengers - "16 in. 18 out".

It has soft, upholstered seating in the lower deck, and wooden, slatted seats up top. It is plastered with the advertising of the time. Although it has electric lighting for its headlamps and also for the interior of the vehicle, the driver's horn is the standard hand-pumped type.

It's very impressive that these old timers can make the journey from London to Brighton.

L163 was the oldest double decker on the Run in 2006 and was the winner in its class, winning The Modern Transport Trophy, a strange title for this kind of event.