Seen here in the summer of 1969 inside what was then still the London Transport Reigate garage is AEC Q55, BXD576, carrying the distinctive Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Works B35C body with its tapering roofline.
When delivered between May and October 1935 the first one hundred of these buses had 37 seats, but the two seats at the front alongside the driver were swiftly removed between March and October 1936 to improve nearside view and obviate distraction. Two more of the same type arrived in June 1936, but these were 35 seaters upon delivery. These buses had the initial indirect injection version of the AEC 7.7 diesel, albeit in inclined form to suit the installation, coupled with a spring operated preselector gearbox. The brakes were vacuum hydraulic.
I cannot now recall the reason for the arrival at Reigate of this solitary preserved example of the 4Q4 type. In the picture the lower front panel has been removed presumably to attach a towbar to push the bus into its parked position. I did return later to take a monochrome picture showing this panel in position.

Photo taken by Roger Cox, Summer 1969, Reigate London Transport garage

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