Former Red Arrow MBA23 (VLW23G), re-seated to B46D and renumbered MB23, seen in Eltham on Blackwall Tunnel route 108. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Former Red Arrow MBA24 (VLW24G), re-seated to B46D and renumbered MB24, was allocated to Poplar Garage for Blackwall Tunnel route 108. AEC Swift 3P2R024, MCW B46D. (aecsouthall.co.uk archive)

Former Red Arrow MBA26 (VLW26G), reseated to B46D and renumbered MB26, allocated first to Poplar and by 1973 transferred to Holloway for route 143. The centre doors weren't used - the red painted bar across the outside of the doors is just discernable. The location is Junction Road near Archway. AEC Swift 3P2R026, MCW B46D. (aecsouthall.co.uk archive)

Wood Green's MBS37 was one of the few red Merlins to retain its SMM--F mark, the others being MBS32, 33, 34, 35 & 38. Seen at Turnpike Lane on the new flat-fare route W4 in October 1968. AEC Swift 3P2R037, MCW B25D+48. (Chris Stanley)

MBS39 in Stratford in February 1968. Registered SMM39F but running on trade plates, it would enter service from Wood Green in September 1968 re-registered VLW39G. AEC Swift 3P2R039, MCW B25D+48. (Chris Stanley)

Leaving Turnpike Lane Bus Station in October 1968 is Wood Green's MBS43 (VLW43G). Only in service for a month it has already taken a knock. Note the Bus Station totem reflected in the MBSs side windows. AEC Swift 3P2R043, MCW B25D+48. That's RM6 behind. (Chris Stanley)

Wood Green's MBS44 (VLW44G) runs along Green Lanes as WN41 on route W4. Here at the Green Dragon Lane terminus in Winchmore Hill MBS44 will turn around and head back to Turnpike Lane. Date is August 15th 1972. AEC Swift 3P2R044, MCW B32D+34. (Malcolm K Allan)

Initially a Wood Green bus, MBS74 (VLW74G) was transferred to Cricklewood in 1970 for Express route 616 - originally planned as Red Arrow 516. AEC Swift 3P2R074, MCW B32D+34. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

MBS75 (VLW75G) leaving Turnpike Lane Bus Station in October 1968 on the new W4 flat fare route, short-working to Palmers Green. AEC Swift 3P2R075, MCW B25D+48. (Chris Stanley)

MBS76 (VLW76G) was one of many redundant LT Merlins hired to London Country in 1974 to help alleviate the chronic shortage of serviceable buses. LCBS couldn't afford to be choosy, and drivers at Garston Garage (where MBS76 is seen) already had experience with the low floor cab MBs allocated there in 1969 for routes 318 & 335. AEC Swift 3P2R076, MCW B32D+34. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

London Transport Country Area MB84 (SMM84F) on route 447 at Reigate Station was one of the earliest MCW Merlins to enter service and therefore retained its SMM--F mark. (Cliff Essex)

London Transport Country Area MB85 (SMM85F) was one of the earliest MCW Merlins to enter service and therefore retained its SMM--F mark. Transferred to High Wycombe in 1968, and seen on the 305 at Uxbridge Station. (Richard Cains collection)

Seen at Crawley Bus Station is MB88 (SMM88F) on local route 426A running as number duty number CY19. It is heading north-west to Ifield Station. AEC Swift 3P2R088, MCW B45D+15. (Malcolm K Allan)

Star of the Kingston RF running day on March 22nd 2009 was AEC Merlin MB90 seen arriving at Sandown Park. (NF)

With its low floor cab and fixed rear window without emergency exit MB90 is unique among the few surviving Merlins. (NF)

Nearside view of MB90 at Sandown Park. (NF)

MB90 at Leatherhead 'Garage' on the first 416 outing of the day. The MB was making all the right noises; the engine sounding particularly good. It was great to be on a Merlin again. (NF)

No rest for owner/driver Peter Comfort as it's straight back out with MB90 for the second duty on route 416 with another capacity load. (NF)

Breathe in! (NF)

A gap in traffic on the A307 and we're away! (NF)

MB90 was one of a handful of Merlins to retain its SMM --F mark. MB90 is seen in decidedly refined Chalfont St Peter's High Street, running as MA62 on route 305 out to High Wycombe Bus Station on June 5th 1973. AEC Swift 3P2R090, B45D+15. (Malcolm K Allan)

Delivered & registered in 1968, London Country's MB92 (SMM92F) is running light through a lonely spot near Dorking in the summer of 1979. Within a few weeks Leyland-Nationals would be working this route. AEC Swift 3P2R092, MCW B45D+15. (Neil Fraser)

MB93 (VLW93G) on a garage journey to Amersham on the 335 in June 1973. AEC Swift 3P2R093, MCW B45D+15. (Malcolm K Allan)

MB94 (VLW94G) from Hatfield Garage seen at New Barnet Station in early 1974 about to leave for the long run to Hitchin on the 303A. (NF)

London Country MB106 (VLW106G) from Hatfield Garage is HF43 on route 315 at the Lawn Avenue stand in Kimpton and is already blinded for the return trip to Welwyn Garden City on May 16th 1972. AEC Swift 3P2R107, MCW B45D+15. (Malcolm K Allan)

London Country MB108 (VLW108G) from Dorking Garage passing through Shere on the 425 to Guildford. AEC Swift 3P2R109, MCW B45D+15. (Neil Fraser)

LT MB124 VLW124G. (Cliff Essex)

MB145 (VLW145G) seen on the East End Road in Finchley Central running as HT51 on route 143 when Brent Cross Shopping Centre was still a muddy nomansland next to the North Circular Road. AEC Swift 3P2R146, MCW B50F. (Malcolm K Allan)

MB151 (VLW151G) newly delivered to Catford Garage and awaiting a set of destination blinds. Seen here on Catford Garage (TL) forecourt in October 1968. (John King)

Numerically the last of LT's low floor cab Merlins, MB165 (SMM165F) - seen at Southall Works in early 1968 - had an out-of-sequence chassis number, 3P2R100, and had air suspension. Were standard leaf springs fitted before the bus entered service at Holloway (HT) towards the end of 1968 as VLW165G? This photo also shows why the original gold LT fleetnames applied to the early Merlins were replaced with red ones! (Chris Stanley)

MBA166 (VLW166G) was the first Merlin with the high floor cab, and the first of the second batch of Red Arrows MBA166-193 that entered service from Walworth & Hackney garages on Reshaping Day in September 1968. Unusually the seats in these vehicles were covered in a pvc material instead of the traditional moquette. The pay-the-machine symbols date this photo to some time in 1969. AEC Swift 4P2R223, MCW B25D+48. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Brand new second series Red Arrow MBA178 (VLW178G) from Walworth Garage seen at Aldgate Minories bus station on route 501. (Gerry Cork)

Wood Green's high-driving position MBS194 (VLW 194G) storms down the Great Cambridge Road at the N18 and N17 border on route W1 as WN5 on March 29th 1973. W1's routing took it from Edmonton's old Cambridge Roundabout to Turnpike Lane Station. (Malcolm K Allan)

Walthamstow's MBS197 (VLW197G) sits in the autumn sun and the next W21 will shortly depart for Walthamstow running as WW9 on September 5th 1972. Behind is an RM on route 256. (Malcolm K Allan)

LT MBS225 VLW225G. (Cliff Essex)

MBS277 (VLW277G) seen in Shenley Lane on April 29th 1973 and running as GR10 on route 345. Special Hospital routes operated one or two scheduled journeys on but a handful of days of the week such as the 345 serving Napsbury Hospital in London Colney. AEC Swift 4P2R335, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

Several school routes had their own suffix letters. The highest letter used (and displayed) for school runs by London Country, courtesy of its LT predecessors, was 'E'. Filling up is MBS279 (VLW279G) on Garston's route 346E at Prestwick Road in South Oxhey, running as GR39. The date is May 19th 1972. AEC Swift 4P2R337, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

MBS286 (VLW286G) in Station Road Welham Green, running as HF8 on the 303A on December 7th 1972. AEC Swift 4P2R344, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

Tring used to borrow a vehicle from Hemel Hempstead whenever theirs had mechanical issues. Seen on March 22nd 1972 at the quaint terminal opposite Aldbury Pond, MBS292 (VLW292G) as TG1 on the 387 was covering for the defective MBS15. AEC Swift 4P2R350, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

Seen on its way to Peascroft Road in Bennetts Gate on October 20th 1972 is MBS293 (VLW293G) as HH42 on route 314A in Gadebridge Road in the Hemel Hempstead suburb of the same name. AEC Swift 4P2R351, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

Looking extremely bland despite the recent application of the National Bus Company's 'new' look livery, MBS295 (VLW295G) from Two Waters pulls away from one of the many stops along Maylands Avenue in Hemel Hempstead's Industrial Area on works service 314C as HH46 on May 5th 1973. AEC Swift 4P2R353, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

London Country MBS302 (VLW302G) in St Peter's Street Sat Albans on local route S1. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

London Country MBS303 VLW303G. (Cliff Essex)

Conventional MB306 (VLW306G) from Sidcup Garage at the Swanley Garage terminus of route 21A as SM506 and a modified RF look on. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Conventional MB307 (VLW307G) from Sidcup Garage with RT1021 at the Swanley Garage terminus of route 21A. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Edwards of Armidale NSW AEC Swift MO8118, ex Deanes Coaches 5484, former LTE Merlin MB363. (Pete Kane via Lance Blackman)

Merton Garage's single-door MB379 (VLW379G) seen in the early summer sunshine on route 293 on the Epsom Road in West Ewell, June 12th 1973. (Malcolm K Allan)

MBS412 (VLW412G) from Staines Garage is about to turn left out of Staines Station Approach into Kingston Road running as ST18 on route 460 on June 7th 1973. AEC Swift 4P2R469, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

London Country MBS415 from Hatfield Garage heading south through Brookmans Park to New Barnet Station in August 1972 as HF8 on the lengthy 303 route. AEC Swift 4P2R472, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

MBS417 (VLW417G) from Windsor Garage fails to fill its seats as WR3 on route 446B at Slough's "The George" stop in Farnham Road on June 7th 1973. AEC Swift 4P2R474, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

London Country MBS423 VLW423G. (Cliff Essex)

MBS433 (VLW433G) from Two Waters Garage with an extreme case of crush-loading as it departs from the Maylands Avenue stop at Cleveland Road and is running as HH50 on Hemel Hempstead route 314B on May 11th 1973. AEC Swift 4P2R492, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

MBS438 (VLW438G) as WR8 on route 484 is about to swing out of/into Wentworth Drive in the Britwell area of Slough on June 7th 1973. AEC Swift 4P2R497, MCW B33D+27. (Malcolm K Allan)

Red Arrow MBA532 (VLW532G) seen in the early evening gloom at Waterloo in 1979. (Neil Fraser)

Red Arrow MBA532 seen, not on a 5xx route but on a Railway Replacement service in a peaceful looking Bonny Street, by Euston Station. The solitude coupled with the Merlin not on its usual haunt suggests this is a weekend. Date is October 1st 1972. (Malcolm K Allan)

Merlin AML549H at Cardiff Docks in 1982. (M Aldron)

Split-entrance MBS553 (AML553H) from Harrow Weald Garage seen on a bright afternoon as it takes its stand time in Eastcote Road in Pinner. Running as HD 11 on route 209, it'll soon be off around the houses to South Harrow. (Malcolm K Allan)

The split-entrance MBSs were initially allocated to Hounslow Garage for automatic fare collection trials on routes 110 & 111. MBS554 (AML554H) is seen in Hounslow on the 110. (Chris Stanley)

Split-entrance MBS555 (AML555H), one of ten MBSs fitted with AFC equipment, awaits departure from South Harrow Station stand on November 8th 1972 as HD46 on route 136 to Harrow Weald Garage via Harrow Hill. (Malcolm K Allan)

MBS565, Merlin AML565H. (Cliff Essex)

Silver Service Merlin AML569H. (M Audsley)

Multi-standee MBS570 (AML570H) in store at Fulwell Garage in 1969 prior to its conversion into Red Arrow MBA570 and subsequent transfer to Walworth Garage. Trolleybus 1253 (EXV253) is from LT's historic collection. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

MBA580 with the very old red underlined fleetname in place of the usual italicised RED ARROW name. Waterloo Station, early 1979. (Neil Fraser)

Ex LT MBA581 (AML581H) on location in Boxhill Surrey, August 1996. (M Audsley)

MBA582 seen at the LT Museum's Acton Depot on 3/3/01. (Neil Fraser)

London Transport MBA592 on Red Arrow 501 approaching Waterloo Station. (Neil Fraser)

Red Arrow MBA598 (AML598H) from Victoria Garage at Victoria Station terminus of route 506 which was withdrawn in 1977. Red Arrow 513 was transferred from Walworth Garage to Victoria at the same time. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

North Mymms Coaches AML602H, former Red Arrow MBA602, seen at Woburn Showbus, 1990. (Neil Fraser)

Former Red Arrow MBA605 (AML605H) worked in and around the docks at Dover for a good few years, initially in the ownership of Townsend Thoresen, followed by P&O Ferries. (Neil Fraser)

Red Arrow MBA606 was the first single decker in the UK to be adorned with an allover advertisement and it ran from September 1972 on route 500. The striking decoration for Chappell's Music Store confused some passengers and the front panel was soon painted bus red. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Allover advert bus MBA606 ran in a black-based livery from September 1972 until July 1974 when it was repainted in this revised white-based livery which it ran with for a further twelve months. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Former MBA614 (AML614H) attended the 1991 Cobham Bus Rally. The location here is the supermarket car park in Addlestone where rally vehicles congregated. (Neil Fraser)

Alperton's allocation of Merlins included several with WMT---G number plates, including MB618 seen on Sunday February 25th 1973 in Station Road Hendon on its way to Ealing Broadway, running as ON1 on route 83, one-man operated with MBs on Sundays only. (Malcolm K Allan)

Here is MB619 (WMT619G) at Lanacre, Grahame Park, running as ON104 on route 79 extended from its prior terminus at Colindale Station. Route 79 would be extended again through more newly constructed roads to Burnt Oak Broadway. (Malcolm K Allan)

MB623 (WMT623G) from Plumstead Garage seen on route 99. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

MB628 (AML628H) from Plumstead Garage seen on route 99. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

MB640 (AML640H) pulls away from the stop opposite Potters Bar Garage running as PB71 on local circular route 284, prior to the route's conversion to FRM operation. (Malcolm K Allan)

Preserved MB641 (AML641H) at Potters Bar Garage in 1981 showing blinds for route 84. (Neil Fraser)

Preserved MB641 (AML641H) at Potters Bar Garage in 1981 showing blinds for route 242. (Neil Fraser)

Preserved MB641 (AML641H) at Potters Bar Garage in 1981 showing blinds for route 284. (Neil Fraser)

Preserved AEC Merlin MB641 seen at Duxford in 1997. (John Law)

Brian Nash's preserved MB641 (AML641H) in St Albans on 14/1/07. (Mark Pitman)

Keith Wright's MB641 (AML641H, ex-Brian Nash) looking fantastic at Potters Bar garage for the open day on July 5th 2008. (Damon Cross)

A characteristic view of MB641 sweeping out of Potters Bar Garage onto the A1000 Great North Road on July 5th 2008. The forty year old MCW bodywork still looks stylish today. (Damon Cross)

A typical garage scene which could be in the 1970s! Actually the date is July 5th 2008, and preserved AEC Merlin MB641 takes a break during the Potters Bar Garage Open Day. (Damon Cross)

The last of LT's 36ft AEC Swift 691s was conventional MB665 (AML665H) seen here allocated to Bromley Garage for route 126. (Jeff Lloyd collection)