Tower Bridge bus incident 72 years ago today

[Sandy Lane]

The driver who 'jumped' his bus over the Tower Bridge gap, 30 December 1952.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn7m8dmkglxo

A good item to read. I suppose it could have ended up being a lot worse. The driver was commended for his actions. 

"It was late in the evening, dark and the temperature had dipped below freezing.

It was a couple of weeks after the great smog had brought London to a standstill, and although that particularly foul miasma had dispersed, smog still regularly reduced visibility.

The traffic lights were green, there was no ringing of a warning hand-bell".

I wonder what damage was done to the bus - a 3 axle decker shown in the photo?

[Justin Tyme]

It was an RT, which was a rugged bus - one of London Transport's most successful types.

I do not think that any substantial damage was caused to the bus.

Here is a link to a postcard produced after the event! https://www.flickr.com/photos/23875695@N06/8038412288

[Sandy Lane]

Thks. Perhaps something for the next James Bond movie to consider if they do any filming in London?

[Justin Tyme]

Funny you should say that.  It's sort of already been done, although not in London!

Live and Let Die featured an RT that saw off several motorbikes and police cars.  It didn't jump over a bridge but it did lose its upper deck in a chase:-