The Gibson ticket machine at Epping Ongar Railway is the last of its kind still in commercial use and sadly Government legislation now forces its retirement as more modern machines are required to be used.
The ticket machines last day in action will be on the 339 bus route which connects Epping to North Weald station, Ongar and Shenfield which the railway operates using heritage London buses.
The ticket machine was named after its inventor, George Gibson, and was first used by London Transport in 1953. The machine gave the opportunity for tickets to be issued and recorded in a more efficient manor than the earlier approach which required an abundance of pre-printed tickets.
The Gibson ticket machine meant that bus conductors could now select the fare or code and wind the handle to provide a ticket. The machines are often associated with the Routemaster buses which operated with a crew made up of a driver and the conductor at the rear entrance of the buses. The machines were last used in London in August 1993.
The ‘End of an Era' event will take place on Sunday the 20th of February at North Weald station is intended as a tribute to the days of crew operated buses and the iconic Gibson machine.
Alongside the route 339 service, a bus will also be running extra trips in order to recreate historical local London Transport routes, many of which operated out of the former Epping bus garage.
Passengers buying ‘bus only' tickets during the day will be issued with a ticket using the Gibson machine on its very last day of use.
The railway will also be operating steam hauled train services with a combined bus and train ticket available.
For more information or to purchase tickets please visit: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/end-of-an-era—bus-running-day/
1953 was very late for a new machine of this type – the more universal TIM machine had been in use since at least the 1940s. Once again London Transport proving that what was good for the rest of the country wasn’t good enough for them.
Please explain what government legislation prevents them using the machine
If its a heritage bus service, why can’t they use a heritage machine?
The only justification for stopping using these machines is if they propose to claim bus operator rebates, or concessionary travel reimbursement, which require statistical evidence. They will also need a full O Licence, employ CPC qualified Drivers etc etc,