The design was almost unique to the London area, with only South Yorkshire PTE taking similar new vehicles in any quantity. However this situation was set to change as London Transport soon found its DMS buses to be less reliable than had been hoped, indeed early examples of the class were already being withdraw before the final new deliveries had completed.

With the introduced of the M and T class second generation rear engine vehicles, LT began full scale replacement of the DMS class in the early 1980's, the final London Fleetlines being withdrawn from normal stage services in the early 1990's.

Operators facing de-regulation in the mid 1980's were quick to snap up these youthful London rejects. Many of the ex London examples were converted to single door layout, with examples appearing in fleets large and small across the whole of the UK. Some vehicles were even exported to Hong Kong.

Open top conversions of the DMS vehicles were popular with a number of London Sightseeing Tour operators, who between them converted and operated sizable fleets until the late 1990s.

THE EFE MODELS
EFE have so far produced seven versions of the DMS, the original London two door version with engine shrouds, two post London Transport single door versions, either with or without engine shrouds and two open top versions.
The first three versions were all added to the range in 1999 with the shroud-less single door version following in 2002. The fifth version released in 2000 is based on the original London dual door version, but was produced without upper deck seats as a code 2 model for China Motor Bus in Hong Kong. This and more surprisingly the open top version, have so far been limited to just a single release.

Even further variation can be added to the single door version without shrouds, this is done by changing the two leaf entrance door into a four leaf version, achieved by simply apply body paint to the door glazing.

In early 2006 EFE added a further model variation to the range in the form of a "Quiet B20" version, this involved the introduction of a new rear engine compartment with chimney like air intakes.

Also in early 2006 EFE under the Gilbow branding released a 1/24th scale London Transport DMS, the model based on a casting originally released onto the Hong Kong market in the Best Choose range, was a joint venture with Drumwell. For more details use the link below.

Like most other London models, the DMS has proved a popular choice as the base for several code 2 commissioned models.

See also the 1/24th scale Gilbow DMS Models
Extra large pictures of the models covered in this section can be found in my