Skip to content

Did A London Bus Jump Tower Bridge

You would be forgiven for thinking the legend of the London bus that jumped the gap on Tower Bridge as it opened was made up. But, believe it or not, it actually happened. Bus driver Albert Gunter became an unlikely hero in December 1952 when he was behind the wheel of the number 78 from Shoreditch to Dulwich.

Instead, he made a gut decision to slam down on the accelerator; luckily, the south side of the bridge was slower to rise and the bus made the jump of around six feet intact. Bus driver Albert Gunter, the man who jumped Tower Bridge. Photo by ANL/REX/Shutterstock

The Bus That Jumped Tower Bridge Posted onFebruary 17, 2016 in London 7 Comments No, it’s not the plot line for the next James Bond film… It was a normal shift for Albert Gunter on 30th December 1952 and he was on his usual route, the number 78, approaching Tower Bridge.

Did someone jump Tower Bridge in a bus?

Thankfully, there was only one person injured: Gunter broke his leg. Amazingly enough, the bus, which was going at just 12 mph (19.3 km/h), was intact. For this act of bravery and quick thinking, Albert was awarded a day off work and a reward of £10 (about £290 in today’s money).

What happened to London Tower Bridge?

London Bridge as we know it was opened to traffic in 1973, being then only 47 years old. Now made of concrete and steel, it replaced a 19th century stone arched bridge, which in turn succeeded a 600-year-old stone-built structure. Tower Bridge, on the other hand, has never fallen down.

Where does the 78 bus go to in London?

London Buses route 78 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Shoreditch and Nunhead, it is operated by Arriva London.

Is Tower of London and London Bridge the same?

Built between 1886 to 1894, the Tower Bridge is the more recognizable of the two bridges thanks to its iconic towers. So striking is the bridge that it is often mistakenly called the London Bridge which is less than half a mile upstream.

Has a bus ever jumped Tower Bridge?

On 30th December 1952, Albert Gunter was happily going about his day job, driving the number 78 bus over Tower Bridge towards Shoreditch. To his utter surprise, the road in front of him seemed to drop away.

Did a bus jump London bridge?

The 78 bus was on a rising bascule! The bus driver, Albert Gunter, accelerated and managed to jump the bridge and successfully reach the other side, getting all his passengers across safely. There was only one injury, the bus conductor broke his leg. Albert was awarded £10 and a day off work for his quick thinking.

How does London Tower Bridge work?

At Tower Bridge, power was generated by three large boilers, continuously fuelled by stokers working in shifts, 24 hours a day, to ensure there was enough energy available to lift the bridge whenever required. The steam created in these boilers was used to power the large steam pumping engines in the next room.

How often does Tower Bridge open?

How often does Tower Bridge open? On average, Tower Bridge opens its bascules around 800 times a year, that’s around twice a day. You’d be forgive for thinking that’s a lot of Bridge Lifts. However, in 1894, Tower Bridge’s first year of operation, the bascules were lifted 6,194 times.

More Answers On Did A London Bus Jump Tower Bridge

The day a bus jumped Tower Bridge and more historical feats

We already mentioned Albert Gunter’s accomplishment of jumping over a rising bascule with the number 78 bus, but there are two other impressive events that took place in or around the part of Pool of London where Tower Bridge is located. Flying through Tower Bridge. In 1951, Frank Miller flew a plane through Tower Bridge. Although he was not the first to do this, his excuse was the most surprising. Miller blamed it on his 13-year-old son, saying that he had dared him to do it for 35 …

Curious Questions: Did a double decker bus really jump over Tower Bridge?

The bus was doing just 12mph at the time – the foot speed of a decent runner -but the driver, Albert Gunter, realised he didn’t have the space to come to a halt. Instead, he made a gut decision to slam down on the accelerator; luckily, the south side of the bridge was slower to rise and the bus made the jump of around six feet intact.

A Brief Moment of History: The Day a Bus Jumped Tower Bridge

He was a driver on the bus route 78 which passed across Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge had been built between 1886 and 1894, crossing the River Thames in London, and it was designed to split into two sections which would raise when large boats needed to pass under. By the time that Albert was driving his bus on that fateful day, Tower Bridge had been raised around 300,000 times previously.

The true story of the Tower Bridge Bus Jump — The Tower Bridge Cat

Team Photos Schools History Reviews Shop. The true story of the Tower Bridge Bus Jump. On the 30th December 1952, the number 78 bus was travelling over Tower Bridge towards Shoreditch in East London when, the road in front of the bus seemed to drop away. The 78 bus was on a rising bascule!

Double Decker Bus Jumps Tower Bridge – Fun London Tours

On 30th December 1952, an incident described as ’1 in 150,000’ by the Daily Mail occurred when Tower Bridge began to open with a no.78 double decker bus on it. The bus in question was being driven from Shoreditch to Dulwich, and according to the driver Albert Gunter, it was travelling at about 12mph when suddenly the northern arm of the bridge began to lift.

Astonishing story of the London bus driver who jumped the gap on Tower …

Feb 3, 2022The name Albert Gunter has gone down as legend on London history. Most people know he was the London bus driver who incredibly drove his busy bus over the gap in London Bridge when it was open. The urban myth goes that he literally saw the bridge opening, realised the danger just in time and accelerated and jumped it! It happened in December 30, 1952.

Bus driver who drove over gap on Tower Bridge as it opened

Feb 13, 2022You would be forgiven for thinking the legend of the London bus that jumped the gap on Tower Bridge as it opened was made up. But, believe it or not, it actually happened. Bus driver Albert Gunter became an unlikely hero in December 1952 when he was behind the wheel of the number 78 from Shoreditch to Dulwich. It was an ordinary day for Albert but that changed as the bus crossed the famous middle-parting bridge.

The Day a Bus Jumped Tower Bridge! – Cultureseekers Blog

On the 30th December 1952, Albert Gunter was happily going about his day job, driving the number 78 bus over Tower Bridge from Shoreditch to Dulwich, when, to his utter surprise, the road in front of him seemed to drop away. He quickly realised that the bridge was opening and his bus was on a rising bascule!

London Buses route 78 – Wikipedia

In December 1952, a number 78 double-decker bus was crossing Tower Bridge. At that time, the gateman would ring a warning bell and close the gates when the bridge was clear before the watchman ordered the raising of the bridge. The process failed while a relief watchman was on duty. [citation needed]

28 December 1952 Double Decker bus jumps Tower Bridge

by Melvis · December 28, 2018 On 28 December 1952, Albert Gunter, the driver of the number 78 bus was heading across Tower Bridge when he realised that it was being raised to allow a ship to pass on the Thames below. The warning signals and barriers which should have prevented the bus from starting to cross the bridge had not been activated.

The Bus That Jumped Tower Bridge · Look Up London Tours

The Bus That Jumped Tower Bridge Posted onFebruary 17, 2016 in London 7 Comments No, it’s not the plot line for the next James Bond film… It was a normal shift for Albert Gunter on 30th December 1952 and he was on his usual route, the number 78, approaching Tower Bridge.

Boy got off school bus early before jumping into Thames at Tower Bridge …

Nov 23, 2021Opening an inquest into the death at Inner LondonCoroner’s Court Assistant Coroner on Tuesday Julian Morris said: “He got off the bus one stop early and made his way to Tower Bridge, he entered the…

Jumping buses | Tower Bridge

Pupils will travel back in time to 30 December 1952 – the day the Number 78 bus jumped Tower Bridge – and take part in a costumed storytelling session to discover the story. They will then practise comprehension skills (retelling stories) by working in pairs to create a stop motion animation of the bus jump. These films can be shared with the …

Tower Bridge: The Most Outrageous Stunts | Londonist

Bus jumps bridge 1952: Perhaps the most famous — and most incredible — incident in this roll call concerns the number 78 double decker to Dulwich. A watchman’s mistake allowed the bus onto the…

Zaheid Ali, 13, died after jumping off Tower Bridge in April

Nov 23, 2021A teenage boy died after jumping off Tower Bridge minutes after getting off the bus on his way to school, an inquest has heard. Zaheid Ali, 13, a pupil at Ark Globe Academy in Elephant and Castle …

How To Get London Bridge By Bus – The Best Bus

May 31, 2022Deadly bing london bridge sticker tower bridge with red bus in bus tour london tower bridge bus jump london buses getting around. The Bus That Jumped Tower Bridge Look Up London Tours. Curious Ions Did A Double Decker Bus Really Jump Over Tower Bridge Country Life.

Jumping Buses – London Bridge Revealed

One of our favourite stories is when a bus jumped over an opening Tower Bridge in December 1952. This feat took place long before video cameras became common so we’ve never seen it on film, until now! Come and join in the family activities at Tower Bridge on Saturday 21 and Tuesday 31 May. Create your own stop-motion animation to take home. Family activities are free with admission, drop in …

Tower Bridge and London bus jumping the gap as the bridge opens

Download this stock image: Tower Bridge and London bus jumping the gap as the bridge opens – A75FAF from Alamy’s library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. 280,388,088 stock photos, 360° images, vectors and videos

Tower Bridge – Wikipedia

Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel. It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust founded in 1282.

Mind The Gap When Jumping Over Tower Bridge – Car Journals

The driver Albert Gunter made a daring decision to accelerate and jump the gap between the two bascules. The bus made a successful leap of about 3 feet landing on the north bascule, which had not started to rise. Nobody was seriously injured. The conductor broke his leg, and twelve of the twenty passengers aboard received minor injuries.

Josie Shenoy Tower Bridge Bus Jump Print

The time a London bus jumped over an opening Tower Bridge has been immortalized in this wonderful giclée print by artist Josie Shenoy. Printed below the art is the sentence ’Artwork by Josie Shenoy created for The Buildings That Made London published by Bloomsbury Publishing and based on original material from The Nat

Tower Bridge stuck open, causing traffic chaos – BBC News

Aug 22, 2020Tower Bridge was stuck open for more than an hour, leaving hundreds of people and vehicles stranded in central London. The famous crossing failed to close after allowing a ship to pass along the …

London Art Postcard, Bus Jumping Tower Bridge (1952) by Mayfair Cards …

Apr 13, 2022Publisher: Mayfair Cards of London. Period: 1990s (1952 repro). London Borough: Southwark. Region: London. Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom. Modified …

London’s Tower Bridge Got Stuck for Nearly 12 Hours and … – Travel

Aug 10, 2021Tower Bridge typically opens to allow boats to pass about 800 times per year. The last time the bridge was stuck was last August. Due to a mechanical fault, the bridge remained lifted for more …

How to get from Tower Bridge to London Bridge (Station) by bus, ferry …

The cheapest way to get from Tower Bridge to London Bridge (Station) costs only £1, and the quickest way takes just 2 mins. Find the travel option that best suits you. … Tower Bridge to London Bridge (Station) bus services, operated by London Buses, depart from London Bridge, Tooley Street City Hall station. More details

28 December 1952 Double Decker bus jumps Tower Bridge

by Melvis · December 28, 2018. On 28 December 1952, Albert Gunter, the driver of the number 78 bus was heading across Tower Bridge when he realised that it was being raised to allow a ship to pass on the Thames below. The warning signals and barriers which should have prevented the bus from starting to cross the bridge had not been activated.

Jumping Buses – London Bridge Revealed

Jumping Buses Tower Bridge , London, Website. Location: Tower Bridge Engine Rooms May 21, 2022 – May 31, 2022. One of our favourite stories is when a bus jumped over an opening Tower Bridge in December 1952. This feat took place long before video cameras became common so we’ve never seen it on film, until now! Come and join in the family activities at Tower Bridge on Saturday 21 and Tuesday …

Tower Bridge: The Most Outrageous Stunts | Londonist

A watchman’s mistake allowed the bus onto the bridge just as the northern bascule began to rise. By the time driver Albert Gunter (46) noticed, the bus had reached the point of no return. In a …

14 Interesting & Fun Facts | Tower Bridge London

A bus once jumped over the Tower Bridge. On 30 December 1952, a bus leaped over one bascule to the other. Bus driver Albert Gunter was driving bus number 78 over the bridge when it suddenly began opening. Back then, a watchman was supposed to ring a warning bell and close the gates before Tower Bridge opened, which did not happen on that …

Zaheid Ali, 13, died after leaving school bus early and jumping off …

Zaheid Ali, 13, died after leaving school bus early and jumping off Tower Bridge into River Thames, inquest hears. Bystanders threw lifebuoys into the water, while others went to save the south …

Resource

https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/history/historical-feats
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/motoring/curious-questions-double-decker-bus-really-jump-tower-bridge-192696
https://justhistoryposts.com/2018/09/17/a-brief-moment-of-history-the-day-a-bus-jumped-tower-bridge/
https://www.towerbridgecat.com/history
https://funlondontours.com/double-decker-bus-jumps-tower-bridge/
https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/astonishing-true-story-london-bus-22957615
https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/london-bus-driver-tower-bridge-17907768
https://cultureseekers.blog/2019/09/30/the-day-a-bus-jumped-tower-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Buses_route_78
http://www.bygone-todays.com/28-december-1952-double-decker-bus-jumps-tower-bridge/
https://lookup.london/the-bus-that-jumped-tower-bridge/
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/boy-got-off-school-bus-early-before-jumping-into-thames-at-tower-bridge-inquest-hears/ar-AAR2eUj
https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/learning/workshop/jumping-buses
https://londonist.com/2014/06/tower-bridge-the-greatest-stunts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59389953
https://topbusinass.com/how-to-get-london-bridge-by-bus/
https://atlondonbridge.com/leisure/jumping-buses/
https://www.alamy.com/tower-bridge-and-london-bus-jumping-the-gap-as-the-bridge-opens-image483247.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge
https://carjournals.net/mind-the-gap-when-jumping-over-tower-bridge/
https://shop.towerbridge.org.uk/collections/tower-bridge/products/josie-shenoy-tower-bridge-bus-jump-print
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-53877433
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/274946681130
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/london-tower-bridge-reopens-after-being-stuck-12-hours
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Tower-Bridge-England/London-Bridge-Station
http://www.bygone-todays.com/28-december-1952-double-decker-bus-jumps-tower-bridge/
https://atlondonbridge.com/leisure/jumping-buses/
https://londonist.com/2014/06/tower-bridge-the-greatest-stunts
https://www.london-tickets.co.uk/tower-bridge/facts/
https://news.sky.com/story/zaheid-ali-13-died-after-leaving-school-bus-early-and-jumping-off-tower-bridge-into-river-thames-inquest-hears-12477111