[Transportation] Singapore Traction Company: A Bus Company That Served Singaporeans

Three different-valued STC bus tickets that I'd purchased previously

"You must have not taken a STC bus before", said an elderly man who was waiting patiently behind me to board a re-modelled Singapore Traction Company's (STC) public bus. Indeed, I had not had a ride in one as I was a 1973 baby. STC went into debt and was sold off in 1971. (1)

Boarding a STC bus

Frontal View of the STC bus

Four circled-round lights; Rivets used to hold the shell of the bus together; a singular gear stick; The re-modelled bus was painstakingly put together by the Singapore's statutory board - the Land Transport Authority.

In the past, the assembly of such buses was taken on by local companies such as Lee Kiat Seng Private Limited. (2)  This company was previously located at 50, Kallang Pudding Road. (3) They have been building the bodies of buses since 1924. (4)

Inside of the bus

View from the driver's seat

In the past, the driver's role was just as their designation suggests - drive. The conductor job was then to help to collect the fare. I'll always remember how the conductor will use the ticket puncher to tap on the metal ticket holder, signifying that he's about to collect the fare.

Where people once smoked on board buses

There were also a number of old notices that were included in this STC bus. One, to warn passengers against smoking and the hefty fine that would come along with it. The other notices include one that advised passengers not to stand on the steps (Many still did) and the other was about an emergency door.

Fine specimen of a bus, I'd say.



References

1. Singapore Traction Company begins operation. History.sg. Accessed on April 3, 2016. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/51e3da00-2cdf-43a2-a548-5581d2db3e64

2. Assembly of Singapore Traction Company Nissan bus body at Lee Kiat Seng Private Limited. National Archives of Singapore. Accessed on April 3, 2016. http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/341a0d3e-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

3. Advertisement, Column 2. July 6, 1962. The Straits Times. P6.

4. Agents appointed for tube investments. June 16, 1964. The Straits Times. P13.