The single-deck omnibus continued for
several years but gradually passengers being seated outside started to grow.
Initially additional seats for two or three extra passengers were provided
alongside the driver. Then came a second row of seats behind the driver, by
1845 the curved roofs of many new vehicles accommodated more passengers,
usually male, seated back to back. The term ‘knifeboard’ was first used in
Punch, 15 May 1862 to describe this type of omnibus with upper
deck back-to-back seating, a term that continues to be used to describe this
form of transport. This real photographic post card was produced by E. Ward of
249 Oxford Rd, Manchester, and shows a double-deck knife-board omnibus, with
the upper deck being reached by iron-rung stairs. The omnibus would carry
around 26 to 28 passengers and would on average travel at seven or eight miles
per hour at normal speed. Because of the number of passengers and the weight
involved, a team of four horses was required. Though nothing is written on the
back of this postcard by nature of the posing of the passengers it would seem
that this omnibus has been hired for a trip out.