London Taxi waiting for new assignment.

This cab once belonged to Martin Atkinson, founder member of the London Vintage Taxi Club, Historic Commercial Vehicle Club and Trojan Owners Club who was tragically killed in a road accident in 1968. It passed to his widow Erica, who has recently died.

Horse-drawn hackney carriages began providing taxicab service in the early 17th century. In 1636 the number of carriages was set at 50, an early example of taxicab regulation. In the same year, the owner of four hackney carriages established the first taxicab stand in The Strand. But did they have the knowledge then ?
The “Knowledge” is the in-depth study of a number of pre-set London street routes and places of interest, within a 10km radius of Charing Cross, that taxicab drivers must complete in order to obtain a licence to operate a black cab. It was initiated in 1865, and has changed little since.
The taxicab driver is required to be able to decide routes immediately in response to a passenger's request or traffic conditions, rather than stopping to look at a map, Thus the 'Knowledge' came about. It is claimed that the training involved ensures that London taxi drivers are experts on London, and have an intimate knowledge of the city.
see Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom
Stuart