Routemaster Class History:

 

The Routemaster or RM is without doubt one of the most famous types of bus ever to run in the capital. The original necessity was for vehicles to replace the Trolleybus which was due for replacement in 1959. Following a lot of research it had been decided to increase the capacity of London’s buses from 56, such as the RT, to 64. Following numerous changes and nearly five years of development the RM finally entered service.

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By 1962 the entire Trolleybus fleet had been replaced almost exclusively by Routemasters. In this period RM8-879 were all built and had entered service. Increasing the length and capacity of the RM was another contentious point, with both the Unions and Met Police being against the idea. However in 1961 a batch of 24, 30’ long 72 seat versions, known as the RML or Routemaster Lengthened, were built to trial. These took the numbers of RML880-904. Following this batch, whilst the trial continued with the longer versions, production continued on the standard length RM producing numbers RM905-1452.



The next version was the batch between RMC1453-1520, which were built as Routemaster Coaches (RMC). These had such delights as deeper more comfortable seats, Green Line livery, powered rear doors, twin headlamps and interior luggage racks and were far quicker.

Following this batch production again returned to the standard RM which ran through from the number RM1521-2217 which became the very last standard length RM built.

Following the success of the RMC’s the next batch to be built, which were by many, seen as the zenith of RM design being the RCL’s. These took the numbers from RCL2218-2260 and were built to replace the Green Line RT’s on the busy (but declining) routes from Essex into Aldgate. Similar in comfort levels to the RMC they were a longer and more powerful version

Permission had now been granted to run the longer RML’s in Central London and the final production batch ran from RML2261-2760 were all built to this specification. Two batches of 50 of these RML’s were built for the Country Area and were delivered in Green being RML2306-2355 and RML2411-2460.



The final type of RM to enter service with London Transport was the RMA, or Routemaster Airport, version which originally ran for British European Airways bringing passengers to and fro between Central London and Heathrow before the Underground was extended there.

The Routemaster was gradually withdrawn from London in the 1980’s before a change of plan saw many of the longer versions (and some standard length ones) be refurbished in 1990-92 when they received new engines, lighting and seating. In 2000-01 some had another refurbishment where they were fitted with more environmentally friendly engines and new gear boxes.



However, the policy changed in 2003 and the final 20 routes were given warning that at next change of contract the vehicles required would not be RM’s. One by one these routes were withdrawn with the very last, the 159’s, finishing on December 9, 2005. However, such is the popularity of this type of vehicle that around 16 were retained for use on two heritage routes in Central London.



For more on this class why not visit Ian's Bus Stop



RCL2220 History

 

The thirty RCL’s were destined for commuter work in East London, 2220 was the third one of this batch, delivered to Romford Garage in June 1965 where it entered service on the Green Lone routes 721, 722, 726. It continued on this work, albeit changing ownership from London Transport to London Country in 1970 when the two were broken up. With the demise of commuter numbers its days as a coach were numbered and it was downgraded to bus duties for London Country in 1972 and moved to Reigate where it worked as a bus until 1979 when it was sold by London Country for scrap.



Having awaited scrapping the bus was saved when purchased by London Transport who were looking for further Routemasters to use and the ex London Country RCLs offered the perfect opportunity. The vehicle required a fair degree of work and it would be 1980 before the bus would return to service with its platform doors and other left overs from its days as a coach removed. It then settled down to six years of unremarkable daily service from Edmonton Garage plying its trade mainly on route 149.



With the increase in size of the London Sightseeing market that was at the time operated by London Transport further vehicles were required and the RCLs provided ideal choices to be converted, so 2220 moved first to Battersea and then to Wandsworth, having had the platform doors were refitted, sound system and a repaint.



In 1991 2220 was selected to become an open top and a convertible roof was designed allowing it to operate as an open top bus in summer and closed top in winter, a feature it still retains. In May 1992 the company operating the sightseeing and private hire division of London Transport was privatised and the new company London Coaches took over the routes and assets, including our RCL2220. In 1998 London Coaches was taken over by Arriva plc and in 2001, to make way for newer higher capacity vehicles RCL2220 was sold to Ensignbus, where it was chosen to remain in our private hire fleet and now our expanded heritage collection.



Vehicle Allocation History:

 

London Transport Board

May 1965 delivered to Aldenham unlicenced
May 1965 From Aldenham to Grays depot
June 1965 From Grays to Romford depot
22 December 1967 Romford delicenced
1 January 1968 Romford relicenced
3-10 January 1968 repaint at Aldenham
1 January 1970 transferred to London Country Bus Service

London Country Bus Services

January 1971 Romford delicenced for overhaul
February 1971 overhauled at Aldenham
February 1971 Romford relicenced
January 1972 Romford transferred to Reigate (RG, transferred to bus status)
June 1974 Delicenced at Reigate
July 1974 Relicenced at Reigate
March 1975 Delicenced at Reigate
May 1975 Reigate unlicenced to Leatherhead unlicenced
May 1975 repainted at Leatherhead garage
May 1975 Leatherhead back to Reigate
August 1975 Relicenced at Reigate
1 October 1977 Reigate to Chelsham
February 1978 Withdrawn at Chelsham
March 1979 sold to Wombwell Diesels (not collected, remained at Chelsham until transfer to Radlett Airfield for storage July 1979)

London Transport Executive

June 1979 acquired ex Wombwell Diesels [photo]
July 1979 stored at Radlett Airfield (ex CMw)
20 November 1979 official purchase date by LTE from Wombwell Diesels
5 February 1980 Return from Radlett Airfield to AECu
(was moved during January 1980)
11 July 1980 Back to Aldenham for overhaul
11 November 1980 After overhaul it went to Edmonton (platform doors removed)
29 June 1984 ownership to London Regional Transport

London Regional Transport

10 July 1984 Unlicenced at Edmonton for inspection
25/7/84 EMu.XVu
7/8/84 XVu.AECw
1/4/85 ownership to London Buses Ltd

London Buses Ltd

27 January 1986 Back to Aldenham for recertification
20 March 1986 From Aldenham to Battersea (Tours & Charter fleet)
24 April 1986 Licenced at Battersea
9 October 1986 ownership to LBL Tours & Charter [photo]

LBL Tours & Charter

15 October 1986 Battersea to Aldenham unlicenced (platform doors re-fitted) [photo]
11/86 Aldenham back to Battersea
2 April 1988 Battersea to Wandsworth (official date, in practice between 6-16th)
March 1991 converted to convertible opentop
18 May 1992 ownership to London Coaches Ltd

London Coaches Ltd (MBO)

June 1992 repainted into McDonald’s livery (orange/yellow)
April 1994 yellow logos taken off, running all orange
1994 acquired by Pullman’s Group

Pullman’s Group (London Coaches Ltd)

November 1994 repainted to fleet livery (London Plus red/white)
April 1996 repainted in Tower of London livery (dark blue)
July 1997 repainted all red
4 December 1997 acquired by Arriva PLC

Arriva (Original Round London Sightseeing Tour)

November 2001 sold to Ensign, Purfleet [photo]

Ensign Bus Company
Retained in Class 6 condition and currently operational member of museum fleet.

Technical Specifications:

Date of first registration: May 1965
Chassis: AEC Routemaster
Chassis number: RCL2220
Engine: AEC AV690
Fuel: Diesel
Chassis/Body Code: tbc
Body: Park Royal
Body Number: B2220
Seating: 69 seats (40 upstairs & 29 downstairs)