RT Class History:

 

The RT is surely one of the best know types of London bus with a look that is timeless as well as being a design classic. RT’s have featured in films, such as ‘Summer Holiday’ or James Bonds ‘Live and Let Die’ all adding to the familiarity of the type.

The first RT took to the road in service weeks before the start of World War II and hence became the only true Pre War RT, however with the other 149 of this batch entering service throughout the next two years before hostilities ceased, these first 150 are universally all known as the Pre War batch.

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Following the end of the war it had been decided that the RT would form the majority of London double deck fleet and some modifications were made to the post war design to improve on what had been learnt from the operation of the pre war batch, thus started one of the great fleet replacements of war weary types as quickly as possible. By 1948 RT’s were entering service in a steady stream, there were however numerous delays and shortages caused by the lack of parts and skilled workers so soon after the end of hostilities. Body production was quicker than chassis leading to some new RT bodies being mounted onto STL chassis, thus making the short lived SRT class, (of which our very own RT4421 is one, formerly SRT 119). To also help production non standard body builders were used in addition to Park Royal and Weymann, Saunders and Cravens also built a few hundred examples see our RT1431 and RT1499 for Cravens examples.

By 1955 bus use had dramatically declined and LT had more buses than it was ever going to need, so the first non standard types, the Cravens, were withdrawn and sold on. Further withdrawals continued as the new Routemasters started to appear in the late 1950’s.

However the RT was a survivor and following its hey day, where nearly 7,000 were in service, they took a very long time to replace. The last one (RT624 also now in our fleet) ran on the East London route 62 in April 1979 bringing to an end 40 years of continuous operation of this type, a record many thought would never be beaten. However, its successor the RM did manage to achieve this extraordinary feat lasting in service until 2005.

It’s true to say that when people are asked to draw or describe a London bus it is generally one of these two types people will think off, such is the iconic regard they achieved however with the RT having been built in such austere times and having operated through such harsh conditions its longevity is a real credit to its type.



RT3232 History

 

RT3232 has only ever had two owners, London Transport and Ensignbus, making its history somewhat easier to track than many RTs. The vehicle was new to LT in May 1950 as one of the famous Romford Green Line vehicles that wore a dark livery and had embossed Green Line badges on the side rather than the later transfers. It operated on the commuter routes from areas such as Brentwood on the routes 721, 722 and 726. These vehicles were the first RTs to have heaters and were the forerunners of the more luxuriously appointed RMC/RCL class taht would follow in the 1960’s.

It continued to operate from Romford until June 1965 when it transferred across to first Amersham, then High Wycombe, Tring, and Garston. It was whilst out in the country area that ownership had passed from London Transport to the newly created London Country in January 1970. 3232 was one of the buses selected by LC to be sold back to LT which duly happened in 1972 when 3232 returned to the red livery of the Central Area. She would then become a bit of a journeyman transferring from one garage to another as more and more routes lost their RT’s spending time at Bow, Bromley, Camberwell, Brixton, Poplar, Shepherds Bush and Harrow Weald, before being downgraded to a driver trainer and operating at Hornchurch and Wood Green before finally being withdrawn in November 1979, some seven months after the last RT’s had been withdrawn from service and having given nearly 30 years service.

A week after withdrawal it was with Ensignbus where it was restored back to it original Green Line livery, before going into fleet colours of blue and silver and making guest appearances back in London service. A period in red and silver followed when it helped out on London sightseeing duties with Ensign owned London Pride. By 1998 it was in need of a refurbishment and was completely stripped down, in 2010 the interior was again tackled to bring the condition up to a higher standard. Currently wearing the blue and silver Ensignbus livery the vehicle is maintained to passenger carrying standard and works as part of the heritage fleet.



Vehicle Allocation History:

 

RT3232 (6113)

7 July 1950 delivered new to Chiswick unlicenced
August 1950 From Chiswick to Romford (Green Line livery)
December 1954 From Romford to Aldenham for overhaul

RT3232 (6113) – no body change

December 1954 Return to Romford
November 1958 Romford to Aldenham for overhaul

RT3232 (6113) – no body change

November 1958 Return to Romford
November 1962 Romford to Aldenham for overhaul

RT3232 (6119)

January 1963 Return to Romford
June 1965 From Romford to Grays unlicenced (stored).
From Grays to Amersham demoted to bus duties)
March 1968 Amersham to Aldenham for overhaul

RT3232 (6930)

March 1968 From Aldenham to High Wycombe
November 1968 High Wycomber to Tring
1 January 1970 ownership transferred to London Country Bus Services
July 1971 repainted at Aldenham
July 1972 From Tring to Garston unlicenced
September 1972 sold to London Transport Executive to Aldenham unlicenced
September 1972 repainted red (ex green) at Aldenham
September 1972 Aldenham unlicenced to Bow
October 1972 Bow to Bromley
March 1973 Bromley unlicenced
May 1973 Bromley unlicenced to Camberwell unlicenced
June 1973 Camberwell to Brixton
April 1974 Brixton unlicenced
May 1974 Licenced at Brixton
April 1975 Brixton unlicenced
August 1975 Licenced at Brixton
26 August 1976 Brixton to Poplar
September 1976 Poplar to Shephards Bush
March 1977 Shephards Bush to Kingston
December 1977 Kingston to Harrow Weald
15 July 1978 Harrow Weald to Hornchurch used as trainer
14 August 1978 Unlicenced at Hornchurch
14 November 1978 To Wood Green as a Private trainer
8 November 1979 Wood Green withdrawn
14 November 1979 Mr Peter Newman (c/o Ensign Bus Company), Grays (preserved) [photo]
June 1981 Mr Peter Newman (c/o Ensign Bus Company), Purfleet (preserved)
October 1985 loaned as Ensign Bus Services Ltd, Purfleet V161
February 1992 loaned as Ensign {London Pride Sightseeing}, Rainham 161 [photo]
February 1998 Mr Peter Newman (c/o Ensignbus), Purfleet (preserved)

RT3232 was the fourth last RT to be licensed with LT, outlived only by 4037, 4187 also withdrawn later in 11/79, and the last one, withdrawn in December 1979, which was RT4566.

RT3232 is maintained in class 6 condition and continues to work in passenger service, special events and private hires etc and is part of the Ensign Museum fleet. (2005)



Technical Specifications:

Date of first registration: August 1950
Chassis: AEC Regent III
Chassis number: 9614081
Engine: AEC 9.6
Fuel: Diesel
Body Code: 6930
Body: Weymann
Lengh: 26’
Seating: 56 seats, 26 downstairs & 30 upstairs