AEC's Blue Triangle symbol [© AEC Ltd] is reproduced by kind permission of The British Commercial Vehicle Museum Trust.
AEC / PRV ROUTEMASTER
Upon withdrawal in 1979 London Transport's RTs were hailed as an icon of London, a classic bus design, the longest-serving bus ever. In 1979, the youngest Routemasters were only eleven years old, mere upstarts. Amazing then that RMs and RMLs - albeit with substantial mechnical modification - went on to continue serving Londoners until December 9th 2005, surpassing the RT's record and then some. Amid scenes reminiscent of the last days of the RTs, trams and tolleybuses - but this time with unprecedented media coverage - Routemasters triumphantly plied the 159s supported by a rich variety of preserved and privately owned buses of all types.
It's not quite the end though. On November 14th 2005, after months and months of speculation and anticipation, ten "Heritage" RMs (plus spares) entered service across the West End of London on short workings of routes 9 and 15. Five RMs each are being provided by Stagecoach at Waterden Road in Stratford (managing to turn out their RMs in immaculate period 1960s livery) and First from Westbourne Park. So all is not lost, it is still possible to travel by Routemaster in London!
But should we be surprised that any Routemasters remain in service in London?  After all, the three organisations responsible for its creation, A.E.C., London Transport and Park Royal Vehicles, were at their zenith when Routemaster RM1 was unveiled in 1954.
Will the Routemaster ever be bettered?
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Routemaster
RM · RML · RMC · RCL
33 photos

Showbuses
RM · RML · RCL
14 photos

Driver Trainers
RM · RML · RMC · RCL
9 photos

Shop-Linker
RM
12 photos

Front-entrance RMs
RMF · FRM · BEA
14 photos


Routemasters in Bucks
RM · RML
11 photos

Routemaster Links
The London Bus PageMatthew Wharmby reports on all the Last Routemaster Running Days.
Routemaster AssociationOwn a Routemaster?  Join the Routemaster Operators and Owners Association.
Ian's Bus StopThe essential online guide to London buses.
Northern RoutemastersIllustrated history of all fifty one 30' RouteMasters with Front entrances.


vangastow@aecsouthall.co.uk