London Routemaster Heritage Route

On this page: The Fleet List | Guest Vehicles | Route 9 National Numbering |

The Heritage Fleet

Here are the twenty Routemasters which form the Heritage Fleet. Their history can be found on the History Page and photographs are available in the Photo Gallery.

Twenty of the Best TfL owned Marshall refurbished Routemasters, complete with original registrations, were carefully selected to enter the Heritage service. They have been repainted in “Traditional” 60s London Transport Red Livery* with Cream Relief and fitted with traditional White on Black destination blinds, in the Routemaster Style. They carry their original fleet numbers, as below, in gold lettering. Destination Blinds can be viewed on the Route Pages or in the Enthusiasts section.

The vehicle requirement is 5 RMs per route, with 3 spare per route, and 2 emergency reserve spares!

Route 9^†

RM1204

RM1218

RM1280

RM1562

RM1627

RM1640

RM1650 (SRM3)*

RM1735

RM1776

RM1913

Route 15

RM324

RM652

RM871

RM1933

RM1941

RM1968

RM2050

RM2060

RM2071

RM2089

[From Route 13: RM 324, 1933, 2071, 2089; Route 38: RM 652, 1941, 1986, 2050, 2060; Route 159: RM 817]

[From Route 13: RM 1204, 1218, 1562, 1627, 1735, 1913; Route 38: RM 1640, 1776; Route 159: RM 1280]

*[First’s SRM3 will not be painted Red, but remain in its Silver Livery, celebrating the 1977 Queen’s Silver Jubilee]

Special Vehicle Sightings

RML2760 on Route 15

This was the last Routemaster to be built, preserved; it still has the original features including LT seat upholstery and interior light bulbs.

History has been added to the history page and photographs in the gallery.

*SRM3 (RM1650) on Route 9

This was one of 25 Routemasters to be painted Silver for the Queens Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977. Originally sponsored and carrying adverts for Air Jamaica, on its return to London it was repainted Silver and now carries adverts for the Heathrow Express. See photo gallery.

RML2665 on Route 15

RML2665 (12665) made its debut on Heritage Route 15 in February 2006, repainted red after sporting the Stagecoach Corporate white and blue swirl livery, RML2665 is one of the longer Routemasters. History and photographs have been added.

RT1431 on Route 15

Ensign’s RT1431 joined RML2665, following its sale, on the 4^th February 2007 for its last trip in London Service on the 15 before heading to its new home Bath.

Heritage Route Running Day – Sunday 17 September 2006

Buses in service were [route]:

SRM 3 [15] First

RMC 1510 [9] First

RML2665 [9] East London

RML2735 [9] First

RML2760 [15] East London

FRM1 London Transport Museum

RM1 London Transport Museum

T1 East London

RMC1461 Cobham

RM613 Private

Pictures may be found here: www.theredlondonbus.com/HeritageSpecials.html

Past Route Changes of Interest

Road closures for the Flora London Marathon saw Heritage Route 15 running between ALDWYCH and ALDGATE on Sunday 22 April 2007.

Tour De France road closures on Sunday 8 July 2007 saw Heritage Route 15 running between PADDINGTON and OXFORD CIRCUS for the morning.

^†Route 9

First Group have their own nation wide system for numbering buses – they have renumbered their Route 9 Routemasters, loaned from London Buses, to match their system. Although, externally, they still carry their original numbers.

Original LT Fleet Number

First’s Fleet ID

RM1204

RM1218

RM1280

RM1562

RM1627

RM1640

RM1650 (SRM3)*

RM1735

RM1776

RM1913

RD39804

RD39818

RD39880

RD39862

RD39827

RD39840

RD39950

RD39835

RD39876

RD39813