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On this page: Recent History | Route Conversion Dates | Individual Routemaster Histories | Garage Codes |

History of the Routemaster

Recent History

RM719 on Route 88, Regent Street - 1970s

We entered a new millennium and the future was looking bright for London’s Routemaster. London’s new Mayor, Ken Livingstone, was expanding the capacity of the Bus Network, and more Routemasters were needed to increase the frequency of some of Central London’s busiest routes. Instead of filling the gap with regular OPO buses, Routemasters were sourced from all over the UK, almost 50 in total, and refurbishment started in 2001 by Marshalls of Cambridge. This refurbishment consisted of new Cummins engines (Euro 2), Allison automatic gearboxes, body refurbishment including replacement of the wind down windows to the hopper type and closing the front opening window of the drivers cab. Other changes to the interior included; new floor, new interior lights, new yellow handrails, reupholstered seating and new bell rope - it was announced that these Routemasters were now fit for a further 10 years of service. Ken Livingstone was pro Routemaster stating only a “Ghastly Dehumanised Moron” would want to get rid of it, and claiming he wanted to bring back conductors on all London buses.

Suddenly in late August 2003, Route 15 mysteriously lost its Routemasters soon followed by Route 11 in October and Route 23 in November; only months after the last Routemasters had been refurbished by Marshall. Things were not looking good at the prospect of a further 10 years service. 2004 came and 10 routes were converted, making it obviously clear that Routemasters were not here to stay, an announcement was then made by TfL that all Routemasters would be withdrawn by the end of 2005.

RML2703 on Route 98 and behind RML2561 on Route 10 along Oxford Street – 1990s

People protested at the loss of the Routemaster, including London’s LBC 97.3 and the Evening Standard, but TfL were not listening. In summer 2005 the possibility of up to SIX Heritage Routes were talked about, taking in all of the capitals tourist sights, but this idea did not look very hopeful. In September it was confirmed that two heritage routes were to be operated as parts of the existing Routes 9 and 15, and was stipulated that they must accept standard fares and Oyster Cards. Was this a U-turn – I think not. These Routes were just invented to keep the protestors quiet, they hardly take in all of the capitals tourist attractions, and have a low frequency – so, for how long they will be around – who knows!? But as Route 15 was the first of this mass cull, we certainly have gone full circle.

The last full Routemaster route, Route 159, was converted in December 2005; click here for the last day report.

Route	Conversion Date
15	August 2003
11	October 2003
23	November 2003
94	January 2004
6	March 2004
98	March 2004
8	June 2004
7	July 2004
137	July 2004
9	September 2004
73	September 2004
390	September 2004
12	November 2004
36	January 2005
19	April 2005
14	July 2005
22	July 2005
13	October 2005
38	October 2005
159	December 2005

Individual Routemaster Histories

These are intended to be very BRIEF histories of the Routemasters used on the Heritage Route; complete histories can be found elsewhere.

ROUTE 15
RM324	WLT 324	1960	Into Service, until 1997
		1997	Sold to Halifax Joint Committee
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM652	WLT 652	1961	Into Service, until 1985
		1990s	Reregistered for a brief time (LDS161A) but soon returned to WLT652
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
		2008	Repainted into white relief band and white roundel style.
RM871	WLT 871	1962	Into Service, until 1987
		1995	To Reading Mainline, and reregistered, but returned to WLT871 by 2000
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to First (X) for Route 23, until OPO conversion
		2003	Re-allocated to Arriva (BA) for Route 19, and later (BN) Route 159.
RM1933	ALD 933B	1964	Into Service, until 1986
		1986	To Kelvin Scottish
		1987	To Stagecoach
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13.
		2008	Repainted into a ‘Platinum’ livery to celebrate the Platinum Anniversary of London Transport – 75 years – and the Centenary of Bow Bus Garage – 100 years.
RM1941	ALD 941B	1964	Into Service, until 1986
		1986	To Kelvin Scottish
		1987	To Stagecoach
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to First (X) for Route 23, until OPO conversion
		2003	Re-allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
		2008	Repainted into white relief band and white roundel style.
RM1968	ALD 968B	1964	Into Service, until 1987
		1987	To Hampshire Bus, then Magic Bus
		1990	To Stagecoach
		1994	To Bluebird Buses, and reregistered, but reverted on return to London
		2001	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
RM2050	ALM 50B	1964	Into Service, until 1980s
		1980s	Sold, and bought back by London Transport
		1990s	In and out of service
		1997	Friends of the London Transport Museum
		2001	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
RM2060	ALM 60B	1964	Into Service, until 1987
		1988	To United Counties
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
RM2071	ALM 71B	1964	Into Service, until 1986
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1997	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM2089	ALM 89B	1964	Into Service, until 1987
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1997	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RML2665	SMK 665F	1967	Into Service, until 1993
Guest Vehicle		1993	Refurbished
		1994	Privatisation: To Stagecoach East London (BW) for Route 8 . . . . . .
		2004	. . . . . until June, repainted in Stagecoach Corporate Livery (white) for last day of 8
		2005	Used on various last day specials; including 13, 38 and 159
		2006	Repainted Traditional LT Red and into service on 15H
		2007	Sold. Leaves London service for Bath.
RML2760	SMK 760F	1968	Into Service, on Route 15
Guest Vehicle		2003	Used on the Last Day of Routemaster Operation on Route 15 . . . . . . .
			(spent a little time on Route 8)
		2005	. . . . . . . . . Back on Route 15 Heritage as a replacement for RM
			and Last Day of operation on 159s
		2006-8	Various appearances on 15H, including the Heritage Running Days.
ROUTE 9
RM1204	204 CLT	1962	Into Service (on Route 13), until 1993
		1997	To Halifax Joint Committee
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM1218	218 CLT	1962	Into Service, until 1998
		1994	MTL London on Route 10/139
		1998	Into Preservation, upon opo conversion of Route 139
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM1280	280 CLT	1962	Into Service, until 1989
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to London Central (NX) for Route 36
		2003	Re-allocated to First (X) for Route 23, on introduction of Route 436
		2003	Re-allocated to Arriva (BA) for Route 19, later (BN) Route 159
RM1562	562 CLT	1963	Into Service (Route 9), until 1994
		1998	Friends of the London Transport Museum
		2001	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM1627	627 DYE	1963	Into Service, until 1984
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1997	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM1640	640 DYE	1963	Into Service, until 1985
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1996	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to London Central (NX) for Route 36, until introduction of new Route 436
		2003	Re-allocated to First (X) for Route 23, until OPO conversion
		2003	Re-allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
RM1650	650 DYE	1963	Into Service, until 1985
SRM3		1977	To celebrate Queens Silver Jubilee: Repainted Silver and Renamed SRM 3 (Sliver RM), carrying advertisements for Air Jamaica, used on Routes 19, 25 and 3
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1997	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to First (X) for Route 23
		2002	To celebrate Queens Golden Jubilee: Repainted Gold
		2004	Repainted Silver, and transferred to Route 7 (X) upon OPO conversion of Route 23
		2005	Chosen for Heritage Route 9, remaining in Silver Livery
RM1735	735 DYE	1963	Into Service (on Route 14), until 1984
		1988	To Blackpool Transport
		1996	To Reading Mainline
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13
RM1776	776 DYE	1963	Into Service (on Route 7), until 1987
		1988	To GMPTE Greater Manchester Buses
		1990	To Liverline
		1995	To Blue Triangle
		2000	To Red Bus Fish and Chips
		2001	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2002	Allocated to Arriva (CT) for Route 38
RM1913	ALD 913B	1964	Into Service, until 1985
		1985	Clydeside Scottish
		2000	Back to London: Refurbished by Marshall
		2001	Allocated to Sovereign (BT) for Route 13

Garage Codes

BA BN BT CT NX X BW WA

Battersea Brixton Edgware Clapton New Cross Westbourne Park Bow Waterden Road

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