The Front Entrance Routemaster

The design of this London Transport commissioned vehicle was begun in 1964, but during its long development time other rear engined standard vehicles appeared and the potential success of the FRM was placed under pressure. There were supposed to be four prototypes but only the one was constructed. 

The prototype FRM 1 was taken into stock by London Transport in 1966 but didn't make its inaugural public service run until June 1967.  It then caught fire on August 31st, in Princes Street nearby the Bank of England, returning to service in December.  It remained in service at various garages until the 80's, finally being used as a flagship bus for "Round London Sightseeing Tours".  It was withdrawn in 1983 and is now in the London Transport Museum at Acton.

I believe the following pictures are the first of the FRM taken outside AEC's premises in Southall.  

This interior is almost certainly the upper saloon of the FRM and probably taken as one of the set of first photographs above (see the Vehicle Interiors page).  The interior is definitely derived from the Routemaster as both the seating material and the sealed front windows (with air vents above) testify. Also the side windows are sealed as per the original FRM, and lastly there is the front entrance staircase. 

Here is the FRM pictured in storage in March 2008 at the London Transport Museum Depot at Acton (Click here for the Featured article).  It is now said to have some running problems and may well not "see the streets" again.  Notice that some of the windows have at sometime been vented. 

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The FRM rarely got an outing from its Acton base but did so from time to time.  On the 30th October 2005 the Cobham Bus Museum presented a Routemaster Day and the FRM was featured. This is probably the last time that the FRM would be run outside of the Acton Depot.

Click here for the article and pictures about the day "The FRM at Routemaster Day"