Routemaster - RM1- 60th Anniversary

By Eric Jones 

On Sunday, February 7th 2016 a commemorative road run of RM1 (the first Routemaster prototype) took place to mark the 60th anniversary of RM1's introduction into service on London Transport's Route 2 (on Wednesday February 8th 1956).  The complete run was from the London Bus Preservation Trust premises at Brooklands in Surrey to Crystal Palace in south east London and involved RM1 (joining the run at Cricklewood in north London) and several other Routemaster derivatives including the last built RML 2760.

Prologue: As a teenager and mad keen on London Transport buses (red & green; both colours passing our local stop at Chessington as Routes 265 & 468), I purchased a Red Rover ticket one weekend in 1956 for five shillings (25p). I had read in the bus magazines at that time that RM1 was to commence service on Route 2; Golders Green to Crystal Palace. So, equipped with the latest 1956 London Transport map and a packed lunch from my mother, I caught the 265, 65 & 112 in that order to make my way up to the Golders Green Bus Terminus.

On arrival I was told by crew members on routes 2 & 2B that RM1 was in service that day and so awaited its arrival. Well, many RTL’s came into the terminal on that route and - after around a two hour wait - RM1 appeared; complete with side adverts proclaiming ‘ROUTEMASTER London’s Bus of the Future’. I managed to sit on the upstairs front nearside seat for the whole journey to Crystal Palace watching a multitude of red RT’s, RTL’s & RTW’s pass buy en route on their different routes & destinations including, of course, the 2’s and on Sunday the 2B’s. Also a fair number of RF’s on Green Line duties were noted on the journey, especially around the Central and Victoria area.  Approximately one hour and fourteen minutes later I arrived at Crystal Palace and was well satisfied.

I am not sure how I got home that day. Needless to say, it was well into the evening when I arrived home in the dark. No,.. I was not intoxicated!
Ref. Route 2 was supplied weekdays: 35 RTL from Stockwell Garage (SW) & 17 RT from Cricklewood Garage (W).

Two years later I was working at Park Royal Vehicles, helping to manufacture the RM’s in the body and finishing shops. In all I saw RM89 - 2760 resplendently through the shops at PRV.

Here's my account of the commemorative day: 60 YEARS ON …

As a member of the London Bus Preservation Trust at Brooklands in Surrey, my wife & I were invited to attend the excursion on Sunday, February 7th 2016 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the introduction of RM1 into service on Route 2 (February, 1956). How could I refuse?  My wife & I had a great day out with the Brooklands’ crowd, being taken up to London on the very last Routemaster (RML2760) & following RM1 commemorating its introduction into service.

We arrived just before 8.00 a.m. at the main gates by the River Wey to board RML2760; the last RM built and on long term loan to the Museum from Stagecoach. We were soon off at around 8.10 a.m. and proceeded through Twickenham, Richmond, Hanger Lane and via the North Circular Road to arrive at Cricklewood Garage at 9.15 a.m. for a comfort stop and photo shoot.

RM1 duly appeared from the London Bus Museum Acton Depot and so both the first and last Routemasters were placed side by side for more photos. In the background, a Green Line Routemaster was stationed and was to join us all the way to Crystal Palace. Leon Daniels - Managing Director, Surface Transport at Transport for London and also Vice President of the London Bus Museum - was aboard RM1 and stood next to it for more photo shoots. Nice one!

As you may know, preserved buses are not normally allowed to show the same route number as normal buses when in service as they tend to confuse the travelling public. The museum had thought to change the route number to 15 between Marylebone & Norwood Garage; where the current foreshortened No. 2 route runs. However, as a mark of respect for the 60 years commemoration run, Leon gave his blessing so that the two Routemasters could then display Route 2 throughout the journey on the very route that had existed from the 1930’s right through to the early 1970’s.

So off we went, southbound through Swiss Cottage and making sure that RM1 was out of sight; as in 1956 it was unique in service so no other RM could distract the run and be photographed in its presence. This went well until Vauxhall; where we caught a glance of it in the distance. However, Vauxhall Bus Station was a godsend for a comfort stop as RM1 disappeared into the distance.

Congestion appeared at Brixton with the Sunday market in full swing. Here our driver turned left instead of right so that gave us a scenic tour before approaching Crystal Palace. There was not enough room at the bus stand and arrangements had been made to park our buses nearer the Sports Centre. This was a well thought out venue, especially as it was a cold day with a keen wind and …..…….… a nice warm café for hot drinks and food!

Afterwards - at around 2 p.m. - we departed in the RML2760 for the very last time and made our way back to Brooklands via Sutton and Tolworth.
Back at Brooklands again - what a day!

Congratulations to all concerned, especially our own London Bus Museum members who organised the trip and all of the passengers who made the journey. Also the many Routemaster owners and friends who showed up at Crystal Palace for this special event. 

© Eric Jones
Below are my images of the day. 

Routemaster RM1 60th Anniversary Run Day
	003 timetable 1958		003 timetable route1958
	004 off to Cricklewood garage from Brooklands		005 Cricklewood garage
	006 Cricklewood garage		007 Cricklewood garage
	008 Cricklewood garage		009 Cricklewood garage
	010 Cricklewood garage		011 Cricklewood garage
	012 Cricklewood garage		014 Cricklewood garage
	015 Cricklewood garage		017 Cricklewood garage
	018 Cricklewood garage		019 Cricklewood garage
	020 Cricklewood garage		021 Cricklewood garage
	022 Cricklewood garage		023 Cricklewood garage
	024 en route to Golders Green		025 en route to Golders Green
	026 arriving just outside Golders Green bus station		027 arriving just outside Golders Green bus station
	027a Golders Green bus station		027b Golders Green bus station
	028 Golders Green bus station		029 Golders Green bus station
	030 Golders Green bus station		030a Golders Green bus station
	030b Golders Green bus station		031 Golders Green bus station
	032 Golders Green bus station		034 Golders Green bus station
	035 Golders Green bus station		036 Golders Green bus station
	037 Golders Green bus station		037a Golders Green bus station
	038 Golders Green bus station		039 Golders Green bus station
	039a Golders Green bus station		040 Golders Green bus station
	041 Golders Green bus station		042 en route to Vauxhall bus station
	044 a stop to keep well behind rm1		045 Blakey and check our timing
	046 stop at Vauxhall for comfort stop		047 en route to Crystal Palace
	048 confirming we are still on route no 2		049 agreeing on route and our timing
	050 still on route lost RM1 ahead		051 Crystal Palace at last
	051a Crystal Palace special bus park for the day		054 Crystal Palace
	055 Crystal Palace		056 Crystal Palace
	057 Crystal Palace		058 Crystal Palace
	059 Crystal Palace		060 time for refreshments now
	061 back from refreshments		062 reading buses garage code not quite right for the 2
	063 Crystal Palace		064 Crystal Palace
	065 Crystal Palace		066 Crystal Palace
	067 Crystal Palace		067a Crystal Palace
	068 Crystal Palace		069 Crystal Palace
	070 Crystal Palace		071 Crystal Palace
	072 Crystal Palace		073 Crystal Palace
	074 Crystal Palace		075 Crystal Palace
	076 Crystal Palace		077 time for refreshments now
	078 Crystal Palace		078a Crystal Palace
	079 back at Brooklands		079a back at Brooklands
	080 back at Brooklands		080a back at Brooklands