 | 19th Nov 2008 | Routemaster goes Platinum
Routemaster RM1933, built in 1964, is currently in a special livery to celebrate two anniversaries: the 75th, or platinum, anniversary of London Transport and Bow Bus Garage’s centenary. The livery is based on the former LCC tramways colours and platinum for the 75th anniversary. In this platinum and 'Indian red' colour scheme it's working at Bow Garage on Heritage Route 15. I got these pictures on the stand in Great Scotland Yard and at the Charing Cross bus stop.
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 | 2nd Nov 2008 | Mark I MCW Metrobus
The Mark I MCW Metrobus makes it into my collection because of its unique asymmetrical windscreen and its longevity. Manufactured by Metro Cammell Weymann from 1977 to 89, over 4,000 Mk Is and IIs were built. The Mk I's still lead an active life as tour coaches and as a training and sightseeing vehicle, as these pics testify.
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 | 1st Nov 2008 | Something New (at last!)
I've finally re-discovered this long-neglected collection. So I've dredged out some shots of Routemasters Specials on the Chelsea Flower Show run from a couple of years ago. And to make up the numbers I've added three Routemaster open-tops on Special Party duties - a couple from TimeBus and one from First.
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 | 7th Feb 2006 | Heritage 'Specials'
A couple of 'Specials' in Heritage guise.
RM1933 was on The Lord Mayor's Show parade in Heritage 15 livery before the Heritage routes were launched. The destination 'Mansion House Station' makes this an unusual 15.
SRM3, the Silver Jubilee livery Routemaster, did a weekend on the Heritage 9 in December '05.
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 | 21st Jan 2006 | Heritage Routes
Surprisingly close to the last days of the Routemaster on regular services, two 'Heritage' routes were announced. Quite how long they'll last, now they've done their job of taking the heat off the 'last Routemasters' furore, is anyone's guess. Here are some of the newly-painted Heritage 9s and 15s on their first weekend in service.
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 | 15th Jan 2006 | More 'Specials'
Some more specials from the penultimate day of Routemaster service on the 159, and two specials on Route 4. On 23rd December an RML and an RT operated on the 4 to commemorate the end of AV Olympians on that route. (This was the end of all-day high-floor operation on TfL.)
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 | 31st Dec 2005 | Wonderful 159
The last regular service Routemasters, on route 159, ran on the morning of 9th December. On the 8th many 'specials' ran to mark the 159's demise. I got out on Regent Street around lunchtime, and this collection is the best of what I got. Now we're only left with the two 'Heritage' routes 9 and 15, but for how long...
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 | 28th Nov 2005 | Training, training, training
Training new drivers is a continuous process, so getting this selection of different driver training buses doing their thing hasn't been too hard. I did go all the way to Nice to get the French example, though!
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 | 21st Nov 2005 | Routemaster 159 - The end of the line
The last of the Routemaster regular services, 159 is still gamely going about its normal business. These shots were taken in October and November in central London and include a couple of 159s with their final 'Heritage Route' adverts. December 9th, the last day for the 159 creeps ever closer...
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 | 20th Nov 2005 | Thankyou 13
On Friday 21st October Routemaster operation on Route 13 ended. As has become traditional, several specials were out that day to commiserate with the regular Routemasters on the closing of yet another page in their glorious history.
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 | 3rd Nov 2005 | Routemaster 13 - The end is nigh
These shots of Routemasters on the 13 were taken in August, September and on 21st October - the last day of Routemasters on the 13. See also my 'Thankyou 13' collection for shots of some of the commemorative types running on the last day.
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 | 7th Sep 2005 | Two Carnival Queens in Worthing
Far from my usual London haunts, but while at the Bank Holiday Carnival in Worthing I couldn't resist snapping two open-topped Leyland Titan PD3/4s on the road. Known as 'Queen Marys', these buses were in their heyday in the 1960s. The Southdown Enthusiasts' Club website is the place to go for more on Sussex buses.
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 | 27th Aug 2005 | Routemaster 38 - Soldiering on
Pictures taken in August 2005 of Routemasters in normal service on the 38 route. Last day of Routemaster service was 28th October, sadly I wasn't free to take photos of the 'specials' that day.
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 | 25th Aug 2005 | All the world's a stage
As part of the Totally London campaign to boost business and tourism, several buses were given all-over adverts for West End stage productions. This collection catches some of these on the road in September 2005.
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 | 18th Aug 2005 | Routemasters at work, rest and play
Three Routemasters - as good as a Mars Bar. The Silver Jubilee liveried Routemaster returns from work on the Green Line special in Windsor on 13th August, the Big Bus Company's RMF at rest as their ticket and information office at Victoria Rail Station and Thatbus' play bus on the road in Wimbledon.
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 | 10th Aug 2005 | CUTE - the fuel cell bus
I finally got these pics of London's contribution to CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). After waiting over an hour at Aldwich I gave up and went for a pee at Covent Garden - and there was one of the buses parked in front of the Transport Museum!
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 | 8th Aug 2005 | Service to Windsor and a wedding
Just beginner's luck - I'd gone out to photo the Routemaster on the Green Line special 702 at 11:00 from Victoria to Windsor, and then in the afternoon caught two of Timebus' preserved buses at the bottom of Baker Street on their way to a wedding.
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 | 30th Jul 2005 | Farewell 14
This first collection is of the event that sparked my interest in London's buses as a photographic subject - the end of Routemasters on my local bus route. So here are some of the Routemasters at my Fulham Road stop on the afternoon of 22nd July 2005, the last day of Routemaster service on the 14.
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