RT30 events

30 years since the last RT

On 7 April 1979, a week after the last RF, RT624 became the last RT to run in London Transport passenger service when it ran in to Barking garage at lunchtime on a Saturday. It and its fellows were replaced on route 62 by Routemasters, the bridge at Chadwell Heath having been widened to accommodate them.

In early April 2009, three events marked the anniversary:

Cobham Bus Museum's Wisley Gathering celebrated by operating RTs and RMs on its bus services, and newly (re-)restored RT1 was unveiled next to numerically the last RT, the LT Museum's RT4825.
On Easter Sunday, 12 April, four RTs ran over route 62 from Creekmouth to Barkingside, returning to terminate at Barking Garage.
On Easter Sunday and Monday, London Bus Co in conjunction with Ensignbus operated three RT services to the east of London, two red routes from Romford under local service permits and former Country route 339 between Epping and Brentwood.

And, just for the record, 29 November 2008 marked 40 years since the fondly-remembered RTL class last ran in service. That date too was commemorated, in the pouring rain, just as it had been 40 years before. Photos at the foot of the page.

Barkingside High Street as it should look - terminating RTs on the 62 jostle for space on the stand. RT1784 followed by RT2688 passes RT2043.

Photo © Peter Zabek

The last RT in LT public service, RT624 was in operation again in 2009. Here it arrives at Brentwood Station, bound for the traditional terminus at the Robin Hood & Little John public house.

Photo © Russell Young

Not one of the District Line's best known stations. Upney Station was, and is, served by route 62. RT2043 heads north on its way south (it's that sort of route).

Photo © Peter Zabek

And so to the RTLs

The RTL celebration ended up at St Pauls, where RTL139 working the 11 is overtaken by a successor type on the 23, Trident ALX400 DN33515.

Photo © Peter Osborn

Amid the modern operations, a reminder of 30 years ago. Thanks to the kindness of the staff at Barking Garage, the four RTs that ran over the old 62 route lined up for a photo inside.

Photo © Peter Zabek

RT1 returns through Downside on its way back from unveiling at Wisley to Cobham Bus Museum. The museum launched an appeal to purchase the bus, which although on a 'modern' (post-war) RT chassis, carries the original body dating from 1939. It survived as a service vehicle, usually found for many years in West Ham garage, as here.

Photos © Peter Osborn

(Left)

Brentwood was, in pre-London Country days, a place where the Country Area map showed a gap in the ring around London, advising that the gap could be bridged by Central Area route 247. London Bus Co RTs 3871 and 3228 make a connection in Brentwood on Easter Monday.

The bleak surroundings of Creekmouth, where the former power station provided the need for a peak-hour extension to the 62. RT2043 lays over on the old stand. Today's 'service' comprises two morning journeys on the 387, but TfL thoughfully provides a map lest you wonder why you're here.

Ongar Station, and RTs on the 339 connect with the 175^A from Romford. Ensign's Craven RT1499 between RTs 3228 and 3871.

All good things must come to an end. Au revoir BK, and thank you.

Thanks go to owners and operators for making Easter 2009 so memorable.

Meanwhile, November 2008 saw two RTLs and an RTW celebrate the 40th anniversary of the last RTLs in service. Here, RTL139 is followed up Kensington Church Street on the 52 by another Leyland.

After running the176 from Willesden down to Camberwell, as dusk fell the buses moved on to the first production RTL route, the 21. RTL1163 follows RTL139.