Carshalton 2007

Notes on the buses operated - part 2

Eight Routemasters were in service at Carshalton::

RML3 was the third of four prototype Routemasters, built to standard length but with a Leyland engine - hence its original designation RML. It is unique in being the only Routemaster bodied by Weymann, who had provided so many earlier London buses, and represented an intermediate stage between the first two prototypes and the production model. Delivered in 1957, it saw only 18 months' service (at Willesden) before becoming a trainer. Renumbered as RM3 in 1961, it's experimental front end was standardised on overhaul in 1965 (but rebuilt at Cobham in 2004).

RML3 lays over on its 77 duty replacing RTL139. RT624 on the 154 is behind.

Photo © Peter Larkham

RM938 was new in service in 1961, first operating from New Cross on route 141. After 'only' 26 years in London service, the bus was sold for further operation with Magic Bus, Glasgow, then after a period in preservation by Reading Mainline. Restored to London livery, the bus has returned to south London.

Running the "trolleybus replacement service" 654, RM938 picks up outside Carshalton Depot on a journey over the original tram route to Croydon.

Photo © John Gibson

RM1033 is a standard Routemaster with a very long service history in London. Delivered new to Middle Row in January 1962, it remained in London service for 43 years until withdrawal after the last day of the 36s out of New Cross in January 2005.

RM1033 running a 115^A mounts the bridge over Carshalton Ponds.

Photo © Roger Ford

RML2394 entered service from West Ham in 1966, when trolleybus replacement route 5 was upgraded from RMs to RMLs. Its long life in London was extended by the fitting of a Cummins engine in 1990 and the bus worked the 73 from Tottenham for its last 10 service years until the route as lost in September 2004.

Signs of the times accompany RML2394 as it returns to service after a break at Sutton Garage.

Photo © Martin Wills

RML898 was one of the initial 1961 batch of 24 longer Routemasters, delivered to Finchley for route 104, a direct replacement for trolleybus route 609 into Moorgate. However, before entering service, 898 was to visit the USA, twice, before belatedly entering service in 1964. As well as Finchley, the bus spent long periods at Muswell Hill on the 43s and latterly at Bow on the 8. Following preservation, the Iveco engine has been replaced by an AEC.

Seen from the front seat of RML2278, both buses are bang on time as one replaces the other on meal relief in Sutton Garage.

Photo © Geoff Ragg

RM1000 - the thousandth Routemaster delivered to London Transport - was delivered in 1961 and, after the inevitable period of publicity, went into service at West Ham. After working from a number of garages, it arrived at Croydon in 1980, where it became the showbus. After withdrawal in 1985, it was purchased for preservation by a group formed for the purpose.

Seen at the site of Banstead Hospital, RM1000 is ready for its run back to Sutton.

The Routemaster cometh

RML2278 was (briefly) one of the red RMLs operated when new by Godstone Garage on the 409/410/411 in late 1965, before their green buses arrived. It then became one of the RMLs in the trial against the XA class Atlanteans, first at Tottenham on the 76 then at Chalk Farm on the 24 (RMLs won hands down, of course, but the 'new bus grant' soon tipped the balance decisively against them). Refitted with a Cummins engine in 1991, RML2278 saw just under 40 years' service in London, being withdrawn from Westbourne Park after the conversion of route 7.

On the stand at Mitcham Cricketers, ready for the journey to Sutton Garage for meal break.

RML2440 was one of the second batch of Country Area RMLs, delivered new to Garston in 1966. It remained at Garston until 1975, then moving to High Wycombe. It was bought back by London Transport in 1979, when London Country disposed of the last of its Routemasters, and was repainted red for service at Hanwell and then Camberwell, where it served route 12 until 2004. It was repainted green in preservation.

Seen running in at the start of the day, RML2440 operated as a Chelsham bus on the 403 and 408.