Kingston 2009 RF Event

Buses attending

 
And not just RFs - a selection of other LT single-deckers illustrated the RF's predecessors and successors.   Photo © Graham Fife
 
Whilst the day was primarily to show off the RF-type, the display included a selection of London single-deck buses that reflect the evolution of the single-deck bus in London.
 

Cobham's 1929 T31 represents the traditional front-engined, rear-entrance design.  These buses continued in use at Kingston until 1953, due to the weak bridge at Walton.

Photo © Graham Fife

 

The side-engined Q from 1935 - an incredible 74 years old - was revolutionary (see The RF Story).  Q83 is also from Cobham.

Photo © Stephen Gillett

         

The Leyland Tiger was one of the stop-gap purchases after the war, a standard design that did not reflect the advances made by the Q and other types before the war.  Cobham's TD95 ran the 215, one of Kingston's last TD routes.

Photo © Peter Osborn

 

The 26-seat GS was the RF's contemporary, designed for routes with little traffic or size restrictions.  Cobham's GS34 worked in from Tadworth over the full length of route 416.

Photo © Bob Lear

 

The Merlins were the first single-deck bus purchased in quantity after the RF, 15 years later.  Former Leatherhead-based MB90 worked on the 416 between Esher and Leatherhead.  It is seen outside the site of its former home.

Photo © Geoff Ragg

   

The Swifts, a shorter version of the Merlin, followed rapidly (and left equally rapidly).  The type worked locally from Norbiton Garage on the 211 during the 1970s, and was represented by Cobham's SMS369.

Photo © S Newbold

The Leyland National was the bus that replaced the last RFs on routes 218 and 219.  Two attended, this is LS24, an early example from 1976.

Photo © Russell Baldock

 

Leyland National LS98 entered service from Bromley in 1977.

Photo © Russell Baldock

 

Feeder service - RT1702 kindly stepped in to cover for an unserviceable RF on the Croydon service.

Photo © Martin Wills

 

When another RF wasn't ready to bring, the crew borrowed RTW75 and ran it on the 72.

Photo © Peter Larkham