Coach tours

Built 1951: HR Richmond (Epsom Coaches) were the first operators of this Duple-bodied Bedford SB, here awaiting departure on an afternoon tour as RT113 passes on the 93.  The tours, to past and present locations of Epsom Coaches, were also fully subscribed.

Photo © Steve Guess

Running no. 2, routes 80 and 213

Built 1952: RF429 loads at Worcester Park Station for a trip to Sutton on the 213

Photo © Tim Eggitt

Running Number 4, routes 200 and 213

Built 1949: TD95 revisits its old haunts on the 213, leading RLH48 under Worcester Park bridge.

Photo © Richard Thomas

Running number 104 (duplicating no. 4), routes 200 and 213

Built 1952: RF326 is seen waiting further service on the 200 at the entrance to Merton Garage. 

Photo © Paul Cheeseman

Running no. 5, route 725

Built 1952: RT3491 is on the other side of the road from RT2512 in our photo of an RT on the 725, and is accompanied by an RLH on the 127 rather than an RF on the 725.  Worcester Park 2008.

Photo © Peter Osborn

Running no. 6, routes 712/3 and 725

Built 1953: RF673 enjoys a run to Epsom on the 713.

Photo © John Lidstone

Running no. 7, route 725

Built 1953: RF600 covers a Green Line duty, as so often happened with green RFs.  Seen here homeward bound to West Croydon in Carshalton High Street after a successful day.

Photo © John Parkin

Running no. 8, routes 127, 200 and 213

Built 1952: The original RF366 was delivered new to Hounslow for the 237, but the RF 366 you see today is not that bus.  The present RF 366 was originally numbered RF390 before the LT overhaul system swapped its identity.  It started service on 1 Jan 53 on the 213, and worked it continuously until the route was double decked. Converted to OMO in 1965 it went from Norbiton to Kingston where it stayed until withdrawn in 1976.   It was therefore a pleasure that the bus could return to its old haunts, seen here back on the 213.

Photo © Dave Heath

Running no. 9, routes 200, 213 and 712

Built 1952: RF406 passes through a eddy in the sub-ether at North Cheam Queen Victoria.  (We know this because RFs were not one-man operated on the 213).

Photo © Steve Guess

Running no. 10, route 213

Built 1929: T31 from Cobham Bus Museum, being passed by something EVL, 73 years newer.

Photo © John Scragg

Running no. 11, routes 127 and 200

Built 1953: RF667 pretends to be a red RF substituting for a Merton RLH on route 127, seen at the Woodstock.

Photo © Adrian Short

Running no. 12, routes 127, 200 and 213

Built 1935: Cobham's splendid Q83 demonstrates one of the differences between the 4Q4 (with the door behind the front wheel) and the 5Q5 (which ran on the 200), which had the door in ffront of the front wheel.  Kingston did run red 4Q4s on the 213, although Q83 was always green.

Photo © Derek Jones

Running no. 14, routes 80, 213

Built 1953: RF503 was looking extremely smart working the 213, seen at North Cheam by the semi-detached shops that form the background to so many period photos.  It is heading towards Sutton, not Worcester Park.

Photo © Dave Halfyard

Running no. 1, covering duty 15, routes 156 and 213

Built 1953: our RF486 sits quietly at the rear of the Queen Victoria at North Cheam, awaiting departure on the 156 short working.  The crew will be drinking tea instead of changing the rear blinds.

Photo © Martin Wills

Running no. 16: route 93

Built 1963: Leyland-engined Routemaster RM1397 crosses the Woodstock lights on another 93 to Epsom.

Photo © Adrian Short

Running no. 17, route 93

Built 1961: RM938 ran the summer Sunday extension of route 93 to Dorking.  It is seen here at the site of Dorking Garage, now flats.

Photo © Ernest Rayner

Running no. 18, route 93

Built 1940: Wartime 2RT2 RT113 revisited its old haunts working from Putney Bridge Garage on route 93, seen at Morden

Running no. 20, route 32, 93

Built 1950: RTW467, famously the last RTW in LT passenger service, must here be substituting for a Putney RTL on route 93....

Photo © Adrian Short

Running no. 21, route 712

Built 1962: Green Line coach RMC1469 is the epitome of comfortable travel as it passes through North Cheam on the way to Epsom.

Photo © Peter Osborn

Running no. 23, routes 156 and 189

Built 1949: Leyland RTL139 in 'as withdrawn' condition and operated by Cobham Bus Museum.  156 drivers were provided with destination blinds identifying the journey as clockwise or anti-clockwise, but neither is in use here.

Photo © Robert Powell

Running no. 25, routes 154, 156

Built 1950: Well-known traveller RT1702 runs in from Crystal Palace on the 154 to Sutton Garage.

Photo © Bob Lear

Running no. 26, route 156

Built 1937: a year older than on its run on the 77 at Carshalton, STL2377 still does the business.  At Morden on route 156.

Photo © Peter Osborn

Running no. 27, routes 93 and 286

Built 1952: Open-top RT3435 proved very popular working trunk route 93.  Because of a last-minute reallocation, it carries the intermediate blind for route 151.

Photo © Adrian Short

Running no. 28, routes 93 Express, 164, 286

Built 1950: RT3871 recreated the unsuccessful 93 Express that ran in 1955, and is seen here laying over in Epsom.

Photo © John Edwards

Running no. 29: routes 164, 286

Built 1950: RT3148 represented the allocation to Sutton garage of green RT3719 for a month in 1954 (although this was before route 286 was dreamed up!).  Seen here at Morden on route 164 bound for Epsom via Banstead.

Photo © Bob Lear

Running no. 30, route 93

Built 1962: Routemasters ran on the 93 for many years, and RM1033 (a south London bus for much of its life) recreates the experience on its run from Epsom to Putney Heath at Morden Station.

Photo © Steve Guess

Running no. 31, route 127

Built 1952: RLH61 holds many records, including being the last RLH in LT service.  It was also active on the 127 up to the route's withdrawal in 1958, and revisits 50 years later.

Photo © Martin Wills

Running no. 32, route 127

Built 1945: Utility Duple-bodied Daimler CWA6 CCX777 was presented as D130 for the day and worked route 127 alongside RLHs.  The similarity from behind, despite the disparity in age, is well shown here.

Photo © Martin Wills

Running no. 33, route 127

Built 1952: RLH23 underakes the full circle of the 127 from Morden to St Helier, here having just left Worcester Park.

Photo © John King

Running no. 34, route 127

Built 1952: RLH48 represents the green RLHs that provided temporary cover for Merton buses away for overhaul.  Showing the rear route plate for route 127, it pulls into the stop at The Woodstock.

Photo © Adrian Short

Running no. 35, routes 32 and 118

Built 1934: STL441 from Cobham Bus Museum is seen at Raynes Park from the front seat of an RLH.

Photo © Geoff Ragg

Running no. 36, routes 32 and 157

Built 1950: RT2043 starts its journey on the 157 at Crystal Palace

Photo © Bob Lear

Running no. 37: Unavailable, did not run

Built 1954: prototype Routemaster RM1 unfortunately broke down en route to the event and was forced to retire.  It is seen here prior to setting off.

Photo © Laurie Akehurst

Running number 38, routes 32 and 93

Built 1949: RTW75 shows its extra width as it leans to turn short at Morden.

Photo © David Element

Running no. 39, routes 32 and 93

Built 1948: early post-war RT190 is presented in the livery carried when new.  It is seen laying over at Worcester Park Station.

Photo © Steve Whitelegg

Running no. 45, routes 93, 164

Built 1961: RM642 first entered service from Wood Green on, amongst others, route 127 - the number has been reused several times since the withdrawal of the Merton route.  It is seen here working the 164.

Photo © John Lidstone

Running no. 55, routes 118 and 164

Built 1951: RT2794 arrived from Merseyside the preceding evening to participate in the event.  It is seen here at Morden about to set out on a 164 short working to Banstead.

Photo © David Element

Running no. 86, route 725

Built 1951: RF28 ran the 725 between Gravesend and Kingston and is seen here arriving in Worcester Park.

Photo © Adrian Short