With semaphore trafficatorsWorcester Park 2008

The RF

London Transport AEC Regal IV single-decker

 

Buses planned for operation: RF28, RF326, RF366, RF395, RF406, RF429, RF457, RF486, RF503, RF600, RF673

 

Sutton's RF394 loads at the Fountain Hotel, New Malden in about 1954.  This RF worked the 213 for the entire period of RF operation on the route.  The slot for the semaphore can be seen behind the driver's window; these were later plated over.
Photo © Jim Andress
 
After the war, London Transport’s fleet needed major renewal.  First to be dealt with were the double-deckers, involving the production of nearly 7,000 of the RT family.  Once these were nearing completion, LT turned its attention to the single-deck fleet.  Using ideas from the pre-war Q and underfloor-engined TF classes, the RF used a similar 9.6 litre AEC diesel engine to the RT, but laid on its side under the floor.  The first of 700 was delivered in 1951.
 
RF399 stops at Sutton GranadaFollowing the introduction of RFs on Green Line services, the red RFs were delivered in 1952 and 1953.  Initially, the red buses had no doors (or heaters), the absence of doors being a requirement of the Metropolitan Police as it was supposed they would slow down boarding and delay the traffic.  Doors were fitted progressively to the fleet as buses were converted for one-person operation, with the last doorless buses, the last running with conductors, on route 236 in 1971.  At 30 feet, the red buses were built to the then maximum permitted length and carried 41 (later 39) passengers.   
 
The one-person buses continued in service through the 1970s, outlasting some of their successors, with the last few finishing on Kingston's semi-rural routes in March 1979.
 
RF399 sits deserted at Sutton Granada when brand new.
Photo Peter Gomm collection
 
Details of the routes worked by red RFs are in the Routes section.  General background to the London Transport route structure is here.