Photos of RF486 in service

^{Page last updated 19 February 2017}

One of very few early photos of the first RF486 (body 8004, CU no. 9544). Twickenham Station Yard in the early 1950s. RT2141 is laying-over on the 203 prior to running back to its home garage. RT3690 and RF486, which were both allocated to Hounslow between 1953 and 1956, are perhaps on a Railway Emergency Service? The railway buildings are long gone, but the Albany is still there.

Photo Peter Osborn collection

Perhaps the same day as the above picture, certainly the same location.

Photo © Remember When

After its first overhaul in 1957, RF486 went to West Green garage for the 233 until 1959.

It is seen here in May 1958 laying over in Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, accompanied by

one of the RTLs that operated short workings on the route, RTL1430.

Photo © RA Golds

This might not, at first sight, look like a picture of RF486. But the current body and chassis of RF486 were numbered as RF471 from 1961 until its last overhaul in 1966 (see the History). Here picking up a good load in Finsbury Park on 5 August 1962, it works duty T1 from Leyton on the 236.

Photo © Gerald Mead, Peter Gomm collection

Seen heading out of Kingston, RF486 works the 215 in its final period of service from Norbiton.

Photo Peter Osborn collection

Seen again while working from Norbiton in February 1970, RF486 is at Heathrow bus station on the Sunday OMO service of the 285, followed by an RT on the 140 and an RM on the 81^B.

Photo © Peter Esposito

RFs 471 and 486 at Reigate Garage while serving as Chiswick staff buses between November 1973 and May 1976. Note the non-standard small roundel on the side of RF486, and the extra fog lamps on both buses, fitted to all three of the first batch of Chiswick staff RFs. Judging by the nearside corner damage to both, there was a hazard specific to that duty.

Photo Peter Osborn collection

The final year. After recertification, RF486 vanished, then was nominally allocated to Loughton as a trainer over the winter of 1978/9 (it may have been there earlier). The bus was actually used to take staff to North Weald airfield for driver training on the RTs there. Clearly the bus carries no L plates.

Photo © Metropolitan Photographic, Peter Osborn collection

After sale by LT on 31 December 1979 ('clear the decks for the new decade'), 486 went to stay in Scotland for a period, then returned to England via several dealers. It is seen here still in as-withdrawn condition, albeit rather more worn, in Wallingford 1991.

Photo © Graham Lunn

Brand new RF486 stands at Arnos Grove Station between February and April 1953,

before the official allocation of RFs to the 251.

Photo © Prince Marshall, Peter Osborn collection

RF486 was based at New Cross for the 202 between March 1959 and October 1961, when it carried body 7975 on chassis unit no. 9531, a combination that ended life as RF456 at Wombwell Diesels. This is South Bermondsey and the bus is working NX1.

Photo Peter Osborn collection

It's the winter of 1961/62 at Thames Ditton Winters Bridge, terminus of trolleybus route 602 - shown on the trolleybuses as 'Dittons'. The trolleybus turning circle at the end of St Leonard's Road has disappeared in a road redesign, but the Masons Arms still stands, now known as The Leaf. This version of RF486 was the last without doors - body 7980 on CU no. 9513. This combination is now RF315 and painted green.

Inevitably, most available photos are from the bus's last period of operation, as an OMO bus from Norbiton 1968-73. Here looking in rather good condition, 486 sits in Cobham before making a garage journey home.

In its near-final form as an OMO bus, RF486 worked from Norbiton and is seen here in about 1970, on diversion in Kingston while running the 201.

Photo Ian Armstrong collection

RF486, with flake grey relief from its 1966 overhaul, is on the 215 at Esher while RF424 with traditional cream relief passes on the 218. It is April 1969.

Newly refurbished RF486 stands in Kingston Coal Yard, complete with painted K code, shortly after re-certification. Note the painted Pay as you Enter sign which has resulted in the removal of the slipboard brackets from the front. It is believed that the bus never again operated in LT service.

At North Weald, with three of the trainer RTs.