My dad would have been so proud to have seen the last Routemaster. He worked on the Routemaster fuel pumps at "Chiswick Works". It is was a wonderful bus and it makes me proud to be British.
I grew up in Thornton Heath during the late 60's and 70's, used to love getting the 159 from the clock tower for a trip into London. The 159's full route back them was from Thornton Heath Clock Tower, across London to Hemel Hempsted. Most certainly an icon of London because they were built for London. Go to London now and most of the buses are of types you could find in any UK city.
I was over in London to see a gig by the band Marillion a few days before the last run. Some of my bus enthusiast friends from Dublin came over as well so there was a good few Irish bus enthusiasts outside Stretham garage that day. I got interviewed on sky news and relatives of the Routemaster design team had a champagne party on the bus I caught up to Stretham on the morning of the last run day. Sad to see them go. We have a few Routemasters on the roads here in Dublin now
It's sad as the RMs were British, London and the RMs go together beautifully. I miss them, I live in Oz but when I go to UK for holidays,there's a kind of emptiness without the RMs
I drove the number 3 and 159 crew bus for many years out of Camberwell garage. I refused to drive one man operation buses. The RM and the RML is still the best bus I've ever driven.
+seymour harris I was at Q in the 1980s and drove all the Routemaster routes and DMS on the 172. I eventually got made up one man on the 45s. Loved my time @ Camberwell. Rms were the best thing ever.
I used to travel on the route master From southall to Acton to attend College approx 1982 I also I think used To travel on it for walk about in Ealing or going to central London 1982 to 1989 . It was a bus Which was not exactly a health Safety unit but can be Dangerous because of the Rear staircase. I still like the bus it’s still A legend of all London Buses .
retrorocker44 Did you crew the no. 36? That route was nuts! The characters on board! And the 36 used to go like the clappers - at least from Camberwell to Vauxhall.
@@Sailfire1 my Nan & Grandad lived in Bew Court Lordship Lane, as a kid in the 80’s we used to look out the windows on the first floor flats at the passengers, sometimes wave to them as the bus stopped right outside their flat.
Heritage Route 15 is Now Heritage Route T15 Between Trafalgar Square & Piccadilly Circus is now operated by Londoner Buses Transpora Group Starting at Waterloo Station in the Morning & Returning back to Waterloo Station in the Evening
Tell that to people who are in a wheelchair or have a buggy. Or to tfls finances which can’t handle paying thousands more people for an unnecessary job. Ignorant nostalgia comment
The RM's on the heritage route 15 aren't proper RM's, they've had new engines from Dennis Darts, no longer Routemaster, now a Dartmaster, such a shame and not the same :(
+MUNKYBOi1989 As a footnote, there is a lot to be said for modifications such as different engines, transmissions etc if they ensure that a heritage item can be kept in running condition for all to enjoy.
Ben Summers true, but to be properly heritage they should have retained their original AEC or Leyland engines. Private owners manage to keep original engines in, so why can't TfL, parts can be made to replace worn ones. As I see if, putting in the new engines is only making a simple bus more complicated to fix when it goes wrong.
The RM’S engine had a distinctive sound it was music on a cold rainy night. It was as familiar as a Spitfire’s Merlin engine, and somehow reassuring. The buses used to be quick then, back in the day - even if they were late, then two (sometimes three!) showed up at once.
I found a few parts of my routemaster 2477 has gold paint on it. 2477 was on the 159 route until early 2005. It’s a shame some of these enthusiasts can’t put cash into help us owners keep the buses on the road. With zero carbon threats an affordable electric conversion is needed to keep these historic motors on the road. My Routemaster sits next to out old red phonebox and red letterbox in the front garden, two old has style genuine lamposts.
keep the routemaster the way it is, & to,hell with electric conversion. there will always be petrol & diesel car,s..buses..trucks etc. on the road..cos of people having classic car,s etc, & the last year that the combustion engine is made there,ll be people that can afford one, flocking to buy them, me for 1 will always have a petrol car cos i love the combustion engine too much to ever change to electric, & as far as globle warming etc. its prob sending rockets & missiles etc etc, up into the atmosphere thats causing all the problems, but ya never hear or read that they are gonna to stop doing it,so to,hell with electric .
Robbie Dale the last driver of my bus 2477 in service, twas Robbie that had to radio in that 2477 had a hub oil sill leak and from there 2477 went to Brixton tram shed, was stripped of its engine and many parts, then sold to Ensign who stripped parts off, they sold it to Steve Bunda who stripped more parts off it and well I paid over the odds for 2477, sank alot of money into her and coming closet to that day of it running.
I remember one route-master (a 37 that ran from Hounslow to Peckham through Richmond Putney and Clapham junction - blimey, such a long route it should have had a buffet on board). There was a bit of graffiti on it for a long time in blue marker pen - right at the front on the upper deck above the front window. It said: “TREVOR BROWN IS UGLY AND STINK’. The bus must have gone in for maintenance a few times before the graffiti was removed. As teens, we found it hilarious. “TREVOR BROWN IS UGLY AND STINK’.
Enjoyed the vid. Thank you for presenting this. May I ask: during the closing credits, 9:41, a longer version of the bus rolls by. seven top level windows where the middle one is shorter, square shaped rather than rectangular. What is the model of that particular bus? Where has it been put into service lately? And anything additionally special about it apart from the smaller window up top? Thanks.
Hi,..you maybe found your answer already but the routemasters with the extra sqaure shape window on either side of the bus on both lower and upper decks were known as the RML (Routemaster-Long). It provided eight extra seats. The number 22 (that you mention), and the number 14 Routemaster (both RML) operated out of Putney bus garage. I worked on both those routes as a conductor back in the day until we conductors got made redundant due to their demise. I have to tell you that the buses towards the end were unkempt, shabby and not in a good state inside due to no more parts being available.
My brother and I have been "bus spotters" since we used to buy a Red Rover for 99p when we were 9 and 11 years old . We visited all 68 London Transport garages , mostly on buses of the RM (Routemaster) family . We live in a country that has a £1 Trillion per annum economy . We have a capital city that is identified by the Routmaster by the tourists that visit our capital . Are you going to tell me that it would cost £250,000 (the cost of a new bus) to turn each Routmaster into an "Eco-friendly" bus ? Sad that politics and share-prices can crush people's love and their desire for something familiar in their daily lives . These "bean counters" and political dwarves will always be clubbed-together with the idiots who gave away OUR vertical take-off jet technology and OUR www.com idea .
One word describes them. CLASSIC
My dad would have been so proud to have seen the last Routemaster. He worked on the Routemaster fuel pumps at "Chiswick Works". It is was a wonderful bus and it makes me proud to be British.
1:32 Born in 1957 and has been riding the 159 'continuously' since. What a life!
I grew up in Thornton Heath during the late 60's and 70's, used to love getting the 159 from the clock tower for a trip into London. The 159's full route back them was from Thornton Heath Clock Tower, across London to Hemel Hempsted. Most certainly an icon of London because they were built for London. Go to London now and most of the buses are of types you could find in any UK city.
I was over in London to see a gig by the band Marillion a few days before the last run. Some of my bus enthusiast friends from Dublin came over as well so there was a good few Irish bus enthusiasts outside Stretham garage that day. I got interviewed on sky news and relatives of the Routemaster design team had a champagne party on the bus I caught up to Stretham on the morning of the last run day. Sad to see them go. We have a few Routemasters on the roads here in Dublin now
It's sad as the RMs were British, London and the RMs go together beautifully. I miss them, I live in Oz but when I go to UK for holidays,there's a kind of emptiness without the RMs
Lots of other buses are british too. I don’t get your point
I drove the number 3 and 159 crew bus for many years out of Camberwell garage. I refused to drive one man operation buses. The RM and the RML is still the best bus I've ever driven.
+seymour harris I was at Q in the 1980s and drove all the Routemaster routes and DMS on the 172. I eventually got made up one man on the 45s. Loved my time @ Camberwell. Rms were the best thing ever.
What is the difference between RM and RML, pls?
cefnonn RMLs were slightly longer
seymour harris did you drive the route 3 when it was still going to Camden Town?
I own 2477 and you may have driven her on the 159 route though she did a stint on the 137 route aswell.
I used to travel on the route master
From southall to Acton to attend
College approx 1982 I also I think used
To travel on it for walk about in
Ealing or going to central London
1982 to 1989 . It was a bus
Which was not exactly a health
Safety unit but can be
Dangerous because of the
Rear staircase.
I still like the bus it’s still
A legend of all London
Buses .
Blessed to have got the 159 in November 2005 the last weeks of the RM XD
London without RMs is like Athens without Parthenon .
I rode a Routemaster at least once in the summer of 1993. Nice to have had a taste of an icon.
Great vid. Some of my happiest days were spent crew driving the 159s out of Q - Camberwell Garage.
retrorocker44 Did you crew the no. 36? That route was nuts! The characters on board! And the 36 used to go like the clappers - at least from Camberwell to Vauxhall.
@@Sailfire1 my Nan & Grandad lived in Bew Court Lordship Lane, as a kid in the 80’s we used to look out the windows on the first floor flats at the passengers, sometimes wave to them as the bus stopped right outside their flat.
Heritage Route 15 is Now Heritage Route T15 Between Trafalgar Square & Piccadilly Circus is now operated by Londoner Buses Transpora Group Starting at Waterloo Station in the Morning & Returning back to Waterloo Station in the Evening
RML2760 is now with the London Bus Museum in Weybridge Surrey inside Brooklands Museum on loan from Stagecoach London
i come from reading and i enjoyed going on a routemaster to school they should bring them back instead of the new 1s
Tell that to people who are in a wheelchair or have a buggy. Or to tfls finances which can’t handle paying thousands more people for an unnecessary job. Ignorant nostalgia comment
An object is created by man and then it delves into his body and soul inseparable!
I only passed my D license about two years ago now, But I am happy to say and lucky really, I get to drive these route masters..
I rode in it 1988/89
dove one of these for many years our of Westbourne park bus garage for many years. route 7 and route 23 best days of my 25 years driving buses
BEST BUS EVER. You can disagree ? That's ok we all have the right to be wrong... Dennis dart??
The RM's on the heritage route 15 aren't proper RM's, they've had new engines from Dennis Darts, no longer Routemaster, now a Dartmaster, such a shame and not the same :(
+MUNKYBOi1989 At least they are still operational, and have not been scrapped.
+MUNKYBOi1989 As a footnote, there is a lot to be said for modifications such as different engines, transmissions etc if they ensure that a heritage item can be kept in running condition for all to enjoy.
Ben Summers true, but to be properly heritage they should have retained their original AEC or Leyland engines. Private owners manage to keep original engines in, so why can't TfL, parts can be made to replace worn ones. As I see if, putting in the new engines is only making a simple bus more complicated to fix when it goes wrong.
The RM’S engine had a distinctive sound it was music on a cold rainy night. It was as familiar as a Spitfire’s Merlin engine, and somehow reassuring. The buses used to be quick then, back in the day - even if they were late, then two (sometimes three!) showed up at once.
Darts with the allison at545 gearboxes are one of the best sounding buses ever though. This is only a positive
🙌🥳🥳
I found a few parts of my routemaster 2477 has gold paint on it. 2477 was on the 159 route until early 2005. It’s a shame some of these enthusiasts can’t put cash into help us owners keep the buses on the road. With zero carbon threats an affordable electric conversion is needed to keep these historic motors on the road.
My Routemaster sits next to out old red phonebox and red letterbox in the front garden, two old has style genuine lamposts.
keep the routemaster the way it is, & to,hell with electric conversion. there will always be petrol & diesel car,s..buses..trucks etc. on the road..cos of people having classic car,s etc, & the last year that the combustion engine is made there,ll be people that can afford one, flocking to buy them, me for 1 will always have a petrol car cos i love the combustion engine too much to ever change to electric, & as far as globle warming etc. its prob sending rockets & missiles etc etc, up into the atmosphere thats causing all the problems, but ya never hear or read that they are gonna to stop doing it,so to,hell with electric .
last of the number 9 all change ding ding
Shame they're not running anymore, not even the 15's
Which is such a shame....
Are the 15s not even running at weekends now?
Robbie Dale the last driver of my bus 2477 in service, twas Robbie that had to radio in that 2477 had a hub oil sill leak and from there 2477 went to Brixton tram shed, was stripped of its engine and many parts, then sold to Ensign who stripped parts off, they sold it to Steve Bunda who stripped more parts off it and well I paid over the odds for 2477, sank alot of money into her and coming closet to that day of it running.
I remember one route-master (a 37 that ran from Hounslow to Peckham through Richmond Putney and Clapham junction - blimey, such a long route it should have had a buffet on board). There was a bit of graffiti on it for a long time in blue marker pen - right at the front on the upper deck above the front window. It said: “TREVOR BROWN IS UGLY AND STINK’. The bus must have gone in for maintenance a few times before the graffiti was removed. As teens, we found it hilarious. “TREVOR BROWN IS UGLY AND STINK’.
Enjoyed the vid. Thank you for presenting this. May I ask: during the closing credits, 9:41, a longer version of the bus rolls by. seven top level windows where the middle one is shorter, square shaped rather than rectangular. What is the model of that particular bus? Where has it been put into service lately? And anything additionally special about it apart from the smaller window up top? Thanks.
Ah, on closer look, its #22.
Hi,..you maybe found your answer already but the routemasters with the extra sqaure shape window on either side of the bus on both lower and upper decks were known as the RML (Routemaster-Long). It provided eight extra seats.
The number 22 (that you mention), and the number 14 Routemaster (both RML) operated out of Putney bus garage. I worked on both those routes as a conductor back in the day until we conductors got made redundant due to their demise. I have to tell you that the buses towards the end were unkempt, shabby and not in a good state inside due to no more parts being available.
My brother and I have been "bus spotters" since we used to buy a Red Rover for 99p when we were 9 and 11 years old . We visited all 68 London Transport garages , mostly on buses of the RM (Routemaster) family . We live in a country that has a £1 Trillion per annum economy . We have a capital city that is identified by the Routmaster by the tourists that visit our capital . Are you going to tell me that it would cost £250,000 (the cost of a new bus) to turn each Routmaster into an "Eco-friendly" bus ? Sad that politics and share-prices can crush people's love and their desire for something familiar in their daily lives . These "bean counters" and political dwarves will always be clubbed-together with the idiots who gave away OUR vertical take-off jet technology and OUR www.com idea .