Welcome Aboard THE British Icon

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Marian Hutchinson
5 years ago
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1 Welcome Aboard THE British Icon This is RML2475, an ex London Transport Routemaster Double Decker bus affectionately called Jean. She was built in early 1966 at The Aldenham Works, which was the main London Transport Bus works. It was located on the edge of the Hertfordshire village of Elstree. In its heyday, 50 buses a week were overhauled there. It was opened in 1956 and finally closed in The buildings were demolished in The opening ten minutes scene of Cliff Richard s film Summer Holiday was filmed there. She was put into service in May 1966 working Route 37 out of Putney Bus Garage. Route 37: Putney Heath - Putney - Wandsworth - Clapham Junction - Clapham Common - Brixton - Herne Hill - East Dulwich - Peckham She returned to Aldenham in May 1969 for a repaint and returned to service on Route 37. In March 1973 she returned to Aldenham, for an overhaul but this time returned to service on Route 38 out of Hackney Bus Garage. Route 38: Clapton - Hackney - Islington - Holborn - Green Park - Victoria In May 1976 she returned to Aldenham for a repaint and a bodyswap.

2 Aldenham turned the overhaul of buses into an industrial operation. A bus entering the works would have its chassis removed from the body, and then the engine and gearbox removed from the chassis. Each one of these sub-structures would be sent off for inspection and overhaul on its own line. For example, the body would have any damage repaired, have a fresh coat of paint, any updates or modifications to the interior made and a new set of adverts applied. The engine and gearbox would be inspected and, if needed, overhauled. The chassis would be inspected, tested and have any service components changed or adjusted. This system meant that when the chassis was ready to be rebuilt into a bus, the first available engine, transmission and body that had been 'outshopped' was simply fitted. It was highly unlikely that a chassis would leave the works with the same body, engine or gearbox that it started with. This modular system meant that buses could be overhauled in a fraction of the time that it would take if each bus was attended to on an individual basis. She was returned to service in June 1976 on the same route (38 out of Hackney). In 1990 Ken Livingstone, the then Mayor of London, pledged that London s streets would always be adorned with its Trademark London Buses the Routemaster.

3 He therefore instigated a massive overhaul of all London Routemaster Buses. So in 1991 RML2475 was fitted with a brand new Iveco engine, replacing her original AEC and then in 1992 she underwent a complete refurbishment and returned to service and continued on Route 38. When London Transport was privatised in 1994, she was bought by one of the new independent operators. She entered service for London General and alternated between Route 14 and Route 22, again out of Putney Bus Garage. Route 14: Putney Heath - Putney - Fulham - South Kensington - Green Park - Tottenham Court Road Station - University College Hospital Route 22: Putney Common - Putney Bridge - Parsons Green - Chelsea - Green Park - Piccadilly Circus Due to the demise of Aldenham Bus Works, she had been regularly serviced and maintained in the conventional manner since Despite Mr Livingstone s earlier promises, the EU overruled previous policies, deeming the Routemaster bus to be contravening Health & Safety guidelines because of it s hop on, hop off rear platform and it s lack of disabled access, this coupled with the more economic OMO (One Man Operation) buses with cleaner

4 engines meant that Routemaster buses were withdrawn from general service although a small number of Routemaster buses can still be seen in central London today. The Heritage Fleet operates them purely as a tourist attraction. RML2475 was therefore withdrawn from service in May 2005 and put into storage at Plough Lane Bus garage. Between September 2005 and January 2007 she had five short-term owners Ensign Bus of Purfleet, South East Coachworks of Faversham, Liverpool Bus & Coach Rental and Mr P Budgen of Ormskirk. All presumably intending to restore her to her former glory but never doing so. We bought her in March She was in the same condition as the day she left service in May She has now completed preservation and looks as she probably did in May She has had extensive exterior re-panelling with a total exterior re-paint in London Transport red with cream trim and red wheels (We will probably upset the purists with the wheels - Hay ho!). She has had her seats re-trimmed with the original tartan moquette and seat frames re-painted. She has also had a total interior re-paint in cream with burgundy rexene lower deck side panels, burgundy staircase and grey between the windows.

Inside her cab has been re-painted black

5 Inside her cab has been re-painted black and she has a newly trimmed driver's seat to match the rest. The only things that haven't been done are to replace the strip lighting with the original bulbs and replace some of the windows that are scratched; these jobs will be done at a later date when she starts earning her keep.

BUS SERVICES IN CHAMBERLAYNE ROAD NW10

INTRODUCTION BUS SERVICES IN CHAMBERLAYNE ROAD NW10 1 LONDON BUSES 1. This note reviews the issues in Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise. It covers the range of bus routes in the area, their characteristics