Routemaster 70 celebrating 70 years of the London Routemaster 1954 2024

London Routemasters descended on Chiswick at the site of the former London Transport Chiswick Works to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this iconic bus. Organised by the Routemaster Association. Many will recall the Chiswick works where the Routemasters were overhauled and trainee drivers had to contend with the famous skid pan.

A fantastic way to celebrate a bus which has become a symbol of London over the years.From the first protype RM1 delivered in September 1954 they lasted in regular service around London until 2005. Around 1230 of the 2876 delivered to London Transport survive today and there is still a heritage service in operation today and London Bus Museum hold a number of running days. Many examples were exported and have found other uses such as cafes and bars or for hire as wedding transport. If you want to find out more please check out https://routemaster.org.uk/ where you can become a member.

The film starts with many of the buses arriving at Chiswick Park where they made a fine site. A few routemasters were on the X70 service around Chiswick and there is also a look at some of the buses on display. Look out for a couple of RT's and RF's which also joined in the celebrations.

Some of the buses featured:-
SLT 56--London Transport AEC Routemaster RM1 (1954)
SLT 57--London Transport AEC Routemaster RM2 (1955)
SLT 58--London Transport AEC Routemaster RML3 (1957)
357 CLT--London Transport AEC Routemaster RM1357 (1963)
804 DYE--London Transport AEC Routemaster RM1804 (1964)
SMK 760F--London Transport AEC Routemaster RML2760 (1968)
VLT 188--London Transport AEC Routemaster RM188 (1959)
KGJ 602D--London Transport AEC Routemaster BEA2
A64 THX--London Transport Leyland Titan T1064 (1984)
JJD 440D--London Transport AEC Routemaster RML2440 (1966)
OLD 566-- London Transport AEC Regent III RT4779 (1954)
NLE 600--London Country RF600 AEC Regal IV (1953)
KYY 529--London Transport AEC Regent III RT1702

Hope you have enjoyed the film. Please feel free to comment or leave a like. Coming next month will be coverage of The Big Bus Show from Suffolk and I may be out and about next week in Leicester for the 100th anniversary of Municipal buses and maybe another event in Windsor.