Note the red window openings - not silver; and fleet number further forward on bonnet.
PRESERVED BUSES & COACHES
| FLEET No | RM 848 |
| REG | 448 UXS (originally WLT 848) |
| MAKE | AEC Regent V |
| MODEL | Routemaster |
| YEAR | 1961 |
| BODY | Park Royal |
| OWNER | David Paskell |
| HISTORY |
The London Routemaster is the iconic London double decker bus.
The prototype was built in 1954, and full production began in 1958,
continuing until 1968. It was designed to replace the previous
RT series buses, and the London trollybuses. The chassis and
engine were by AEC for most Routemasters, but some were manufactured by
Leyland. The Leyland versions however, had no visible external
differences from the AECs. The Routemaster was the last bus
designed by London Transport. When Routemaster replacements were
introduced in the 1970s, standard production models were purchased from
various manufacturers.
The Routemaster, with half cab and rear platform entrance, was designed for two-person operation, and was under threat from the 1970s when front-entranced, one-man-operation buses were introduced to central London. Nevertheless, Routemasters saw continuous service in London until 2005, and they remain on two heritage routes (9 and 15) in central London. It is estimated that there are some 1,000 Routemasters of the 2,876 built still in existence. RM 848 was new in 1961 at Edmonton, later moving to Wood Green. In 1966 she was at Stamford Hill garage, and in 1967 received a new Leyland engine. She was sold in 1986 to Blackpool Transport, working there for 10 years. In 1997 the vehicle was acquired by Reading Mainline Buses, remaining there until 2000. In that millennium year she was bought back by Transport for London and refurbished at Marshalls of Cambridge. In 2001 the bus received a new Scannia engine. By 2004 she was on route 9, then transferred to Arriva for route 38 out of Clapton. In 2005 she was reregistered to 448 UXS, and the following year went into private ownership. She was acquired by David Paskell for preservation in 2007. Sporting London United livery (no cream band), she now appears at rallies, and is available for private hire. More information at http://www.davesbuses.co.uk/ |
Note the red window openings - not
silver; and fleet number further forward on bonnet.
 Note London United symbols but Dave's Buses address. |
 Note rear lights and yellow hand rails. |
| Above photos taken at: | Provincial Society Bus Rally, Fareham, Hants |
| Date: | 7th August 2011 |
Photographs © Mike Smith 2011
None to be reproduced elsewhere without permission
mjs@onlineweb.com