A report by Gavin Francis

8th & 9th December 2005

photos by Gavin Francis, Wongers, Ken MacKenzie and Malcolm Crowe

The day all London Bus enthusiasts had been dreading finally arrived on Friday 9th December 2005 when RM 2217 drove into Brixton Garage on Route 159 to signify the end of not only the Routemaster Bus in service but also the use of conductors. Because of the mass interest involved, not only from enthusiasts, but also the media and the general public it had been decided that the event should be spread over 2 days with Thursday 8th December  when all the specials would be run and Friday 9th December when the last bus would run at approximately mid-day from Marble Arch to Brixton and the change-over to the new one-person buses would be completed.


The last RM drives into  Brixton Hill Tram Depot. This was being driven by Peter Hendy, TfL's director of Surface Transport


I'm sure they were asking this VIP if he agreed that Routemasters should end?  -  picture by Wongers

Thursday 8th December

Your editor and myself arrived at Marble Arch about 09.00 and it was not long before the first of the specials came into view. The first departure from Marble Arch was at 09.23 and these continued throughout the day until 20.31. We decided to take Cravens RT 1431 and it soon became apparent as we passed along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Whitehall that the streets would be lined with photographers all the way. It took about 1.5hours to finally arrive at Streatham where the 159 uses the site of the old Streatham Garage as a terminus.

   
That lovely Cravens bodied RT - so different and yet still somehow a London bus ......  pictures by Gavin Francis & Malcolm Crowe

The normal allocation of the 159 is 15 RM’s and 23 RML’s and unlike previous conversions where the new buses had been used prior to the changeover date when they became available, Arriva had stated that they would use Routemasters right to the end, even having to recertify some vehicles, and tax them in order to keep them running. As the RM’s were mainly refurbished in 2002 they were in good condition, however the RML’s were mostly in a very poor state. Dented panels and faded paintwork affected virtually all of them. Considering they would be in the spot-light over these 2 days more than in their entire lives it was a sad ending. Their appearance was not helped by a graffiti attack at Brixton Garage on Tuesday night when 5 buses were spray painted. Because of its layout Brixton Garage is very vulnerable to this type of attack. All the buses were carrying specials adverts for the new heritage routes.

               
The general atmosphere of the 159 still with Routemaster - a sight no longer possible ....  pictures by Gavin Francis & Malcolm Crowe

After taken some pictures at Streatham we boarded RTW 75 back to Brixton. Throughout the day a whole host of specials appeared to perform at least one trip.

 
RTW 75 conveying you Editor to Marble Arch - nicely done ....   pictures by Gavin Francis & Malcolm Crowe


This is me taking you, taking me, taking you .................... - picture by Malcolm Crowe


The view from my seat of a passing Routemaster on the 159 last Thursday ..... picture by Malcolm Crowe

Those I saw were as follows:

RM1, RM5, RM6, RM 613, RMC 1453, RML 2317, RML 2565, RML 2665, RML 2760, RLH 61, RCL 2220, RCL 2260, RMF 1254, RTW 467, RTW 75, TD 895, RT 1431, RT 624, RT 3062, RT3871, RT 3232.

So RM1 and RML 2760, the first and last Routemasters built were running together and also RT 624 which was the last RT in service.

The 159 used to run on to West Hampstead from Marble Arch and 2 trips were extended there running non-stop during the afternoon and evening.

These were also many buses running the route over the 2 days but not in service which included:

RM 938, RM 1859, RM 2107, RM 349, RM 545, RM 1000, RML 2278, RML 2364, RML 898, RML 2620, RML 2727, RML 2405, RML 2440, RML 2727, RT 2217, RT 1702, ST 922, RF 48 and RMA 58.

At this time of the year photography is difficult even in the early afternoon and I boarded Stratford Blue RML 2565 back to Marble Arch.

Coming back over Westminster Bridge I saw it was lined from end to end with photographers and this continued up Whitehall and into Trafalgar Square.


Can this really be 2005 - Big Ben seems to smile down on this RT .....  Picture by Wongers

I then went to the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden to try to buy the 2 model RM’s sold to commemorate the last day but no chance. Sold out in the first 2 hours. Outside was parked RM 2217 ready to run the last trip on the following day.

         
   
Visiting buses on the 9th ......  pictures by Gavin Francis

 
There is a long way to go with RM1097 but the other line up looks nice - all taken at Marble Arch .....  pictures by Malcolm Crowe


picture by Malcolm Crowe

The first and the last

   
RM1 by Malcolm Crowe and RML2760 by Gavin Francis


picture by Wongers 

Friday 9th December

Back to Marble Arch for the same time Friday morning and I decided to go straight to Brixton. Central London was shrouded in mist and it was eerie to see a pair of Routemaster head-lamps coming out of the mist, it seemed to add a sense of theatre to the day. Already leaflets were being handed out at the bus stops advising people that it may be difficult to get on a 159 during the morning because of the demand for seats. I noticed there were crash barriers around the 1st stop which from the news footage I saw later in the day was necessary.


Heading over Westminster Bridge in the mist ..... RML892 ......  picture by Gavin Francis

Arriving at Brixton Garage about 10.00 there was already a large number of people there along with Community Support Officers and Security Staff trying to keep the traffic flowing and everybody safe. I spoke to one man who had driven over 400 miles to be there, but I suspect others may have come from around the world.


were you there ? ......   picture by Gavin Francis

Brixton Garage is located on the busy A23 main dual-carriageway road which is not ideal for people continually crossing the road trying to get photos.

 
pictures by Wongers


We remember when - were they happy - I wonder? ........  picture by Gavin Francis

It was not long before RM 2217 slipped quietly out of the garage and on its way out of service to Marble Arch to perform The Last Rites. It had been repainted and looked very smart apart from the black wheels. It would have been better if it had the traditional red or at least Arriva silver wheels. At the same time VLA 157 was waiting on the forecourt and shortly afterwards left the garage heading towards Streatham. This was the start of the end. Shortly afterwards it returned in service and the conversion had started.


The new order  ......   as decreed by ???  .....   picture by Gavin Francis

As each Routemaster came from Marble Arch it went on its way to Streatham, however it never returned as a steady stream of new VLA’s were brought to the garage, checked over and sent out into service. I had assumed they would be crew operated for the rest of the day but they did not carry any conductors.


picture by Gavin Francis


I bet they enjoyed themselves ..............   picture by Gavin Francis

As the crowds grew information came back that the last bus was on its way and with the use of mobile phones its progress was monitored. The police tried to keep people off the central reservation but they stood no chance and soon they accepted that they could not prevent people being there.

 
Nearing the end   .......  picture by Gavin Francis and Wongers

Soon after 1330 gold RM 6 came into view. A plan had been prepared that the road would be closed for a few minutes to other traffic and the bus then crawled along the centre lane to enable people to get their pictures. It stopped opposite me to unload. I have no idea how many were on it but it looked like it had flat tyres at the back. A few more minutes and then RM 5 came into view and the same procedure was followed. This left just RM 2217 which was the last bus.

 
RM6 as mentioned above by Gavin .....  pictures by Gavin Francis  

In front of it was Arriva open-top Ayats VLY 606 which carried all the media. It was every man for himself then and the chances of getting good pictures was just about nil. Somehow it crept into the garage and it was all over. After a short time the 3 buses were moved up the road to Brixton Tram Depot.


Now this really is the way to get your pictures  .......  picture by Gavin Francis

Since George Shillibeer introduced a horse drawn service between Paddington Green and Bank 176 years ago on 4th July 1829 there had always been crew operated buses – it was the end of an era.  In 1899 the first motor bus was introduced between Kennington Gate and Victoria, so for the entire history of the motor bus in London, for over half that period there has been a Routemaster on the road.

Only one thing left to do and that was to get on VLA 172 back to Marble Arch. Needless to say it was standing room only. Seating capacity on these buses is 64 unlike the 72 seat RML’s they replaced.

3 RM’s running on the last day were numbered 29, 54 and 85. Incredibly these were the same Fleet numbers that were used on the first day of RM operation in London on November 14th 1959, when they entered service on routes 5. 5A, 48 and 238 as Trolleybus replacements at Poplar and West Ham garages. Obviously they are not the same bodies due to the overhaul system. All three had been sold out of service, 29 in 1998, 54 in 1985 and 85 in 1987 but had been bought back in 2002 for service on Route 19. RM 85 has even managed to retain its original number plate. RM’s had therefore been in service for 46 years. If only RM’s would have run until 8th February 2006 then it would have been exactly 50 years since RM1 entered service on Route 2 on Wednesday February 8th 1956.

The longest period of RM operation was on route 13 from December 1962 to October 2005 – 43 years. So if you joined Hendon Garage aged 21 in 1962 as a driver, with a couple of garage changes you could have spent your entire working life driving RM’s on Route 13.


 The lone protestor is approached by the new order .......  picture by Gavin Francis 

Final Thoughts.

Both the Routemaster and I came into the world about the same time. My first sight of one was when my mother took me to my grandparents in North London. The trip involved using Trolleybus route 679 but on 1 trip it turned out to be a new RM on Route 279. I suspect it would have been about 1960. My first regular contact with them would have been when High Wycombe garage was allocated a small batch of them in 1966 for Route 363. From then on it was nearly 40 years of photographing short versions, long versions, short coaches, long coaches, front entrance, open-top, all-over ads, other operators, preserved examples etc, there always seemed to be something new to see with an RM involved. So although I have nearly 5000 pictures of them I am sure there are many variations I have not seen. For those of us who still need our occasional RM fix there is always the 2 heritage routes but somehow it is not the same.

I passed my PSV test nearly 25 years ago and have driven nearly every kind of bus and coach from a 16-seat Ford Transit to a modern Neoplan Skyliner; from a 40 year old RT to a demonstrator coach new on the road, but somehow the Routemaster has always passed me by.

Farewell Routemaster Bus – it’s been fun!!


Oxford Street as we would prefer to remember it ....... picture by Malcolm Crowe


The last RM leaves Oxford Street - picture by Ken MacKenzie


Last time for ace reporter Gavin - RM2217 disappears into Brixton Garage on the 9th December ......  picture by Gavin Francis

Postscript from you Editor

I certainly enjoyed the Thursday when I went with Gavin to London. It was cold but very worthwhile and the number of photographers were said to be around 2000. There were cameras just everywhere you looked and passers by were snapping us on their mobile phones.

It is sad to lose these wonderful old buses - and I say this with great respect. To those who are pleased to see the end of these buses I would say look in 50 years time and see if the Tridents replacing these old timers are still around. I won't personally be around to see the day, well unless I am nearly 116 years of age.

Thank you Routemaster and lets all support the heritage services whilst we can. I'll be doing a special page next summer to see how successful they are.

Malcolm Crowe - 11th December 2005

Addendum 18th December 2005

Brian Bell writes to say "Malcolm, as always an excellent article. Just to put the record straight however, the first photo (of the RM with the Bobbies on the platform) is of the bus entering Brixton Hill Tram Depot. This was being driven by Peter Hendy, TfL's director of Surface Transport, and I understand had a police escort for the short journey from Brixton Bus Garage. Speeches and Media coverage were arranged in the tram depot, but enthusiasts were not allowed to enter, however the disabled protestors (a low point of the day as far as I was concerned) were. 

However, not that anyone official will ever admit it, RM2217 was NOT the last Routemaster in service on the 159. In a repeat of what happened on the last tram night, a different bus was running so late that it ended service after 2217. Appropriately this was RM54, the oldest body still in regular service and the only plain window left (in both cases excluding the 'showbus' RM6). You have a photo of this on your site heading past Brixton Garage to Streatham Station, where it arrived about a minute and a half after 2217 had set down at Brixton Garage. Why it was running 70 minutes late is something only the crew would be able to tell !!


 The very last RM as mentioned above by Brian Bell and thanks to Brian for the picture.

Brian says of the picture "Unfortunately this is the best I can send you at the moment of RM54, the actual last 159 Routemaster. This is seen passing the crowds at Brixton Garage on its way to Streatham. I have photos of it at Streatham, but for some reason I am having problems downloading anything I took after Brixton Garage, as I keep getting an error message. Maybe it does not like the video clip I took whilst travelling on the bus down to Streatham."

Richard Sharman also wrote sending some pictures as well. He says "Thanks for the name check in this weeks news (mmm, could of picked a better pic!) 

This is picture of Stratford Blue RML2565 which I took down for the Enthusiast day on the 159."

Richard goes on to report "I travelled down to London on the Wednesday to stay in Purfleet overnight, left Stratford at 12pm, she only does 35mph, by the time I got to Stokenchurch I was having trouble maintaining top speed, by the time I got to the Wycombe turn off she was down to 10mph so pulled off and engine cut out, so she is pictured here on the Wycombe M40 slip road around 15.00."