The Routemaster: A Beloved London Icon
A symbol of London in 'ye olde days' (!), a design icon for the ages - discover the basic story of the Routemaster bus
Construction Details of Routemaster Bus (1954-10-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
In 1947, a new ‘Bus for London’ was envisaged and a design commissioned by London Passenger Transport Board (TfL's predecessor company)
The London Passenger Transport Board had been involved with the manufacture of Halifax bombers during World War II, and gained much experience in working with lightweight aluminium, jigs etc.
The new bus was to take advantage of this knowledge. The Routemaster was designed for maximum seating capacity, minimum weight, ease of control, simplicity of servicing and overhaul, and new standards of riding comfort.
Diagram of Mechanical Units on Routemaster Bus (1954-09-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
This was achieved through the use of light alloys, fibre-glass, and other weight saving materials.
Diagram of Suspension System on Routemaster Bus (1954-09-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
The orthodox chassis and springing system were eliminated, and gears were directly engaged by auto-transmission
The new bus was named the Routemaster from the outset
But the trademark application for the name was actually dropped in April 1956, due to red tape.
It was decided that the name had caught the public imagination anyway and during its 2 years in use no objection had been lodged.
4 prototypes were built: RMs1 & 2 were similar to each other; RM3 had a Leyland engine; RM4 (also a Leyland) was a Green Line coach with power-operated doors and luggage racks.
Photograph of First Routemaster Bus (1994-07-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
When a curious public first saw the prototype of the Routemaster bus at the Earls' Court Motor Show in 1954, there can't have been many present who could have imagined just what an important symbol of London - or indeed the country - it was to become
Designed for the large scale replacement of the trolleybus and designed to have a lifespan of 17 years, the Routemaster (RM for short) remained in service in London until 2005
Photograph of RM1 Bus Undergoing Tilt Testing (1956-04-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
The vehicles were subjected to very extensive testing before construction of production vehicles got under way in 1959: tilt tests to prove the RM could tilt to 28 degrees before wobbling; 6,000 miles of "severe running" on a test track; and a full lock skid at 30mph
After its introduction at the Motor Show and 7,500 miles of testing, RM1 was used in service between January and August 1956 on Route 2, Golders Green to Crystal Palace. RM 2 was tested on Green Line Route 721, Brentwood to Aldgate.
Photograph of Experimental RML Bus (1961-10-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
In 1961, the first batch of 30ft long Routemasters, classified RML or Routemaster Lengthened/Long, entered service. The extra length was achieved by the insertion of an extra half-bay in the bodyside, together with 8 more seats
Photograph of RMC Bus (1964-08-15) by London Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
68 Routemaster Coaches(RMC) were introduced in 1962
For limited-stop Green Line operation, the vehicles were fitted with power-operated doors, deeper seats, and luggage racks. In 1965, 43 longer coaches were introduced Originally, they operated on the Grays and Tilbury Green Line services from Aldgate
Exterior Photograph of Aldenham Bus Works (1962-02-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Aldenham Bus Works
With a design enabling easy maintenance, the organisation dedicated their factory at Aldenham in Hertfordshire to overhauling and rebuilding the RM vehicles. Aldenham had 17 acres of buildings and a staff of 1,600
As part of its wider vehicle remit, Chiswick Bus Works took on responsibility for engines, gearboxes, axles and other parts
Photograph of FRM Bus (1967-04-15) by London Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
Experimental Front Entrance Routemaster built in 1966
It was the first rear-engined double decker of integral construction to be built in Britain. The vehicle, incorporating c.60% of Routemaster parts, had limited success and the design wasn't perpetuated
Production of the shorter RMs continued until 1965, with the completion of the 2,000th vehicle in 1964. With the need for more capacity, production then concentrated on the longer RML, a number of which operated in the Country Area in green livery. The last examples appeared in 1968, bringing the London Transport Board’s total build to 2,756.
Routemasters became a symbol of London and Britain very quickly, taking pride of place at numerous overseas 'British Week's', designed to promote British industry and trade
Destinations included Dusseldorf, Basle, Geneva, Montreal, New Orleans, Paris, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Stockholm, The Hague, and Tokyo - where more than 250,000 people applied for a chance to ride on the RM!
Photograph of Routemaster Engine in Southwark Cathedral (1966-10-15) by London Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
Whilst perhaps not the RM's most exotic location, it's most surprising was probably when an RM engine was used as the centrepiece of of a display of industrial "produce" at a harvest festival service in Southwark Cathedral in 1966!
Photograph of a Silver Jubilee bus (1977-06-07)TfL Corporate Archives
1970s special liveries
A batch was painted silver for the 1977 Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and others appeared in special commemorative liveries. In 1979 a batch was painted red and yellow for a short-lived ‘Shoplinker’ flat-fare service in the West End
From the early 1980s, many examples had been sold off for further use elsewhere in the UK and indeed worldwide and a flourishing preservation movement commenced with its own owners’ association. Many are used by private operators for weddings, sightseeing and other corporate events.
Photograph of Routemaster Buses at Victoria Dock (1994-09-24) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
Despite being of an obsolete design by the 1980s (all standard Routemasters had to have a conductor), the bus went through a thorough programme of refurbishment and soldiered on into the 1990s and past the Millennium, being regarded by many as an icon of London
Clipping Promoting Artwork of Routemaster by David Shepherd (1994-08-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
Throughout the years, Routemasters have been driven or owned by a number of well-known people, including the artist and conservationist David Shepherd, who did a painting of the RM and accepted an actual bus as payment!
Routemasters were finally withdrawn from normal passenger service in 2005.
Due to great popular public support, heavily-refurbished and re-engined examples were retained and used – crew operated - on part of two central London routes, the 9 and 15, which were labelled as heritage routes.
Photograph of Routemaster Coach on Westminster Bridge (1960-07-15) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
The traditional red Routemaster has become one of the famous features of London, with much tourist paraphernalia continuing to bear Routemaster imagery and with examples still in existence around the world
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
