Routemaster Bus and Buses London Red Buses

The Glorious Routemaster

On February 8th 1956, passengers boarded what was to become not only a national icon but an internationally recognisable symbol of Englishness along with the 'Red Telephone Box', the 'Mini Cooper', and Big Ben.

That cold and snowy February morning back in 1956 the Route 2 departed from Golders Green to Crystal Palace transporting its first passengers not only to their destinations but also into the annals of British transport history.

The Routemaster bus was designed on behalf of London Transport by the designer Douglas Scott and his team including the bus engineer Albert Arthur Durrant between 1947 and 1956. The Routemaster bus was commissioned to replace London's fleet of 'Trolley Buses'. Reminiscent of the thinking behind Henry Ford and his 'Model T' the Routemaster was designed with the aim of mass production. Not only was it designed to be mass produced but it was also built with the latest automotive technology of the time. Four prototypes of the Routemaster buses were built between 1954 and 1957. Two of them were built at the London Transport works in Chiswick.

Scottish Buses: A Colour Portfolio (Hardcover)

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London Buses in Colour: 1965 - 1980

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London Transport Buses in Colour 1955-1969

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On Friday 9th December 2005 after a long and productive life lasting nearly fifty years the Routemaster bus number 159,running between Streatham and Marble Arch, made its solemn last journey through the streets of London. just two months shy of its fiftieth birthday, the Routemaster bus was no more.

Many people have fond memories of the Routemaster bus and such is the interest to this day that it has spawned a whole host host of books, videos and DVDs commemorating this great British icon. It is also possible to purchase scale models of the bus some of which are as large as 1:24.