Thanks, Mike, for an interesting video; which throws up a couple of questions. For context, in the late seventies I drove the #22 out of Clapton garage; an excellent route offering a real cross section of London. At that time it was exclusively RM, and our partners in crime were Battersea garage. Under LTE, as I'm certain that you recall, we were only allowed to divert from our 'line of route' if our card was signed by an inspector, which segues into my questions. What restrictions are placed on your drivers, please? How much latitude are they granted? Must they keep to designated double-decker routes? If, for instance, they're on a private wedding charter to a hitherto unknown country venue, does your company carry out any prior reconnaissance, or is the sole responsibility for evading low branches etcetera placed upon the driver? Now retired, and living in rural Australia, I'm just curious! Thanks.

i went to school at what was then Raynes Park County Grammar School.

I grew up here in the days of the old Rialto cinema and when the garage (still in use) across the road was Morgan & King motorworks.

Love the video but them women can yap carnt they😂

Lived in Ryde from 1975 to 1985. Doesn't seem to have changed too much.

My wife and I will be in London in October, I, (we) will defo be having a go on the T15. Here in Manchester we have a transport museum, which has running days where you can get on heritage buses for FREE! Perhaps on your next tour of the T15 you could point out the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) protruding into the lower saloon.

just saw you on that bus drivers vid!

I will try and get on a T15 , at Waterloo in the next week or so ! ( just for old times-sake ) 😅

Hi 👋, just watched your good self on “ That bus guy’s “ driver blog , so subscribed to yours too ! ( I’m ex-bus conductor from the 80’s )

Shame TfL messed up so many RMs with 'upgrades'. Half the character lost. This is another bus that really needs restoration back to original.

Katrina still Sounds great! Greetings from Brasil!

John Wignall It shows the 200 going up Durham road!

Thank you. Used to go through this area of Raynes Park every day on my way to and from school. Brings back memories.

wow its Katrina , nice one 💥👍🤘😎

Ohh my favourite car that MM 👍👍😊

I love your video and I subscribe to you

Nice to see you are operating that service. Is it a normal service as a lot of the older routemaster generation May like short rides.

You just wait and see of the route T15

Lovely catch - a brilliant pairing and with the intercity rake of coaches too it looked perfect!

money talks,

What about doing a video showing the full blinds on RMs.

Hi Mike, Great channel and videos

“On the Buses” brought me here! “I hate you, Butler!” 😅

Hello Mike I met you today 16th of Feb I chatted to you as I left the bus at Waterloo about being a fan of routemasters just wanted to say I enjoyed the trip and your knowledge of the route and landmarks makes it more enjoyable

I have seen this bus In service. Looks like an old Stagecoach West Ham Old Bangor that were up for sale or sold.

Traction motors are DC. The distinctive sound of the WCML AC electrics is that of the transformer and traction motor blowers.

Couldn't help but notice at 02:53 , that they're NOT the original seat-coverings - (laughs !) Those things are literally tattooed on my brain, as I used to use 'em every 5-mins (1970's/1980's) They were like a "Dull Orange // BLACK // Dull Mustard Yellow" rectangles, with (seemed) 'leather ends' Always tried to avoid the ones covered in "Puke" or chewing gum (Yuk !) It's amazing as to just how vivid my camera-like memory is, having travelled a 'Gazillion' miles on these ! By around late 1982//early 1983 they'd been replaced by Daimler or Leyland "TITAN"s on the '86' route Seemingly soulless 'one man bus' operation, but still, not as draughty !!!!!! By then, I had a car (my first, a lovely Sunbeam Rapier Fastback), so Buses went out with the Ark !!!! Kept my deep love of "Routemasters" though, because what they'd entailed in my life (mostly dating) Difficult to pay the conductor with one hand, when your dominant hand is otherwise "indisposed" !!!! All part of having a sex-crazed G/f, who later became my wife Queuing up, freezing cold in winter, waiting 45-49 mins for one to "turn up", Jeeeez !!!!! (almost as bad, waiting for the "N.98" night bus to take me home.....)

Fab! But I hope that they replace the strip lighting with LED bulbs giving off a yellow hue to echo the old incandescent ones

I love the Routemasters so much and in a few months time I'll be in London. I was going to spend an afternoon on a tourist bus but this one will be much more fun to ride! Best of luck with the venture. Ding Ding all aboard!

Really enjoyed that ride, but seemingly on a Sunday morning there are very few people and therefore tourists around. Back in the 80's and early 90's whenever I was in London I would take the RM instead of the tube, even if it meant it would take up more time. Bit surprised that the trip is so short, wouldn't this concept be more successful if it included destinations such as Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Marble Arch an and the Tower, including a drive over Tower Bridge? Anyway, I cosider the Routemaster to be the coolest and bestest bus ever! Hope the RM tour is there forever.

Great video. Lovely to see Routemasters taking paying passengers on London's streets once again. I'll be there once the weather gets a bit warmer!

An Iveco or a Cummins Engine still with it pre select gearbox I'd be tempted to re fit an old smokey AEC or Leyland engine 😂

I like the description Borismonster

London Bus ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Great video, thank you.

A nice sound of the Routemasters engine

Was this one of the Routemaster buses that First bus London had when First was still in London ?

The blue & yellow Metrobus takes me back! I worked my first year of service as a driver at their Orpington garage in 2004/ 2005. They were used on the route 161, going from Chislehurst war memorial to North Greenwich station.

So many numbers to remember on each bus for a driver when they get on and say to who ever calls over the radio when did the numbered busses come out as they are just letters

Thank you, Mike, for posting this nostalgic reminder of the London of old. Why, might I respectfully ask, is your driver hiding in his cab like a stuffed dummy? Back in the days of crewed buses in London, during stand time the drivers invariably went around to the back for a chat. I, for one, always did so. My assumption is that the original AEC and Leyland engines would now be barred from regular service in central London by the emissions regulations.

I loved route A, there are a few films about it floating about

Hello. Could we get a clear shot of the weight and capacity stickers by the near side front wheel please?

The taillights look dreadful and the Cummins Ally combo has contaminated it's Britishness. Do you know why the Japanese Truck manufacturers stick by their own engines despite ever tougher emissions? The engine is it's heart. British are all to willing to surrender their identity.

Hi mike my favourite RM 871 well it was when she had her original spec in 1988/9 in Hull me n my dad rode all day on her during her first week in service with EYMS which is why I decided to paint one of the Hachette models in their livery in honour of my late Dad who once drove for them in the 1950s and 1960s , so happy to see it in London again where she belongs 👍😊

Excited to see this Route-master back once more and equally interested to know where one can get on this bus to do a trip..? Are there any more routes apart from the A route..? Many thanks for the video.

Best of luck with this venture. It's great to see Routemasters back in the city. What engine does this bus have now? It doesn't sound like an AEC 590 or 760.

Always loved Routemasters since I was a child along with RT's and RF's. Love seeing RM's in unusual places too. I hope these new routes are a success. These RMs are refurbished but nice still to see them running. Remember too the 1977 Silver Jubilee with silver RMs and carpeted again with the Shoplinker and Shillibeer liveries. From '69 there were a number of all over advertised livereies, remember coming out of Charing Cross in '73 and seeing RML 2701 in the Tartan livery. many memories of these and others. Thanks for showing.

What else is on blind?

Rode your bus the other Saturday- as s bus geek it was an utter pleasure !!! Thank you dear boy !!

Brilliant video of Friday charter. I'm Francis Wadsworth but changed my account name so that no one needs to know who I am. In case they ask