Bus ride from the Tower of London on AEC-engined Routemaster ride - RML903 (WLT 903)

[@davidluck4608]

If you’d have followed this road to the West, picking up the Uxbridge Road at Shepherds Bush Green, you’d eventually have driven past Windmill Lane at Southall Middlesex, site of the AEC Factory until 1979. I served my apprenticeship their in 1969, and in 1981 I got to drive the RM’s out of Uxbridge LT Garage on route 207, (Hanwell Garage operated RML’s. ) During the early 1980s ALDENHAM BUS OVERHAUL WORKS were still delivering refurbished Routemasters to garages. A refurbished RM was a dream to drive❤️

[@pp37903]

Beautiful notes of the engine and transmission, AND a Gibson ticket machine! I've died and gone to heaven!

[@johng.lidstone2236]

pp37903 that's one of the kindest comments ever on a video of mine - sincere thanks. As one who loves sounds, AEC especially, I try to capture and share such things.

[@pp37903]

John G. Lidstone Haha, you're welcome! I grew up living on RM-operated routes 65 and 71, and that's the soundtrack to my childhood.

[@christopherhunter2892]

I am watching this with a little tear in my eye. I adore the sound of the AEC engine and my heart sank when they started replacing the engines in the early 90.s. I too love the sound of the Gibson ticket machine, the chit chat ( often greater downstairs then up) and the conductor. There was the warm glow of the tungsten bulbs and the snug seat upstairs and the seat in front which of it which had the best legroom.

[@warweezil2802]

The proper sound of a Routemaster, AEC powered and a Gibson and a “hold on tight please” 😁 Happy memories of the 77 and 77a route past my flat riding the platform in my LT uniform on my way to work on the tube. One conductor used to get me to work the platform while he was faring upstairs if I caught his bus.

[@Beansontoast93911]

@@warweezil2802 I miss the 77a the 87 is rubbish

[@michaelwatkins1702]

It's good to hear the original AEC engine.

[@wkc2]

Damn I love that sound, I drove RMs in the 70's and this engine and gearbox sound takes me right back...

[@martynelse6121]

Discovered this video quite recently, but watched it numerous times already. Being in service makes this special. Impressively driven by ‘The Mange’, whose gear changing enables the AEC engine to sound so sweet. I like the low level chatter from the passengers, and especially the conductor, who obviously loves his job. Good to hear the buzzer near the end too. I’m not a frequent visitor to London, and my last journey, on a refurbished RML, was back in the late 90s, one early Saturday evening on route 14. These iconic machines are very much missed.

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you for kind comment.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Yes, a good conductor was all part of the London Transport experience.

[@kentonsimons4343]

I''ve just found this video, and it's absolutely wonderful! So good to hear all the AEC 'music'. I'm not a Londoner, but a regular visitor and lover of London and this brings back many wonderful memories. Miss seeing RMs on the streets, and it's sad that the heritage route will now only run at weekends during the summer. I personally don't think it was properly advertised so only really picked up by those 'in the know'. Thanks for posting ;-)

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you so much for your kind comments - makes it all worthwhile. Very much appreciated thank you.

[@clarky2356]

Seeing them tourist make you know the route master is a popular icon of London

[@mickfalvey6045]

I drove this Bus when i worked at FY. Route 13 Nth Finchley to The Strand ( Australia House ). Great to see it here still rolling along.

[@taxus750]

Nothing - nothing at all - sounds quite like a pukka AEC-engined RM. It's strange how evocative some noises are and while I'm not London born & bred, the sound this old girl makes as it comes to a stop and on tickover is unmistakeable and sorely missed. Thanks to all involved.

[@biffick99]

AEC or Leyland always does it for me. Proper sound. It was always a good musical sound track for me when I traveled on them to school back in the 1960's. I never wanted to get off!

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Yes and I agree from a driving point of view too. The RMs were just lovely - and still are.

[@stephenport4768]

The classic whine of the gearbox this is how I remember RMs on the 25s coming out of Hainault Street Ilford the grand scheme of things a proper London bus a great workhorse and for technology a bus well ahead of its time

[@stevehillier7018]

First gear pull away lovely sound

[@eastlancsesteem]

Nice engine sound.

[@thomaslister950]

Just had a visit down to London and had a ride on the Londoners bus heritage route 15h and realised that it followed this route.

[@PeterRapley-gv5vt]

On occasions we rode on this (good old) bus on the number 13 route.

[@heatherdobson1561]

Most enjoyable, the RMs were great and the refurbishment of them was nice, however they did not sound like Routemasters anymore which was a great shame. Thank you for posting.

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you so much Heather.

[@stearmaster6.756]

I just went on this today and yesterday, before then I was never really untreated in these AECs until I went on it, from then I have fell in love this thus bus (RM903 is at the garage I work at)

[@5063766]

RML 903 was at MH in the early 70s when i was a mechanic there I have driven and serviced it often. I believed it worked the 43

[@themange2515]

A fascinating video - especially from the driver's viewpoint - ME! Mind you, I think I should've used the handbrake more!! I would say that RML903 is a grand old girl to drive, but she does show her age on even slight hills with a full load; the use of first gear so often is because she needs a bit of encouragement to get going !

[@thisiszaphod]

TBH, it makes a change to see and hear all gears being used. Kudos to you sir. Very well and nicely driven!

[@johng.lidstone2236]

The Mange hi there - so nice you saw it. That was a lovely ride and I enjoyed every minute of it - thank you!

[@kristinajendesen7111]

That did surprise me. When I was at Westbourne Park. way back in 1985, we only used 1st gear on one steep hill by Swiss Cottage. The rest of the time we left it in 'Auto' top - (2nd gear), pushed it through to 3rd, got the most out of that then pulled it back to 4th (top). For the uninitiated, 4th top was also 2nd gear in auto, a very clever system and a dream to drive. With power assisted steering and dual hydraulic brakes, a well maintained RM could still run rings around a modern bus.

[@themange2515]

@@kristinajendesen7111 As I said above, RML 903 was starting to show her age then; when I last drove her in 2017, she needed even more encouragement to get going, with some very fast changes up the gears to maintain momentum. Thankfully the gearbox is in "country" mode, so fully automatic operation isn't available . . . that means the driver has to actually "drive" the bus!! The 2nd to 1st change at the beginning of the journey was necessary to get out into the flow of traffic; at that point I was starting to realise that we had more than just a few passengers onboard!! The point about not using the ratchet to apply the handbrake is well made . . . just as well I wasn't on test!! The film is a great reminder to me about what was . . . never to be repeated, alas: my licence is now gone. Thanks for all the nice comments.

[@ShoaibKhan-bz5qm]

2:25 very wholesome

[@NorthEastbuses01]

Very nice video indeed, and some very nice driving of the old girl :)

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you, how kind of you to say.

[@5063766]

John G. Lidstone

[@michaelwatkins1702]

I do now realise that this is a preserved bus and I am looking forward to riding on it when I visit the Old Country this year (2015).

[@richardkeen6965]

Great Vid , my Dad drove the Standard RMs from New Cross (NX) on the 53s , went out with him a few times on them

[@hjp1hjp22]

RML880-903, WLT880-903, were the 24 longer RML Routemasters with 72 seats, that did not catch on at first in 1961, than the standard 64 seat RMs. From 1965 to 1968 the final 500 Routemasters, 2261-2760 were long RMLs.

[@thomaslister562]

Whilst i can understand why the Routemasters kept for Londons two heritage routes were re engineered with new engines and updated automatic transmissions for environmental reasons, listening to this AEC engine makes you realise that they have lost their heart and soul.

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

Nice vid and nice route to drive

[@trnka2351]

My Grandmother was a Clippie on the old RC buses during World War Two.

[@philsimpson3556]

Thought you were supposed to pause between gears on a semi automatic gearbox,

[@richardwalker1880]

What a fantastic bus and much better than the crap bus today

[@vindicator2011]

It a shame more of the Routemasters not kept on running...esp in Central London, it great for tourists and fans alike. If places like Blackpool and San Fran can keep old transport vehicles running then London should too. My first independant journeys as a London child were on Routemasters...happy days. Is that a "Gibson" ticket machine I can hear? Been on some of the Routemasters on the H15...just love the memories. Love the memories...even though they not fully original. And the "ding ding" miss that too! Thanks for posting video.

[@03markimark]

The city traffic was so much quieter just 5/6 years ago. London is getting more crowded and congested by the day. It's heartbreaking.

[@stearmaster6.756]

@GN since corona its been empty trust me

[@mitchellhurd8958]

I've just seen this video - considering AEC ceased in 1979, the maintenance team of that Routemaster obviously knew how to keep an AEC engine sounding immaculate. Just out ofcuriosity, does anyone know if WLT903 is still running with its AEC engine?

[@stearmaster6.756]

It is, just went on it today, original transmission and everything :)

[@alpzepta]

Yes the same bus and same engine that Mr. Bean used to ride on but sometimes he missed the bus too

[@graemewilson5097]

Does this one not still have the 'bolt' on the gearbox which allows full auto operation with the selection of 4th gear?

[@themange2515]

I don't believe so . . . . . next time I drive 903 I'll try, but I believe she was converted to manual only several years ago . . . . apparently it puts less strain on the gear bands.

[@lucythemoggy1970]

shame he rushed the gearchanges....

[@sgo70]

Extra video :)

[@michaelwatkins1702]

It is hard to know what year this is but it can't be later than 2005 as it was in December of that year that they ceased to run.

[@chelseabornboy]

+Michael Watkins THEY ARE STILL RUNNING ON HERITAGE ROUTES

[@athanpaulalconcel8449]

0:22 the bell sound

[@r0utemaster]

Lovely video, great memories arise from the engine and transmission. Great stuff! I'm assuming the transmission is standard, if so I would take issue with the driving style: stopping in third or neutral? engaging first on the move? and then hanging on to it for too long? NO WAY. This driver would have been knocked in 5 minutes!

[@RML2302]

It IS nice driving generally but can't help noticing that the driver only uses the handbrake occasionally and when he does he pulls it back without releasing the pawl which will wear it out and could cause the handbrake to release unintentionally

[@chrisredditch]

The 15?