Ep4: How To Restore a 70 Year Old London Double Decker Bus | Rotten Beam Removal

In this episode we continue working on our latest bus restoration project - RT2629 is London double decker bus built in 1951. Looks like we have our work cut out restoring this 70 year old London Bus!
What does it take to restore a double-decker bus and keep it on the road?
Filmed in the UK at the Routemaster 4 Hire HQ in Wrexham, North Wales we are passionate about London buses and with 7 vintage buses in the fleet we defiantly have our work cut out!
Also don't forget to check-out all our London bus restoration videos in this playlist...
• London Bus Restoration...
About Us:
We offer our London buses for private hire.
We are proud to have the privilege of owning one of London’s most recognisable sights - the iconic London Routemaster Double Decker Bus!
Our beautifully restored red London double-decker buses are available for Weddings and Special Events across North Wales and the Northwest UK, they add some nostalgic novelty and a touch of class to any occasion.
For more information, please visit our website: www.routemaster4hire.co.uk
#londonbus #rtbus #routemaster4hire

[@jamesfrench7299]

You guys are professionals who clearly follow the mantra that a job worth doing is a job worth doing well. Well worth the hassle of getting that out. It's an important structural member of the bus.

[@austinflatcapgaming]

It should be about time that someone came up with a mini Aldenham works depot again.

[@crewealex1125]

Did enjoy the bigger hammer being employed!

[@1970savage]

The escalation of sledgehammers was comedy gold 🤣

[@axelrajr]

seems like that plate might be a good thing to get a fully digital copy made, bolt holes and all, so it can be cut as needed whenever by any metal fabrication shop with a laser or water jet.

[@warweezil2802]

Google turned up some photos of 2629 in service. Seems that it ran on the 77a so I'm assuming that it was possibly allocated to SW at some point in its service life, I lived in flats right next to the stop for the 77 group running into the garage - Wandsworth Rd (Lansdowne Way). To this day I miss the sound of the RMs from the 77 & 77a running into Stockwell at close of traffic. The RT really is of its time with the wooden frame. I watched the breakers drop down some old bodies in my childhood when the local operator where we moved to in West Wales decided to clear the decommissioned vehicles from the yard. Was sad to see them being destroyed, even sadder now when I think of what a varied fleet it was and how some of them are really rare now. There probably are some "preserved" vehicles running round in poor condition structurally, and I guess we have to hope nothing nasty happens that may affect heritage running days in the future, that said, it's clear that the standard of workmanship and the quality of care and maintenance that you guys give to the machines in your care ensures that they are upto and possibly beyond the standard required when they were in daily service. Others could do a lot worse than to follow your example. I realise yours is a business, but preservation enthusiasts have to remember that it only takes one big accident involving a preserved vehicle in poor condition to bring onerous regulations down on these vehicles that could make it impossible to continue to operate them in passenger use, and that would be heartbreaking.

[@AJSAN1971]

Really good to see all this work being done on 2629, not seen the old girl for 30 years so I'm really looking forward to seeing it finished.

[@ianjack8334]

I never realise that such an important load bearing member was actually constructed principally of wood attached to a steel template. You learn something new every day. I loved the way that brute force with knowledge was being used to remove the intractable bolts. One small comment in the conversations when the member was removed the audio was really clear but with difficulty was able to follow what was being discussed. Am really interested in this project. Keep it up lads!

[@nf015h5124]

I have been watching your videos with great interest and when I see the amount of work you have done its amazing. Congratulations guys on keeping these icons Road worthy. I just hope that the highly polished examples are to the same standard as yours are👍

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you very much!

[@paultinadavis8812]

Nice to see you guys doing such great work. I drove RT’s at Catford in the late 60’s, then RM’s. I am now 75 and hope I am still here after you finish it in 5 years time, as you predicted. Paul Davis Isle of Man.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Im sure you will Paul, thanks for watching.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Love the out takes

[@jacksugden8190]

Nice to forget the problems of the world and watch something different, be a smashing bus when completed, admoration for all your hard work in getting the bus back into shape 👍

[@jamesadlam9875]

As others have said, it's always interesting to see how much wood there is in an RT. Always tends to be described in the history books as metal-framed precision engineering.

[@chrisdale6081]

I accidentally turned captions on. The bit where you were a bit warm, the caption doesn’t seem to match what you actually said. It’s hilarious! 🙂

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Excellent absolutely brilliant I like watching these and see what goes on into restoring buses you never really got videos like this before so it's good we can see what goes on

[@davidcoleman6032]

Great work lads,I live and learn,I was expecting the cross members to be steel solid girder.

[@Big.Al.3]

Do enjoy your films. It just goes to show what you find out of site on a bus. Looking forward to the next part of this replacement of beam. Keep up the good work gents. 👍👍

[@michaelkeen5010]

Another great video. These are the sorts of issues that many so called preservationists might overlook to their peril. 👍

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Very true!

[@davidbassett4577]

Another great video Dave .. the effort yourself and Tim put into getting that beam out .. really shows how solidly built these buses were back in the 1950’s … baring in mind that they would go through Aldenham Works every few years up until they were withdrawn from LT service (I can remember going to the farewell event down at Barking in 1976) .. it’s actually pretty amazing that the wooden & metal beam actually survived all this time since … thank you for sharing the video with us .. I know that the RT’s that appear at Amersham & District Motorbus Society Running Days are very well looked after examples and I am sure their owners wouldn’t let them out on the road with rotten beams like this one!

[@markobrien1439]

Another great video lads...."I wonder if the person who fitted that is still alive" 😂 Was thinking excatly the same as you said it.....just amazing what materials these RTs were made of and the weight bearing the cross member's held......great viewing 👍

[@Ju1ian10001]

Loved the video again and it just shows how well designed and constructed RT's and RM's were (i know the RM used a much more modern body/ chassis frame design) biut i do also love the buses london had from my generation i-e the Leyand Olympians and Titans (the Titan was a brilliant bus in it's day) and the Leyland nationals.

[@TheWacoKid1963]

I wish I'd had the money 40 years ago to save the scrapped unique NGT OMO Routemaster

[@ianmaddams9577]

Always appreciate the hard work and effort you guys put in to your videos. All the best guys👍🏻

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you so much 😀

[@flyingbananatree5661]

06:09 The Jeremy Clarkson method :p Good video again guys!

[@Jack.me.]

True

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes! Thank you!

[@andrewstratford4753]

Love this what a shame that these great buses end up rusty and unwanted you do a great job i saw two buses on the isle of wight they to are just rusting away which is a shame.

[@marknewbould1089]

great video can't wait to see more brilliant. wish my projects were buses I know who to come to cheers mark

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks 👍

[@rudybreuker]

Nice film, i see great technical skil, and foremost dedication. And stil having fun. 👌

[@ankbmm]

Bloopers are even more amazing!!

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Glad you like them!

[@peterwardle572]

Great stuff lads, you are doing this from the ground up, perfect.

[@barrydavidgaudry4050]

Hugely enjoyed the video. Great quality work. Will follow to completion of the RT.

[@sensescaper]

Have to say you are so right about 'bling and shiny' v.s done properly. I'm an old Land Rover nut - without proper workshop access but have done some work and farmed out a lot to a caring pro. My weak area is CAD. Do you use Fusion 360? Is it hard to learn? Making old components is very time consuming. Great work though - the Routemaster was (is) an amazing technological achievement albeit made from all manner of materials that have now moved on. It's like a large Morgan really - with all that wood in it!

[@stephenport4768]

Restore it Aldenham style body off and rolling chassis

[@timhoward7037]

So good to see an RT getting restored. It's always seemed slightly unjust to me in spite of Cliff Richard's and James Bond's efforts, RM's have caught the public's imagination in a far bigger way and the RT has been largely forgotten. Probably largely through ignorance that they are different! I like RM's but there's something about the RT noise and looks, and that very special gearbox that always piqued my interest more....

[@jasonchadburn6611]

keep up the good work lads

[@kevinwoodruff8994]

Love watching your videos guys could this not be replaced with a metal or aluminium chassis rather than wood. I never knew RT buses had would Chassis. It's bound to rot underneath when the roads are wet. 👍👌

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes we could very easily replace with something that would last longer, but we like to restore our buses using the same materials that they had when new.

[@cargy930]

Whilst I love the iconic RM, the RT is what I grew with in the London suburbs of my childhood. Because of this, I've a particular soft spot for them. So I'm particularly enjoying the chance to watch your hard work in restoring this old girl properly. Tim (ever the pragmatist) is very wise in his Ship of Theseus observation about only replacing the parts that *need* to be replaced.

[@normmcrae1140]

LOVE watching you guys doing your work and restorations. It's amazing to see just how much wood was used on them back in the day! Unfortunately, like you say - that means that they can rot out, too. Are you guys going to use any kind of preservative on the new beam and wood when you reinstall it to help the new one last longer?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes, you will see this when we assemble the new beam.

[@vc10aviation]

Great video

[@allanmason7544]

look forward to your vids thanks

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Glad you like them!

[@billygamezgtaandmore3283]

This is one of my favourites youtube videos

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you.

[@richarddecoster4464]

My dad taught me how to do jobs you do it right or don't bother doing it at all. In other words take pride in doing it right.

[@dazzlerbob1870]

If in doubt, get the sledge hammer out!

[@jamesfrench7299]

Finally got to see what they're good for.

[@johnkenyon1532]

Another great video lads, Can you put any form of wood preservatives on the ash before you refit the cross member ?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes, absolutely and in episode 8 you will see us doing this.

[@tonylawlor3503]

Approx 15 ton fully loaded

[@rolanddunk5054]

Hi,after the crossbeam has been renewed does the work have to be signed off by a surveyor as part of MOT work.cheers Roly 🇬🇧.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

No not at this stage, but the bus will have an MOT when finished even tho technically it would be MOT exempt here in the UK.

[@ferstuck37]

Diesel engines in the US after 2011 have to add urea to the engine to clean the catalytic converter. Something the legislator came up with to clean the environment and Jack the price of diesel up astronomically the cost of which it in turn gets passed on to the consumer! But cuts down on the life of an engine because diesel had a lot of oil in it which allowed a diesel to run for thousands of miles. What sort of diesel do you have to run in your buses and how do they respond.

[@jakejakejake978]

Another great video! I'm really interested to know, who owns Routemaster 4 Hire? Is it your business David? Or are you and Tim business partners? Or is Tim an employee? You talk about this one being Tim's bus. Are the others all yours?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

David owns the business and 4 Routemasters. Tim owns the BL and RT and Alan owns RM2213.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

I know how you feel about your hair David mine is the same

[@AgathaAndAnything]

Not a criticism but as a man in his 50’s with tinnitus you’re gonna regret not wearing ear protection in later years Tim.... Dave’s past worrying about 😂

[@jamesfrench7299]

Yes, don't emulate the down sides of the 50s. The science of health and safety has come a long way. Follow it, so you can experience the joy of British commercial vehicles for a long time to come.

[@carloschbn]

Greetings from Brazil Excellent job you all have been doing on this nice RT. I wonder how hard it is working on the restoration of each part and also for remembering the right place where each big or small part will be assembled again! You all should be awarded by the Queen for that! 🚌🚍😀👍

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks Carlos.

[@mikedunning4396]

TIM

[@petersmith4455]

hi there, when i worked for London Transport we used to send the buses to Aldenham works for overhaul, the bodies would be lifted off the chassis and inspected, also the chassis was inspected and repaired if required.there was always plenty of recon engines about, AEC or LEYLAND 0.600.the turn around was very fast

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Shame Aldenham closed, as parts dept there would be very handy. Also a shame there's not any recon engines knocking around nowadays.

[@dannyrobins6555]

@@Routemaster4Hire I was with LT 1970-80 and RM engines then were getting dodgy after so many recons. Towards the end a lot of RTs were put out to grass as the rear cross members had gone and they weren't worth repairing, too big a job for an old vehicle. I always say; these vehicles were built to last, not be immortal! Great job you guys are doing, glad that vehicles like this are now considered worth saving.

[@charlieboyok]

I am gonna ask a silly question Why not replace the " beams" with metal ones surely the primers ( paints) are better nowadays than 50 plus years ago. 😳

[@Jack.me.]

Are you in London

[@Ju1ian10001]

No Routemaster4hire is based in wales.

[@JossRickard]

Would you not consider remaking the whole thing out of metal?

[@jamesfrench7299]

Wood is a very strong, durable and flexible material.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

No, our restorations are sympathetic to how the buses were built.

[@blairoutproject]

You never did tell us what made your member cross ?

[@TheZzziggy]

Can you please run subtitles when the young lad chimes in? He is alright, but I cannot understand a word off his Swift and Wilde accent.

[@jamesfrench7299]

I get the gist of it.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

I believeKZbin auto generates subtitles you just need to switch them on.