London Buses 1986-Routemasters at Clapham Common

Another classic London bus upload now, Routemasters at Clapham Common. We see them at work on routes 35, 37, 88, 137 & 155 on a sunny Saturday afternoon in 1986. If you liked the video please subscribe to my channel, there are lots more transport & quirky vids to upload!

[@alanray3485]

What a fantastic memory for myself. I started out on LT at Walworth Garage in 1975 as a Conductor on 12,176,176A and 45 routes, then went as a driver at Catford then at New Cross then back to Catford, my biggest regret was going one man operated, then I left in 1989 as London Transport was breaking up and before SELKENT took over I left. This clip was so emotional as it showed me how the job has changed so much since then and for the worse. I could talk for hours about my time with LT. Thank you so much for this short film.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

My pleaseure....they are plenty more uploads of mine from buses back in the 1980s, check them out!

[@LANBritain1]

Buses aside, it is fascinating seeing some footage of Clapham from 35 years ago and seeing shopfronts and adverts you have completely forgotten about. Like the Wimpy!

[@robsterbob580]

These films are great. I left school in 1986. What's amazing is that most of the cars and vans here have all disappeared now and survivors are rare these days. Much like most of the Routemaster buses in the film too.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Yes, as well as the Routemasters just about everything else on the roads is history too.....

[@kelvinbremont1341]

See this is why these beautiful buses lasted for so many years! It’s cause they have a beautiful exterior that catches the eyes of everyone. Many people love these buses. They’ve run for so many years,who says they can’t for many more years?? 🙌🙌🙌🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

In London Transport days they were rebuilt every 4/5 years at Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works (there is a YT upload called Overhaul all about the place) and in effect left the works s a new bus. That helped keep them on the road in some cases for 45 years!

[@kelvinbremont1341]

Soi Buakhao that’s incredible! But wait has the overhaul works place closed down or are they still in business??

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

@@kelvinbremont1341 Aldenham & Chiswick both closed in the mid 80s sadly.....

[@kelvinbremont1341]

Soi Buakhao but surely there still has to be places that rebuild/refurbish them? There just so genuine.

[@xanadudawn]

Thanks for this. I was a conductor at Clapham then. AK (Streatham garage was being rebuilt) I would have loved to have seen the crews; mates of mine long gone now, but one rarely can. Still I can guess. You captured the moment.Thanks again. I wish I had the foresight to capture things from my life

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I had seen what others had done in filming buses in the 1960s, only on cine but that's all that was available then. As the things i grew up with were being rapidly withdrawn as soon as i saw the Panasonic M1, a fully combined full sized tape video camera i signed up to an HP agreement as was off! Best thing i ever did. It wore out by around 1989/90 but i had a good job as guard by then so brought the next one outright. The results you can see on my channel....enjoy!

[@xanadudawn]

@@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus I have. Thank you. You captured a very enjoyable part of my life. I spent 4 years on the 118's. at AK. That was like a big family. Not a job. We are trying to have a reunion at Streatham. About 20-30 survivors so far, We are still looking. Can't happen just at present obviously. If you would like to come and record it , and listen to plenty of stories. I would be honoured

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

@@xanadudawn Yes, strangely enough all my plans for this year have evaporated into thin air! Check out my 'about' page and follow the link to an email address, i like a trip to London, it allows me to film all sorts of things from buses to trains to planes!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

@ No, if that came after this i didn't. I was busy chasing Routemasters and tended to leave the more modern vehicles alone until the late 90s.

[@zebedep]

I think it's great you took the time to film all of this! Thank you.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I was very desperate! All the things i liked were being replaced so i set out to capture it all on film, spured on by seeing 1960s cine film of transport that a friend had done. And now i have a KZbin channel i am spurred on again to go out and get filming again!

[@AndreiTupolev]

That RM on the 37 with Romford on the blind was causing a bit of an inconvenience blocking the stop wasn't it. and then the 137 stops halfway into the road behind it and the driver gets out. And then another 37 pulls out behind both of them, nearly into the path of a passing Volvo! Fun times!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

The 37 has 'Richmond' on the front (Romford not being on any routes in this area) but the reason they pile up and crews get out is because Clapham Garage was open at this point (while Norwood & them Streatham Garage's were closed for re-building) which was just around the corner, so this was the crew change-over point. I imagine traffic delays caused so may to be present at once!

[@SuperRolyPoly]

Great vid. It's sad that standards had slipped on the condition of the RM's.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Standards on LT all over had dropped dramatically in the 1908s sadly.....

[@daciatravel.647]

Very good video!!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Thank you!

[@AndreiTupolev]

That's a nice jam 1:45: RM, T, RM, and a fire engine trying to get past the lot.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

The chaos of London traffic even back then!

[@paulhorner6811]

Some of them are producing smoke the Red Arrows would be proud of (maybe not so green tho'!) Fabulous engine noises! A well trod area for me (esp the old transport museum just past the lights on the right where Sainsbury's now is)

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I have some shots taken there when it was in use for the 37 & 137's while other garage's were being re-built. I will have to upload it at some point.

[@Barison82]

Quite funny to see a red Morris Ital with a blue Morris Marina in hot pursuit at the lights @6:06!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

These vids are god fun for old car enthusiasts, plenty of old motors long since gone.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Great RM and Titan action here with a couple of Metrobuses thrown in. Some interesting cars such as the mini moke at 8:57 as well as a couple of Marinas. Wow what rules when it comes to traffic?!? People just suss what they want, including the buses!!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

And the traffic in London hasn't got any better 30 years later!!!

[@kelvinhunter615]

Another classic RMs footage route 88, Acton green to clapham junction. Then was replaced by 94 Acton green to piccadilly circus

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I have film of 88's at Acton Green! Plus in later years RML's & Metro's on the 94 at Turnham Green, all to be uploaded at some point.....

[@christopherhunter2892]

That was my route when I moved to Chiswick. 88 would run to Stockwell, Clapham Common, Tooting Mitre or Mitcham Cricketers.None of these cross London routes exist anymore.

[@unknownywuux_bus]

How about 148

[@djpeekay25]

About a year after 45 and 118 converted? And how many different termini you capture for the 37?

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I think the 45 went earlier? I have cine of the 118 but the 45 was already OPO.

[@djpeekay25]

Soi Buakhao I think Holloway and Walworth lost their RMs in August 1985 which served the 45.

[@Phaedrax2]

I wonder what happened to the Notre Dame Estate - was it knocked down & replaced with something else?

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I have no idea i'm afraid, not being from the Clapham area.

[@londontaxijim9526]

Still going strong

[@Phaedrax2]

@@londontaxijim9526 couldn't find it on google maps.

[@londontaxijim9526]

Phaedrax2 The Notre Dame Estate is a Council owned estate and because of that Google cars are not allowed to video it. If you put in Worsopp Drive SW4 that will take you to the front of the estate. Whereas if you put in Tableer Avenue SW4, that will take you into the bottom of Notre Dame Estate. I can assure you that it is definitely still there. Cheers.

[@Phaedrax2]

@@londontaxijim9526 Thanks for that, just a nostalgic trip around the places i remember from the 60's. My best friend lived in the flats, went there often.