London Transport RT's in the 1970's part 1

A look at red RT's in service towards the end of there life. Part 2 next week.

[@juliansadler6263]

As well as the RTs the Wimpy Bars and Ind Coope pubs are a blast from the past.

[@martinwebb1681]

used to love the Wimpy Bar, burger chips and a knickerbocker glory, pure heaven. 🙂... Not forgetting the milkshakes of course.

[@petemullen842]

I loved riding, these buses sound of the engine and the gear change. You never ear any more wonderful noise and wonderful smell, this brings it all back. Thank you. 👍🇬🇧👍

[@JonathanMorris777]

I think most of the sounds are dubbed on, and I'm not sure your body misses the smells!!

[@petemullen842]

@@JonathanMorris777 don’t know about that whatever anyway, as far as the smells, I was referring to the smell of the leather seating, not the smell of the diesel fumes

[@martinwebb1681]

@@petemullen842 ... Yeah I remember that smell well, especially on really hot days. And the sound of those buses was just wonderful.

[@petemullen842]

@@martinwebb1681 yes exactly, and especially when a new one just turned out from the factory was introduced to the fleet lovely lovely smell they were the days wish we could go back

[@martinwebb1681]

Great video... Nice to see the 277A again after all these years. My mum used to take me on the 277A to go visit my nan in the 1960s, nan lived right behind the Poplar baths, we'd catch the bus at Mile End, I used to love it going round the Island on the top deck as you could see over the massive dock wall and see all the ships in the docks and all the lorries loading inside the docks, great days, great memories, of course like the RT buses the docks have also gone now and been confined to history. My other nan lived on the island but we usually visited her on the weekend so went in dads car.

[@RollaArtis]

These old buses were great. In cold weather I sat in the front seats behind the engine to get a warm blast of hot air...

[@stephentaylor9228]

120 from Hounslow Heath to Southall was the RT bus I used to get to visit my grandparents in the early 1960s. I’d sit behind the driver and copy his movements as he used the pre-select gearbox, what a great idea that was it allowed the bus to accelerate quickly through the London traffic. Great memories. Also got 111 to Heston school until I was old enough to cycle to school, just look how easy it was together from a to b, days past I’m afraid,but thanks for posting these great shots.

[@reynardbizzar5461]

Copied the driver’s movements ❤️😂

[@jamesfrench7299]

Amazing to see these continuing on in such a different era to when they started. I even spotted a Mazda 323 running past. They were certainly being run into the ground by the late 70s but just kept going doing what they were designed for. Viva la AEC!

[@adrianbanks2089]

i Drove Them at Sidcup Garage 50 Years ago ! 😊

[@djpeekay25]

route 21?

[@Springamatul]

I love seeing this like going back into a time machine and seeing old buses like this.

[@davidluck4608]

AEC …….Gone, but not Forgotten ❤️

[@kevinblakeman8858]

A great video we'll done, the first RT i rode on was the 4 Route from Islington to Waterloo in 1973

[@dartskipper3170]

Rode an RT nearly every day when I was growing up. To school in the week and shopping on Saturdays. Routes 66,139,148,147,and 62. The 62 ran past the end of my road.

[@johnbarthram2761]

My route was the 20a went round my council estate.

[@keef71]

RT & RM drivers weren't afraid to chuck them about. You'd think they were driving a van!

[@routeman680]

I remember being on one going round Hyde Park corner leaning to nearside, the conductor singing out "Holding tightly!"

[@SDR702]

I use to drive RM's. You had to corner fast, otherwise the power steering would fade! It's was harding going at times.

[@macstracks8860]

Remember that RT's didn't have power steering, a bit of speed made them easier to handle.

[@minimaxi802]

By 1968 all 2760 Routemasters had been built and had replaced many RTs, now down to about 1000 in London by the early 1970s being withdrawn every month until the end of the decade. And DMS Fleetline production had started with almost the same number of RMs built until 1978. And then came the Titans and Metrobuses.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Don't think the Titans and Metrobuses will be remembered with such affection!

[@JW1_1]

​@@robertp.wainman4094 I miss all the old buses. I miss the Metros the most. At this point we are now facing current fleets being slowly decommissioned to bring in the milkfloats

[@franktuckwell196]

A friend of mine drove the routemaster bus and would NEVER consider cancelling a service due to inclement weather. He often told us of reversing and driving up Brixton hill backwards, because you got better traction that way, rather than refusing to drive up it. He reckoned they performed well on the Skidpan as well.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Such a London bus!

[@JohnDavis-ed5sg]

Very good films and sound too. Nostalgia with all those streets and some nice cars - a Corvette, couple of RRs, and lots of those Marina Vans I used to drive.

[@andicog]

There was a white E type in there as well, back when it was just a used old sports car. Lovely.

[@christopherbentley5216]

I notice no types of people pushing their way on.

[@stevedickson5853]

True, what awful times we are now in

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@stevedickson5853ok boomer

[@rolymier8659]

So sad to see the shoddy conditions of the RT'S especially the Romford ones. Thankfully l can remember the buses when standards were so much higher. Good film though.

[@benwesley1899]

Thanks for this!

[@zebedep]

Great footage, thanks

[@London1064]

Lovely bus to drive. Would be good to see some of their green country cousins.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

The buses I mainly travelled on during the 1970's (either to and from work - Brockley SE4 to Dulwich SE21) were via the122, 12, 185... or the 122, to and from Brockley to Ladywell, (visiting my Grandad) and the 141, 171, 47, 36, 1, to / from Lewisham, Catford, Downham, Bromley (shopping / window shopping!) Am no expert on the types of buses but recall the 'friendships' struck up with regular Conductors, and the disappointments when changing to driver only buses! 😟 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nowadays I don't travel by bus - or trains - but just via pre-arranged Hospital Transport, as my daughter 'wheels' me around any of the three Hospitals who take care of my blood 'INR' levels & 'Warfarin' dosages, (Lewisham), my diabetic eyecare, (St.Thomas') & my failing kidneys, (Guy's).🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙂🇬🇧😏🖖

[@BILLVANNER]

RTs were a great bus to drive. A great favourite of mine.

[@RS-ji2ui]

Lived in Earlsfield London SW18. Routes 44, 220 & 77 if i can remember that far back 😂😂

[@paultrevett1287]

You're bang on mate I used to the 44 to work Tooting Broadway to Wandsworth then walk over the Wandsworth Bridge to Townmead Rd my workplace happy days?

[@williamcarrington61]

Have enjoyed seeing this, ex - driver at North Street .

[@tx41979]

Used to luv em as jump on off anywhere when going school

[@BrianMurfitt]

Was it me as I was a child in the 1970s, but there seemed to be a lot less traffic and civility with well ordered queues? Ah they were the days.🤗🇬🇧😢

[@johnjephcote7636]

I grew up in Country Area RT land 1948 to 1971 (when I moved out West). Apart from RFs (and a smattering of RLH/T/TD, everything was served by Lincoln green RTs. Red RTs on 158 and 142 also terminated at my Watford Junction. One foggy night even the spotlight could not pick out the kerb and the conductor sat on the bonnet informing the driver.

[@johnbarthram2761]

Superb, reminded me of the Debden Estate where i grew up, wish i could go back.

[@rabbiebhoy]

RT's have much more character than the Route Master.

[@reynardbizzar5461]

The 217 at Enfield but the 216 couldn’t be farther away at Kingston😂

[@andicog]

No rainbows, no forced diversity, no LEZ, no woke BS, just men and women getting on with a modest lifestyle, mostly British cars and lorries. Lovely. 👍

[@bewildered5444]

Very well said.

[@stevedickson5853]

Can't help but notice the pedal is to the metal it seems at all times , no creeping along at l0 - 20 mph like these days in traffic...also Reliant Regal in shot bouncing along at 16:24: 👍

[@reynardbizzar5461]

All the drivers are absolutely’ flooring it’ 😂

[@steveturner609]

@@reynardbizzar5461- I wondered whether the film had been speeded up such was the speed of those old Buses???!!!

[@reynardbizzar5461]

@@steveturner609 Hard to say. Maybe it is , but having driven RMs on the 28 I have to admit I did get a move on; I think we all did. Also those old buses lended themselves to be chucked about. They had drivability, unlike this modern 💩masquerading as buses😂

[@mrandsp]

It has to be faster than real time. Take a look as the No. 71 nearly side-swipes an Allegro at 18:33. Allegros never went that fast, especially uphill! 😂

[@reynardbizzar5461]

@@mrandsp Without prejudice I looked where you stated @18.33 . I would agree that in some instances the film does appear to have been speeded up, but buses did have a different personification back then and were driven hard. The engine sounds have been dubbed and this gives added urgency to the run-bys.

[@JW1_1]

2:39 this section of the route was completely withdrawn because the drivers were having too many swift halfs 😉🤣

[@paul-ie6wi]

And I don’t think your joking 😊 my dad drove buses in the 70s and I’m sure he said they stop and have a pint, also the train crash as Eltham well hall…that driver was bladdered.

[@JW1_1]

@@paul-ie6wi Ah wicked 🙂my uncle used to drive out of North Finchley back in the day. He stopped just before I was born.

[@paul-ie6wi]

@@JW1_1 my old man was Bromley, used to meet him at Kidbrooke and ride the front of the bus (inside) haha but when we went through Bromley with no passengers I had to lie on the seat in case the inspectors saw me …..happy days man

[@ANYTHING-AND-EVERYTHING.]

No buses for an hour and then 4 come along at once...

[@normansaunders6891]

Interesting content, but can you put a link to part 2 of your videos to save us time looking for a needle in a haystack? Thanks.

[@macstracks8860]

Part 2 15.00hr next Wednesday. Subscribe to be informed of new content.

[@the231Pacific]

Route 34 at Barnet at 9.25

[@garypoulton7311]

I know a lot of things ARE better today, but somehow I think we were better off in the 70s, things were nicer, if dirtier, and life was a lot less regulated , and good old inflation reduced your mortgage very quickly.

[@Leon-lt5gv]

Were not allowed to go this fast no more ' the police would asume your drunk ' & the diffrence in less traffic is unblieveble ' these bus drivers throw them around like fomala one 😁🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@tanyajackson3833]

Polos! (Which weren't invented by Marco Polo, he just brought the mint with a hole back from China.)

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Have you overdubbed the sound?

[@macstracks8860]

Yes

[@Neil-wb2xl]

id get the 207 uxbridge to ealing

[@user-hr6rv6od3j]

When we English ruled the world. English and proud

[@steveturner609]

Hey???

[@BrianMurfitt]

I always say when Britain was a country and you were proud to be British.🇬🇧 Alas those days are gone and doubtful if they'll ever return.😢

[@cav551]

soundtrack is a bit suspect.

[@macstracks8860]

Just to answer some points. This film was transferred to VHS from the original Super 8 cine film and more recently digitized. Yes the film was originally silent and the sound track added at a later date. (Quite well l thought). No there is no intentional speeding up of the film but but the transfer from Super 8 to VHS to digital may have had some effect. RT's could shift when driven well and there was less traffic then ! Hope that answers some questions.

[@jaket9559]

Before the invasion great days

[@properkhunt710]

You are not wrong. More people are realising it has been done on purpose.

[@maurice8607]

Before the UK invaded 3/4 of the world???

[@patcom1013]

Alwight alright 👍

[@tonyrichardson2637]

@@properkhunt710 it is deliberate.

[@martinwebb1681]

@@tonyrichardson2637 ... It certainly is, and not just in our beautiful land but across the whole of Western Europe.

[@Jack_Warner]

What makes this look amateurish, is the wind noise from the mic.

[@macstracks8860]

Originally silent super 8 cine film

[@Jack_Warner]

@@macstracks8860 I know, it's the camcorder audio, that gives it away.

[@BrianMurfitt]

It doesn't look amateurish at all! It looks dated because of the super 8 cine film, which it a professional charm. 🤗

[@martinwebb1681]

@Jack_Warner ... Just be thankful that the person took the time to film this so that many years later we could see back in time.

[@BrianMurfitt]

@@martinwebb1681 Here, here.👏🏻👍

[@properkhunt710]

Great footage. I remember the 135's.

[@johnbarthram2761]

I want to go back !!!!!

[@tonyrichardson2637]

we cannot go back but you can go forward. if you believe in Christ. it was God that blessed this country, but now it is gone because end times have to take place.