London's Big Red Bus - The AEC Routemaster Story (Reworked)

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This is a reworked and reuploaded version of the original video.
Greetings! :D
One of the most iconic forms of public transport in the world, the AEC Routemaster was never built to be an icon, but regardless of its intentions, the big red double-decker has proven that even something as utilitarian and everyday as a bus can become far more than a way of getting from A to B.
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The views and opinions expressed in this video are my personal appraisal and are not the views and opinions of any of these individuals or bodies who have kindly supplied me with footage and images.
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References:
- London Bus Museum (and their respective sources)
- Routemaster.org.uk (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

[@joansmith8215]

My husband was a bus mechanic at West Ham garage back in 1976 and says that the Routemaster was not only ahead of it’s time design wise but also a joy to drive compared to the RT which he took his bus driving test on.

[@b.griffin317]

Riding the double-decker bus in London (and on some out of London lines as well, including through the Wiltshire and Cumbrian countrysides) was one of the highlights of my UK trip two years ago. Never grew tired of it.

[@ivertranes2516]

The footage at 3:00 of spinouts had me doubled over with laughter!! Amazing they were that stable.

[@Diptera_Larvae]

10 out of 10!

[@user-yc2oz8kc5k]

Yes, that amazed me too. Then one being driven on a racetrack was just as impressive.

[@MrJimheeren]

I especially like the fact that all these people are just standing there, no PPE, no High Vis, the lack of self preservation, life must have been cheap

[@floycewhite6991]

@@MrJimheeren Kids used to ride in the back of pickup trucks. Life was more carefree back then.

[@davidparry1968]

A really thorough homage to the humble Routemaster. We really were a nation of innovators at one point.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

7:58 Routemasters did not appear in TV's On the Buses, but did appear in one of the films when Stan and Blakey went to Chiswick Works skid pan. On the Buses used Bristol Ks or KSWs.

[@briangentle5515]

I think you will find they used slightly newer Bristol Lodekkas, probably Eastern National vehicles, mainly FLFs.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

​@@briangentle5515 they certainly used Ks in the early TV shows, and in the films.

[@trevorhart545]

@@briangentle5515 "On the Buses" did use the Bristol Lodekka with Eastern Coaches Works bodies. AS mentioned the ONLY appearance of a Route Master was the Chiswick skid pan.

[@joansmith8215]

To add more, they used Eastern National FLF 6G’s with the semi automatic gearboxes, the last ones produced circa 1968/ 69. They also used the now defunct Wood Green depot in North London for filming.

[@Diptera_Larvae]

@1:41 there is something so awe inspiring about seeing a production line for something so iconic.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

It's not actually a production line, it is the overhaul facility at Aldenham.

[@Batters56]

Hi, if I may be so bold as to make a video suggestion on a topic I suspect few people know about: London’s extra wartime bridges. I happened to spot a bridge where there shouldn’t be one on a pic in another video and it took me a while to find out what it was! Love this channel.

[@antonygibson_]

I have never heard of this, but I am indeed very interested in a video on this topic!

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Great idea [from AU too lol]!

[@duncancurtis5108]

I'll get you, Blakey!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Love the story of the RT, RM, RF's and others. Met Colin Curtis at Acton open day about 15 years ago. Told him what a great design the Routemaster was. He always said 'it was evolutionary not revolutionary'. A real nice humble man, he loved to talk of his subject and his days with LT. The FRM used the AV 691 engine.

[@ethanstrode9560]

I am in London for college currently and i see Routemasters while that are on tours around London

[@duncancurtis5108]

Yes hanging onto the rear handrail whilst whizzing round Piccadilly Circus! Ding ding.😊

[@mirandabroadhurst7944]

I worked for London Transport as a bus driver and owned Routemaster VLT44

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

The last of the Real Busses. I think that every bus should be of that design. The driver drives the bus, while the bus conductor takes the fares. This is the reason why the two men operated busses were quicker than the one man operated bus.

[@eattherich9215]

@10:58, those were the days when bus routes were very long. The 47 now runs between Shoreditch and Catford garage. I have fond memories of the RT and Routemaster buses. The "Boris" bus was misconceived and its non-opening windows turned the bus into an oven in the summer heat. I recalled sitting on the lower deck and watching people who had ventured upstairs, coming down within a few minutes. As an aside, Routemaster 70 will take place on 20 and 21 July at the former LT works, Chiswick.

[@Play_fare]

In Ottawa, the public transit operator OC Transpo has been operating Dennis double deckers for several years now. The backbone of the high capacity bus routes has been the articulated buses. As more capacity was needed and platform lengths on the bus transitway could not be increased at most locations, double decker buses filled the gap by boarding more passengers in less space than an articulated bus would occupy.

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

When attending college in London, I remember riding these buses. They were great and had a character to them. Thanks for this video.

[@DKS225]

I know of one Routemaster that's preserved here in Sydney and that is RM 1708 preserved at The Sydney Bus Museum along with AEC Regent III number RT 3708 along with a few in private hands throughout Australia.

[@RichardBough-yk2ei]

I been on it

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

These were slightly before my time but the Number 13 route still used the Routemaster so we always used that when we went into central London. It was so good to be able to hop on and off and to be able to hang out the back when the bus was packed (they wouldn't let you if it wasn't). The buses I remember using had the yellow front doors that had four sections. It cost 5p for a child and 10p for an adult before doubling to 10p and 20p, which at the time, was an outrageous rise! I remember adults complaining about it. It was also amazing how difficult they are to roll. I was expecting something that old to be pretty easy to roll, but I saw how they tested it and it takes quite a big angle for it to fall over. Surprisingly, I've never been on the new Routemaster (which I think is just something that vaguely resembles the iconic one...much like the new Mini's). There's none operating on any of the routes I use.

[@GA-br8wj]

Happy to see the Big Red Buses I used when I lived in London (specially the 73 route), hopping on and off them anywhere was the best feature, newer versions are boring and dull. Thanks for your video!!!

[@petersmith4455]

hi, i worked at AEC ltd we were shut down in may 1979, after Thornycroft followed by Scammell , total carnage. all fine companies,

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

AEC were the best "Quality is remembered long after the original price has been forgotten." I got offered an apprenticeship there in 1977. Maybe it was a good job that I took up a better-paid position somewhere else. I'd have been made redundant at age 18...

[@tonys1636]

AEC was owned by LPTB, later LTB, thus the GLC, as was originally jointly owned by Underground Electric Railways of London and London General Omnibus, full name Associated Equipment Company. Its downfall came once Leyland Bus and Truck, who acquired it, started to fail and bailed out by HMG before sold to DAF who dropped the name entirely.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

​@@tonys1636AEC became an independent Public Company on the formation of the LPTB in 1933, so was never part of the LPTB or the nationalised LTE, and therefore was never owned by the GLC. Leyland bought out AEC before Leyland itself was nationalised, and the AEC plant was closed with the AEC name being dropped long before DAF took over Leyland.

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Nice vid 🙂 Alongside the Cummins 6BT conversions, a few were re-engined with Scania units - if memory serves, the 9-litre 5cyl at around the 230bhp mark. They must have been great fun to drive 😆 It’s always good to see a well-maintained RM, RML, RMC or rarer variant out and about. A local company uses a Scania-engined RML for wedding charters 🙂

[@atomdent]

The new route master is a cool futuristic update on an iconic design. Thank you.

[@DaveSCameron]

Uuuuuu! Keep it up and arl av you Batlar!! 😂

[@rodrigogoncalves6165]

One thing that I never see mentioned in these types of videos, is that the Routemaster sold well outside the UK

[@landtimforgot]

The last segment features Reading Mainline buses. I remember travelling on them in the 1990s. One of the drivers was the spitting image of Roger Daltrey.

[@James-ci3lx]

Great video! My only experience with these buses was on the Greenline 704/705 from Windsor to Victoria and on to Sevenoaks in the early 70s. The trip to Sevenoaks was a solid 3 hours, usually on a Friday night after a week at work. The rear upper seat was usually a good place to grab a snooze.

[@tonys1636]

As an LT driver in the 70's I preferred the RT over the RM. The RT was quicker with a top speed of 50 mph against the RM's 40, handy on the garage seaside outing, and the sometimes failure of the power steering if the engine revs not kept up on corners that needed an almost full lock turn.

[@littlespinycactus]

Those were the days! Thanks for the memory.

[@warweezil2802]

The 151 shown leaving Sutton Garage (08:45) was actually part of a re-engineered allocation with Iveco engines that was common to Sutton & South Croydon garages - I think some other garages in the south had some too.

[@user-yc2oz8kc5k]

You can tell in those spin trials that could not tip it over that it was a well designed machine. Also when they could drive it like a race car on a track, makes you wonder if they had put a racing body on one, how fast could it go. No wonder people today are still pissed off over them being replaced by buses that can't match them.

[@andrewholland1390]

The remark that all DMSs had been withdrawn by 1983 is not true. While withdrawals began in 1979, the DMS remained in production and being purchased by LT until 1983. A relatively small number of DMSs (the B20 variants) carried on until the early 90s in London.

[@TomCro73]

Correct - best I can determine, B20s remained in service with London Buses entities until January 1993. Nonetheless, I found this an excellent video.

[@quailking8265]

The Alx400 is almost history now, gone in London, but there are some still left on West Midlands

[@davidchilds9590]

As a passenger, I don't remember much difference when the RM/RML replaced the RT/RTL. However, it was very obvious that the preselector (?) gearbox on the RM made life much easier for the driver than the 'crash' gearbox of the RT.

[@michaelallen4026]

Rubbish, check your facts about both types

[@davidchilds9590]

@@michaelallen4026 There's no need to be offensive - that is what I remember of watching drivers on in-service LT buses in the early '60s. Yes, obviously, there were plenty of detail differences, but they had little impact on this passenger.

[@vichungerford8960]

The RT/RTL/RF buses all had preselector/fluid flywheel transmissions, the RMs etc were fully automatic which could also be driven manually.

[@michaelallen4026]

@@vichungerford8960 thank you.

[@DaveSCameron]

I remember reading that the end was because of three people making cheeky claims against GLC after “falling “ off the rear entrance and “suffering dreadful injuries..”.. thanks T Blair.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Interesting, and historic footage. Incidentally, the last few seconds include part of Reading Station Hill, which is not like that now, with the recent NR station redevelopment and other road and property alterations alongside.

[@steed099]

thank you very much for this video Ruairi, I enjoyed it very much. It would be great if you could do a video on CIE's Leyland Atlantean, a great looking bus and one of my favourite buses

[@DaveSCameron]

You’re spoiling us Sir. ☘️📚👏

[@DaveSCameron]

3:00 I’m not sure if I would’ve used the word Nimble in my description of this particular vehicle in any stretch but because of the fact that you are a knowledgeable, philanthropic and an imperious uploader I’ve decided that I won’t be taking any further steps in this matter but do pay attention to your adjectives and I will make sure that I tell the boys to stand down…..for now. 😂😂😂☘️👏📚

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

On the buses,used Bristol's not RM's

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

RMs did appear in one of the films, when Stan and Blakey went to Chiswick Works skid pad. Otherwise yes, Bristol Ks or KSWs Several errors in this video - both visual and in the narrative.

[@karlos1415]

The only other transport vehicle that represents its city like the Routemaster around the world would be Melbournes W-Class tram. Both iconic to their cities servicing them for many many decades.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Excellent video on an iconic vehicle

[@johnjephcote7636]

0.39-0.43 were not RTs, a mix of Wartime Guy with utility body and STLs. RTs start at 0.48. I lived through 20 years of RT land. Though the RMs were a nice 'bus I saw them as replacing my beloved trolleybuses.

[@Margarinetaylorgrease]

We used to run and leap to catch these busses as they drove off. A friend of mine missed and broke some bones.

[@MicahtheDrumCorpsPseudoboomer]

ooof.........owwwwwch........

[@joansmith8215]

My fiend leapt off of a 174 in Dagenham a tad too early and collided face on into the concrete bus stop 😅 Broke his nose 🩸

[@DandamanV]

Love the new mic Rudy! So much better.

[@kjflynn3379]

good job, as usual

[@markotrieste]

It's mind-boggling how long did it take to make the right decision for the replacement of the Route master. Keep the same design, update what needs to be updated and stop. Another thing I wonder: in Italy there is plenty of Citaros. Leaving the case of Rome apart, I'm not aware of buses catching fire. And I think we have higher average temperatures than in London.

[@jimthorne304]

I look forward to an account of the disastrous 'Boris Bus' in due course!

[@floycewhite6991]

110 horsepower bus engine. That automatic transmission must have been geared very low indeed!

[@Rom3_29]

There’s large 1/25 Revell Routemaster scale model kit.

[@PatreonPreviewsofVictorTanzig]

Buses are so easy to drive according to James May You can smoke a joint while driving

[@DanKeeley]

110bhp from a 9litre! omg

[@RanadeS]

We had something similar in Mumbai, now they are gone electric way.

[@phhu7554]

10:15 Strange that Leyland bus has a black number plate on it when reflective plates had become law a decade earlier.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! What are the Boris buses? Keep up the good work! Happy summer from Norway!

[@eattherich9215]

See @14:38 for the "Boris" bus properly known as the New routemaster. When it first came into service, the back entrance was open and there was a "captain" on board to assist anybody who needed help. The captains didn't last long and the back doors were closed and only opened at bus stops.

[@trevorhart545]

Boris Buses, just like BoJo the Clown, have been proven NOT GOOD and has been decided that Boris we are better of without them. The Route Master was an EXTRA 6" wide compared to the Standard RT, the predecessor. Then came along the RTW which proved that the wider bus could be safe BUT added no extra seating. This was achieved by trailing RT with 3" extra each side to get approval for the width which has been standard ever since. So WW2 films the buses all look "narrow". This extra 6" added to the stability of RM over RT.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Maybe when you reworked this you missed the Bristol Lowdecka .

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Reworked & rewatched. Task complete. =) _44% survival is better than any comparable car afaik. Excluding small number uber-$$$ cars ofc._

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Interesting facts ]& stat's.

[@user-zj9pw3lz7r]

Some of the routmasters where moved down to first bus and solent bule line there had some to I don't know when but I know that there had some

[@mindthegapplease3840]

I love bendy buses.

[@ChavJag]

The old routemasters were solid. I love them still and have a lot of fond memories. My first proper job when I left school was in Paddington and I used to get the 38 to Victoria there and back. They had a unique smell to them and I can still hear the engines. They had soul and they had character. The new hybrid buses are bland, boring and nowhere near as fun. Ding ding 😁👍❤️

[@fredburley9512]

Sweet. 👍

[@LolLol-xy4rh]

What did you rework on this?

[@swanvictor887]

Reg Varney never drove RMs...!

[@joansmith8215]

You are correct. Only Bristol FLF’s but apparently, he did gain a PSV licence prior to the series.

[@swanvictor887]

@@joansmith8215 I think he once took an RT around the spin track for the film lol, although in the film, it was a stunt man driving, but I believe Reg did have a go lol!

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

1:20 what has that got to do with the RT, or even this video? The scene is the bus station serving the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton, Bristol! The Buses are Bristols (Bristol Omnibus Company's preferred supplier, in a similar way that AEC was to London Transport. The Bristol Aeroplane Company was originally an offshoot of the company that built Bristol buses!).

[@trevorhart545]

Not forgetting the Bristol OLYMPUS Jet Engine that powered both the Vulcan Bomber and Concorde. Bristol Cars unusual looking hand built sports cars for gentlemen.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

​@@trevorhart545I wouldn't go as far to say Bristol cars were 'sports cars', more like a 'Gentleman's Club' with some oomph!

[@BobAbc0815]

5:23 Did the green color reduce Speed?

[@keyboarddancers7751]

My childhood.

[@MicahtheDrumCorpsPseudoboomer]

Consider yourself lucky to have a childhood like that.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

6:26 that is NOT the FRM - it is a Leyland Atlantean! 6:56 that IS the FRM...

[@Deepthought-42]

IMO the Routemasters are far better looking than the designs that have followed. As school kids our preferred method of getting on and off the open rear platform was as shown at 12:35 with the obligator ticking off from the conductor. H&S is too soft these days😡

[@TheGrimStoic]

Red-Attired Beef-eaters, Red Booths, Red Post-boxes, Red Buses

[@trevorhart545]

GREEN, London Country with Yellow Stripe and Green Line with Green Stripe buses although some Red London Country have been photographed. Green GPO Telephone services vans.

[@stevenmacdonald9619]

I never knew there was a direct link between the Routemaster F, and Leyland Atlantean. To Northerners, the Atlantean is every bit as iconic as the Routemaster. I would love Ruairidh to do an in-depth view on that bus also.

[@alan4yt]

The labour party wanted leyland to get the next contract as their ex chief engineer became head of LT. Everybody knew Leyland were a poor substitute for AEC so labour bought AEC transfered all orders to Leyland who always voted labour. Their follow on bus Titan fell apart and were,quickly scraped behind high fences in hammersmith london. The routemazters sold to china were bought back and repainted red from Chinese yellow. AEC now gone new BMW engines were fitted. Americans loved it but greyhound made up stories to stop them being imported.

[@nielsleenknegt5839]

I don't get what the problem was with London and its MB Citaro G's (its pronounced with a long "a") i can understand disliking the things for it being to big for the narrow streets, but other than that.. Germany barely uses something else, and its a popular choise in Belgium and the netherlands to. I know the Walloon (French speaking Belgium) and brussels PT companies uses a fleet of both standerd and articulated Citaro's. In Flanders, companies driving busses under the goverment brand(they only drive the busses on the assigned routes, they don't make the lines/timetables), also find it a good brand, in conjunction with MAN, Iveco, VanHool and VDL, all having a near even split. Although the busses operated by the government owned company itself are either VDL or VanHool, with some exeptions (Iveco and MAN, and some other electric busbrand), due to aging fleet, increased frequencies on certain lines and continued budget cuts, retired busses from the exploitants (i personally know of 2 examples but there are/were more this year) that fill in and are used on a weekdaly bases. And still going strong on 17 years. (Private companies are required to replace busses around their 15 year mark, while there are depots that run half a fleet of busses that are, if not close to 20 years old...)

[@eattherich9215]

'i can understand disliking the things for it being to big for the narrow streets ...'. Drivers did not like them and catching fire is not exactly a selling point where passengers are concerned.

[@trevorhart545]

@@eattherich9215 That is about the TOP and BOTTOM of the issue. Dead Passengers, burnt alive NOT good for business NOT been able to turn corners with other traffic present, useless.

[@GaryVandalize]

I've listened to plenty of your videos, but this one seems very odd. You voice sounds strange, have you used AI?

[@s125ish]

Yes it’s ai

[@cesareenzoditrivento3254]

First! Lol

[@ponyboycurtis007]

hehe.. poopies!

[@Diptera_Larvae]

First for the second time? 😂

[@stephmaccormick3195]

Brutemaster.

[@alan4yt]

Leyland made crap only sold to communist countries, single decker version leyland buses sank on route to Cuba the experts said best thing to happen to the mechanical crap. The routemasters replacments titan were secretly crushed behind wooden covers in hammersmith. The buy out of AEC by the desperate labour govenment needing to give the new contract they were bound to lose to leyland. The chief engineer of Leyland was made head of london transport who guess what gave the contract to leyland and far lefty substandard northern vehicle manufacturers. Today the much loved Routemaster with BMW engines to replace the government demanded fitting of dirty desiel AEC engines. Is there any other product in public use so loved .... how the civil service and its lefty contractors would love to identify themselves with such a product from a wicked private company.