You Can Still Ride Routemaster Buses in London

Did you know there is still a bus route in London served by Routemaster buses? The Number 15 (official designation 15H - for Heritgate) runs between 09.30 to 18:00 seven days a week between Tower Hill and Trafalgar Square, and so we went for a ride ...
Thanks to Stagecoach buses, for having us along for the day!
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.o...)

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It's sad to see them gone forever from London.

[@theflyingcoconut4058]

There’s a point when buses are new and cool, then old and need replacing, and then are cool again.

[@kelvinbremont1341]

TheFlyingCoconut 07 And your saying the Aec routemasters are cool again? Because if that’s what your saying then I couldn’t agree more with you man. 👍👍👍👍

[@danielj3440]

I think routemasters have always been cool, dont think they've ever been out of style

[@carltonslaine7756]

Thanks again for this those buses will Always be the original and the best buses of all times the looks noise Sounds everything that's true London Transport keep the route master buses Alive thanks KZbin peace

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Nice video of an iconic bus! 😀👌

[@toikn5143]

Anton, your everywhere. I’m a fan tho XD and can you make a video on the tri axle hybrid bus please? I love that bus.

[@danieldelport1537]

Fun Fact: The Height of a routemaster bus is equal to a 15 story building

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

@Brian Flynn ...hello Brian ..👋

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

@@toikn5143 ...its difficult to film! I'm trying to get a shift to drive it, as it is on special duties...!!!

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton This is how they used to scrap old buses. *Busted the absolute crap* out of them with a sledgehammer and then burned the frames, cutting the chassis with a gas torch. Great scrapping action. See vid below, you'll enjoy it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqOoZJ-dlrmaiqM

[@MrGranturismofan1]

I just rode with these today. They were simply the best buses I have ever ridden on in my whole life. Every second of the journey was worth the time and boy how bouncy the ride was but what were you expecting? It is a 1950s bus. Hopefully this heritage line wont disappear.

[@cait3666]

I didn’t realise they were as rare as they were, me and my dad jumped on over to St. Paul’s. He was telling me the history and I think they look incredible from an engineering perspective

[@myoldreteacher]

I used to take a Routemaster bus to school every day and there was nothing better than hanging off the footplate as it went swinging around the corner. Great memories!

[@andrewholloway231]

Hold very tightly please, ding ding. And the growl of that engine, superb. Thank you Geoff, really enjoyed this video. Much appreciated.

[@borderlord]

Used to take the 94 Route Master from Turnham Green to Oxford Street. Half the charm of the streets of London disappeared when they scrapped them..Terrible decision..perfect bus for London ,size,hop on hop off ,beautiful to look at!

[@TheRobman]

It's amazing to think how these open backed buses were standard when we were kids, but they'd never be allowed today, everyone would just assume that you'd be having injuries left and right with people falling off, but I never heard of anyone getting hurt falling off a bus back then, we all just got on with it.

[@OhKnow379]

People are retarded nowadays. Farewell routemasters.

[@choppy249]

I almost grew up on these buses as a little kid . Rode around on them everywhere . My dad was a conductor on the old 22 route based at Hackney garage for nearly 30 years where my brother also worked as an engineer . Later my step brother drove them out of Tottenham garage and now I am a driver for Arriva in Herts but I wish I’d been born sooner so that I could have driven these magnificent buses . Just brilliant they were . Awesome .

[@EdVanMeyer]

I've been lucky to have driven a few of these great buses, you can't beat the sound of the AEC engine and GB32 gearbox whining away, the best bus ever!

[@oc2phish07]

I remember in 1958, as a young lad aged about 11, waiting at a bus stop for one of the new Routemaster buses to come along. I would let all the RT and RTL buses go by just for the chance to ride the amazing new bus. With my Red Rover or Twin Rover pass in my hand I used to ride them as far as I could and as often as I could. I still live in London and see the Heritage buses every weekend when I am out and about in London doing my Street Photography. Great video Geoff, please keep producing them.

[@krissmgvlogs]

The bus of my youth. Jumping on and off at will. Wonderful. Hard to believe there are only 5 left in London!

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Much preferred using Routemasters in London when I commuted at various times from the 70s to the 90s. OK, they were less comfortable than their modern replacements, but much more convenient, being able to hop off when a traffic jam occurred. Travelling on the new buses is just not as much fun. Conductors also used to be able to give out information to tourists etc.

[@OhKnow379]

@Varallio So i can still hop off the new routemasters?

[@OhKnow379]

@Varallio always thought that door was locked lmao

[@ForARide]

Every film from the late 50's until the late 80's playing in London would have at least one street scene with a Routemaster bus crossing the camera. Most iconic bus there has ever been.

[@pipmitchell7059]

SO many times as a student in London in the sixties did I just catch one of these by hopping aboard as it moved off! And never broke my neck either.

[@JonSkinner1944]

The city of Davis California about 20 miles west of Sacramento and 70 miles of San Francisco. The city public transport system used British Heritage route master buses on a regular basis.

[@freeman10000]

Brings back amazing memories from back in the day almost a life time ago.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I used to use the 9H regularly, as a handy and quick way of going from High Street Ken to the West End. I'm sure a lot of people (especially tourists) don't use the Heritage RMs as they don't realise they're part of the normal TfL network.

[@JackMitchell404]

When I take people on a tour of London, the 2 things I always try to do are catching a Routemaster and climbing the monument. Last time, we got the extra-authentic experience of running across the road to jump on at a red light

[@Camberwell86]

Used to catch the 36 to school from Camberwell to New Cross every day, 1998-2001. :)

[@IDontLiveTodayJH]

Camberwell86 Haha so did I, at the same time period to! Which school do you attend?

[@Camberwell86]

Addey and Stanhope, Deptford! Obvz I am a Camberwell boy born in 1986. Did Year 7 to year 9 there (1998-2001) and then moved to the midlands. Don't tell me you're Haberdashers' or Deptford Green crew, if so we will have to fight aha \(^_^)/

[@IDontLiveTodayJH]

that's amazing , actually I was at Addey's as well! but slightly younger than you so I went from 1999 to 2004

[@Camberwell86]

Haha!! Small world! Which house? I was Pepys (yellow)

[@IDontLiveTodayJH]

Stanhope, the best of course!

[@CarlosLR2310]

What a beautiful bus! ❤

[@Bob_Burton]

Heritage ? It only seems like yesterday ! I remember them being introduced and gradually finding them on the routes I used. One noticeable difference between them and their predecessors (RTs ?) was that because of the softer suspension the bus actually swayed a little when you got on the platform as your weight was put on the bus. They seemed so modern at the time. The open platform was a boon to me because I lived between stops, but the bus had to negotiate a sharp bend near my house and if timed right I could just step off the platform at walking speed. Surely, when the conductor rings the bell to start the bus the correct thing for them to say is "Hold very tight please" followed by the ding, ding

[@Leonard_Smith]

That was my recollection too. Definitely "Hold very tight please"

[@16329]

To this day I miss seeing Routemaster buses all over London as they were in the 80s in their heyday they were just under 2800 in service hearing their original engines sadly TFL refurbished all the remaining 600 Route Masters in the fleet in the 1990s replacing all the original engines with modern engines after that did not sounds the same in 2005 they replaced all the remaining Route Masters with modern buses to this very day I still miss them on the streets of London

[@cavalheiro2062]

What a beatiful vintage bus from the good ol' days. :) Very London, Very British.

[@stephenhall6595]

Cant beat the original interior with the old tungsten lighting.

[@bobikdylan]

I grew up with these, and spent two hours on them every school day. If you mistimed your leap, you got dragged behind, and your shoes were swiftly transformed into open-toed sandals. No extra charge. Remember the domed heater on the floor on the lower deck at the front? Or the bench seats near the back downstairs? Very refreshing. I'd love to ride one again.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Bloody Marvelous. I first rode these in 1968 on my first trip to London to visit my Nan and Grandad. Many memories. Thanks Geoff.

[@Drawyah]

Today (Friday March 1st) is the last day of service for the 15H Routemaster. TfL decided to finally retire it from active service, now only serving weekends in the Summer. It is no longer 7 days a week.

[@annalisaanderton-franc8574]

Can't beat a bit of nostalgia..Love it!

[@Cypher791]

There are some of these old route masters in Glasgow used for tours, but the open platform now has a door fitted... for 50 years people were allowed the responsibility to keep themselves safe, but no longer as this nanny state has gotten its claws into even this iconic piece of history.

[@najwaaa2068]

Unlike the other comments, I didn't even live in England to experience this wonderful bus but I do grew up with shows like Mr Bean that showcases this wonderful bus. I hope in the following years I could experience the ride

[@etmccaus]

I'm glad to see this service still exists, but a little saddened it's been cut back so much. It makes me feel old to think our visit with London coincided with the 9 Heritage still running. Absolutely adored being able to cruise up to Trafalgar from Kensington, and then take the 15 Heritage from the other side to catch sights on the other side. Better one route than none, I suppose! Oh, and another great seat - lower deck, front row, curb side - get a straight view out at the world ahead and can watch the driver going through his/her motions as well. Though now that I think about it -- is there really a bad seat on a Routemaster?

[@Americathebeautiful49]

Brings me back to when I lived in London in 1970.

[@mmark8394]

As a schoolboy in 65 we would get above the driver and bang the floor a few times until the driver gave us emergency braking and we had to fight the negative G to get off the top deck and off, great fun sat morning matinee, good clean fun

[@GreaterAngliaFanClass321]

I love Routemasters

[@1973Washu]

Some of them have gone to very honorable retirements , I know of one that is used by an orphanage in Jamaica to take the kids to school and on weekend trips.

[@kylethemadman1]

I have ride one at a stagecoach depot open day.

[@windoak2113]

1973Washu my family is Jamaican, ice never heard about that :o

[@TkayRobloxx]

@@1973Washu But a routemaster is a london bus

[@schnuurtchke]

Vroom vroom 🏎

[@het_gele_teken]

Just got back fom London, took the ride on one of these iconic buses. It was brilliant, thanks for the tip Geoff!

[@allthestroke88]

Great video guys. I'm doing this the next time I'm in London. Even if its just for a day.

[@AlexSong1707]

It is so sad that the Heritage 15 was withdrawn in late 2020. The AEC Routemaster was London in an object and the world's most famous Double Decker bus. I did not grow up in London so I didn't have the privilege to go on this ionic bus, ever. The first two times I went to London, I actually saw the Routemaster driving around perhaps on an actual route, but I thought nothing of it as old buses can of course be Private Hires and such. When I found out the Heritage 15 was withdrawn, I couldn't have been more sad. London just lost one of its most iconic objects in that month. Being able to jump on and off any time you want is so much better than being left at a stop after the driver closes the doors. I, like everyone, absolutely love these buses.

[@Biskitabiskoo]

My Mum was a bus conductor on the 267 and 281 routes in the late 1950s through 1968 or 69. Best buses ever!

[@Sohave]

This is awesome, I tried that H15 line when I visited London in 2015 with my mother. I hope London will keep this heritage Route Master lines running.

[@OhKnow379]

You can thank london for that one. Goodbye routemasters

[@tejas57]

i'm off to london in september and i will definitly be riding one of these

[@michaeljames8531]

Lived near and used the 12 which kept Routemasters for a long time. But no conductor ever said, “Please hold on”! It was always, “Hold very tight, please *ding*ding*!”

[@rosiefay7283]

I used to use Routemasters, on the last route they were used on, apart from these heritage routes: the 133 between Liverpool St and Streatham. But even though the Routemaster was in use for many years, and has historical significance, the new ones are certainly better, with their announcement of every stop.

[@alansklenar2848]

Definitely iconic to London.There were double decker buses here in Chicago in the 1930's and early 40's

[@harveydee9115]

Great Video! I love the routemasters.

[@scottmiller1577]

Had the ‘pleasure’ of driving Routemasters a few years back working rest days. So much different to drive than these modern vehicles

[@uncommonknome1070]

Bring back the "Bendy Buses"! The joys of the N29 of 10 yrs ago late night after work from Soho hold fond memories. While crammed like an anchovie it could be thorough pickpocketing, getting assaulted, spat at, vomitted on...sometimes all at the same time. At least they could create a tourist attraction :)

[@ArmbarArcade]

This is genuinely SO COOL.

[@andymadden8183]

As are the bendy buses - I hate Boris Johnson!

[@MattMcIrvin]

I had a diecast toy one as a kid. Rode them for real in 1986.

[@noelhass3712]

A most enjoyable video, nice to know theres some of the old Routemaster buses running.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

The Brits got several machines right. The RMS Mauretania, the Spitfire, the Mini Cooper and the Routemaster. I'll throw in railways, penicillin and parliamentary democracy. Greetings from Canada and I have ridden the 15 many times.

[@jasoncrobar724]

So typical of my vacations in London. I get back to Toronto, and I find out about something in London, that was there while I was there, that I didn't know about, that's still there, that I want to experience.... I have to go back to London! It's a never-ending cycle... hopefully!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Grew up with RTs and RMs. Loved RFs too. So much a part of the London scene, sorely missed. Saw heritage RM 1968 passing Cannon st. on route 15, colleague says look at that old bus, I said yes that particular one 1968, he says was that the year it was made!

[@funkyalfonso]

I miss them so much.

[@marcvanderwee]

Started service in the late 1950's.. I thought the Routemaster entered srvice as early as 1952. But they were an icon, and luckily there are modern doubledeckers in service today, so the basic principle is still there! The big pro of doubledeckers is of course they have a big capacity without taking more space of the street than a 'standard' bus. They just take more unused space in the air.. BTW, in the explanation I see Heritgate. I guess it supposes to be Heritage... ;-)

[@limeyosu2000]

so glad they are still running! the only sad part was the bus was super empty!

[@AshleyBus444]

Please make a secrets of London buses

[@stephenfox966]

I have a 1/24th scale Sunstar die cast scale model of the no.15 Routemaster bus which has incredible detail.I got a London black cab of same scale to go with it.They make a nice display.

[@alicanharryreilly8353]

RM1941 & RM871 are now with Londoner Buses Transpora Group on Route A Between Piccadilly Circus and Waterloo Station using ex London Transport Routemasters

[@brianbrown826]

I used the the 15 to go home from school (used the tube in the morning, it was quicker) Strand to Marble Arch. When the Routemaster came out we would wait for one instead of an RT. There was a time when some non painted (aluminium) were around so we'd wait for that instead of a red one. Hanging on the pole at the back swinging around Marble Arch round-a-bout, great fun. The conductors never seems to bother, jus said "Hold tight"

[@thegreenman4898]

best bus ever made, dont see why they cant put an electric power train in these older style bodies

[@trainspotterXL]

I saw these last weekend! I thought they were museum rides so I didn’t hop on. Great film as always, Geoff! Greetings from Belgium

[@davidellis279]

These buses when fitted with the original AEC engines were one of the worst polluting vehicles on the planet,I used to work on these engines and they used to belch out diesel fumes like no other,I believe they were re-engined at some point probably when engine replacement was required and rightly so.

[@kd84afc]

I still drive these occasionally and some buses we have still have the original AEC engines still fitted and they are much better for the bus then a Dennis dart or Scania engine

[@CharlieFlemingOriginal]

In Hull we had Routemasters and the MCW buses like London. The sound of an MCW was different also the acceleration was very good, as a kid I remember having to run for my seat before I fell getting to it.

[@racheltarmey6429]

yes from coming home school . love them . the best yes.

[@davidlawrence9091]

I admit I like the RT's Double Decker's 397, 397a and 397b's. Harlow to Bishops Stortford, Harlow Mill Station, Templefields and the Pinnacles Industrial Estates in the 60s and 70s.

[@JayJay-nc7pr]

I remember in the early 1990s the routemasters would occasionally venture the 53 route, i would get on at Plumstead as it strides through Woolwich, Blackheath, passing Greenwich Park, through New Cross into Central London, sadly these eventually stopped these excursions

[@betsyfeil9742]

Thanks for another great video and for including details like the schedule and route so I know when and where I can catch this bus when I visit London in May.

[@stevegee7593]

I think I know why he likes the rear seat. I my younger days it was known as the snogging seat!.

[@harrytodhunter5078]

Nah mate, its the bumpiest seat

[@olavl8827]

It's the seat with the best all-around view.

[@moow950]

Gets you some good vibrations huh?

[@mmark8394]

Wankers seat

[@Andrewjg_89]

The Mayor of London should of kept some of them. Rather than getting rid of them. As they are so iconic to London.

[@steadycamuk1]

Wonderful. Great to watch this lovley video of a design legend

[@rondobson9774]

I worked on the rts rms and rmls when I worked as a conductor at new cross in the 70s and they were good buses as they are now in preservation

[@juliesmith5567]

I remember the ones where the machines they had then said fares please tickets so small

[@HliarusProd]

"Please Hold on, the bus is about to move"

[@csrmodelling4259]

I've always liked sitting bottom deck, front seats, on the left personally (looking out over the bonnet). Not quite as picturesque as the top deck, but feels even more as if you are driving. (Although it would feel more like you were driving from the right seat, but then the real driver is in the way.)

[@NextSound170]

Great, thanks for supporting Buses.

[@RWL2012]

UA you mean buses. Buses is a magazine.

[@engineerjim2018]

Great memories.. Although I miss the old RTs. Also I notice that the old fare stage poster by the stairs is gone.

[@mondaysdog]

I swear these used to work on Saturdays too at least.. Great addition for heritage and tourism in the capital.

[@princessgold1997]

I walk past this bus everyday, I didn't realise how rare it was (I work right by the Tower Hill bus stop), I'll have to take it one day. Cool

[@troubleboy1993]

Those buses are cool we have them here in Saint John NB Canada for tourism

[@sdeee3842]

My husband used to drive these! I have a free bus pass since l was 23!

[@wink1eafc774]

I’m lucky to get the opportunity to drive these buses and get paid for it, I work for a small company that has about 6 route masters, 2 RM and rest are RML, and the RMs are all original and have the original engines too. Some of the RMLs are original too but a couple were in service up until 2005 with go ahead and had their engines replaced with Dennis dart engines. I have driven most modern buses but I prefer driving the routemaster and when I drive into London people stop and take pictures as the buses are so iconic, I wanted to do this part time to gain extra cash for a short time but I love driving them so much it’s been about 3 years now.

[@RWL2012]

Wink1e AFC Dennis stopped making engines in like the 60s or 70s, they'll be Cummins 6BTs or Cummins ISB5.9s.

[@RWL2012]

Sounds like a great job by the way :)

[@wink1eafc774]

RWL2012 that’s why I said dart or enviro engines, as people would probably know the type of bus It come from but your right they do use them and also scania engines and I believe DAF engines and Ivecos too

[@wink1eafc774]

RWL2012 it can be a good job but also a stressful one especially route planning around London, have to avoid low bridges and it can be a nightmare but I’m lucky enough to drive them as the ones I drive, only a couple have had their engines replaced. the rest are original

[@RWL2012]

Wink1e AFC i'm obviously too much of a nerd :-P and nice!!!

[@100SteveB]

I love the refurbished ones with the red moquette and proper light bulbs. Just a shame they don't still have the original Gardner engines - they sound much different to the Cummins or Iveco engines fitted to most routemasters later in their life.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

Surely the original engines were AECs?

[@100SteveB]

You are of course correct, why Gardner came to mind i do not know! Maybe some Bristol buses i was thinking about. But certainly AEC for the RM's - though i do remember a rumour that Ken Livingstone had at one time wanted to fit RM's with Gardners. But anyway, it is a shame none of the original engines are fitted to the heritage route buses - the sound of London for many many years, certainly one i remember from my childhood and younger days. I remember when they started to fit the new engines, different sound, even a different smell to the exhaust (probably a lot cleaner on the newer engines).

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

100SteveB the original engines wouldn't pass modern emission rules though

[@RWL2012]

Planet of the Deaf they don't have to, as vehicles only have to comply with the emissions standards that were current when they were new. The mix of Cummins 6BT and Cummins ISB5.9 engines that were used to re-engine these particular examples in 2001-2002 while they were in their last few years of normal London service, comply with Euro 2 and Euro 3 respectively. Far from the current standards (Euro 6 and 5) but well in excess of the pre-Euro requirement of a vehicle such as the AEC Routemaster whose manufacture predates Euro 1's 1993 introduction by many decades! The Cummins B series and ISB engines (coupled to a mix of Allison MT643 and Allison T270R fully automatic gearboxes) were actually installed because the previous Scania, Iveco and Cummins C series engines that were fitted in the 90s (still coupled to the original AEC gearboxes) reached the end of their life. They had been fitted in the first place because the original AEC engines failed, so that's the main reason they're long gone. Not necessarily because of emissions.

[@jacobtyne9031]

Bristol VRs are Gardner powered of course.

[@harrytodhunter5078]

Vicki looks different in this one

[@nothisispatrick5725]

Where was she

[@harrytodhunter5078]

She wasn't. Its just an obligatory thing i say now in every video because when i said it once it got hearted

[@nothisispatrick5725]

Harry Todhunter oh

[@tomster_6274]

Those buses are so cool

[@johnbouttell5827]

Move along, move along, ding, ding

[@AppleLoverCZ]

John Bicycle what? :D

[@driverdoozer]

Bell code is similar to those on trains in as much as 1 is stop and 2 is ready to start.

[@MikeGMcDermott]

RMs 1933, 1941, 2060 and 2089 were the four out of the ten Dartmaster RMs on Heritage Route 15 that were 'defurbished' by Hants & Dorset Trim back to as-near 1960s condition between 2015 and 2017. All ten RMs for Heritage Route 15 were supposed to be defurbished but sadly TfL withdraw the funding for this to happen.

[@bowlerstuff9589]

by march 2019,the routemasters will be summer only buses.

[@AppleLoverCZ]

Good to know ❤️

[@davidcollins9512]

We have got several Routemaster buses operating in Christchurch, NZ, as hop-on/hop-off tourist buses(including an open top Routemaster). However due to stringent H&S laws there is a concertina cage door that is fitted across the rear platform. Ding, ding - or, if the conductor was upstairs at the front - tap-tap with a coin on the window frame just above the driver's cab (probably a bit more difficult if they don't accept cash these days).

[@norbitonflyer5625]

They usually used to tap with the heavy key they used to open the destination blind boxes. Not sure it was permitted - I had always assumed bell pulls were not fitted along the length of the upper saloon for a reason: probably because the conductor did not have a view of the platform unless he was at the top of the stairs.

[@davidcollins9512]

The conductor would use the angled mirror at the top of the stairs to see the platform (As seen above Geoff's head at 1:08 )

[@Ribeirasacra]

Yer the tap tap or stamp of the foot Just the trust of the crew working together.

[@routemaster3877]

love routemasters

[@electroshock9638]

I drive these buses all the time, mainly weddings

[@emmapaignton4765]

I use the N18 to Traflagr square from Harrow and is the route i know off by heargt even the ibus

[@Hashterix]

Heat controls for passengers! Luxury compared to the newer buses!!

[@carolmilligan3259]

Great viewing

[@olliedrake3140]

Can't believe they scrapped them!

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video Geoff, I've been on it 5 times and on the heritage 9 once before it was withdrawn. I see you got your Stagecoach hi vis. The regular 15 is run by Go ahead but the heritage 15 is run by Stagecoach still.

[@dianebutler733]

At 0.35 theres a shot of the new stagecoach driver tranning the purple and blue