Routemaster

English: The Routemaster was an iconic London bus, designed by London Transport in the 1950s. Large scale withdrawals from London began in the 1980s, but the type persisted in London service well after the dissappearance of several types intended to replace it, with the last standard route using it, the 159, not losing the type until December 2005. A small fleet was retained in London for the Heritage Routes which began operation in November 2005 as route 9 and route 15, although they were withdrawn from route 9 in July 2014. The design was the inspiration for the New Routemaster, which entered service in London in 2012. The bus was also used by public transport operators around the country, both from new and using ex-London examples well into the 1990s. As second hand buses became available, it also saw later use with various operators for tour/private hire work, with several having been exported overseas. Some Routemasters have even been converted for uses other than as buses. As an iconic bus, several have been preserved by individuals and groups, and can be seen at rallies and museums.

Public transport usage

London

1970 - 1979

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  Route 279A, 1979

1980 - 1989

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  route 12, 1988

1990 - 1999

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  Route 137 and 73, 1991
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  Route 11, 1993
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  route 12, 1997
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  route 12, 1996
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  At a rally at Chatham Historic Dockyard, 1989
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  route 13, 1998

2000 - 2005

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  route 12, 2000
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  Acton depot, 2002
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  Arriva route 19 and Arriva route 38, 2002
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  First route 7, 2002
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  Route 11, 2002
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  First route 7, 2003
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  Golders Green, 2003
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  Metroline route 98, 2003
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  route 22, 2003
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  route 19, 2003
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  Arriva route 159, 2003
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  Route 11 in Stockwell Garage, 2003
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  Arriva route 73, 2003
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  Arriva route 137, 2003
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  route 12, 2004
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  Arriva route 159, 2004

2005

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  Arriva route 159
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  Arriva route 159
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  Arriva route 159
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  Stagecoach East London route 15
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  route 36
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  route 38
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  Arriva route 38
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  Arriva route 38
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  Arriva route 38
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  Arriva route 38
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  Sovereign route 13, Golders Green
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  Sovereign route 13, Golders Green
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  Sovereign route 13, Golders Green
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  route 14
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  London General route 14
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  First route 23 and London General route 11

Undated

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  Arriva route 38
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  London Forest route 38

Elsewhere in the UK

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  Eastern Counties "Fruitmaster"
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  Nottingham (2008)
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  Reading Mainline, 1999
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  Reading Mainline (preserved)
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  Holt, Norfolk
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  Seaton, Devon
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  Seaton, Devon
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  Western National Park and Ride

Last day of regular London service

The last regular service was on Arriva route 159, which had used Routemasters since 1970. Buses operating on the last day were regular service buses and special 'guests' from preserved fleets.

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  possibly a 'guest bus'
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  guest bus
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  Advertising Heritage routes
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  "The End"

London Heritage routes

Route 9

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  Beside a bendybus
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Route 15

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  and bendy bus
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Buses converted to other uses

Cafe buses

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  German "gastro bus"
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  Portadown, Northern Ireland
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  touring cafe in Tokyo, Japan
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  touring cafe in Tokyo, Japan
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  "Rootmaster" Cafe, London
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  "Rootmaster" Cafe, London
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  "Rootmaster" Cafe, London
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  "Rootmaster" Cafe, London

Advert buses

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  Superdrug
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  Corona beer
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  Corona beer
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  Matsuzakaya Department Store, Japan
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  Matsuzakaya Department Store, Japan

UK Tour buses

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  Mac Tours, Edinburgh
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  Mac Tours, Edinburgh
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  Edinburgh
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  Belfast, Northern Ireland
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  Belfast, Northern Ireland

Foreign Tour buses

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  Argentina
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  (open top) Hamburg, Germany
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  (open top) Hamburg, Germany
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  (open top) Hamburg, Germany
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  Ontario, Canada
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  Ontario, Canada
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  Montreal, Canada
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  Montreal, Canada
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  Toronto, Canada
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  (open top) Cambridge, Boston, USA
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  Shimonoseki, Japan
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  Shimonoseki, Japan
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  Sagamihara, Japan
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  Tokyo, Japan
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  Mariehamn, Finland
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  Tampere, Finland
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  Wellington, New Zealand
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  Hamar, Norway

Vehicles on hire

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  NHS bus
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  NHS bus
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  in Manchester

Miscellaneous uses

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  Pimms bus
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  "Fashion bus"
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  Capital Radio
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  "Talk to Frank" anti-drugs campaign bus
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  RMF27712016
  (Beatrix - EYY 776B)
  Currently owned by 'London to Japan in a Routemaster Bus archive copy at the Wayback Machine'.
  Currently undergoing upgrades.

Preserved buses

General

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  At a rally at Chatham Historic Dockyard, 1989
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  2007 Cobham bus rally
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  2007 Cobham bus rally
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  2008 Cobham bus rally
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  Brooklands Museum
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  Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre
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  2008 Alton Bus rally
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  2008 Alton Bus rally
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  (open top)
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  The London to Brighton run
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  Showbus 2006 Duxford
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  Showbus 2006 Duxford
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  Showbus 2006 Duxford
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  Reading Mainline
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  Showbus 2006
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  Worthing 2006
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  North Weald rally
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  Duxford
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  Showbus 2006 Duxford
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  in Manchester
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  Luton Festival of Transport
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  Worcester Park Classic Bus Running Day 10 August 2008
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  Worcester Park Classic Bus Running Day 10 August 2008
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  Worcester Park Classic Bus Running Day 10 August 2008
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  Worcester Park Classic Bus Running Day 10 August 2008
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  Museum of Transport in Manchester
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  Museum of Transport in Manchester
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  Museum of Transport in Manchester
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  Metrobus
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  Metrobus
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  Museum of Transport in Manchester
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  Museum of Transport in Manchester

Routemaster RM1

The first prototype Routemaster Bus, now part of London Transport Museum's collection

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  2009 Cobham bus rally

Crew buses

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Museum vehicles

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  Brooklands Museum
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London Transport Museum

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Detail views

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Models and toys

Toys

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1/24th scale model of RM870 (WLT 870)

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Miscellaneous images

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  London Mayor en:Boris Johnson holds a toy Routemaster
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  "MySpace" bus, Edinburgh
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  "MySpace" bus, Edinburgh
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  1970s pink bus
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  Two London icons
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  London landmarks
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  At Ascot railway station
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  At Glastonbury Festival
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  "racing" bus