To have the bus able to be loaded aboard a Roll on Roll off boat it was essential that the vehicle could be used under its own power. As such an engineer from Ensign, Jason Jackson was despatched 5 days before the low loader was due to try and coax the long term resident of the Museum back into life.

The first view of RT8 was as can be seen. The vehicle hadn't been started or driven for some 30 years but had been in under cover storage for the past 10 years. The vehicle had already been moved into the middle of the building to allow us easy access to it.

Jason at work! The first problem was that the starter motor was seized. This was removed and got to work again, put back on the bus and promptly didn't! After a number of curses and tries the starter motor was made to work. The next problem was that the engine appeared to be partially seized, however having removed the engince cover and reseated and cleaned most of the moving parts it was found that the engine could indded be turned by hand.

The body as with all pre war London buses is largely made from timber that was designed to have a 10-15 year life, so its rather unsurprising that 70 years (and a World War) later that many of the struts have given way leading to a distinct lop sided look.

The interior has fared better and has kept its shape well, even most of the seats have kept their original seta moquette. As with all pre war RT's they did not have a bell cord downstairs but push button bells situated in the ceiling. The repainted lime green window pans are the wrong colour and go back to when the vehicle was spruced up in 1965 for use in a Chicago Dept. store

Ted, was a real star in helping us getting RT8 going, an employee of the Museum of Transportation he took to the challenge of getting the bus up and running with great enthusiasm and is seen here getting to grips with the fly wheel.

Of course there's a lot more to getting the bus able to move than just having the engine running. So the air system and gearbox needed to be checked over for obvious defects. None were initially found and it was hoped that once the bus could be started connecting a compressor and air-line to the vehicle would allow it move.

With time ticking away for the arrival of the low loader and following three days of work and numerous attempts a few final checks were made before the latest attempt to get the bus going.

Success!! The engine did indeed fire up late on day 4, blasting numerous former residents of RT'8's exhaust system over the floor! The next problem now was the amount of water leaks the bus had from pipes that had perished over the years. It wasn't possible to run the bus for to long to try and get the gears working, so short bursts with someone topping up the water were the only ways to see if the impossible could be achieved.

Facing the door and readying for her maiden voyage (well for 36 years!) RT8 stands ready. To see the first move have a look at the video clips section.

An idea of the level of work that will be required can be seen from this short of the stairwell. Much of the wood has rotted away leaving only the metal skeleton but for a vehicle of its age having been in storage for such a length of time the level of preservation
is actually remarkably good.

Outside in the daylight for the first time in 10 years its possible to finally see a little more of the condition of the vehicle.

Having been driven forwards it was little surprise to find that the reverse gear also worked well. The bus made the shallow incline up the ramp with ease. The biggest problem was that the bus had no mirrors and with only limited running time before it needed to be topped up with water numerous attempts were not an option

Having been loaded a second tarpaulin was used
to sheet over the front of the bus to ensure no
damage was done to the vehicle in transit

Ready to roll. Final checks were made to ensure all was safely secured and RT8's 45 year stay in St Louis was about to end.

With the overheight escort arriving a little early all was set to get RT8 moving towards Charleston South Carolina. The overland journey was nearly a 1,000 miles from where the bus was unloaded to await the seaborne part of her return to England.