RT624
Introduction:
RT624 must surely be one of the best known and photographed RT’s left in existence. Despite having a full but fairly ‘normal’ service life her moment of fame came about in April 1979 when this RT became the very last one in normal London Transport service on the very final route the 62’s in East London. From there she passed directly to the BAMMOT collection in Wythall where she resided for the next 25 years. In 2004 she returned to London and was restored and put back to full passenger carrying condition and following the tradition of last day surprise buses from Ensignbus she debuted on the last day of Routemaster and crew operation on the route 159. Indeed this was not only the last day on the 159’s but in London as a whole bringing to a close the tradition of a bus conductor which had been a feature of London’s buses since 1829. Thus she became the only vehicle to have operated in service on both the last ever RT day and RM and is now kept in Class VI condition and works occasionally on running days and private hires.


Photo Galleries:
  
 
9 December 2005
Current Status:
 Class VI MOT active part of heritage fleet.
   
 
   
 


Registration No: JXC432

History:
The RT is surely one of the best know types of London bus with a look that is timeless as well as being a design classic. RT’s have featured in films, such as ‘Summer Holiday’ or James Bonds ‘Live and Let Die’ all adding to the familiarity of the type.

The first RT took to the road in service weeks before the start of World War II and hence became the only true Pre War RT, however with the other 150 of this batch entering service throughout the next two years before hostilities ceased production this first 150 are universally all known as the Pre War batch.

Following the end of the war it had been decided that the RT would form the majority of London double deck fleet and so started one of the great fleet replacements as war weary types such as the LT and ST were replaced as fast as possible. By 1948 RT’s were entering service in a steady stream, there were however numerous delays and shortages caused by the lack of parts and skilled workers this close to the end of hostilities. Body production was quicker than chassis leading to some new RT bodies being mounted onto STL chassis, thus making the short lived SRT class, (of which our own RT4421 is one, formerly SRT 119). To also help production non standard body builders were used in addition to Park Royal and Weymann, Saunders and Cravens also built a few hundred examples see RT1431

By 1955 bus use had dramatically declined and LT had more buses than it was ever going to need, so the first non standard types, the Cravens, were withdrawn. Further withdrawals continued as the new RM class started to appear in the late 1950’s. However the RT was a survivor and following its hey day where nearly 7,000 were in service they took a long time to replace. The last one (RT624) ran on the East London route 62 in April 1979 bringing to an end 40 years of operation of this type, a record many thought would never be beaten. However its successor the RM has now achieved this, its true to say that when people are asked to draw or describe a London bus it is generally one of these two types people will think off, such is the iconic regard they achieved however with the RT having been built in such austere times and having operated through such harsh conditions its longevity is a credit to its type.

Vehicle Allocation History:
August 1948 new, roofbox body 1873: Weymann 3RT3
green/cream livery
August 1948 HH into service on 301, 302, 314, 316, (Hemel Hempstead)
from o/h, green, cream band, 3RT8
1957 Hemel Hempstead
*/58 Hemel Hempstead used on 314
1959 Hemel Hempstead
August 1960 SA (on loan): used on 341
September 1960 Hemel Hempstead into store
November 1960 Hemel Hempstead to Aldenham overhaul
November 1960 Epping from o/h: 3RT8
1961-1962 EP
May 1963 Harlow transfer
August 1963 HA into store
September 1963 Hertford change store
February 1964 Grays change store
August 1964 Amersham transfer
September 1964 Tring transfer
April 1965 TG to Aldenham overhaul
April 1965 Norwood from o/h
November 1966 Transfer to Wandsworth
1967-1968 Wandsworth
January 1969 Wandsworth to Aldenham overhaul
January 1969 Brixton from o/h
September 1969 Brixton into store
October 1969 Walworth change store
November 1969 Brixton return
1970-1973 Brixton
December 1974 Brixton into store
May 1975 Brixton to Aldenham repaint, and return, unlicensed
June 1975 Camberwell transfer
August 1975 Bromley transfer
October 1976 Catford transfer: used on 54
1977 Catford
January 1978 Catford trainer
June 1978 Catford into store
September 1978 Barking transfer
April 1979 Barking used on last journey on 62, then withdrawn
April 1979 bought for preservation: R.Tildesley Ltd, Aldridge, West Midlands
preserved by BAMMOT, Wythall
by December 2004 bought by Ensign Bus Company
restored to 1979 condition, repainted, restored adverts
December 2005 used on X80

Technical Specifications:

Date of first registration: tbc
Chassis: AEC Regent III
Chassis number: tbc
Engine: AEC 9.6
Fuel: Diesel
Body Code: 6930
Body: Weymann
Lengh: 26’
Seating: 56 seats, 26 downstairs & 30 upstairs