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342 UXE

LER 666P

RML 882

RTL47in 1962

3028RT3028

RT1396RT1396

Introduction

(Site last updated 18/4/2007). :Please see the latest shots of RML 882, (18/4/2007) having passed its Class 6 MOT, in the paint shop and afterwards!

March 2007 - The Triumph Renown has just been sold. It was a beautiful vehicle, but I lacked the time to give it full attention.

Also March 2007 - a smart Bedford YLQ coach (ex Camelot Coaches) has joined the fleet. It is already a class 6.

WLT 882 was new to Aldenham in August 1961, only the third of the first ever batch of 24 RMLs (the 30 foot routemasters) and (after being initially used as a trainer) was put into service at Finchley garage on the 104 route to replace the trolley-buses on route 609. At that time it was numbered ER 882 (Extended Routemaster), but this was later changed to RML 882.

Note: RT3028and RT1396 have now been sold to good homes (UK-based preservationists). I never like saying goodbye to vehicles I have spent so much time on, but I need to make time and space to work on the vehicles I still have!

I first learned to drive a bus in 1962 and drove for United Counties, Buckmaster Coaches, London Transport, Prince of Wales coaches (Ampthill), Midland Fox, and Birch Brothers coaches (Rushden). Since Birch Brothers were taken over by United Counties, I feel I came full circle.

I have driven AECs, Bedfords, Bristols, Commers, Daimlers, Fords, Leylands, Seddons, you-name-it, everything from 12-seater minibuses to 57-seater 12-metre coaches.

At no time did I ever think I would own a bus of my own (let alone 3 or 4 at the same time!). In 1967, the owner of Prince of Wales coaches offered me the RTL I was currently driving for £75 - and I turned him down. That was about a month's wages in those days, and very few people had started to think about preserving buses, so many fine vehicles were lost (that RTL is now at the bottom of the sea, as part of a fish-farm - now there's a restoration challenge...)

Buses in this collection

In June 2002, I decided, somewhat against my better judgement, to buy RTL47 which had been stored for about 20 years and was "rather neglected". RTLs are rarer than RTs and the opportunity to buy one does not come up often.

I had long been looking for a Bristol K, and in May 2003 I thought I had finally managed to aquire one, but when I went to collect it, the owner could not bear to part with it! So I am still searching...

In May 2004 I was tempted by the plight of RT3865, and decided to rescue it. It will not be an overnight job...

In November 2005 I bought RT1206 in part exchange for RT1396 (see below) and then promptly sold it in part exchange for RML 882. So RT1206 came and went without pausing to draw breath.

Other buses I have owned

I first heard about RT4777 in about 1990. It was stored in Stamford Hill Garage, and LT wanted to see the back of it, but they were only the curators not the owners. I expressed an interest, and left my name, but heard nothing for many years. Suddenly, in 1999 I was asked to make an offer if I was still serious about the bus. After a short bartering session, I was told I had 7 days to raise the money and remove the vehicle! I did it.

RT4777 had been stored for about 10 years, and the first thing I did was to put it through the bus washer at least 5 times(!) in an attempt to shift the pigeon-muck which had accumulated on the roof. The bus has the honour of being the last RT to be overhauled at Aldenham, so was mechanically in excellent condition, although I found I had to have the injectors renewed after the long storage period. I also gave it a new flexible exhaust, several new tyres and a complete repaint. RT4777 was sold to John Braga in 1999. Follow the link to John's site for pictures of RT4777, which has now been sold again.

In 2002, for a period of 2 months I also owned DM1051, which I then sold on, also to John Braga.

I acquired RT3028 in 1992. The bus had been bought from London Transport by John Slater (who picked it from a group of 12!). In about 1989 John had sold it. The bus had been stored outside on a farm and was decidedly shabby. It is now restored to full health and fitness, and has just been sold for continued preservation (Sept 2005).

In 1999 I took over RT1396, a Saunders-bodied RT in sound mechanical condition but with "tired" bodywork. John Braga had started to restore it, but had run out of time. Being a Saunders-bodied RT, with a roofbox, makes it of special interest. Work had been started on renewing the lower-deck nearside timber, so I concentrated on completing that, renewing the lower nearside panels and giving it a single top-coat repaint to make it weather-proof. RT1396 has now been sold to another Bedfordshire-based preservationist (November 2005).

 Links  

There are some very professional bus sites out there! Try the following, all of which have links to other pages

This document maintained by Mike Fuller.
Material Copyright © 2006 Mike Fuller