|
|
Post by phillw48 on Mar 4, 2014 20:10:59 GMT
The 87 and 62 were my local routes when I lived in Dagenham from 1983 to 1989. They were the last two RT operated routes in London, although I moved there too late to see the RT's. Of course, the 87 in East London is no more. The Leyland Titan B15 era The Titans came into service about the same time as the RT's were withdrawn. The first Titan route was the 165 from Hornchurch garage. By the time they came in to use the 87 was all Routemaster, if RT's had still been on the 87 it might have been possible to them in service alongside the Titans. (The 87 and 165 routes overlapped in Romford.) |
|
|
|
Post by superteacher on Mar 4, 2014 22:16:13 GMT
Titans were introduced on the 165 in December 1978. Although the RT's were taken off the 87 in October 1978, one RT was still scheduled to be used on Saturdays. So it is just possible that at some point, they were seen alongside a Titan. Photo - I wonder . . .
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris W on Mar 5, 2014 8:25:44 GMT
I travelled on T1 and T2 on many many occasions... and when introduced the Titans replaced DMS's...
Both were S registered, whilst T3 to T42 that ran on both the 165 and 252 routes had T registration plates...
Oh happy days, although I was sad to see the DMS's go...
|
|
|
|
Post by phillw48 on Mar 5, 2014 9:25:05 GMT
IIRC Barking was not intended to be the last RT garage. It was because of the bridge at Chadwell Heath that they had to be retained for the 62. I thought it was my memory playing tricks but I seem to remember seeing an RT and a Titan in service at the same time, but I did not have a camera!   |
|
|
|
Post by John Tuthill on Mar 5, 2014 11:42:33 GMT
IIRC Barking was not intended to be the last RT garage. It was because of the bridge at Chadwell Heath that they had to be retained for the 62. I thought it was my memory playing tricks but I seem to remember seeing an RT and a Titan in service at the same time, but I did not have a camera! If you look at "RT by Ken Blacker", on page 265 it shows RT 2671 on the 87 on a Saturday working, and opposite it is T12 on the 165 in Romford. Also, there is a photo of RT2240 on the 62 inside BK surrounded by various DMSs |
|
|
|
Post by phillw48 on Mar 5, 2014 21:58:48 GMT
The early Titans are now older than the RT's that were withdrawn in in 1978!
|
|
|
|
Post by superteacher on Mar 6, 2014 20:43:11 GMT
The early Titans are now older than the RT's that were withdrawn in in 1978! That is a scary thought. How time passes . . . |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2014 13:48:09 GMT
I think Bromley (TB) and/or Catford (TL)were the last before Barking to utilise RT's. They were certainly active on routes such as the 1, 47, 94 and 119 a long way into 1978.
It's interesting how people see things when old types (be they buses or trains) are withdrawn and how they view what replaces them. I know a guy who feels that bus travel died when RT's were withdrawn and was certainly not happy about riding on the 62 on a Routemaster next day - this despite the fact RM's had the same basic layout, comfy seats, tungsten bulbs and a conductor. Compare that to what eventually replaced the RM's: plastic boxes with harsh lighting and hard seats - ugh! Still, the new 'RM's' do have potential as I feel had RM production not ceased in 1968 and the shape had gone through various overhauls through the years the buses wouldn't have been far off what we have now.
Back to old types being replaced and it always makes me chuckle a little when some say that rail travel died when steam was withdrawn in favour of Diesels/EMU's etc. Yes it was sad to see that era go but people forget that what you rode in was the same ie Mark 1 or 2 carriages, so you still had a comfortable ride. Contrast this when my beloved EPB's made way for Networkers with, yes you've guessed it, plastic everywhere, stark fluorescent lighting and the ubiquitous hard seats. Plus the annoying 'beep beep' of the doors and motors that made a sound akin to that of a hair dryer and a washing machine.
|
|
|
|
Post by phillw48 on Mar 18, 2014 18:17:32 GMT
The B15 Titans were in effect a development of the FRM (with a bit of Bristol VR added). The problem was it carried the wrong manufacturers and name badge. Leylands policy was not to just eliminate its rivals but to erase them completely. As an AEC enthusiast I was offended by the ad 'Leyland, makers of London's buses' stolen from AEC.
|
|
|
|
Post by John Tuthill on Mar 18, 2014 19:24:59 GMT
The B15 Titans were in effect a development of the FRM (with a bit of Bristol VR added). The problem was it carried the wrong manufacturers and name badge. Leylands policy was not to just eliminate its rivals but to erase them completely. As an AEC enthusiast I was offended by the ad 'Leyland, makers of London's buses' stolen from AEC. I agree Stokes was pushing it a bit, but historically Leyland DID build STD, TD & RTL buses for LT  |
|
paulsw2
My Train Runs For Those Who Wait Not Wait For Those That Run
Posts: 303
|
Post by paulsw2 on Mar 19, 2014 2:30:56 GMT
I think Bromley (TB) and/or Catford (TL)were the last before Barking to utilise RT's. They were certainly active on routes such as the 1, 47, 94 and 119 a long way into 1978. It's interesting how people see things when old types (be they buses or trains) are withdrawn and how they view what replaces them. I know a guy who feels that bus travel died when RT's were withdrawn and was certainly not happy about riding on the 62 on a Routemaster next day - this despite the fact RM's had the same basic layout, comfy seats, tungsten bulbs and a conductor. Compare that to what eventually replaced the RM's: plastic boxes with harsh lighting and hard seats - ugh! Still, the new 'RM's' do have potential as I feel had RM production not ceased in 1968 and the shape had gone through various overhauls through the years the buses wouldn't have been far off what we have now. Back to old types being replaced and it always makes me chuckle a little when some say that rail travel died when steam was withdrawn in favour of Diesels/EMU's etc. Yes it was sad to see that era go but people forget that what you rode in was the same ie Mark 1 or 2 carriages, so you still had a comfortable ride. Contrast this when my beloved EPB's made way for Networkers with, yes you've guessed it, plastic everywhere, stark fluorescent lighting and the ubiquitous hard seats. Plus the annoying 'beep beep' of the doors and motors that made a sound akin to that of a hair dryer and a washing machine. in 1976/77 RT's were still operating out of AM AP AW BK BX CM HD HW TB TL There was also a solitary RT at TC on the 190 route with masking taped blinds |
|
|
|
Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 19, 2014 12:15:02 GMT
in 1976/77 RT's were still operating out of AM AP AW BK BX CM HD HW TB TL There was also a solitary RT at TC on the 190 route with masking taped blinds I can recall the incongruous sight of RTs on the 105 and 140 at Heathrow, alongside modern Jumbos and Concordes. Equally incongruous was the sight of open platform buses on the M4 spur on Sunday journeys (from 1972) The last RT route was the 163 IIRC. I don't think so: According to the usually reliable Ian's bus routes www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/163-1.html the original route 163 (Plumstead - Embankment) did indeed use RTs for most of its existence, but was withdrawn in 1970. The number was reinsated in 1987 (Wimbledon-Morden, initially using Leyland Nationals) The same source gives the last scehduled RT operations on the other routes that have been mentioned as: Route 190 Nov 1971 - but a stock shortage in 1975 resulted in all sorts of odd sightings: not all of them painted red! www.londonbuses.co.uk/images%20101-200/190_Southend-334-jp.jpg47 Jan 1975 No1 Feb 1975 119 May 1976 129 Oct 1976 105 Apr 1978 140 july 1978 94 Oct 1978 87 Oct 1978 (except one continued to be rostered on Saturdays only, officially until Friday 6th April so really March 31st) 62 6th Apr 1979 But they turned up elsewhere from time to time - I remember getting one c1977 on the 14, which had been officially RML-operated for 13 years. |
|
|
|
Post by John Tuthill on Mar 19, 2014 12:25:52 GMT
in 1976/77 RT's were still operating out of AM AP AW BK BX CM HD HW TB TL There was also a solitary RT at TC on the 190 route with masking taped blinds I can recall the incongruous sight of RTs on the 105 and 140 at Heathrow, alongside modern Jumbos and Concordes. Equally incongruous was the sight of open platform buses on the M4 spur on Sunday journeys (from 1972) According to the usually reliable Ian's bus routes www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/062.html the last scehduled RT operations on the routes that have been mentioned were: Route 190 Nov 1971 - but a stock shortage in 1975 resulted in all sorts of odd sightings: not all of them painted red! www.londonbuses.co.uk/images%20101-200/190_Southend-334-jp.jpg47 Jan 1975 No1 Feb 1975 119 May 1976 105 Apr 1978 140 july 1978 94 Oct 1978 87 Oct 1978 (except one rostered on Saturdays only) 62 Apr 1979 But no doubt they turned up elsewhere from time to time - I remember getting one c1977 on the 14, which had been officially RML-operated for 13 years. Route 1 was the last RT route to enter Central London |
|
|
|
Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 19, 2014 16:27:40 GMT
I can recall the incongruous sight of RTs on the 105 and 140 at Heathrow, alongside modern Jumbos and Concordes. Equally incongruous was the sight of open platform buses RTs and later RMs on the M4 spur on Sunday journeys on the 140 (from 1972 until Metrobuses took over in 1983) According to the usually reliable Ian's bus routes www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/062.html the last scehduled RT operations on the routes that have been mentioned were: Route 190 Nov 1971 - but a stock shortage in 1975 resulted in all sorts of odd sightings: not all of them painted red! www.londonbuses.co.uk/images%20101-200/190_Southend-334-jp.jpg47 Jan 1975 No1 Feb 1975 119 May 1976 105 Apr 1978 140 july 1978 94 Oct 1978 87 Oct 1978 (except one rostered on Saturdays only) 62 Apr 1979 But no doubt they turned up elsewhere from time to time - I remember getting one c1977 on the 14, which had been officially RML-operated for 13 years. Route 1 was the last RT route to enter Central London |
|
|
|
Post by whistlekiller2000 on Mar 19, 2014 16:51:07 GMT
Route 1 was the last RT route to enter Central London We definitely caught RTs on route 129 between Clayhall and Barkingside in late 1976. |
|
|
|
Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 19, 2014 19:49:21 GMT
We definitely caught RTs on route 129 between Clayhall and Barkingside in late 1976. You could well have done - converted to OPO with DMSs in October that year www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/129-1.html |
|
|
|
Post by whistlekiller2000 on Mar 19, 2014 20:59:59 GMT
We definitely caught RTs on route 129 between Clayhall and Barkingside in late 1976. You could well have done - converted to OPO with DMSs in October that year www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/129-1.htmlThat's about right. I went to Ilford County High School starting in September 1976 and prior to being able to get the 275 from Woodford after it was extended from Claybury Hospital to Barkingside (I'm not entirely sure when that was but it must have been in Spring 1977) those of us in the area provided with Redbridge bus passes (more than 3 miles to school), caught the SMS254 from between Roding Valley and Woodford Stations to the Southend Road then either an RM123, DMS144, DMS145 or DMS179 to Clayhall and then an RT129 to Barkingside until they changed them to DMS. We always used to try and get a 123 because as it was a Routemaster, we could jump off at the Clayhall lights if they were red and save ourselves a walk. Catching a 145 was very rare. Nowadays I think only the 123 and 179 still run along that road. Route 129 eventually became the 128, although years after my time there. |
|
