Routemaster prototype RM1

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The first Routmaster bus, RM1
English: The prototype RM1 (reg. SLT 56) was the first of four complete pre-production Routemaster buses built, before production began with RM8 (RM5-7 having been half-bodied test platforms). It was first seen in public at the Commercial Motor Show in September 1954. The most notable external difference to the final standard procuction design was that RM1 no radiator grille, with a simple flat panel there instead, adorned with a large London Transport roundel logo. The most notable internal difference was that it was first fitted with an AEC engine from the RT class the Routemaster was to replace.

After some testing at private proving grounds, it appeared again at the Aluminium Industry exhibition in June 1955. After some changes were made, the bus was registered as SLT 56 on 11 January 1956, and entered public service testing out of Crystal Palace garage on Route No.2 to Golders Green, on 8 February. By August RM1 was returned to LT's Chiswick works for further modifications. It reappeared in public for the 1956 Lord Mayor's Show in November, with redesigned front end - it now had a front mounted radiator which was exposed to the air through grille formed by vertical slots cut into the front panel. Behind it was now an AEC AV600 engine, a fore-runner to the engine used on initial production models, the AV590. It re-entered service in March 1957, with the radiator grille having been changed yet again into one that used a wire mesh and rounded chrome surround, appearing almost as the final standard design, albeit smaller. It was tested in service until 31 July 1959, when it went for overhaul. By May 1959, the initial production buses had begun to be delivered, and by the end of July around 30 buses had been delivered.

After emerging from overhaul, RM1 was downgraded to just a driver training bus. In 1964 during another repaint, RM1 was finally fitted with the standard version of the front radiator grille, bonnet and wings (although the standard grille version also changed further on other buses, seeing the addition of a triangular space for a badge). It was finally withdrawn in 1972, latterly allocated to Dalston garage, and in a decidedly shabby condition having not been repainted since 1964. Rather than being preserved, it passed to Lockheed Corporation who used it for brake testing trials, latterly being based back at Chiswick, and from November 1978 at the Aldenham bus works, but not owned by LT.

In 1981 RM1 was finally bought for preservation by LT (with RM3 having become the first Routemaster to be preserved in 1974 by the London Bus Preservation Group based at Cobham Bus Museum in Surrey). It was first lightly renovated and still based at Aldenham as a showbus, before being placed under the care of the London Transport Museum in 1986, followed by formal donation in 1989. From December 1998 it has been based at the Museum's main depot at Acton, and sees occasional use on the museum bus service, aswell as appearing at some rallies and events.

LT Museum Acton depot open days

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Showbus 2004

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See also Routemasters with Concorde, Showbus 2004

2006 HCVS London to Brighton

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Cobham bus rallies

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2008 Amersham Heritage Open Day

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Upminster tube depot 50th anniversary (2009)

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Detail images

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