by Matthew Wharmby
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Amersham Running Day
Sunday 5th October 2003

Preserved AEC Regent RLH 32 (MXX 232) at Amersham, 05/10/03 Change of plan today - I was intending to check out the 66's new Darts at that route's Leytonstone terminus, but ended up going in the other direction entirely as I realised I had time to go to Amersham and see the Running Day held in the car park outside the station.

Amersham is at the very end of the Underground system, far out into Buckinghamshire, and also represented the limit of London Transport Country Area bus services in the northwestward direction. Today the owners of numerous red and green preserved buses rallied their vehicles and took passengers on scenic trips through the local countryside.

One such bus is RLH 32 (MXX 232), representing a class that I haven't seen a great deal of in recent years - this is actually my first digital photo of one. They were AEC Regents numbering seventy-six and built in two batches (RLH 1-20 in 1950 and a repeat order for fifty-six in 1952). They are real low-height vehicles, with a sunken side gangway from which you have to climb into the seats - and God forbid you stand up too suddenly! They last saw service in 1971 (London Transport) and 1972 (London Country) and due to their low height have proven popular with overseas buyers.

An enjoyable and different day out - and I still got to see one of Blue Triangle's DPs, as it was working the Northern Line rail job I passed on my way back!

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