Tonight's send-off was of high quality, helped by a genuinely enthusiastic management on the part of the 23's operator First London, minimal interference by TfL and the participation of several owner-operators of splendid preserved vehicles, four of which joined in the cavalcade throughout the day and into the evening.

It really does make the bitter pill of Routemaster disposal slightly easier to swallow simply if we're allowed a suitable send-off such as this - it causes inconvenience to nobody and brings a good deal of happiness to a large number of people! So my report tonight is written in a happier mood than the last one.

	They've only been back in town for two years, but the second wave of Marshall-refurbished, TfL-owned RMs are already on to their third garage after leaving the 23. RM 1280 (280 CLT) resumed its London career at London Central's New Cross before the split of the 36 displaced it to First London and Westbourne Park garage, where it gained a yellow cantrail band. Due to the closure of Liverpool Street bus station for six months, the 23 was forced to stand round the corner in Liverpool Street itself, where photographers had to dodge taxis stacking up. Here is where RM 1280 is seen on its last day as a 23 before shipping out to Arriva London South at Brixton. The 'Tonight We Say Goodbye To Route 23' via blinds, which inspired the title of today's report, are a nice touch. They also perhaps forced the 'normal' passengers to sit up and take notice by implying that the route was to be withdrawn outright!
	Ensignbus are to be thanked profusely for their use of RT 4421 (NXP 775). The splendidly turned out veteran performed short-workings from Liverpool Street to Marble Arch during the afternoon, pleasing photographers who had requested that some specials be run during daylight. Carrying a full passenger load, the bus is pictured approaching Marble Arch at the completion of its 14:00 run from Liverpool Street. Traffic was heavy throughout the day, causing some slippage in timings to all 23s as well as this one, but that's London for you! And with OPO you know it can get nothing but worse in Oxford Street.
	One of these days I'll get this one by daylight! Just before 5 pm Stagecoach East London put green RML 2456 (JJD 456D) into action with a set of borrowed Westbourne Park blinds. Night had fallen by the time it reached Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury's in this shot, which was taken at half past six. After working from Upton Park on the 15 for many years and of course participating in the last day of Routemasters on that route, this bus is serving out its last half year on the 8 at Bow, but this route of course is slated to lose Routemasters in June. This wasn't the only green Routemaster to come out tonight, as Blue Triangle's RCL 2260 appeared again and fell in behind the last bus, making sure to get in front of it towards the end so that the last one in could really be the last one in! Finally, RM 613 appeared - the only one I wasn't able to photograph.
	As announced, the last scheduled Routemaster journey was RML 885 (WLT 885), Westbourne Park's only example from the 1961 evaluatory batch. Although First does not display proper running numbers, a glance at the duty timecard showed duty 175 to also be X117. Having run from the garage to Liverpool Street, the bus's crew, a bit special in themselves, poses for shots. In the driver's seat was Leon Daniels, Divisional Director (South East) of FirstGroup, and conducting for the first time in some years was Peter Hendy, London Buses' Director of Surface Transport. As such, the only blot on the festivities came when unsympathetic voices chose to shout unkindnesses from a safe distance, which I thought was thoroughly out of order and helps nobody. It was far more enlightening and productive to have the opportunity to sit with these figures at close proximity and to discuss rationally what is happening to London's transport heritage, regardless of what your views are on tradition versus progress.
	So, having battled its way through the stifling Friday night traffic RML 885 (WLT 885) arrived at Westbourne Park Garage at 21:44. Apparently it was even booked for late running! It may have been a special but was still a normal working and therefore still subject to QSI indicators. That said, how do you discipline your boss? Outside Westbourne Park, TNs were departing on the 23's evening OPO duties and RMs were being decommissioned for movement overnight to Clapton or Brixton (four each). Thankfully the Hammersmith and City Line, which had been on strike earlier in the day, had reopened, allowing a quick getaway without the ignominy of using OPO 23s so soon. Once again, many thanks go out to all hands who made this solemn occasion go off with due care. That's it for Routemaster losses in 2003, but the sad cycle resumes on 24th January when the 94 goes.