 |
First up are
some new buses - and the reason I was able to get
there in the first place. Thanks to Sullivan Buses, I and a handful of
others were able to take advantage of the reduced
entrance fee applicable to those who accompany a
bus (do make the effort - it's worth it!).
Although outwardly similar with their East Lancs
Myllennium bodywork, DEL 1 (PJ52 BYP, left)
is a Dennis Trident, while ELV 1 (EL04 SUL, right)
is a Volvo B7TL. The bus on the left has seat
belts for school work (hence the route 606
blinds), while the 'route 15' blinds on the other
bus are those used when the buses make
appearances on EastEnders. |
 |
On the way
back, I took to the upper deck of the Trident
above to take some pictures of buses leaving
Showbus. One of the healthy number of survivors
of the 700 Metro-Cammell bodied AEC Regals bought
by London Transport in 1951-1954, RF 504 (MXX 481) carries a
gold livery, but in celebration of which event of
recence is not clear. I think fifty years of RFs
would fit the bill nicely! These tough little
buses lasted until 1979 on London's outermost
suburban routes, with the last of the green
survivors that had passed to London Country being
withdrawn in 1980. |
 |
It's another
season for London Fashion Week, which has seen
another collection of all-over liveries take to
the streets, but also coming into service is the
first of forty buses sponsored by the campaign
seeking to have London host the 2012 Olympics
(I'd prefer the World Cup first, if it's all the
same!). Meant for the 8, but looking far more
comfortable blinded for the 277 (especially since
the East End is where many of the Olympic sites
will have to be!), is Stagecoach East London
Dennis Trident 18209 (LX04 FWV), based at
Bow. I've actually come around to the idea of the
all-over ad; while the liveries range from daft
to hideous, they do have that undeniably
appealing 'collect 'em all' nature that has seen
me and many others rushing about town like
nutters trying to photograph them before they go
away! |
 |
It seemed
entirely fitting that Routemaster RM 1 (SLT 56) should have been posed
in front of Concorde. Both forms of mass
transport are quintessentially British, were
never surpassed in quality and were removed
against public wishes and for trivial reasons.
However, whereas Concorde was somewhat wasted as
a plaything for the rich, when one might have
expected to see supersonic aircraft go on to
become the norm in the skies, one could never
accuse the Routemaster of having ideas above its
ever friendly station - or of having its lifespan
cut short!
A large number of Routemasters assembled in
Cambridge for a commemorative Road Run which made
its stately way to the Imperial War Museum,
arriving at midday to be assembled in serried
ranks in front of Concorde's hangar. Some of the
RMLs featured were in as-withdrawn condition,
having come off the front lines only weeks or
months previously, but others, like RMLs 898 and
2508, were already on their way to preserved
status with their first repaints and original
features restored. |
|
