• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Site News / Featured / London Icon: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the Iconic Routemaster You Might Not Know

London Icon: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the Iconic Routemaster You Might Not Know

Jul 31, 2015 By John Rabon

DCF 1.0

The Routemaster bus is one of the most iconic parts of London that isn’t fixed to the ground. Like the black cab, it’s immediately identifiable with the city and even today influences the look of new buses that move through London’s streets. Premiering in 1954 and in production until 1968, these incredibly sturdy vehicles outlasted many of their successors and (with some upgrades) are still running today for tours and other organisations. While the New Routemaster has taken on its predecessor’s responsibilities, there’s still plenty of love for the old girl and many interesting facts about this transportation icon.

Long-Lasting

Over a fourteen year period, Associated Equipment Company built 2,876 Routemaster buses. As stated above, they proved to be incredibly resilient and long-lived, and today there are 1,280 still in existence (though some survive more as museum pieces).

Replacement

The Routemaster was designed to replace the old trolley buses, which had served London for over 30 years along 68 routes that were powered by overhead electrical wires. The original diesel buses were ordered in 1935, but with the onset of the war, production did not pick up again until 1947. The first prototype came out in 1954 and the first Routemaster saw service in 1956. The Routemaster itself was not replaced until the New Routemaster in 2012.

Wrong Colour?

If you see a Green Routemaster, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. It’s still owned by London Transport and serves their country division.

Seeing Red

Prior to 1907, the colour of a bus actually determined which route it followed. London General Omnibus Company wanted to make their buses stand out against the fierce competition for service, so they painted their entire fleet red. Some predictable confusion led the Metropolitan Police to suggest that LGOC add numbers to its buses to identify their routes. The Underground Group purchased LGOC in 1912, which later became part of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, shortened later to “London Transport”.

Silver and Gold

Arriva_London_(SP)_Routemaster_bus_RM6_(VLT_6),_route_159_second_to_last_day

In keeping with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s silver and golden jubilees, some Routemasters were repainted in those colours in 1977 and 2002, respectively.

Phantom Bus

Allegedly, a ghostly Routemaster Number 7 drives up the middle of the street in Cambridge Gardens with no lights, no passengers, and no driver! It was last spotted in 1990.

All Aboard!

One of the most popular features of the original Routemaster was its rear platform that made it easy to board and alight the bus, even while it was moving. A rear conductor would stand on the platform to help people on board and take their tickets or fees, but eventually the job was phased out. However, the convenience of the rear platform wasn’t without some danger, and in 2013, former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone revealed to ITV that approximately twelve people per year died from falling off the platform during his time in office.

Not a Routemaster

The famous Night Bus from Harry Potter, which was first seen on film in the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was not actually made from a Routemaster. Instead, it was constructed out of three Regent III RT buses. The Regent III was the immediate predecessor to the Routemaster and ran from 1939 to 1979.

Ride an Original

While many of the original Routemasters have been taken out of service, there are still a couple operating on heritage routes that are still available to passengers. Route 9 travels from Kensington High Street to Aldwych while Route 15 travels from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill.

Ladies Who Bus

In 2009, three ladies named Linda, Mary, and Jo opted to use their Freedom Pass (available to people over 60 years old) to ride every route in numerical order. They completed their task nearly five years later and since March, 2014, have set their attention to visiting every single museum in London.

John Rabon
Author: John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Featured, History, Transport

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Willard McCoy says

    Jul 31, 2015 at 10:55 am

    Like the new replacement “Routemaster” but the original remains the best. Miss them!
    Wish we had like them here in NY.

  2. radxone says

    Jul 31, 2015 at 11:14 am

    I do love those Routemasters. London black cabs, tube trains, and buses are inseparable from thought of THE GREAT CITY!

  3. Dario Sušanj says

    Jul 31, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    Routemasters no longer operate on the historic route 9H as this service has been withdrawn in July 2014, owing to costs of operating the service, TfL has claimed. Historic route 15H continues to operate.

  4. Louise Daring says

    Jul 31, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    My Dad worked for London Transport out of the Sidcup Garage before it closed, then on to Plumsted until he retired, never a driver , cleaned shunted them around the garage never wanted the responsibility of passengers .

    • Eileen says

      Aug 10, 2017 at 8:20 pm

      Whatever happened to Sidcup Garage. Lastbtime I was in Foots Cray it had been demolished. Wasnt it a listed building

  5. MAureen says

    Aug 1, 2015 at 7:57 am

    I rode the No 9 in February 2014 all the way from start to finish, mainly because it was pouring rain and it seemed a good way to relax and stay dry for a bit. I then rode it back again and finally got off. It allowed me to really look at everything along the way, shops, people, interesting small sights. I love London!

  6. Grace says

    Aug 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    I was a Conductor on the No 24 Hampstead to Pimlico. No expensive finishing school needed. I could write a book on some of the joys of being a London Clippie
    Sad day when the Routemaster was retired

  7. Trevor says

    Aug 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    The Routmaster bus (RM#) was replaced by the (RML#) buses which a little longer, and carried more passengers. I used to work on both the RMs and the RMLs out of Stockwell Garage (nr. Brixton) about 50 years ago when when they introduced the ticket printing machine that clippies used to carry on their lower chest. they would dial in the stage number and amount, then hand crank a printed ticket out. The “conductors” were nicknamed “clippies” from its forerunner ticket machine that used different value & coloured tickets that had to be “clipped” to show at what stage (location) you got on the bus so that the “inspector” could check that you were not “over riding” when they did random checks.

    If your totals did not balance when the conductor’ went to cash out at the end of the day, The conductor had to make up the difference.

  8. Ben Johnson says

    Mar 16, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    These used to go pass our house all the time. I also used to get them to school during the 80’s. We used to run up the stairs, sit down and look out of the window as if we had been on the bus for ages. The idea was to try and fool the conductor so we could keep our bus money for lunch. I’m sure they knew but used to let us ride for free every now and again!

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • V&A set to open first major UK exhibition on Renaissance sculptor Donatello
  • Ten National Trust Properties in London
  • What’s On in London Events for February 2023
  • Only Fools And Horses musical to close in West End after four years
  • Artist Ai Weiwei to launch first design-focused exhibition at London’s Design Museum
  • London Travel Alert: Staff at British Museum to walk out during half-term break
  • Poet Lemn Sissay ‘over the moon’ to receive Freedom of the City of London
  • English Heritage has unveiled six new blue plaques for London
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
  • Exploring The Cosmic House in London

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Elizabeth line fully opens and offers more direct journeys

Tube poet encourages writers to ‘bring who they are to the field’

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in