Around Chiswick Works
In the years prior to the London Country Routemasters returning to LT, front roof dome damage massively increased. Inevitable perhaps given the more rural nature of London Country routes - along with an ongoing vehicle shortage that didn`t provide for cosmetic repairs and a move towards making local authorities responsible for the branch cutting that was once so proactively attended to when LT controlled the area that later became LCBS.
RMC 1498 is a typical example. This picture of it leaving Chiswick Works was taken on 1 March 1979 - which was a Thursday. That was the day of driving tests. I would suggest that this is the case here. The driver appears to be in uniform and is possibly a conductor hoping to become a driver. The second trainee is sat upstairs out of the way of the Examiner who is sat in the usual seat used by the Instructor who is nearby.
Around Chiswick Works
In the years prior to the London Country Routemasters returning to LT, front roof dome damage massively increased. Inevitable perhaps given the more rural nature of London Country routes - along with an ongoing vehicle shortage that didn`t provide for cosmetic repairs and a move towards making local authorities responsible for the branch cutting that was once so proactively attended to when LT controlled the area that later became LCBS.
RMC 1498 is a typical example. This picture of it leaving Chiswick Works was taken on 1 March 1979 - which was a Thursday. That was the day of driving tests. I would suggest that this is the case here. The driver appears to be in uniform and is possibly a conductor hoping to become a driver. The second trainee is sat upstairs out of the way of the Examiner who is sat in the usual seat used by the Instructor who is nearby.