LT/LCBS street scenes
RML 2741 must have missed a scheduled full overhaul or perhaps received just a light overhaul as it is still carrying a BESI plate holder in this picture taken at the lower end of Haymarket on 4 August 1982. It would be a few more months before it received an overhaul so that would quite possibly make it the penultimate Routemaster in service with a remnant of the BESI system of vehicle location which ceased in 1976.
Logically any bus overhauled after that time had the holder removed but a rare oversight saw RM 1617 from Mortlake Garage overhauled without the holder being removed and the inevitable identity change saw that body emerge from Aldenham as RM 1563. Now I know that it`s often been said that this feature was restored when RM 1563 became the Mortlake Garage showbus but the truth really is that it was the one feature of retro appearance that we didn`t have to source and refit as it was already there and it then lasted until May 1984 when the bus was withdrawn.
RML 2741 has the oil staining on the front offside wing which was a feature of all Ash Grove Routemasters as careless, hurried oil filling on Leyland Nationals caused the spilt residue to contaminate the wash brushes which then deposited oil onto the front offside of the next bus to follow an LS through the wash.
LT/LCBS street scenes
RML 2741 must have missed a scheduled full overhaul or perhaps received just a light overhaul as it is still carrying a BESI plate holder in this picture taken at the lower end of Haymarket on 4 August 1982. It would be a few more months before it received an overhaul so that would quite possibly make it the penultimate Routemaster in service with a remnant of the BESI system of vehicle location which ceased in 1976.
Logically any bus overhauled after that time had the holder removed but a rare oversight saw RM 1617 from Mortlake Garage overhauled without the holder being removed and the inevitable identity change saw that body emerge from Aldenham as RM 1563. Now I know that it`s often been said that this feature was restored when RM 1563 became the Mortlake Garage showbus but the truth really is that it was the one feature of retro appearance that we didn`t have to source and refit as it was already there and it then lasted until May 1984 when the bus was withdrawn.
RML 2741 has the oil staining on the front offside wing which was a feature of all Ash Grove Routemasters as careless, hurried oil filling on Leyland Nationals caused the spilt residue to contaminate the wash brushes which then deposited oil onto the front offside of the next bus to follow an LS through the wash.