The Long Routemasters

The arrival of some of the last Routemasters ever made to take over 207 was one of those events when I can say "I was there !". Not necessarily in strict numerical order RML2669-RML2715 plus RML2644 and a few other odd buses in between were delivered to Hanwell and Uxbridge in September and October 1967. The actual change over was instant overnight, with the result that excited schoolboys who had traveled home by RM found themselves transported to school next day by new RMLs. Our friends who used the 83 were equally amazed to find the RTs from Alperton ousted by released Hanwell RMs. For reasons best known at the time RML2548 was not delivered alongside its contemporaries to Hackney in September 1966 and arrived at Hanwell in April 1968.
mailto routemaster Guest Book
After an unhappy flirtation with one person operation covered in the next chapter 207 was blessed with a second spell of RML working from September 1982.
RMLs 2521 & 2584 in the second spell of RML operation on 207. These two rear views taken at Ealing Common about 1983 are the only photos I have of RMLs on 207 & they were taken just because I needed an image to illustrate "The back of a bus" for a talk on studio photgraphy
Both photos ©Martin G. Layton
The first stirrings of the "deregulation" that would eventually lead to today's independant companies tendering for routes can be seen in the operating district logos near the platform of RML2584.

Mention of "deregulation" links neatly on to another chapter bringing the story of 207 up to date.