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AECs in preservation (UK)
Part 2: Buses originating with London Transport and London Country Bus Services

The preservation pages provide lists of many of the AEC buses in preservation. The information is collated directly from the owners or other interested parties, from reports in "Buses" and PSV Circle newsletters and from Internet searches of vehicles I have photographed myself.  Many large preservation groups have their own websites and I am providing links to these where I know them.

Buses with a Class VI MOT and therefore available for public service are listed on the AECs in Service page, even if they are primarily preserved and only appear infrequently in service. Such vehicles frequently appear at rallies and running days.   The Rallies and Running Days page has details of a number of events where these preserved AECs may be seen. The running days (mainly concentrated in the South East) are especially interesting as they provide opportunities to travel on the buses.

This page contains the lists and photos of preserved AECs that originated with London Transport or London Country. Part 1 contains the list of preserved AEC buses and coaches that originated with other operators all over the United Kingdom.

AECs preserved outside of the UK can be found on the relevant country pages (see AECs Abroad)

To contribute news of AEC buses and coaches in service or in preservation please email the author at


T/Q-types


Ensignbus own pre-war AEC Regal 10T10, former London Transport T499. It is pictured in December 2014 after being freshly repainted in LT coach livery.
Seen at Eton in 2005 was beautifully restored AEC T-type T504
Seen at Eton in 2005 was the LBPT's superbly restored AEC Regal T-type coach T504
T792 at Chesham in October 2015
Another superbly restored T-type is T792, seen in service at Beaconsfield during the 2022 High Wycombe running day.
Other T-types preserved at the London Bus Museum are bus T31 (UU 6646), T357 (GN 8242) and Weymann bodied coach T448 (CXX 171)
Side-engined AEC Q type at Cobham Bus Museum, October 2009
Unusual side-engined AEC Q type, Q83 is also owned by the London Bus Preservation Trust and kept at the London Bus Museum. It has been painted into original pre-war Green Line livery since this picture was taken.
 

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London RFs (Regal Mk IV)


The AEC Regal IV demonstrator, UMP 227, is preserved at the London Transport Museum. It occasionally ventures out to running days and was a welcome visitor to the 2016 Isle of Wight Beer and buses event.


MLL 738 is one of the 65 AEC Regals built with Park Royal "one and a half deck" bodies for BEA transfer services between central London and Heathrow (later replaced by front entrance Routemasters), now preserved in Surrey after a spell of PSV service with Marshopper in Kent. MLL 721 is also owned. More about these vehicles can be found at Ian's Bus Stop.

Two more of the AEC Regal IVs with unusual "one and a half deck" bodies for BEA shuttles between Heathrow and Central London, MLL 722 and MLL 735 passed in 2015 from Ensignbus to London Bus Company for further preservation and restoration.
Sister MLL 740 is restored in BEA livery and currently on loan to the
London Bus Museum.


Early Green Line RF4 (LUC 204), one of the first batch built by Metro-Cammell with panoramic windows for additional use on sightseeing tours, is preserved by a private owner in Kent and appears at rallies in the area.
The same owner also has RF12 and RF16.

RF10 under restoratiom at Cobham in 2009
Early Green Line RF10 (LUC 210) is under restoration with a private owner in the south-east.

 


Metro-Cammell bodied RF13 (LUC 213) is another of the first batch in preservation, and is in thr preserved fleet of the London Bus Company following restoration by Quantock Motor Services in Somerset.

Sister RF19 (LUC 219) has been restored at the  London Bus Museum and returned to the rally scene in 2021.

ECW bodied touring coach RFW6 (LUC 381) is being restored at the London Bus Museum.

Sister RFW14 (LUC 389) has been restored by private owners and returned ito the rally scene in 2021.


RF26 (LYF 377), which was formerly in the fleet of Memory Lane Buses, was sold for preservation in 2010. It was seen near Beaconsfield during the Showbus FlyBy event in September 2020.
RF28 at East Grinstead during its attendance at the 2013 running day.
Preserved Green Line RF28 (LYF 379) is freshly repainted and attending running days.It's pictured here at Otford village during the 2015 Sevenoaks running day.

Preserved Green Line RF48 (LYF 399) has moved to Somerset where it is privately preserved by the proprietor of Quantock Heritage.

RF136 (MLL 523) is in the London Bus Company
preserved fleet. It is currently painted in a mainly cream experimental livery that it received in 1966, but no RFs ever ran in service in that livery.


RF146 (MLL 533) is preserved in the livery used for some Green Line RFs downgraded to bus use, with the green band replaced with a yellow one.

RF168 at East Grinstead in April 2009
Another preserved Green Line RF is RF168 (MLL 555), also a regular attender at running days.
 

RF183 (MLL 570) is preserved with private owners in Harlow.

Green Line RF202 (originally MLL 589) is now registered MLL 528 and is with a private owner in Cambridgeshire following a number of years as a special events vehicle with Western Greyhound in Cornwall, during which time it was numbered RF141,

As RF202 it was one of the very last RFs to run in service with LCBS and was preserved by them for some time before passing into private hands.

RF226 at the Reading Buses Greenline 702 running day
Green RF226 (MLL 763)was pictured on a Greenline running day in December 2017.

RF255 is preserved in Metrobus livery following its last PCV operation on their "Wealdsman" Sunday summer service in 1994/95. It changed hands in 2014 and is now back in the area and active at rallies again, as demonstrated by this picture on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/22430972@N05/15070624526/

RF269 (MLL 806) has returned to preservation after a period of use as a private hire vehicle in North Wales.

Preserved green RF271 (MLL 808) in action at a running day in 2016.

Preserved green
RF280 (MLL 817) at the Newbury rally in 2014.
RF281 at the 2008 Amersham running day
Green Line RF281 (MLL 818) also appears regularly at LCBS themed running days.
RF308 at Bucks Hill
RF308 (NLE 527) retains the fleetnumber it carried after conversion from bus RF527. It is a regular at running days and was seen at Bucks Hill during the April 2015 Watford running day.
Preserved RF315 at East Grinstead in April 2019
RF315 (MLL 952), which was repainted green while in the London & Country heritage fleet, has returned to the south east and is active at running days there.

Preserved RF326 (MLL 963) at the 2012 Wisley Airfield rally.
RF354 at the 2018 Amersham and Chesham running day
Red RF354 (MLL 991) at the 2018 Amerham and Chesham running day.

Red RF368 (MXX 10) pictured at the long-establoshed and popular East Grinstead running day in April 2023.
RF381 (MXX 23) is preserved at the Wythall Transport Museum
http://www.wythall.org.uk/vehicles/vmxx23.asp
 
RF383 in service at the 2006 Swanly running day
Red RF383 (MXX 25) at Swanley in 2007.
RF395 at Great Missenden during the 2009 Amersham running
The LBPT's RF395 (MXX 283) at Great Missenden during the 2009 Amersham running day.


RF406 poses for photographers at Ide Hill during a running day in May 2013.


RF429 rests at Green Street Green before setting out for its return journey to Sevenoaks in May 2013.

Red RF433 (MXX 410) at Chesham during the 2015 Amersham running day. 
 
RF453 at Walton during the March 2019 RF retirement anniversary
RF453 (MXX 430) at Walton during the March 2019 RF retirement anniversary.
RF457 at Uxbridge on the 2006 Slough/Windsor running day
RF457 (MXX 434) seen at Uxbridge during a running day.
.RF426 in the Hampshire village of Bentley while attending the 2019 Alton rally
RF486 (MXX 463) in the Hampshire village of Bentley while attending the 2019 Alton rally.
RF489 at Windsor in May 2011
Another of the preserved RFs, RF489 (MXX 466) at a running day in May 2011. It has changed owners subsequently.
RF503 at the 2009 Alton rally
RF503 at the 2009 Alton rally
 

RF508 (MXX 485) is preserved at the North West Museum of Transport, St Helens.


Red RF518 swings into Staines bus station during a running day in May 2012.
 
RF537 (NLE 537) at Esher during the March 2019 RF retirement anniversary.
 

Country bus RF539 at Chipstead while giving free rides at the 2013 Sevenoaks running day.
RF580 (NLE 580) was undergoing restoration and repaint to red livery at Quantock Heritage, and was sold to a nursery in Herfordshire in 2020.

Green RF600 (NLE 600), a member of the Ensignbus preserved fleet, in action at Turners Hill during a running day in April 2018.
Green RF603 (NLE 603) is under restoration after changing hands in 2015.

RF627 (NLE 627) is now a part of the Roger Burdett collection after being sold by its previous owner in 2019. It was pictured at the 2022 Chesham running day.

RF633 (NLE 633) recreating the London Country service to Edenbridge during a running day in April 2018.

RF636 (NLE 636), now in the London Bus Company preserved fleet, seen at a running day in 2019.
RF667 at Stoke D'Abernon railway station in October 2009
Another preserved country bus, RF667 (NLE 667) was seen at Stoke D'Abernon station during the Oct 2009 Cobham event.
Country bus RF672 (NLE 672) at Alton in July 2014.
RF673 arecreating a historic route at Uxbridge in June 2014
Country bus RF673 (NLE 673) at Datchet en route to the Leatherhead running day in July 2017.

 The RT/RF Register's RF679 (NLE 679) at Dormansland during a running day in April 2018.

Other preserved RFs which can be found at rallies and running days include green RF113 (LYF 464) and RF183 (MLL 570). Further preserved RFs were at the 2009 Sandown Park running day and are captured by Ian Smith at Ian's Bus Stop.

MLL 969 is preserved at the London Bus Museum as service vehicle 332W.

RF517 (MLL 935) is one of four ex LT vehicles stored in a yard in Sherborne, Dorset, not currently in active preservation.

 

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London Swifts and Merlins

Ex LCBS AEC Swift SM106 is owned by private owner Jonathan Wilkins. He also runs the London Country Bus Services website on which you will find details about this bus and the preservation effort.
SM114 at its launch at Crawley in March 2010.
Another ex LCBS standard Swift in preservation is SM114 (BPH 114H). This changed hands in early 2015 and is now with the Bromley Bus Preservation Group.

Alexander bodied former Green Line AEC Swift SMA8 (JPF 108K), one of the batch diverted from South Wales, has been restored by the London Bus Company.
Sister SMA13 (JPF 113K) is also owned by LBC and is currently in store.
 

LT Marshall-bodied Swift SM1 (the first one) is in the active fleet of Roger Wright's London Bus Company, and used on Epping-Ongar Railway services during the summer.

LT Swift SM30 (AML 30H) passed from Emsworth & District into private preservation in 2018.The picture shows it at a running day in 1995 when it was still an operational vehicle with E&D.

LT Swift SMS88 (AML 88H) has been restored by private owners and painted into London Country livery (although it never ran with LCBS).
 
Sister SMS91/SMD91 (AML 91H) is also known to be in preservation.

SMS97 (AML 97H) was acquired for PCV use by London Retro Bus Hire in 2014. It is pictured at North Weald EOR station in September 2018.

LT Swift SMS274 (EGN 274J) ran for many years as a route bus in Malta, latterly registered DBY 623, and was heavily modified during its time there. Following a period in store following withdrawal in 2011, it was repatriated to the UK in 2016 as a heritage vehicle with Go-coach Hire.

LT Swift SMS369 (EGN 369J) is owned by the London Bus Museum. It is a regular perfomer at their running days, and visitis other events.
SMS678 (EGN 678J) has been residing in Essex for 25 years, but is intact and was mechanically overhauled shortly before its sojourn. It was started up again in the summer of 2010, and moved to a site near Leytonstone for continued preservation in 2011.
 
 
MCW bodied SMS753 passed to a new owner in February 2009 and is being restored. The pictures show it coming on nicely but in need of a complete replacement set of seats.


AEC "Merlin" (London Transport's name for a long wheelbase Swift) MBA444 (VLW 444G) has completed a long restoration and since 2016 it has been appearing at rallies in full Red Arrow livery.


"Merlin" MBS539 (VLW 539G) was acquired by London Bus Company from a private preservationist and has been restored to operational condition in the heritage fleet. It had previously operated in service with Blue Triangle when it was owned by the proprietor of LBC.


MBA582 (AML 582H) is preserved at the London Transport Museum, Acton, It ventures out occasionally for rallies and running days.

MBA588 (AML 588H) is being restored by private owner Tim Clayton at the Wythall Transport Museum. See http://www.wythall.org.uk/vehicles/vaml588h.asp
MB641 at the 2009 Amersham rally
MB641 (AML 641H), is owned by a private owner in Hitchin, after being restored to operational condition by the proprieter of Bryans of Enfield.
MB90 at Beaconsfield during the 2022 High Wycombe running day.
Country MB90 has been a participant at many rallies and running days since it passed in 2008 to Peter Comfort. This picture was taken at Beaconsfield in 2022. For more about this bus see http://mb90.weebly.com/

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London Transport / London Country Reliances


RW3 (497 ALH) is one of three Willowbrook bodied 2-door Reliances bought by London Transport for experimental use on country routes. Bought for preservation in 1988, it has been superbly restored after changing hands in 2010 and is currently residing with private owners in Kent.
 

Preserved Green Line Park Royal bodied AEC Reliance RP21 (JPA 21K) passed to the London Bus Company heritage fleet from its private owner in 2012.
 
RP90 at the Alton Bus Rally in July 2007
Last of batch RP90 is preserved in original Green Line livery at the London Bus Museum and appears at rallies in the south. This and RP21 are the only two of the batch of 90 still in existence.
 

Green Line Reliance/Plaxton P3, which was bought for tours and National Express duties, changed hands in 2011 and is now owned by Richard Walker and Fred Lawrence (Colne Estuary Preserved Buses).
  RB51 at Amersham in October 2011
Green Line AEC Reliance/Duple RB51 has moved in preservation from Ensignbus to the Bromley Bus Preservation Group. It was pictured in the display line-up at Amersham during the 2011 running day with a previous owner.
Click to see the EPM 136V Fotopic page
Former Green Line AEC Reliance/Plaxton RS136 passed to Stephen Bryce of Dunn-Line in 2006. He will restore it in the livery of Lincoln City Transport, in who's fleet it ran for a number of years after its Green Line service.
RS137 while in the ownership of Meffans of Kirriemuir RS137 at Victoria in January 1980
Mike Assiph of the Taybus Vintage Vehicle Society has purchased one time Green Line RS137 from last owner Meffans of Kirriemuir for preservation and ultimate restoration into the 1980 Green Line Golden Jubilee livery it carried when new. The second picture shows it in this livery in January 1980.

The last Green Line Reliance, RS150 (EPM 150V) has moved to a new preservation owner in Gloucestershire in 2020. It has been painted into the livery of Anderson Travel with whom it had previously operated. www.flickr.com/photos/53055234@N08/48601613452/

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K type


The London Transport Museum's 1920 built AEC K type K424 (XC 9048) made the journey to Imber for the 2019 Imberbus event.
   

London Regents


A first generation AEC Regent, Tilling bodied ST922 (GJ 2098) is preserved at the London Bus Museum
STL441 at Windsor in May 2008
Pre-war preserved AEC Regent STL441 seen at Windsor during a running day

STL2377 at Dagenham Heathway in March 2023
Another of the older generation Regents, the London Bus Museum's STL2377 was giving rides at the 2009 East Grinstead running day.

Similar STL2093 (DLU 92) is preserved with Ensignbus.


Preserved AEC Regent II STL2692 posed at the Faversham site of Kent Coach Works in May 2016. This vehicles is now with the London Bus Company.
TRT1 in temporary residence at Cobham in autumn 2009.
The first of a dynasty! RT1 is owned by the
London Bus Museum and was pictured at a running day in April 2021. In fact the original chassis of RT1 was dismantled at Chiswick in 1946 and it has been sitting on the chassis of RT1420 for the last 75 years.

RT172 is preserved by the Aire Valley Transport Group. After withdrawal by LT in 1958 it ran in the Bradford fleet for 10 years until 1968, and is preserved in Bradford livery.
RT542 (HLX 359) is privately owned following a short spell with heritage bus operator Crosville of Weston-super-Mare.

Green RT593 was seen glistening in a fresh coat of paint outside the Go-coach depot during the 2015 Sevenoaks running day.
RT604 at the 2015 Watford running day
The Purley Transport Preservation Group's 
RT604 (HLX 421) is in NBC green livery, and is a regular performer at running days in the South East.
RT935 at the 2015 Worthing bus rally
Red RT935 (JXN 325) pictured at the Worthing rally in 2015. It subsequently passed
to a new owner in 2016.
 
 
RT981 (CSL 498 ex JXN 9) and RT2553 (LYF 278) are preserved by the former owners of Carousel Buses. RT981 returned to the road for a running day in London in September 2022 after a period of many years.
RT1018 (JXN 46), which survived for many years as a trainer at Hemel Hempstead, is preserved in Lincoln green by private owner Mike Lloyd and resides at the North West Museum of Transport.

RT1347 (KLB 596) is with a private preservationist in Leicestershire. It has been painted in the livery of Brown's Blue Bus Service, who operated nine RTs in the Leicestershire area in the early 1960s.
RT1574 at Alton in 2011
Preserved RT1574 stands in the sun at Alton.

Another that is preserved well away from its London haunts, RT1599 was in action at the 2011 Bristol rally and running day (picture by Ken Jones).

RT1658 (KXW 304) is in the preserved fleet of the London Bus Company and has been recently restored.

RT1702 (KYY 529) in LT red at the 2019 East Grinstead running day. It is owned by the RT1702 Preservation Society.

RT1705 (KYY 532) in LT red at the 2022 London Bus Museum route 81 running day.
RT1784 awaits its next turn of duty
RT1784 (KYY 622) is preserved at the London Bus Museum and also visits running days in the south east
RT1798 at Dagenham Heathway
Privately preserved RT1798 (KYY 653) taking part in a running day organised by the London Bus Museum in March 2023.

RT2043 (LUC 291) is preserved in LT red livery.
RT2083 at East Grinstead in April 2019
Green RT2083 at East Grinstead during a running day in April 2019.
RT2177 at the 2009 Slough running day
RT2177 (KGU 106) is another preserved in LT red livery.

RT2233 (KGU 162) is preserved in Cambridgeshire by the proprietor of Imperial Buses (London Routemaster Bus Company) and appears at rallies in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
 
RT2905 (MLL 652) is stored awaiting restoration

RT2293 (KGU 322) at Berkhamsted during the October 2023 chesham running day.

 
RT2494 (KXW 123) is one of three which ran as open-toppers with Guernseybus and is preserved in their livery as number 14. It appears in this guise at rallies.
Another of these three, RT3435, is in the London Bus Company (ex Blue Triangle) operational fleet, and RT1377 moved to Malta in 2008.
RT2591 (LYF 316) is now preserved with a private owner in London, following some time as an operational vehicle in the Yorkshire Heritage Bus Company fleet and a brief spell with Crosville Heritage.

RT2657 has been preserved in the Paris Transport Museum since 1965 and is still in its 1965 condition with roof mounted number box. It was relocated on long term loan to the London Bus Museum in 2013.


RT2688 has been preserved since 1981 and is seen here during the RT75 celebrations in London. The location is Shoreditch Church - a terminus that it served regularly during it's final years whilst at Catford and Bromley Garages between 1973 and 1975.

 


Another preserved at the London Bus Museum is RT2775 (LYR 826). This was restored in 2012 to the condition it was in when it was used for a promotional tour of the United States.

RT2794 (LYR 964) is preserved in London red by a private owner in the Manchester area.
RT2976 (NLE 744), which was almost derelict after a long time in a yard in Norfolk, was being restored at Marden Commercials of Benfleet in 2016 but this may be on hold following a possible change of ownership.
RT3028 (NLE 918) and RT3143 (KYY 872), both Weymann bodied models, are in preservation with an owner in Kent.
RT3148 at the Gravesend running day in July 2006
RT3148 (KYY 877) is preserved in Lincoln green livery and a regular performer at Country Bus Rallies running days
RT3183 at East Grinstead in April 2018
RT3183 (KYY 912) is another preserved in Lincoln green livery and was seen giving free rides in April 2018. 
RT3316 (LYR 535) is out and about again following undergoing major bodywork in 2019 and 2020. Pictured at Ealing in April 2021 while in private ownership, it has now joined the Ensignbus heritage fleet.
RT3254 at Chesham during the October 2018 running day
Green RT3254 (LLU 613) at Chesham during the Amersham/Chesham 2018 running day.

RT3491 (LYR 910) is preserved at the London Bus Museum and is well known in the South East for its regular rally appearances.
RT3496 at Langley in May 2006.
Lincoln Green RT3496 (LYR 915), which has the body from the original RT606 hence the roof top mounted number box.
Click for full size picture of RT3775
RT3775 (NLE 882) is privately preserved, in company with Routemasters RM811 and RML2731. It had previously been in the London & Country and the Ensignbus heritage fleets (the picture shows it with London & Country in 1994).
RT3902 (LLU 701) is preserved with operator Sharpes of Nottingham.
Saunders bodied RT3955 (LUC 114) returned to the UK for preservation in 2006 following a stint in France with Londonbus France, and is with a private owner in the north of England.

Preserved RT4139 (LUC 488) at the South East Bus Rally in 2018.

RT4275 (NLE 939) seen at Northolt on a route 140 running day in November 2019.

RT4317 (NLE 981)  was pictured at the Whittlesey Fenland Busfest in May 2022.

Green RT4494 is preserved in the Lincoln area and was pictured in November 2014.

RT4779 (OLD 566) is preserved at the London Bus Museum. It was seen at Buirnt Oak during a running day in November 2019. A picture of this bus during restoration is on the Before and After page.
Repainted RLH32 at Amersham in October 2008
Lowbridge AEC Regent RLH32 (MXX 232) is preserved by Timebus Travel. It was seen at Amersham in 2008 in the livery of Leeds independent Samuel Ledguard with whom it ran after it left London service.
Sister RLH29 (MXX 229) is under restoration with Timebus, and RLH44 (MXX 244) is preserved by Timebus in its final form as a uniform store numbered 581J.
RLH48 seen at Chesham as a guest vehicle at an Amersham & District running day.
Lowbridge AEC Regent RLH48 (MXX 248) is preserved at the London Bus Museum following a long time in the ownership of Timebus Travel.
 
Lowbridge Regent RLH53 (MXX 253) is privately owned and takes part in the rallies in the London area.
Sister RLH61 (MXX 261) is in the Ensignbus special events fleet, while RLH69 (MXX 269) and RLH71 (MXX 271) are preserved with London Bus Company and both returned to operational condition in 2021.
RT961 (KGU 235) is preserved by Roger Wright, owner of heritage operator London Bus Company, which also has RT2150 (KGK 959), RT2799 (LYR 969), RT2911 (MLL 658) and several others in store, and has operational RTs in service.
RT594 (KLB 716) and RT329 (HLX 146) are among four ex LT vehicles in store at Sherborne, Dorset, not currently in active preservation. RT1884 (LLU 770) and RT4442 (NXP 796) changed hands in 2018 and are awaiting restoration with the new owner.
RT4825 (OLD 589), the highest numbered RT, is preserved at the London Transport Museum.
Other preserved Regents which can be found at rallies and running days include RT113 (FXT 288 - a 1940 model), RT227 (HLW 214) and STL1470 (CXX 457 - as tree lopper 971J), and members of the London Bus Company and Ensign operational fleets.

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London Routemasters

RM1 at Burnham Beeches during 2006 Windsor/Slough running daya
The first Routemaster, prototype RM1 has been restored to working order at the London Transport Museum and now appears at Rallies.
RM2 at East GRinstead during the 2016 running day
The second Routemaster prototype RM2 is also at the London Transport Museum. It turned out for the 2016 East Grinstead running day.
Prototype RML3 on the Cobham Bus Museum's shuttle service to Weybridge station
Prototype Leyland powered Routemaster RML3 (in this case the L means Leyland rather than long) is at the London Bus Museum and is licensed as a PCV to run on their service to Weybridge station.
RMC4 at Great Watley in 2011
The prototype Routemaster coach, RMC4, has been preserved for many years - originally by London Country. It is now in the operational fleet of The London Bus Company (so doesn't really qualify for this page but is too special to leave out).
Pre-production RM5 (VLT 5) passed into preservation in 2019 following several years in the Arriva London heritage fleet, and had been operational with Arriva London South until 2001. The first production Routemaster, and the last to enter passenger service with London Transport following 18 years as a test vehicle, RM8 is now preserved by the RM8 Club.

Early production Routemaster RM44 is preserved in the livery and identity of Southend Transport 122. It was one of a number purchased by Southend from London Transport.
RM66 at the Swansea Bus Museum
Towing bus RM66 is preserved by the RM66 Group and kept at the Swansea Bus Museum.
Open top RM120 (SSL 809 ex VLT 120), latterly with First London, was sold to a private owner in 2008 for preservation.

Private owner Jim Carr purchased RM196, and has it back out on the road following a respray.

RM202 (GAS 341 ex VLT 202) has been privately owned since 2004 and was for sale on eBay in 2020.

RM308 at Mumbles bus stop in 2010
RM308 is with Duane Curtis in Swansea and is regularly rallied in Wales and the south-west. The picture was taken at Mumbles in 2010.

RM316, which last ran in service with Reading Mainline, is with a preservation owner in Ireland.

Another preserved ex Reading Mainline is RM244 (which is currently registered VLT 250, the plate from RM250) in Wales.

RM349 at Didcot in May 2022
RM349 at Didcot in May 2022 


RM357 (WLT 357) is currently in store following the passing away of its former owner.

 RM378 is with Dave Green, Travelgreen, Doncaster, currently registered WFO 410, and is being immaculately restored.   Preserved RM506 was seen at the Aston Manor Transport Museum's farewell event in October 2011. The collection has moved to an alternative site at Aldridge but it is not yet open to the public.

RM577 is preserved in unpainted silver livery (which was carried for a while by RM577's body when it had the identity RM664) by John Braga, and is appearing at rallies. John also has a website dedicated to AEC Regals.

RM597 (WLT 597) has been restored to original London Transport condition and appeared at the route 65 running day in April 2021.

Preserved RM613 was seen working on loan to Southern Transit for one of their Bank Holiday special services in May 2018.

RM759 (WLT 759) is preserved by Michael Roulston at the Beith Transport Museum in a version of Glasgow City Transport livery carried when it operated a Glasgow city tour for First Glasgow.

RM835 ascends Windsor Castle Hill
RM835 is preserved by the Clydeside Preservation Society in the attractive livery of Clydeside Scottish, with whom it ran after initial withdrawal by London Transport. It was pictured at the Easter 2018 Kirkby Stephen Rally.


RM910 is preserved in Kelvin Scottish livery, representing the period in the 1980s when it operated for Kelvin as their 1929. It is owned by Gary Conn and Martin Guerr and kept at the GVVT Bridgetown depot.


This picture of RM835 and RM910 together was taken by Paul Veeny, who would like to acquire any other RM with Kelvin connections.

 
RM848 is now preserved in Buckinghamshire following a period of use as a private hire vehicle in the area.

RML896 and RM2198 are preserved by the former owners of Carousel Buses, in whose fleet they last ran as operational vehicles.

RM928 at the 2009 Alton rally
RM928 at the 2009 Alton rally.


Another preserved Routemaster that can be seen at rallies, RM938 at Detling in April 2018

RM980 at the 2009 Winchester running day
RM980, which worked for Stagecoach in Perth for a number of years before returning to East London, is now preserved in LT livery

RM1000 at the 2009 Alton running day
Landmark RM1000 seen giving free rides at the 2014 Alton running day.

Preserved since 1987, RM1001 (1 CLT) joined the fleet of Crosville Heritage, Weston-super-Mare in 2020, but retains its preserved status at the present.
RM1005 at the 2019 Imberbus event
RM1005 is owned by Transport for London's Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy, and is a regular visitor to running days and the annual Imberbus event which he jointly organsies.
RM1033 at the 2016 Winchetser running day
RM1033 is preserved by the owner of AEC Merlin MB90. Interestingly, during the period of body and running unit swapping by LT, 1033 acquired the body, A-frame and B-frame of RM1030 - so really it is 1030! More info can be found at the RM1033 website.
Preserved RM1058 (204 UXJ) changed hands in 2013 and is now with a private owner in Gloucestershire.

Smartly turned out RM1063 at an event in Detling in 2012.
RM1224 was sold by LT to United Counties and then passed to Stagecoach in Perth where it was re-registered UYJ 654. It was sold for preservation in 1997 and is now privately owned in East Grinstead.
RMF1254, the prototype forward-entrance Routemaster, which later moved from London Transport to Northern General, is now restored to active preservation with London Routemaster Bus Company, Wisbech, and was captured at an Epping Ongar Railway event in 2018.

RM1357 is in privately owned following a short spell with vintage bus operator Crosville of Weston-super-Mare. The picture shows at Imberbus 2019 with a previous owner.
RM1361 at Upminster in December 2023
RM1361 is privately owned but operates on loan to Ensignbus. It was seen on the December 2023 Ensignbus running day at Upminster.

An unusual RM in preservation is RM1368, which was converted to single deck after an arson attack in 1973 but saw little service as a PCV and passed into departmental service with LT. It was pictured in 2012.
Owner Andrew Morgan advises that it has its own photo gallery where you can see more pictures of it here:
http://www.routemaster.org.uk/galleries/index/members/page:6

Preserved RM1397 at Forest Row during the East Grinstead running day in 2014.

Preserved RM1400 has the registration number from RM1398 as the original is no longer available. It was pictured at the 2019 Imberbus event.

RM1414 (414 CLT) is preserved at the Manchester Museum of Transport.

Green Line RMC1456 (456 CLT) has been privately preserved for a number of years and changed hands in February 2013 after being sold at auction.

RMC1461 at Tadworth in august 2017
Green Line RMC1461 (461 CLT), which ended its working career running on London route 15 for Stagecoach, is preserved at the London Bus Museum and appears regularly at running days.

 

RMC1469 at Ryde in 2017
RMC1469 is resident at the the Isle of Wight Bus Museum.

RMC1476 at Langley during the 2006 Slough/Windsor running day
RMC1476 was pictured in NBC livery at a running day back in 2006.
RMC1497 (497 CLT) is another Routemaster coach preserved in Greenline livery. RMC1500 (RMC1486) at Chalfont St Giles during the October 2009 amersham running day
RMC1500 carries the registration plate from RMC1486 and displays that fleetnumber also. It is preserved in London Country bus livery, and has been active at rallies and running days. It changed ownership in November 2013.

RMC1510 (510 CLT) is preserved by the managing of Go North East and was pictured at the Imberbus running day in 2019.


 After 15 years in storage, Scania engined RM1527 changed hands in 2018 and is now preserved alongside RM1033 and MB90.


RM1650 (650 DYE) is preserved in the Queen's Silver Jubilee livery it carries as SRM3 in 1977, and had latterly been in the special events fleet of Centrewest and First Berkshire before being sold in 2018 and passing into preservation in 2020.

RM1737 (737 DYE) is preserved at the London Transport Museum.

RM1799 (799 DYE) is preserved in Kent following some time as an operational vehicle with Red Route Buses.


Privately owned RM1804 has been treated to a recent repaint and was seen at the Detling rally in April 2018.

Preserved RM1955 in a later variation of London Transport livery.
Preserved RM1955 in a later variation of London Transport livery, with the now famous roundel.

RM1973 is preserved by London Taxi Exports. It was bought straight out of service with Metroline where it ran the last Routemaster journey on the 390. It had a mechanical overhaul in 2012 and bodywork overhaul commenced in 2013 to restore it to fine condition.

 RM1990 at Twyford Waterworks during a May 2017 Winchester running day
RM1990 is preserved in the livery of Reading Mainline for whom it ran in the 1990s.

Also in Mainline livery, RM999 (WVS 423) and RM1859 (859 DYE), are preserved by Reading Heritage Transport and also used for heritage operations and hires.

Click to see full size pic of RM2037
RM2037 has changed ownership a few times and was on display at the Epping Ongar Railway's site at North Weald during an event organised by the London Bus Company in February 2022. It last ran in service with Reading Mainline / Reading Buses.

RM2059 (ALM 59B) has passed into preservation following the demise of Routemaster Buses (Crewe) and was based at the Bala Lake Railway in 2018.

 


Privately owned RM2097 is undergoing body work restoration but turned out for the London Bus Museum route 65 running day in April 2021.

RM2116 at thr 2018 Alton rally
Private owner Peter Legg has RM2116 in preservation and takes it regularly to rallies and running days, such as when seen at Alton in 2018.


Privately preserved RM2180 at the Fenland Busfest event based at Whittlesey in May 2022.

RML2185 (CUV 185C) and RML2266 (CUV 266C) are preserved by the proprieter of Carters Heritage Buses of Ipswich.


Preserved RM2213 (CUV 213C) pictured at Thorney Abbey, Cambridgeshire, in 2015.

One of the single batch of long-wheelbase Routemaster coaches built for Green Line work, and later transferred from London Country to London Transport as red buses on route 149, RCL2219 is preserved in its original Green Line livery at the Wythall Transport Museum.
http://www.wythall.org.uk/vehicles/vcuv219c.asp

RCL2233 at Newport, Isle of Wight in 2017.
Another of the RCLs in preservation is RCL2233, seen at the 2017 Isle of Wight Beer and Buses weekend in Green Line livery.

Sister RCL2254 is preserved in the livery of Bus Engineering Limited. RCL2260 is in the operational fleet of London Bus Company Ltd and also appears regularly at running days.


Open-top RCL2250 had been in Devon for NPSV use but was sold in 2016. Prior to that previous owner Ed Rowson oversaw its repaint into the original livery of Lincoln Green and restoration of some seating to the lower saloon.

RML2275 is preserved by a private owner in Wolverhampton.

RML2286 passed from the Stagecoach heritage fleetat Carlisle intom preservation in 2023.

RML2306 at the 2006 Gravesend running day
Lincoln Green "country" RML2306 at the 2006 Gravesend running day

 

RML2312 is preserved in the West Hampstead area (apparently owned by a countess!) and has recently been repainted from Metroline livery into original LT livery.

RML2321 (CUV 321C) and RML2480 (JJD 480D) returned to preservation ownership in Norfolk during 2021 following a spell in use as private hire vehicles with Bus & Us.

RML2330 in use at the 2009 Cobham running day
Green RML2330 stands among trees at the London Bus Museum's former Cobham site in October 2009.

RML2334 has been painted back into London Transport Country Bus livery, after a period of being in NBC green livery from its London Country days.
 
RML2364 is preserved in Lincolnshire following a change of ownership in 2021.
Privately preserved RML2391 has been operating for Classic bus North West on their Blackpool seafront service 12 in 2012.

RML2393 was bought for preservation in 2007 by private owner Kingsley Hamilton, who is restoring it to original condition. It passed its MOT after some mechanical work was done, but required a lot of cleaning, inside and out, after sitting under trees for three years in a pub car park. It is now a regular visitor to rallies and running days.

RML2396 preserved in Go-ahead style route 12 livery at the 2014 Alton rally. This bus moved to the Ensign Heritage fleet in 2023.

RML2401 (JJD 401D) is preserved in Norfolk following some time as an operational vehicle with Awaydays.

RML2402 (JJD 402D) is preserved in Kent following some time as an operational vehicle with Red Route Buses.

RML2412 in action at Windsor in June 2014
Privately owned RML2412 in action at Windsor in June 2014.

RML2440 at Amersham station in October 2015
Peter Cartwright, one of the organisers of the Amersham & District running days, owns green RML2440, which was seen at the annual Amersham Running Day in October 2015.


RML2443 is preserved by a private owner in County Durham and was pictured at Brough at Easter 2018.

RML2444 is a member of the Stagecoach preserved fleet, and is stored at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond.


RML2452 is preserved at the North West Museum of Transport, St Helens.


Following a spell in NBC green livery, preserved RML2456 has now been repainted into traditional Lincoln Green livery.


RML2463 in LT red livery at the 2013 Newbury rally.

RML2478 at Evesham July 2008
RML2478 is owned by one of the organisers of the GWR diesel gala and bus rally, and was seen on the Evesham-Toddington feeder for the 2008 event.

RML2486 entered private preservation in 2013 after previously being with London Bus Company.

RML2515 passed into preservation following the demise of  Routemaster Buses, and has been bought by RM Buses but is still based at the Crewe Heritage Centre.

RML2518 is privately owned in the Manchester area and appears at events in the north-west.

RML2539 (JJD 539D) is privately preserved in Kent.


Red RML2543 at the 2009 Alton rally

RML2547 is under preservation and based in the Hereford/Powys area.

RML2579 is privately preserved in London.


Red RML2589 at the 2008 Slough running day
RML2616 (NML 616E) is preserved in Nottinghamshire after spending some time as a wedding hire bus in the area/

RML2620 at the 2015 Worthing rally 
RML2620, which ran for much of its life at Holloway garage and was a golden jubilee vehicle in 2003, is preserved in Metroline livery. Also preserved in Metroline livery is RML2731.

Preserved RML2633 at Cannock garage
RML2633 is privately owned but is kept at Arriva's Cannock garage in Arriva livery.


RML2634 (NML 634E) has gone for preservation in West Sussex after being stood down as a private hire vehicle with Thisbus.com.

RML2666 (SMK 666F) is with a private owner in the south-east.


RML2686 is preserved and appears at rallies in the north of England.

 RML2716 is at the Dundee Museum of Transport.

RML2719 is with a private owner in Dorset.

RML2725 is with the proprietor of Kent Coach Travel (Travelmasters), Sheerness.


Former Centrewest and First Berkshire RML2735 was sold to Sir Peter Hendy in 2017 and is another regular at the annual Imberbus event.

 
Preserved RML2750 was seen in action giving rides at the 2012 Detling rally.

RML2755 (SMK 755F) is with a private owner in Wembley.

RML2759 (SMK 759F) is in preservation following a spell as a wedding hire bus.


RML2760, the last Routemaster delivered new to London Transport has passed to the London Bus Museum following a period on loan from Stagecoach.

 

Forward entrance RMA11 (NMY 648E), which was one of those originally used for BEA airport transfer duties, has joined the London Bus Company preserved fleet from a private preservationist in 2019. It had previously been used as a special events vehicle with Western Greyhound.


Forward entrance RMA14 (KGH 602D) is preserved in the BEA livery it carried when new for the central London to Heathrwo Airport shuttle service.

Sister NMY 645E  (RMA22) moved from storage in Ireland, where it was registered 67-KK-501, to Mullany's of Watford for restoration in 2018.

  FRM1 at the February 2018 Epping Ongar Railway rally
Unique forward entrance FRM1 is at the London Transport Museum and occasionally ventures out to rallies.
 

 

Thanks!

How much effort goes into preserving a bus? Well, Jonathan Wilkins has been keeping a diary of his restoration of SM106. You'll find it on his website. It's interesting reading and also demonstrates just how much time, money and effort is expended by those whose dedication to keeping these old vehicles in such good condition in museums and on the road for the benefit of us all. Thanks to all of you.

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