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.
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One of the original batch of long Routemasters RML885 was transferred to Hanwell in December 1971 for use on 207. Later it moved to Westbourne Park were it remains in the ownership of Centrewest and is used on routes 7 and 23 In another scene from Acton Tram Depot's Centenary. RML885 visits Uxbridge as a special 607 for the day |
©Martin G. Layton |
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After an unhappy flirtation with DM class Daimler Fleetlines covered in the next chapter 207 was blessed with a second spell of Routemaster operation with RMs & RMLs working from September 1982.
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| RM600 passing Ealing Broadway. Compare this with the tram photos at the same location | RM2160 outside Ealing Hospital | RM2191 overtaking M343 at Southall (HW) Garage |
From the photo library of Lars F. Richter |
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| RML2551 at Church Road Hanwell with RML2546 behind 9 March 1985 | RML2275 passing St.Bernard's Hospital 9 March 1985 | RML2270 turning at Haven Green 20 July 1985 |
©Unknown |
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The two rear views taken at Ealing Common about 1983 are the only specimens of my own work with RMLs on 207 and they were taken just because I needed an image to illustrate "The back of a bus" for a talk on studio photography. RML2614 is both a fine example of the sort of image that can be found on stalls at bus rallies etc. but a poor example of the standard of bus presentation in the mid-80s with its generaly grime smeared appearance and its indian red wheels looking road dirt grey !
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| RMLs 2521 & 2584 in the second spell of RML operation on 207 | RML2614 at Shepherd's Bush 26th October 1986 | |
First 2 photos ©Martin G. Layton |
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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 & RML2614.
Mention of "deregulation" links neatly on to another chapter bringing the story of 207 into the OPO era.