The Routemaster Bus

This year (JULY 2004) the Routemaster Bus will be 50 years old. Conceived in the 1950’s and built until the late 1960’s. The use of Aluminium Alloys reduced weight and increased corrosion resistance. With a chassis less construction, semi automatic transmission, independent suspension, hydraulic braking and modular components, all combined to make the Routemaster, a bus for the future, thus, proving it to be one of the best buses ever produced.

The Routemaster was the last open platform bus to enter service in London and had a 17 year life span. Little did we know how long it would last. Routemasters had 64 seats and were within the weight limits of the 56 seat RT buses it was to replace.

The Routemaster as well as London, has been modeled in many provincial liveries, usually in 1/76th scale, the latest model of the Routemaster is being modeled in 1/24th scale from Sunstar and is the most ambitious project yet and captures the lines and detail of the bus superbly well. So here is to another 50 years of the Routemaster bus, although the Routemasters are being replaced by “Bendy Buses” in London, long may it be seen at bus rallies and on some of the streets of London, as well as in other cities in England.

1/24th scale Routemaster Bus RM8 by Sunstar

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