What is said to be the largest ever display of heritage Routemaster buses takes place this weekend at Finsbury Park.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the famous bus, the event runs on both Saturday and Sunday and — baring mechanical failures — should see over 150 of the double-decker buses rolling into town for people to look at, climb in, and ride around in.
They have a bus coming from Germany, from France, from Scotland, numerous Routemasters that have returned to the UK, many that have been specially prepared for this event, including many vehicles that have repainted and several Routemasters making their rally debut at this event.
The Routemaster 60 event is free and open on Sat/Sun from 10am to 6pm. Nearest tube station is probably Manor House, although it’s only a short walk from Finsbury Park.
Events
Routemaster Parades at 2pm on both days
The Buses from the Decades Parade will take place on Sunday at noon
Catering buses – including Routemasters of course, with RML2291 and RML2715 confirmed
Special vehicle displays – including Historic Vehicle displays from the decades before and after the Routemaster
…and the usual collection of stalls and displays that come with any heritage event of this sort.
Free bus rides
For both days of the Routemaster 60 event, there will be operating a free circular service numbered X60 by Routemasters from outside the park and adjacent to Manor House station.
The service starts at 11am on both days; it finishes at 5:30pm on the Saturday and 4:30pm on the Sunday.
I went on Sunday and it was the perfect day for such an event in that it bright, but not hot, and still so you did not have to fight any wind to get a picture, especially if all you had was the camera on your phone. I was able to relive my youth on the buses and even hopped aboard the Routemaster’s predecessor on which I made journeys to school back in the late – let’s draw a veil over when.
I took a few snaps before the camera app went into spasm, but I have enough for a reminder of the day as well as a little model. I am glad I made the journey as I missed the Regent’s Street event. I shall make sure that I get a ride on route 9 before it is withdrawn. Happy days.
I went on Saturday (I was cat-sitting in London randomly, and had no idea this was going on until I looked at ianvisits). Delightful. My favourite was the BEA-liveried one, which reminded me of childhood days when I used to see them emerge from West London Air Terminal and turn west onto the Cromwell Road towing a trailer full of checked-in luggage, like this pic. I got chatting to the old gent in charge of the BEA Routemaster, and he said the build quality of the trailers was so poor that they separated at speed on the M4 on forty separate occasions! Not nice to be behind that!
Sunday early evening about 5.20pm a lovely surprise on the A1(M) going North towards Hatfield I passed RM7 and in front of it was the BEA marked Routemaster. It made my day. Do you know who owns those buses ? Going into Welwyn Garden City I saw another Routemaster which was in dark blue with advertising painted on the body. Any knowledge of that one ? If you can help I would be obliged
Yours faithfully
Maurice Garfield 4 Glengall Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8ST
@George: my camera went haywire just as I was about to take a picture of the BEA bus (boo, hiss). I intend to go to Imber in August. It will be a bizarre experience to ride a Routemaster on the empty wastes of Salisbury’s Plains.