CAMDEN RUNNING DAY 17-11-24

An excellent day out with all proceeds going to Children In Need.

2024-11-17 RT1658 RF486 CAMDEN TOWN - BAYHAM ST 4765 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RT2177 RT3933 MORNINGTON CRESCENT 4799 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RT1658 FINSBURY PARK STATION 2179 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RM1962 RM848 CAMDEN TOWN - CAMDEN HIGHT ST 4904 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RM1933 HAMPSTEAD HEATH - SOUTH END GREEN 4852 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RT3491 CAMDEN TOWN - BAYHAM ST 4729 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RML903 CAMDEN TOWN - CAMDEN ROAD 4865 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

2024-11-17 RM848 MORNINGTON CRESCENT 4813 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

RT's fabulous machines, AEC engine, Wilson pre select box,what more could a driver want. I only ever drove one once, but I was hooked.

Thanks for posting the photos

 

It was a great day. Whilst I never lived in RT territory, a trip I had in one on Sunday took me back to when I rode on Bristol and Leyland equivalents as a kid.

 

As I grew up in 1950s Palmers Green, those RTs with the destination blinds set for route 29 were wonderfully evocative. Thank you!

 

I hasten to add, the one I drove had been sold on from it's life in London so it wasn't in the best condition or health, but it could still do the business. I imagined a driver (yes in London) sitting in the little cab, doing a full shift. How to cope with the London traffic ?? easy, throw the timetable away and just tootle round the route as best you could.

Nostalgia.

 

My father drove them for a living and much preferred the AEC to the Leyland equivalent, the RTL. Both types could be found on his regular route, the long No 47 Farnborough (Kent) to Shoreditch extended to Stamford Hill on Sundays. It was shared by three garages, Bromley, Catford and Dalston with most of the RTLs coming from Dalston. The crew changeover point was Catford, where my father was based, with Bromley men working from the south, Dalston from the north and Catford crews going both ways. The more pleasant run was ‘out in the sticks’ as they called it rather than ‘up to the smoke’ although the latter could mean some overtime if they got stuck in traffic.

 

I think that may be realistic. It’s in the first livery adopted by the new London Transport in 1933, I seem to remember a few buses painted in this way for the 50th anniversary in 1983

 

One for Victor.

That livery has been applied quite recently but not sure why. In the past some RMs carried special/heritage schemes but haven’t found any evidence yet that 848 was one of them.

 

Your reply arrived while I was answering Big Al. Towards the end of regular RM operations some heritage liveries appeared too.

 

Some excellent photos of a really good day. I wonder if it was you @Spamcan81 I spoke with briefly while waiting for the general liveried RM to finish its unscheduled break at Hampstead Heath?

 

If the person was tall, wearing specs, a blue beanie and had a moustache, that was very likely me.

 

It defeinely was then - nice to unknowingly meet you

 

Likewise.

 

I can recall Potters Bar garage receiving its first batch of RTs to replace the LT six-wheelers with open staircase. What still lingers on is the smell of the newly painted interiors.