DSCF2033 Former London Transport RM664 (WLT 664) (860 UXC)

Saturday 31 October 2015 - Unlike provincial buses which have a firm identity from cradle to grave, with London Routemasters it is nigh on impossible to say a particular bus is a particular bus. This former AEC/Park Royal Routemaster carries bonnet number RM664. During the legendary overhauling process employed by London Transport at its Aldenham Works buses entering would later emerge with a different identity so this wouldn’t have been the same RM664 that achieved fame when new in July 1961 as operating in unpainted aluminium finish. In a similar way that some London Underground trains were treated at the time, this was to test if this idea was practical to save weight, operational costs etc. It remained unpainted for four years and in August 1965 received the normal red livery and in 1998 it passed to Arriva London South. The original registration number of RM 664 was WLT 664 but it was re-registered to 860 UXC in June 2004. In August 2004 it was sold to Ensign, the Essex based bus dealership and in September 2004 it was bought by a Mr P Betts of Framlingham, Suffolk. In this photograph the bus is seen at Easton Farm Park, Easton – a family attraction about four miles south of Framlingham where it appeared to be used as a static accessible attraction. Ian’s Bus Stop website contains a history of the bus numbered RM664 and its garage allocations (with dates) throughout its life. www.countrybus.org/RM/RM7g06.html