RM1, RML898 & RMC1469 were just some of the buses running in service at Cobham's Routemaster Day on 28/8/06. Here they are on the old banked curve at Brooklands. (Neil Fraser)

During the afternoon at Cobham's Routemaster Day on 28/8/06 RM1 was posed next to the rebuilt and restored Concorde G-BBDG at Brooklands. It was a bit tricky getting them both in shot, and the sun was in the wrong direction as well, but two design icons together? Worth a try. (Neil Fraser)

Worthing's Bus Rally was the biggest ever, 100 buses present and AECs well represented including RM1 from the LT Museum. (Chris Gardner)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM1. (Chris Gardner)

RM1 seen at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley was B340's support tender on the London to Brighton run, 7/5/06. (Ted Taylor)

London Transport RM2 (SLT57), 1955 AEC Routemaster with Park Royal H36/28R body in original form as a green Country Area bus operating from Reigate (RG) garage on route 406. Kingston Railway Station, 1st July 1957. (Peter Relf)

Leyland/Weymann RML3 (SLT58) on the Brighton run, 6th May 2007. (Peter Quinn)

Routemaster RM5 seen leaving Brighton on May 3rd 2009. (Dave Gothard)

Keighley Bus Museum LT Running Day 10/4/05. RM7 leads the line up at Ingrow. (Kevin Jagger)

RM8 has received superb replica posters & blinds that recall its time as an exhibit on Park Royal's stand at the 1958 Commercial Motor Show (see inset; the front posters were added after the Show). Here it is at Gravesend on July 13th 2008. (Damon Cross)

RM8 parked up next to Metrobus M500 at the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway. (via John Law)

LT RM10 (VLT10) near Clerkenwell Green on 18th January 1960. (Peter Relf)

RM13 (VLT13) operating from Croydon (TC) Garage on route 68, photographed at Newington Butts, Elephant & Castle on May 2nd 1986. (Peter Relf)

Canvey Island: RM16. (John Law]

RM25 (855UXC, VLT25) seen in Sloane Square, 2005. (Jim Sambrooks via John Law)

Southend Transport 122 (VLT44, ex RM44) looking resplendent at Showbus, Duxford, on Sept 16th 2007. (NF)

1973 fire victim RM50 (VLT50) seen when new at Red Lion Square Holborn, the former trolleybus terminus, on December 30th 1959. (Peter Relf)

Sandtoft Gathering: Blackburn RM54 seen nearby at Ealand. (John Law)

RM110 is seen arriving at the Welsh Museum of Public Transport Swansea on 15-2-04. No there is nothing wrong with your computer, it really does look like this! 110 was used as a mobile clubroom by Smoke City Wheelers. (Ray Evans)

East Yorkshire 808 (VLT188, RM188) on loan to Darlington Transport in 1993. (Mark Harrington)

Keighley Bus Museum LT Running Day 10/4/05. RM196. (Kevin Jagger)

A rarely seen RM is about to undergo restoration back to 1980s livery. It is seen here in Northants in September 2007 about to depart for its new home in Swansea. (Keith Saunders via Chris Stanley)

Irish Routemaster RM316 (Chris Miller via Andrew Wright)

Irish Routemaster RM316 (Chris Miller via Andrew Wright)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM349 and RML2620. Chris Gardner)

RM349, Worthing Bus Rally, 25/7/04. (Chris Gardner)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM349. Chris Gardner)

RM349, Worthing Bus Rally, 25/7/04. (Chris Gardner)

RM432 seen in Malta in May 2009 being converted into a corporate hospitality vehicle, retaining its roof. (Peter Skerry)

Black Prince of Morley RM441 in Halifax on the 1990 Heart of The Pennines Rally. (Kevin Jagger)

Bolton Abbey and around Skipton: RM541 (789UXA, WLT541) and Huddersfield AEC Regent III JVH373. (Kevin Jagger)

Keighley Bus Museum LT Running Day 10/4/05. The somewhat battered RM541 acquired by the K.B.M. Trust. (Kevin Jagger)

Open top RM581 advertising the Hertfordshire Mercury in Hertford on 6/6/04. (John Law)

London Transport RM584 (WLT584), new in December 1960, seen in Finsbury Square on February 1st 1961 operating from Highgate (HT) Garage on route 271. (Peter Relf)

East London RM652 at Charing Cross, October 2007. (John Law)

East London Heritage Routemaster RM652 has received a revised livery of white relief, white fleetname and solid white roundel, as introduced to the RM-family in April 1974. Seen here on June 29th 2008 in the Strand. (Damon Cross)

RM737, Worthing Bus Rally, 25/7/04. (Chris Gardner)

RM738 running from Edmonton Garage with the experimental radiator grille designed to reduce noise levels. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RM797 (WLT797) from Stamford Hill garage at the Northumberland Park terminus of route 67. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Southend Transport 104 (WLT797) in London Road, Westcliff. (Steve Saunders via Peter Esposito)

East Yorkshire 802 (NRH802A, WLT798) in Hull. (Mark Pitman)

RM835 seen leaving Kirkby Stephen was one of the buses in use over the rally weekend.
(Dave Gothard)

RM875 on Finchley High Road at the stop just before the junction with the North Circular Road (Fallow Corner) on 31st March 1973. This RM was one of Finchley's original intake for routes 221 and 260. (Malcolm K Allan)

RM875 at speed in a brief spell of autumn sunshine near Brixton Garage on 29th October 2005.

RM875 on layover at Marble Arch, 29th October 2005. (Phil Trotter)

RM875 picks up in Whitehall on 29th October 2005. (Phil Trotter)

Blackpool Transport RM879 in 1992. (Phil Trotter)

1961 Routemaster ER882 (WLT882) seen at North Weald on July 1st 2007. RML880, 881 & 882 were delivered new as ERs, being renumbered RML before entering service. (Damon Cross)

Shorey Travel of Maulden Beds ER882 (WLT882) recreating its original allocation as a Finchley bus for route 104, seen at North Weald on July 6th 2008. (Damon Cross)

1961 RML883 (WLT883) from Finchley Garage at the Moorgate terminus of route 104. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RML884 well-laden in Ballards Lane, North Finchley in 1978. (Neil Fraser)

RML889. (Phil Trotter)

RML890 (WLT890/XFF814) at Aldgate in 1995. (John Law)

RML894 (787UXA, WLT894) now resides in Holland and here it is in the Oldtimermuseum De Rijke in Oostvoorne near Rotterdam. (Frank van der Weerden)

Restored GB RML898 on its first outing seen outside Hangar Number One at Duxford. RM1 and RML3 are parked inside, flanking Concorde 101. (Neil Fraser)

Ted Price's excellent RML898 at East Grinstead in April 2005. (Damon Cross)

Consecutive 1961 RMLs 898, 899 & 900 parked on the banked curve at Brooklands in August 2006 (Damon Cross)

Worthing Bus Rally: RML898. (Chris Gardner)

Blue Triangle RML900 at the depot. (aecav760, posted to londonbus)

Finchley's showbus RML903 (WLT903) nearing its destination on route 13. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

At the terminal in Barnet High Street on 9th July 1972 is RM908 running as FY3 on route 263. The bus was one of FY's original Trolleybus replacement stock. Note the Point Inspector's hut! (Malcolm K Allan)

Reading Mainline 15 (WVS423, RM999) in Market Square on March 30th 2008 whilst re-creating some of the former Reading Mainline routes. Withdrawn by LT in 1986, RM999 was bought for preservation in 1993 then acquired by Reading Mainline in 1994. Now owned by Mike Russell, former Reading Mainline MD. (Bob Lear)

Croydon's showbus RM1000 photographed in 1989 at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. (Richard Haughey)

RM1001. (Phil Trotter)

RM1001 at Duxford in 1995. (John Law)

RM1030. (Phil Trotter)

RM1097 (201UXJ, 97CLT) seen at a weekend show at RAF Woodvale (Lancs) in August. (Andrew Wright)

RM1101 from the Wirral seen at Malpas, 9/04. (Andrew Wright)

Wirral Museums' RM1101 on layover while heading for Showbus. (Buckie Lugger)

Pulfreys of Great Gonerby (Lincs) RM1109, next to RMA52, at Sandtoft in 1987. (John Law)

1990 view of Blackpool 534, ex RM1123. (John Law)

One of the best preserved Routemasters is RM1138 seen at Cobham in August 2006. Restoration of the offside blind box and bonnet badge would be the icing on the cake! (Damon Cross)

Myson RM1196 at Aldgate Minories. (John Law)

RM1214 next to new AEC Southall sign, Halifax. (Lance Blackman)

Halifax 214CLT and Sheffield Bridgemaster rest at Abington services after the journey to the Scottish Vintage Bus Musuem open weekend. (Lance Blackman)

214CLT and 1925WA joined the following morning by PFN858 owned by Tony Blackman. (Lance Blackman)

BEA RMF1254 (254CLT) with baggage trailer seen at London Airport with 4RF4 coaches MLL744 & MLL748. (Derek Driscoll)

Northern General 2145 (254CLT, originally LT RMF1254) on service 76 to Newcastle. (Duane Fryer collection)

Arguably the best preserved Routemaster of all is RMF1254 which reappeared for the first time in nearly 25 years at the RM50 event at Finsbury Park in July 2004. This glorious photo was taken at Duxford Showbus in September 2006. (Damon Cross)

RMF1254 made the long trek from Rainham to Newark to participate in the 25th AEC Society rally held on the outskirts of the showground. Not listed in the programme, but a welcome sight on a very blustery day. (NF)

RM1274. (Phil Trotter)

RM1288 at Showbus in 1984, after overhaul and conversion to offside entrance, and prior to its shipment to Hong Kong in September 1984, from where it would attend trade fairs and tour southern China in the hope of attracting large-scale orders for LT's redundant RMs. (Duane Fryer collection)

RM1289 seen attending a wedding on the Wirral, 15/7/06. (Andrew Wright)

RM1368 at Duxford in 1999, flanked by RM1224 and RMC1453. (John Law)

RM1395 at Tottenham Hale Station c1973. (John Law)

Ashley Lennox-Kay's RM1397 ready for its journey home to east Kent on December 3rd 2007 following a thorough refurbishment at London Bus & Truck. (Chris Stanley)

RM1397 on the 159's 2nd anniversary run on December 8th 2007. (N Edward-Few via Chris Stanley)

Hatfield's RMC1455 waits at the Skys Wood Road stand in the Marshalswick district of St Albans. Running as HF24 it will depart with much haste towards Hertford Bus Station on route 341. May 1972. (Malcolm K Allan)

Sandtoft Gathering: RMC1459. (John Law)

RMC1476 (476CLT) preserved in LCBS National Bus Company livery seen at the Alton rally in July 2005. (Damon Cross)

A rare shot of RMC1492 at North Weald in 1999 after it was reregistered WSJ382 and repainted in London Country bus livery. It was subsequently sold and exported to Poland for use as a mobile office. (Damon Cross)

RMC1500 lost its reg 500CLT in 1991 and has since been re-registered 486CLT and renumbered RMC1486; probably the last RM-type to change its identity! Repainted in authentic 1972/73 London Country bus livery with yellow relief and LT gold fleetnumber, it is seen at North Weald on July 6th 2008 (Damon Cross)

Standing outside Hertford Garage on 8th April 1972, Green Line RMC1505 will shortly depart for its lengthy journey through Central London and out to Guildford running as HG85 on the 715A. (Malcolm K Allan)

RM1593 seen at Oxford Circus, 1994. (John Law)

Worthing Bus Rally: SRM3 (RM1650). (Chris Gardner)

RM1652. (Phil Trotter)

Keighley Bus Museum LT Running Day 10/4/05. RM1691 & RML2515 at Ingrow Station. (Kevin Jagger)

Another 'oldie' from years gone by: RM1698 is overtaken by RM60, both operating on route 11. (Phil Trotter)

RM1699 photographed crossing the river at Finchingfield during the Ridgewell road run on 9/7/06. (Richard Haughey)

Southampton 408 (713DYE) back in 1987. (John Law)

Former RM1767 (767DYE) after sale to the Winged Fellowship Trust. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Western Greyhound RM1783 (783DYE) at Newquay, ex London Coaches. (Jim Sambrooks/John Law)

RM1788 seen at the British Car Day in Oakville Ontario on 19/9/04 is now owned by Gord Welham, trading as The Double Decker Bus Company. (Paul Bateson)

RM1833. (Phil Trotter)

Timebus RM1871, Liverpool Street 2003. (John Law)

Former RM1888 (888DYE) after sale to Double Deck Tours of Niagara Falls, Canada. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

TfL's entry in the Lord Mayor's Show on 12/11/05 was RM1933, one of the Heritage Routemasters (complete with AEC badge), seen here in Cheapside. (Neil Fraser)

Platinum RM1933 (ALD933B) at Wisley Airfield on April 6th 2008 in a special livery commemorating the centenary of London Transport's bus garage at Bow. (Mark Pitman)

RM1941, Carlisle 1992. (Phil Trotter)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM1955 at Chris Gardner's house. Chris was lucky enough to drive the RM on a circular route around Goring and Worthing. (Chris Gardner)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM1955 at Chris Gardner's house. (Chris Gardner)

Another contender in the 'best preserved Routemaster' stakes is RM1962, seen here at Duxford Showbus in September 2006. (Damon Cross)

New RM2000 (ALM200B) outside the now-demolished Broad Street Station when operating from Dalston (D) Garage on route 9, 3/9/64. (Peter Relf)

RM2010 (AV690) at Southall Works when new in 1964. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Reading Mainline 30, or RM2037. (John Law)

Former Delaine RM2059 has been restored to 1980s LT condition. Seen here in Queen Victoria Street working the Heritage extras on September 30th 2007. (Bob Lear)

Blackpool Transport RM2071 in 1996. (Phil Trotter)

RM2097 (ALM97B) is a frequent rally entrant and is gradually being renovated. Seen at Alton in July 2005. (Damon Cross)

Worthing Bus Rally: RM2116. (Chris Gardner)

Southend Transport 112 (CUV124C) outside the garage. (Steve Saunders via Peter Esposito)