Leon of Finningley ex-LT RT155, Waterdale Bus Station, Doncaster. (John Law)

Simpson's of Rosehearty in Aberdeenshire RT3 HLW144, former RT157. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT167 at Bird's Stratford upon Avon premises circa 1964. (Bob Martin)

Bradford Corporation 408 (HLW155), former London Transport RT168. The roof-box has been removed by Bradford and the LT destination display altered to the standard Bradford layout. (Peter Relf)

Bradford 410 on the Trans Pennine run, August 5th 2007. Former RT172 (HLW159) was 10 years old when acquired by Bradford where it served for another 10 years. Superbly preserved in blue & off-white livery. (Peter Quinn)

Bradford RT172 at the Manchester Museum of Transport London Bus Day on April 20th 2008. (Doug Spencer)

RT172 & RT2794 at the Manchester Museum of Transport London Bus Day on April 20th 2008. (Kevin Jagger)

RT173 (HLW160) in 1964 with Ronsway of Hemel Hempstead. (Bob Martin)

Former RT188 (HLW175) after sale to Red Rover of Aylesbury. Its RT3 body has been "modernised" by removing the roofbox. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

2½ year old RT227 working the 130 to New Addington takes its layover at the Barclay Road 'yard' in East Croydon next to RTW334, shining and unadorned with adverts. (David Simpson)

Keighley Bus Museum LT Running Day 10/4/05. RML2515 seen from RT227. (Kevin Jagger)

Swansea Festival of Transport: RT227 (HLW214) and RML2267 (CUV267C). (Phil Trotter)

RT249 converted into an expo bus and seen parked outside a hypermarket "somewhere in France". (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Seen at Barclay Road stand in East Croydon around 1950 this shot of RT322, a 3RT3 with roof-box body and 3RT8 RT957, offers a comparison of the wartime restricted blind displays fitted to the two styles of body. (David Simpson)

Former RT331 with Severns of Dunscroft. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

T Severn & Sons of Dunscroft HLX148, AEC Regent III O961326 with Weymann roof-box H30/26R body, ex LT RT331. (Peter Relf)

RT336 (HLX153), AEC Regent III O961356 with Weymann roofbox H30/26R body in Croydon High Street operating on route 197 from Croydon (TC) Garage. Note the different tarmac surfaces where the tram tracks have been removed. 19th June 1959. (Peter Relf)

Continental Pioneer HLX177, former LT RT360. (Chris Stanley collection)

Former RT394 (HLX211) in Worswick Street, Newcastle. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Charlton-on-Otmoor RT3 HLX215 (former RT398) at Gloucester Green, Oxford. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Bradford 425 (HLX228), ex RT411. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT448 (HLX265) with Park Royal body fitted at Aldenham overhaul the previous month, operating on route 194A from Elmers End (ED) garage. 2nd September 1958. (Peter Relf)

Seen when only a year or so old, RT450 lays over at the small yard off Barclay Road in East Croydon, the terminus of route 130. (David Simpson)

RT452 (HLX 269) with Park Royal roof-box body (LT no.1641, fitted at Aldenham overhaul in February 1958), on route 190 from Thornton Heath Garage. Photo dated: 23rd April 1958.

Margo of Bexleyheath RT3 HLX333, former RT516. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT518 (HLX335) working from New Cross (NX) Garage on the London Sightseeing Tour. Buckingham Palace Road, 20th August 1959. (Peter Relf)

RT561 (HLX378) with Weymann RT8 body operating on route 119 from Bromley (TB) garage. 23rd May 1959. (Peter Relf)

London Country RT604 from Chelsham Garage making an appearance on Green Line 706. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Looking rather shabby towards the end of its life as a driver trainer, RT632 rounds the corner into Cumberland Gate from Park Lane, circa 1978. (Nigel Blair)

Illustrating the camber buses had to contend with in the good old days, RT730 stands (leans?) at the West Croydon terminus of route 75 circa 1950. Note trolleybus wires for the 654 to Crystal Palace. (David Simpson)

London Transport RT819 (JXN197), AEC Regent III/Weymann H30/26R, operating from the since-closed Elmers End Garage in the days before the fitting of flashing direction indicators. Katharine Street, Croydon, 23/4/58. The buildings in the background were all demolished in the 1960s. (Peter Relf)

Swansea Festival of Transport: RT935. (Phil Trotter)

RT941 (JXN331), RT4795 (NXP937) & RT2449 (KLB828) at Catford Garage. (John Law)

Former RT961 (KGU235) after sale to Abegweit Sightseeing Tours of Charlottetown, Canada. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT1000 (JXN28) from Dunton Green Garage ao route 454 at Sevenoaks Bus Station. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

London Country RT1018 at the 1979 Bristol Bus Rally. (John Law)

Saunders-bodied RT1168 at Selsdon around 1949/50. (David Simpson collection)

London Borough of Redbridge playbus KGK709, former RT1240. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Roofbox-bodied KLB510 (former RT1261) was sold to Gibson Brothers of Barlestone, Warks, later passing to Margo of Streatham. (Jeff Lloyd collection/Peter Relf)

RT1290 (KLB539) with Saunders H30/26R body at Barclay Road in Croydon, roughly where the Fairfield Halls are now. Can anyone name the crew? 19/3/58. (Peter Relf)

The not often seen Saunders RT1320 (KLB569), one of only a handful left now, photographed at Blue Triangle on May 19th 2007. (Ashley Lennox-Kay via Chris Stanley)

Rare Saunders-bodied RT seen at Northfleet on July 28th 2007. RT1320 (KLB569) entered service in February 1950 and was withdrawn in 1968. Ten years later in 1978 it was hired back to LT as a trainer at Camberwell & Chiswick for a short period. (Chris Stanley)

1950 AEC Regent III (ex-RT1377/KXW476) taken in Malta on March 25th 2009. (Peter Skerry)

RT1379 owned by Gary Cooper seen at the start of the Cornish Coastal run on its first run out. (Gyles Carpenter)

Fabulous Saunders-bodied RT1396 (KXW495), owned by the Alpha Bus Co Ltd from Milton Keynes, in appalling conditions at North Weald airfield on July 6th 2008. (Mark Pitman)

Ensignbus' Cravens RT1431 at Finsbury Park Station, 2005. (Jim Sambrooks via John Law)

Ensignbus RT1431 (JXC194), 1948 A.E.C. Regent III with Cravens H30/26R body. Although we are mourning the end of Routemaster operated routes in London, one of the by-products has been the brief return to service of RT-family vehicles, as here for the final day of Routemasters on the 19. Charing Cross Road, 1/4/05. (Peter Relf)

Cravens RT1433 on LT Country Area service. (Peter Snell collection via Chris Stewart)

Cravens RT1438 (JXC201) new in 1949 and with LT until 1955. From 1960 to 1967 was with McGill's Bus Services of Barrhead. (Chris Stanley collection)

Saunders-bodied RT1677 (KXW323) in Cheapside on route 141A from Holloway (J) Garage, 22/8/64. (Peter Relf)

New RT1690 on the 54 has just arrived at Selsdon village terminus. The lack of traffic is very apparent. (David Simpson)

Preserved RT1700 (KYY527) visiting Perry's Ford dealership in North Finchley. (Neil Fraser)

RT1702 (KYY529) seen at the Alton rally on July 17th 2005. (Damon Cross)

Stunning photo of RT3-bodied RT1705 (KYY532) taken at the Alton rally on July 17th 2005. (Damon Cross)

Brand new RT1758, a Park Royal bodied 3RT8 as yet uncluttered by ads, picks up in Selsdon Road at Arkwright Road stop. Not another vehicle in sight! Those were the days. (David Simpson)

RT1759 (KYY597), a Park Royal 3RT8, seen in Selsdon Road at the southbound Arkwright Road stop with the woods of Croham Hurst rising in the background, soon after entering service in May 1950. The lack of traffic 55 years ago is noteworthy. (David Simpson)

1950 AEC Regent III/Park Royal RT1784 seen at Gaydon on June 14th 2009. (Dave Gothard)

RT1798 (KYY653) seen at the Alton rally on July 17th 2005. (Damon Cross)

RT1798 (KYY653) seen at the Alton rally on July 16th 2006. (Damon Cross)

RT1829 (KYY684) with Saunders H30/26R body. Note the experimental lighter gold fleetname and the use of a rear blind in the front via box. Zion Road, Thornton Heath, April 1967. (Peter Relf)

RT1876 (LLU762) reaches the end of Goldcrest Way in New Addington running as TH15 on route 130A, about to make a right turn into King Henry's Drive and on to the terminus at Salcot Crescent. March 1973. (Malcolm K Allan)

RT2013 (LUC 239), AEC Regent III O961.5369/Weymann H30/26R operating from Rye Lane (RL) garage on route 36A. New Cross Road 29/5/62. (Peter Relf)

RT2071 (LYF9) as EW6 on route 292 waits in the Edgware Road at Burnt Oak Broadway in April 1973. (Malcolm K Allan)

RT2079 (LYF17) at North Woolwich in the early 1970s. (John Law)

RT2094 (LYF32), AEC Regent III O961.5584 with Weymann roof-box H30/26R body, operating from Sidcup (SP) Garage on route 161 and seen at Parsons Hill Woolwich on April 22nd 1959. (Peter Relf)

RT2119 (KLB984), AEC Regent III O9613389 with roof-box Park Royal H30/26R body operating from Reigate (RG) Garage on route 405. RT 2119 was one of a small batch (2116-21) that were fitted from new with ex-float overhauled roof-box bodies. Swan & Sugar Loaf, South Croydon, 4th July 1959. (Peter Relf)

RT2293 (KGU322) photographed at Wisley Airfield on April 3rd 2005. (Damon Cross)

The Pearly Appeal Bus RT2300, KGU329, prepared for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Open top RT2322 (KGU351) in Brighton. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT2427 (KLB806), AEC Regent III with Saunders H30/26R body operating on route 167. High Street, Loughton - outside the garage. 30th April 1966. (Peter Relf)

Guernseybus 14 (54636), former RT2494. (Chris Stewart)

Lesney Matchbox RT4399 (NXP753), RT2591 (LYF316), RT2494 (KXW123) & RT2043 (LUC291) at Hackney. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Super Coaches of Upminster KXW125 (former RT2496 with early RT3-style roofbox body) seen in Hornchurch on 20 October 1962. Acquired by Samuel Ledgard of Leeds in 1965. Exported to France and re-registered 9650-GW-76. (Peter Snell collection via Chris Stewart)

Further to PR's shot of RT2504, here is RT2503 (KXW132) when new in 1950 working the 403 route at Westerham. Note the cream upper deck window surrounds and restricted indicator display. (David Simpson)

London Country RT2504 (KXW133) in then then-new "Flying Polo" livery seen in 1971 at the Swan & Sugar Loaf, South Croydon. (Peter Relf)

Lesney Matchbox RT2591 (LYF316) & RT2952 (MXX41) at Hackney. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT2636 (LYF361) with Weymann body photographed in Station Road, West Croydon on the first day of route 154, 4th March 1959. Strangley, buses were still being outshopped from Aldenham in 1959 without flashing direction indicators. (Peter Relf)

RT2657 at Paris Transport Museum, St Mande, July 1984. (Phil Trotter)

RT2695 & RM227 on stand at the Royal Forest Hotel in Chingford. A classic photograph from Jeff Lloyd's collection.

RT2730 (LYR714) located in Hagen near Dortmund in Germany is urgently in need of a new owner to keep it in preservation. (Christoph Heuer via Chris Stanley)

RT2827 preserved in Osborne's of Tollesbury livery and seen at the Castle Point Bus Museum in Essex. (Richard Haughey)

Another view of the Castle Point RT. (Richard Haughey)

Canvey Island: The famous Osborne's of Tollesbury RT and ex Post Office Maudslay lorry MYF974. (John Law)

Normand Electrical Co (Portsmouth) staff bus RT2911 seen at Southsea Castle in 1974. Normand also had two RFs. The RT survives, with Ensignbus. (Dave Chalker, Rally Secretary, Southsea Spectacular)

Normand Electrical staff bus RT2911 based at Cosham, Portsmouth. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT2972 (NLE740) leads a sorry line of RTs awaiting the end at Wombwell Diesels in Barnsley. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

The Transport & General Workers Union recruitment bus (former RT2986, NLE757) has returned to Hollway Garage for attention. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

LT Country Area RT3002 from Tring Garage on route 301. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT3012 (NLE902) at Crawley Bus Station on December 31st 1969, the last day of LT Country Area buses before the formation of LCBS. (Peter Relf)

Saunders bodied RT3062 visits Beaumaris. (Andrew Wright)

Blue Triangle RT3062 (KXW)171 was one of many vehicles marking the end of Routemasters in London, seen here passing Horse Guards' Parade in Whitehall on 8/12/05. (Peter Relf)

London Transport RT3080 (KXW189), AEC Regent III with Park Royal H30/26R body, operating from Muswell Hill (MH) Garage when seen at London Bridge Station on November 8th 1958. (Peter Relf)

London Country RT3115 (KXW224) from Chelsham Garage on the 403 Express to Warlingham. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Former RT3124 (KXW233) used as a source of spares for "Hollywood Restaurant" RT3813 in Benfleet. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT3128 (KXW237) from Dunton Green Garage on the 403 at Sevenoaks. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

About to set off for Bennetts Gate in Hemel Hempstead, RT3130 (KXW239) as TG6 on route 302 waits time by the phone box in Chiltern Avenue, Little Bushey in May 1973. (Malcolm K Allan)

Design classic! Country Area RT3148 in service on the Sevenoaks Country Bus Running Day on May 18th 2008. (Damon Cross)

RT3148 turns at the bus station. (John Law, Hertford 6/6/04)

Ex-London Country RT3154 served for some years as a static tea bar at Audley End House near Saffron Walden in Essex. It was in reasonable shape then but it would later suffer from exposure. Now restored in LT Lincoln Green livery. (NF)

Stevenage & Hertford Running Day 5/6/05: RT3183 at Hertford. (John Law)

Green Line RT3228 (KYY957) seen at the Alton rally on July 17th 2005. (Damon Cross)

Green Line RTs 3228 & 3254 on the Hertford Running Day, June 7th 2009.
(Nigel Edward-Few via Chris Stanley)

Green Line RT3228 at Stevenage on the Hertford Running Day, June 7th 2009. (John Law)

Ensignbus RT3232. (Phil Trotter)

RT3238 (KYY967) photographed near High Wycombe after passing its MOT in 2007. Due to be unveiled fully restored in Green Line livery at the Cobham Open Day in April 2008. (N Edward-Few via Chris Stanley)

London Country RT3244 (LLU603) operating on route 477 from Swanley (SJ) Garage and seen at Station Approach Orpington on September 18th 1970. (Peter Relf)

Canvey Island: RT1702 (KYY529) and RT3251 (LLU610), two fine examples of the type. (John Law)

Preserved RT3254 in St Albans on 14/1/07. (Mark Pitman)

Preserved Green Line RT3254 with specially prepared 803 Express blue blinds, seen in St Peter's Street St Albans on January 13th 2008. (Damon Cross)

LT RT3264 (LLU623), AEC Regent III with Saunders H30/26R body in Cheapside operating on route 4 from Holloway (J) garage. By this time offside route number plates were no longer being used. 11th May 1964. (Peter Relf)

Blue Triangle RT3435 (LYR854) at Wembley Coach Park on Cup Final day, May 19th 2007. (Peter Relf)

RT3491, Staines 1993. (Phil Trotter)

A fine line up of RTs taken at Showbus - well worth the 1200 mile round trip. (Buckie Lugger)

[7553] Stevenage & Hertford Running Day 5/6/05: RT3496 at Hertford. (John Law)

A fine study of RT3496 with RT3 type body in Country Area livery seen at Carlton Colville. (Peter Newman)

City Coaches RT3528 (MLL838) in Brighton, previously owned by Samuel Ledgard of Leeds. (Ken Steley via Mr BG)

Former RT3622 (MXX137) of well-known Yorkshire independent Samuel Ledgard. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

Samuel Ledgard RT3634. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT3634 ex-Samuel Ledgard and an old Monarch Mk III at W North's yard. (Jeff Lloyd collection)

RT3775 (NLE882) was retained by London & Country for occasional use. (Jeff Lloyd collection)