RMC1490
Welcome
Welcome to the web page for Routemaster Bus RMC1490.

RMC1490 was built in 1962 by AEC and Park Royal Vehicles for London Transport's Green Line services.

RMC1490 entered service in October 1962 at Epping Garage. The bus received an overhaul at London Transport's Aldenham bus works in May 1967 where body B1516 was fitted.

On 1 January 1970 RMC1490 became property of the new National Bus Company subsidiary 'London Country' when London Transport's country area was transferred to the NBC. In May of 1972 RMC1490 was repainted into the then new green & yellow London Country livery.

In March 1973 RMC1490 was repainted into an overall advertising livery for London & Manchester Assurance and it is for this that most people remember the bus. To enable the advert to be seen more widely the bus was transferred to numerous garages during the next few years. In July 1975 the bus was repainted into a revised advert, again for London and Manchester Assurance.

In April 1977 RMC1490 lost the London & Manchester advert and was repainted into National Bus Company green livery. Less than two years later in February 1979 RMC1490 was withdrawn from service and stored.

June 1979 saw RMC1490 sold back to London Transport. Following a long period in store RMC1490 was converted for driver training use and entered service in this role in December 1980, still carrying green livery, from Shepherds Bush Garage. She was finally repainted red, at Aldenham works, in January 1981.

Following several years as a training bus based at various East London garages RMC1490 was refurbished and repainted in a special red and gold livery in March 1989 and re-entered passenger service on commuter route X15 which was introduced by the newly established 'East London' operating unit of London Buses. Unfortunately RMC operation on route X15 was short lived and in October 1992 RMC1490 was transferred briefly to Leyton garage as driver trainer before returning to Upton Park garage.

RMC1490 was withdrawn from service for the second time in September 1993. In November 1993 the bus was transferred to Plumstead Garage where it joined the Selkent Travel fleet as a private hire vehicle.

Upon privatisation RMC1490 joined the Stagecoach group. In October 1994 Stagecoach closed the Selkent Travel operation making RMC1490 redundant. The bus was retained within Stagecoach and transferred to Stagecoach Bluebird as part of the Stagecoach heritage fleet. It was nominally based at Perth depot and used for special events and it is reported that it was used on Perth city services during a vehicle shortage. When not in use at Perth RMC1490 was normally kept at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond, Fife.

In May 1997 RMC1490 was loaned to a group of Stagecoach London staff, the vehicle was used on special services in North Wales and at the Leyton Garage open day before returning to Perth.

In March 1998 RMC1490 was again loaned to Stagecoach London staff. The bus attended the Cobham bus rally in April and went to North Wales again in May and August.

RMC1490 never returned to Perth but was sold, to the group who had looked after it in London, for preservation. In November 1999 the bus was moved to Metrobus's Godstone depot where restoration work commenced. In March 2000 RMC1490 was repainted in blue and yellow Metrobus livery with the intention of operating it on Metrobus's route 473 to the Bluebell Railway on Sundays, however due to outstanding mechanical work this never happened.

In June 2001 RMC1490 left Godstone and was moved to Southlands Travel's Swanley garage for storage pending completion of vehicles restoration. This was an appropriate location for RMC1490 was she had been allocated there between April 1972 and March 1973. In October 2002 RMC1490 was moved to a private location in Shropshire. Unfortunately little work was completed on RMC1490 in Shropshire and in October 2005 the bus was moved to Wolverhampton for continued storage. Unfortunately the Wolverhampton site closed in September 2007 so RMC1490 moved again, this time to Crewe. It is hoped to finish the restoration of RMC1490 soon and when completed RMC1490 will join the www.routemasterbuses.co.uk fleet.

RMC1490 must be one of the most widely travelled Routemasters and possibly unique in that it has operated on public services in England, Scotland and Wales. When the restoration is complete a return visit to Scotland is planned!

Finally a request! You may notice that we are short of pictures of RMC1490 in LT/London Country days, if you have any pictures of the bus during this period that you would like to see on this site please contact me using the 'Leave a message' box on the right of this page. Thanks.
Most Recent Collections
1st Jan 1970
to 1st Jun 1979
London Country Days
With the transfer of London Transport's Country area services to the National Bus Company on 1/1/70 RMC1490 became NBC property. During this time RMC1490 became well know as she carried an overall advert for London & Manchester.
1st Jun 1979
to 1st Sep 1994
London Buses Days
In June 1979 RMC1490 was sold by London Country back to London Transport who used the bus as a training vehicle. In March 1989 RMC1490 along with several similar buses was refurbished, painted in a red/gold livery by the new East London operation and re-entered service on new express service X15. In 1992 the X15 was converted to OPO operation and RMC1490 was then used on route 15 and briefly for private hire work. In November 1993 RMC1490 was transferred to Selkent Travel and used as a dedicated private hire bus.
30th Sep 1994
to 14th Sep 1996
Scottish Vintage Bus Museum
Whilst owned by Stagecoach Bluebird RMC1490 was usually kept at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond, Fife when not in use. These views were taken during the 1995 & 1996 open weekends.
27th Apr 1997On the move - Perth to North Wales
In early 1997 agreement was reached for a group of Stagecoach London employees to borrow RMC1490 from Stagecoach Bluebird for use on special services at the Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales and later at the Leyton Garage open day in London. The pictures below show the journey from Perth to North wales.
2nd May 1997
to 6th May 1997
North Wales
On 3-5 May 1997 RMC1490 was used on special services in North Wales in connection with the 'Festival of Steam' gala on the Ffestiniog Railway. At the time the bus was on loan to a group of Stagecoach London staff, following the visit to North Wales the bus was taken to London to appear at the Leyton Garage open day.
10th May 1997Leyton Garage Open Day
On Saturday 10 May 1997 RMC1490 was used on special express service X38 from Leyton Green to Aldwych in connection with the Leyton Garage open day.
7th Jun 1997
to 8th Jun 1997
On the move - London to Perth
Following its appearance at the Leyton Garage open day on 10 May 1997 RMC1490 was returned to its owners, Stagecoach Bluebird, in Perth overnight on 7/8 June 1997. A selection of pictures from this marathon journey are below.
28th Mar 1998On the move - Perth to London
Following a sucessful period on loan to Stagecoach London staff in 1997 Stagecoach Bluebird again loaned RMC1490 in 1998. The bus was collected on 28 March 1998 and taken to Stagecoach Selkent's Bromley Garage.
5th Apr 1998Cobham Bus Rally
RMC1490's first public appearance of 1998 was at Brooklands Airfield during the Cobham Bus Museum's annual open day and bus rally. The bus was used as the control vehicle for the bus services.
1st May 1998
to 3rd May 1998
North Wales
In May 1998 RMC1490 went to North Wales again to operate on a special service for the Ffestiniog Railway. Accompanied by RMC1461 from Stagecoach East London the pair travelled to wales the day before the event and returned immeadiately afterwards.
1st Jul 1998
to 31st Oct 1999
Work at Bromley Garage
While in London RMC1490 was kept at Bromley Garage. The pictures below show some of the work that was carried out on the vehicle there.
29th Aug 1998
to 4th Sep 1998
North Wales
RMC1490 made a second trip to North Wales in August/September 1998, again to operate services for the Ffestiniog Railway.
28th Nov 1999
to 22nd Mar 2000
Restoration work at Godstone
In March 1999 RMC1490 was sold by Stagecoach Bluebird to the group of people who had been looking after the bus while it had been in London. In November 1999 it was moved to Metrobus's South Godstone depot where restoration work commenced.
23rd Mar 2000
to 27th Mar 2000
In and out of the paint shop
In March 2000 RMC1490 was repainted by Greenwells Coach painters in Loughton, Essex. Several people were suprised when the bus appeared from the paint shop on 27 March in Metrobus blue & yellow livery. At this stage it had been intended to use the bus when fully restored on Metrobus's Sunday route 473 that linked the Bluebell Railway to East Grinstead.
2nd Apr 2000
to 27th May 2001
Godstone Depot
A selection views of RMC1490 while based at Metrobus's Godstone Depot.
24th Jun 2001On the move - Godstone to Swanley
On 24 June 2001 RMC1490 moved out of Metrobus's Godstone Garage to Southlands Travel's Swanley Garage. This garage being the former London Transport 'SJ' garage. It was very appropriate that RMC1490 should go to SJ as she was actually allocated there as a London Country bus between April 1972 and March 1973.
28th Oct 2002On the move - Swanley to Shawbury
On 28 October 2002 RMC1490 was moved from Southlands Travels Swanley Garage where she had been stored since moving from Godstone to a new home at Shawbury in Shropshire. Having been off the road for some time and without an MOT the bus undertook the journey on suspended tow.
19th May 2006
to 3rd Sep 2006
In storage at Wolverhampton
Pictures of RMC1490 in storage in Wolverhampton. RMC1490 left Wolverhampton in September 2007 as the site it was stored in closed and is now kept at Crewe in Cheshire. It is planned to recommence restoration soon so that RMC1490 can join the www.routemasterbuses.co.uk fleet.
[ More collections | Calendar ]
RMC1490 History
Oct 1962 - New to London Transport, entered service at Epping Garage

May 1963 - Transfer to Harlow Garage

Nov 1964 - Transfer to Hatfield Garage

May 1967 - Overhauled at Aldenham works, received body B1516. Transfer to Garston Garage

Dec 1967 - Transfer to Guildford Garage

Jan 1970 - Ownership transferred to National Bus Company, in May repainted into London Country green & yellow livery

Apr 1972 - Transfer to Swanley Garage

Mar 1973 - Repainted into overall advert livery for London & Manchester Assurance. Transfer to Grays Garage followed by spells at Reigate, Northfleet, Windsor and High Wycombe

Jan 1974 - Transfer to Garston Garage followed by spells at Grays, Reigate, Northfleet, Windsor, High Wycombe and Garston.

Mar 1975 - Transfer to Grays Garage followed by Reigate

Jul 1975 - Repainted into revised London & Manchester Asurance overall advert. Transfer to Northfleet Garage followed by Windsor and High Wycombe.

Jan 1976 - Transfer to Garston Garage then Grays, Reigate, Northfleet, Windsor and High Wycombe

Jan 1977 - Transfer to Garston Garage then Grays

Apr 1977 - Repainted into National Bus Company green & white livery, transfer to Leatherhead in May

Aug 1978 - Transfer to Chelsham Garage

Feb 1979 - Withdrawn from service then stored at Radlett Airfield

Jun 1979 - Sold to London Transport, stored at Royal Victoria Docks then from October at Shepherds Bush Garage

Dec 1980 - Entered use as training bus

Jan 1981 - Painted red at Aldenham

Sep 1982 - Transfer to Upton Park Garage

May 1984 - Transfer to Seven Kings Garage then to Bow in September

Jun 1986 - Transfer to Upton Park Garage

Mar 1989 - Refurbished and entered service on routes 15, 15B & X15 from Upton Park

Oct 1992 - Transferr to Leyton Garage for driver training then back to Upton Park in November

Sep 1993 - Withdrawn from service

Nov 1993 - Transfer to Plumstead Garage as a private hire bus

Sep 1994 - Ownership transferred to Stagecoach

Oct 1994 - Transfer to Stagecoach Heritage fleet in Scotland

May 1997 - Used on special services in North Wales then at Leyton Garage open day in London

May 1998 - Used on special services in North Wales and again in August

Apr 1999 - Sold into preservation, in November transferred to Metrobus's Godstone depot, restoration commenced

Mar 2000 - Painted into Metrobus livery

Jun 2001 - Transferred to Southlands Travel's Swanley Garage

Oct 2002 - Moved to Shropshire for storage

Oct 2005 - Moved to Wolverhampton for further storage

Sep 2007 - Moved to Crewe for continued storage
Links
  • East London Bus Group
  • Ffestiniog Railway
  • Kevins Bus & Tram Pictures
  • Kevins Railway Pictures
  • Metrobus
  • RM2059 web page
  • Routemaster Buses Ltd
  • Scottish Vintage Bus Museum
  • Stagecoach
  • Fotopic.Net
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