Covent Garden, 6th August 1989

The RT proved to be one of the most successful designs ever built, and was the backbone of the London Transport fleet from the late 1940s until the early 1970s. The last few took their final bow with London Transport in April 1979, although a number still exist today, mainly in preservation.

The RT/RF Register in association with London Transport organised a special rally in August 1989 to celebrate the bus which became the symbol of London and all that was best in British bus design.

What is an RT?

There has been some debate over the years as to what an RT is, the most popular opinion being that RT stands for Regent Type. Most buses were AEC Regents, although a few were Leyland chassis derived from the PD2. My personal opinion is that Regent Type is a little clumsy for London Transport and I prefer to believe that RT simply stands for Regent.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image

	RT1 was the prototype of a great fleet of nearly 7000 London buses and first ran in service in August 1939.
	Early RTs carried their route number on the front roof dome and were known as roofbox RTs, as shown by this example above and RT1. Buses at the rally were fitted with special blinds reading "fifty years of RT buses on the streets of London". At the time of the rally (1989), Ensign bus (now First Capital) were still operating the occasional RT in revenue earning service on London Transport route 62 (which also saw the last red RTs in 1979).
	During the 1989 rally, most of the vehicles went on a road run around central London. Two RTs are shown arriving back at Covent Garden following this tour.
	Various RTs parked at Covent Garden Plaza, 6 August 1989
	Classic design extended to the interior of the RT as shown in this view of the upper deck of a roofbox RT.
	Bradford Corporation 410, a roofbox RT next to a Green Line example.
	St. Helens Corporation also purchased a number of RTs, although for reasons best known to themselves, chose to transpose the number and via point displays as shown here.
	A number of eight foot wide vehicles known as RTWs were produced such as this example.
	Finally, a lucky shot. A classic RT complete with picture post eyes makes its way along New Oxford Street on 6 August 1989.

• Cobham 1991 • Dorking Classic Bus Running Day • Sunday in the Country • Last bus from Hawkhurst • London - Brighton 2005 • Fifty Years of the RT Bus • Maidstone Transport Centenary • Northiam • Southdown at 75 • Showbus •

Home

This page was updated on 08 May, 2008