LONDON TRANSPORT RM2208 (CUV 208C)

Photo: Malcolm King

AEC Routemaster

Body: Park Royal

Date new: April 1965

In 1979 London Transport celebrated 150 years of buses by painting twelve Routemasters, one DM & RCL 2221 (as the cinema/exhibition unit) into the Shillibeer livery.

The very first bus to carry fare-paying passengers and a conductor had been introduced by George Shillibeer. This was a carriage of superiority over the ordinary stage-

coach, all the passengers being inside. The fare charged for passengers travelling from Paddington to The Bank was 1/- (one shilling, equivalent to 5p in today's money), and from Islington to The Bank or Paddington 6d (2½p). In 1829 this was expensive!

Below is a full history of all RM2208's allocations and overhauls. (It is a scrolling text-box - just click anywhere in the box and use your mouse wheel to scroll up or down, or use the arrow buttons at the bottom left corner of the box).

Apr 1965 Aldenham (ALD) unlicensed.

May 1965 Hackney (H) Routes 6/6A Converted to RM operation.

Sep 1966 Hendon (AE).

Jul 1969 Repaint (red).

Jul 1969 Enfield (E).

Mar 1972 Overhaul Aldenham (Body No. 2145 fitted).

Mar 1972 New Cross (NX).

Mar 1975 Repaint (red).

Nov 1978 Works float - Aldenham.

Feb 1979 Overhaul Aldenham (Body No. 2130 fitted).

Feb 1979 Clapham (CA) unlicensed - Shillibeer livery.

Feb 1979 Walthamstow (WW).

Jun 1979 West Ham (WH).

Sep 1979 Leyton (T).

Jan 1980 Repaint into red livery.

Apr 1983 Overhaul.

Apr 1983 Finchley (FY).

Aug 1985 Thornton Heath (TH).

Feb 1987 Clapham (CA) unlicensed.

Feb 1987 Withdrawn & sent to bus sales (AEC) unlicensed.

May 1987 Sold to Clydeside Scotland, stored at Norths Sherburn-in-Elmet until Apr 1988, painted red with yellow band for the Garden Festival service, based at Paisley garage. Delicensed May 1988.

Oct 1988 Repaint into standard livery, named "Rocky" and operated from Johnstone garage.

Jan 1989 Western Scottish, Kilmarnock (re-numbered C83) to Inchinin.

Feb 1990 Withdrawn.

Sep 1990 G Ripley, Barnsley (dealer).

Feb 1991 Sold to Black Prince, Morley.

May 1993 Purchased by M King 7th May & is still the current owner.

RM2208 has since 1993 been stripped of all paint and has returned to its 1979 Shllibeer livery.

Sep 1994 Attended RM 40 event at the Docklands and Showbus at Duxford, these being the first events since its repaint.

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