Double Decker Bus

A household name, like Buckingham Palace, and recognized around the world as "The London Bus," the Routemaster was first conceived in 1947 as the successor to the trams and trolleys that ruled public transport back then. Seven years of' research, design and development went into producing a superb double-decker bus that was ahead of anything else al the time. The appearance of the first Routemaster prototype at the Earl's Court Commercial Motor Show on September 24, 1954 made a big impression on everyone. It was the first vehicle with an all-aluminum body, which obviated the need for a chassis, and was also powered by diesel. The lightweight bus had a seating capacity of 64, hence, eight more than the RT, the trendy model of the period. Even when fully loaded, the Routemaster did not exceed the weight of its predecessors.

On February 8, 1956, the world's most recognizable bus entered service. Although no one denied the quality of the features that would go on to standardize London's double-decker fleet, several people were disappointed with the conventional pre-war design. The RM1 was 8 feet ( 2 m) wide, 27 feet (8 m) long and 14 feet (4 m) tall. The engine and driver cab were located at the front, while a rear platform enabled the passengers to circulate. Stairs led to the upper deck of the bus. A ticket inspector posted at the rear collected the fare and ensured passengers climbed aboard and got off safely. In the early 1960s, more than 2,800 open-topped buses were on the road in London. Today, roughly 500 Routemasters continue to serve the city's gridlocked downtown area.