Show buses RM64 - RM108 :
1981 RM108 became Elmers End Bus Garage's Show Bus after a complete overhaul. It won 1st at The Bromley Pageant Show,Bromley,Kent and another 1st at The Norwich County Show Ground,Norwich and entered The London Rally at Purfleet.
Late 1981 RM64 came direct from Aldernham to Elmers End Bus Garage. It was noted that '64' had a very near original fit, with body and chassis matching numbers. This is why it was decided that RM64 was to become the New (ED) Show Bus. A complete overhaul was instructed by senior members of the board, which was completed with help from certain interested staff and mainly by one person alone!!
The bus was near perfect to be entered into the show ring, so it went to a few minor showings, onto Cobham and then its first main entry, The London Rally.
RM64 came away with The Overall Winners Cup, The Selkent Engineers Shield, The Mike Kay Routemaster of the Year Trophy, The West Belgium Company Cup for Best Overall Vehicle, The London Transport Award and The British Airways Trophy....and this was all in one day !!
Later in the year RM64 visited Ardingly County Fair and won The Winners Shield....The Bristol Show and came a very close second overall to a museum vehicle !! Then Woburn Abbey and won The Winners Cup....
The true Elmers End Show Bus was RM64, this was clearly identified by the staff that gave their time to her and clearly by all her fans, many of them travelled from afar to Elmers End to visit RM64 and to know some of her history and undoubtly her winning pedigree.
RM64 ended her life back into service at Norwood Bus Garage firstly, this was to one of her competitors bus garage, named RM1000. There at Norwood, the running shift manager made every effort to run her into the ground and destroy all the hard work that went into RM64....its a tough world the 'Show Ring'....

could the poster of this message please enlighten me on the tie up between RM 1000 and norwood garage. it never worked from there, and RM 64 was only stored there.

Martin at TC