this friday its the last day of first is operation on route 91. i was wondering if anyone is going to run a routemass=ter over the route because i have e-mailed first and sweet fa.

Hello James. Mine is off the road at present. But hey! I might be able to get hold of a gritter lorry, spray it red and leave in there garage for next time its needed on a special route!

mayby lol

so no one cares then ok i be putting last day pics of the plastic on my site tommorow then.

i have e-mailed first as you know still nothing and i e-mailed metroline to run one on the first day on sat and nothing. maby all the rows regarding the 159 and xmas lights as recked rm owners taking buses out on routes now.

Hi James ,
Unfortunatley , I think the weather will have put off any prospective RM operation on friday , but keep your fingers crossed

Mark 2391

Hello James, don't forget mate (and don't take it the wrong way) it is a weekday night as well and by the time people finish work and get there buses out from under their dustsheets and head up town too it would probably be too late to tag along. I know quite a few vehicles turned up for the final 159 RM day a few years back.
It would be interesting to see what happens when the bendi come off later this year? We can all sort out a road run etc at the various rallies instead or OFF FORUM. As forums have ears if you all know what i mean! Plus i don't want to start that debate off again about road runs etc!!

i get what you saying mark. but first have done it before on last day of routes maby Leon Daniels or Russel Young can pull some strings.

becasue rml 2735 dose nothing as well as rm 1280

James,



Many of the Routemaster specials operated by First (and Capital Citybus) were arranged and performed in easier times by myself and Mr Keith Nason (usually with some oiling of managerial wheels by our Mr Leon Daniels). However as time progressed it became ever more impossible to get all the many parties concerned to agree to the operations. When Routemasters became sensitive TfL eventually stopped us performing these specials all together. I suspect things may have eased a little nowadays, but other factors now apply. Management changes at First have put in place people less linclined to allow or perhaps understand the purpose of the outings. Plus in a big company myself and Keith are only part time staff, nowadays less well known. In times of credit crunch, there are diesel and mechanical issues to be addressed on operations that generate no revenue. In essence there are many hoops to jump through and a "no" or even no response, at any stage, puts paid to the plan. With much scrutiny on costs nowadays and the high cost of fuel one can not place too many expectations upon many managers to put their necks on the line by allowing these outings.



There was also a notion, which I understand, that commemorations on the passing of a route, though a tradition, may be seen as inappropriate celebrations of a route loss, given the potential implications to the livelihoods of many staff at differing levels. We had moved to trying to find other excuses, ahem, I mean reasons, to celebrate a special working over a particular route. Myself and Keith are still willing to give our time to these runs should times improve or managers want volunteers for any occasions !



At present RML 2735 is unavailable as it is undergoing restoration work.



As it happens we did route 91 just under 4 years ago, when it was hounoured with no less than 3 Routemasters. SRM 3, RML 2735 and RMC 1510. I'll see if I can post some pictures of that outing here.



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The last post was by me ! Sorry Alan, can't remove it and repost with Name as it won't let me !!

No probs Trevor , job done for you .. Alan

well they could of got another bus out i get a bit fed up with this we cant do anyting i am sure if went to your big boss mr lockhead he would of said yeah to it.

y is 2735 being doin again i thought she had and whats happeing regarding 1280 you nevre see it on route 9h.

they could of used rmc 1510 whats going on with that.

also hired a bus off rodger wright.

Pics of the pastics last day on my site,

I'm sure bus companies have more important things to worry about than running specials to keep us anoraks happy!



I would certainly agree that it would be incredibly poor taste to "celebrate" the losing of a contract to another company, perhaps there would be more chance of running a heritage special to celebrate a new route being won or a contract retained.



Gary