I am part of a group called the Kindness Offensive which do random acts of kindness. We all have a common love of Routemasters. We even rented one for an event once.

Last week, after entering a competition created by a clothing company called White Stuff, we won a Routemaster. They decided we could use it best.

Seriously we did. No Joke! You can see a picture of it on our website:

see bus we won!

I'm here looking for advice please, especially how to prevent corrosion on the underside, and any other advice you think might be vital It is being serviced before we get it, and we have the garages number. Anything we should be asking them to do?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Don't know my bus number yet as we don't get the bus till mid November, but expect to visit here often and will include number as soon as I know what it is.

My bus number (if any): not sure yet

Firstly congratulations on winning a routemaster! Many would love to be in your position! I don't wish to alarm you, but owning and maintaining a routemaster is very different from hiring one. They are old vehicles which have some quite complex systems, notably the brakes which are assisted hydraulic rather than more modern air brakes, and the automatic gearbox and its operating systems. Both can be expensive to repair when (not "if") things require attention. Storage is usually the biggest hurdle and this can be expensive. While many store outside out of necessity, it is not a long term recipe for success and indoor storage is preferable to minimise water ingress, damp, corrosion and damage to paintwork. Many, many routemasters have been stripped out and converted over the years, by some big high street names. Some have been a success, some not. Some have lasted years, others have quickly fallen by the wayside as costs spiralled, repairs were required, the novelty wore off, or the recession gripped. The number of abandoned, ruined, decaying vehicles around the country is testament to this.

As the vehicle is an all aluminium monocoque construction, underbody corrosion is less of a concern than with other vehicles of comparable age. The subframes however do require inspection as the rear one (The "B" frame) can crack, split and corrode. This requires specialist attention. The best prevention for underbody decay is to have the underbody profesionally sprayed silver, (called "chassis silvering"), this prevents decay and MOT testers love it!

When you collect your vehicle you should get it thoroughly inspected by someone who knows routemasters, to assess its mechanical condition, to see what you have got, what what potential future costs may be. You may or may not like what you are told here.

If carrying out an internal conversion- tables etc, it would be beneficial to others if any parts you CAREFULLY! remove are offered to other owners on this forum and the other, rather than dump them in a skip. Somebody is always looking for things, however unimportant they may seem.

Good luck with your venture, I did at first think it was a kind of "Trigger Happy TV" stunt, but after viewing the link I see that it is not, and that you carry out good charitable work. I wish you every success for this good work. You may be interested to know that there is another routemaster forum which I moderate, at http://www.network54.com/Index/37116 . The style is rather different, you have to apply for membership and enter a pass code the first time you use it, rather than free access like this one. You may like it, you may not, some like it, some hate it. It is very fast moving and generally has some good advice amongst the chatroom style bickering.......

My bus number (if any): RM531

Thank you very much for your considered response. I am grateful and will check out your forum.

My bus number (if any): not sure yet

Well done , welcome to the mad world of routemaster ownership ! Wise words from Steve , also make sure you get some sort of secure undercover storage to prevent thieves and vandalism which our buses seem to attract !
Mark , RML2391

My bus number (if any): RML2391

I'm very much looking forward to this, which is why I'm here on this forum. Any suggestions on possible storage places in East Sussex? I'd say London as well, but suspect the expense would be greater there. From your experience, what should we roughly budget for, for storage?

Thanks to everyone here for your kind comments.

My bus number (if any): not sure yet

hi robert i keep my buses in the sussex area might be able to help you out give me a bell on 07881897945.regards tim.

My bus number (if any): rm2023 2097 rml2388

Hi Robert - if you look at this video ( http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=789825187445 ) your bus appears to CUV250C ( RCL 2250) - quite a rare Routemaster coach - and a cracker!!

My bus number (if any): RML2302

PS This is her history from the great Ian's Bus Stop site:


RCL 2250 CUV 250C 6/65 new to Aldenham
6/65 GY into store (Grays)
7/65 GY into service on 723, 723A
1966 GY
8/67 GY offside long seat replaced by luggage rack.
12/67 DG transfer for 704, 705 (Dunton Green)
8/68 DG to Aldenham repaint, (simple Greenline), and return
10/68 DG luggage rack reconverted to seat, repaint to simple Greenline
11/68 GD transfer (Godstone)
1/70 GD transfer to London Country
1971 GD used on 709, Godstone, simple Green Line
3/72 GD used on 709
5/76 GD demoted to bus status, (still green/green)
CM (Chelsham)
10/78 GY transfer
1/79 GY withdrawn
3/79 purchased by LT
3/79 WN trainer (Wood Green)
1980 converted to bus (doors, etc removed, reseated, stanchions fitted)
1980 in service on 149 (SF or EM)
stored
1986 refurbished for LT Commercial Operations Unit
1986 B in service on Original London Transport Sightseeing Tour
1987 doors fitted
4/88 DF outstationed at Dartford (Kentish Bus) for commuter spare
1990 tape playing equipment fitted
1991 converted to open-top (convertible) (Kent Engineering)
5/92 WD privatised to London Coaches.
1998 WD Arriva London Coaches
bought for promotional work
6/05 UK Tour for Corona Beer

If you Google CUV250C there are lots of in service photos


Brian

My bus number (if any): RML2302

Thank you very much for that.

The Reg on the video appears to be CUV 259C not 0C. Am I missing something here?

Been checking CUV259C and found this picture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21611052@N02/4202919844/

Confusing that in this pic it has double headlights, whereas in the video they are singles? The video you found is definitely our bus, present day!

wow this is exciting, found a shot of CUV250C and it appears to have had the roof removed, so is probably not the one.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/routemaster-cuv250c-entering-marble-arch-13-dec-2008

My bus number (if any): not sure yet

Robert
The RCLs had twin headlights when in Green Line service. Some that were bought back from LCBS by London Transport and converted to buses had the twin headlights removed and replaced with standard RML type nosings and single headlights.The open top conversions of some RCLs for sightseeing work was very well done and from afar its not obvious that it is a convertible roof.

My bus number (if any): RTL 960 RMC 1458 RM 1585 and several RTs

Hi Robert

I thought it was CUV259C originally as well but it's certainly not very clear - according to Ian's Bus Stop however RCL2259 was exported to Belgium - perhaps someone else could have a go at detectiving! I think 250 is supposed to be convertible which might explain the missing roof....

My bus number (if any): RML2302

It is definitely RCL2259. It came back via London Bus Export by the end of 2009.

And it was part open top for a while whilst in Belgium between 2002 and 2009.

My bus number (if any): RM1368

All this info is fantastic. We see the bus next week. Any advice on what we should look for, or request to be done. It is in with the mechanics at the moment being serviced.

On the phone, the mechanic said it does not look like it is convertible, yet several records say it is. What do we look for to confirm this. Are the signs easy to spot?

Once again, thanks everyone. Being part of a group which owns routemaster buses is very special and I thank you for your warm welcome.


Here is the history:

RCL 2259 CUV 259C 6/65 new to Aldenham
6/65 HG into store (Hertford)
7/65 HG into service on 715A
6/66 WR transfer for 704 (windsor)
1967 WR
11/68 WR to Aldenham repaint, (simple Greenline), and return
1/70 WR transfer to London Country
1972 downgraded to bus
CM (Chelsham)
10/78 GY transfer (Grays)
1/79 purchased by LT
1/79 SE trainer (Stonebridge)
1980 converted to bus (doors, etc removed, reseated, stanchions fitted)
1980 EM in service on 149 (Edmonton)
stored
1986 refurbished for LT Commercial Operations Unit
1986 B in service on Original London Transport Sightseeing Tour
10/86 on 704 special to Tunbridge Wells, red, cream band, L.Coaches
1987 doors fitted
4/88 WD transfer of London Coaches
1990 tape playing equipment fitted
1991 converted to open-top (convertible) (Kent Engineering)
5/92 WD privatised to London Coaches.
1998 WD Arriva London Coaches
c3/00 sold to The London Bus Export Co.
by 1/02 bought by Belbus, Montigny le Telleul, Belgium

My bus number (if any): RCL 2259

"Are the signs easy to spot?" Yes, easiest is the windows are not wind down, should be totally different from the lower saloon windows, on the removable roof they are a sliding vent type.

Look here under "sightseeing" http://www.countrybus.org/RCL/RCL2.html

My bus number (if any): RTL 960 RMC 1458 RM 1585 and several RTs

Interesting. Can you tell me Brian, if the templates on this page you link to are accurate to the RCL we have? Important to know, as we are working on designs for it. Many thanks.

My bus number (if any): RCL 2259

First of all congratultions on winning your Routemaster. Looking at the things you have managed to achieve in these current depressing times its a great effort.

Its a small world because at the beginning of the year, about March time, I went to see 3 Routemasters with a view of purchasing one of them which were at London Bus Export Company. I would have liked to have purchased RCL2259 but they wanted an absolute fortune for it. I don't know what the vehicle is like now but I think everyone will find these pictures interesting as this is how it looked last March with a price tag of £27,000! The other small coinsidence is that my part driver, a guy called Mark, who does lots of freelance work for various bus companies and has delivered many Routemasters all over the world when they came out of service including Dubai and Russia, actually brought this bus back from Belgium at the beginning of the year.

My bus number (if any): RML2583 RM1397

My bus number (if any): RTL 960 RMC 1458 RM 1585 and several RTs

And they wanted 27 grand for that.

Beggars belief


Claire

My bus number (if any): RML2330 etc

Amazing. thank you.

My bus number (if any): RCL 2259

Hi Robert

Re storage, there are some buses stored at North Chapel which is in Sussex

IF you plan to remove the seats, label them as to which side and which deck they come from. this will make it much easier to replace them.

I did the floor on my bus project see pics at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tx41/

I found that when replacing seats, to grease and run all bolts and screws into the relevant holes before re-fitting, then attach the seat bracket to the side wall of the bus, loosely attach the big domed bolt to this bracket, then pop in both feet on the seat frame into the floor brackets and lightly screw in the bolts, then fit the lower 2 seat brackets to the wall of the bus, when you have all the brackets and bolts in place, then tighten them up and finally go round them and do them up tightly.

You may well find that you need to use a centre punch or two to help align the brackets and holes, screwdrivers and the like are also useful to have to hand to ensure that you can gently lever in where required.

Seat frames will 'spring out' when removed and they may look like they won't go back in where they came from.

I was really pleased with the top deck restoration work I managed, it certainly has transformed the bus very nicely. But it is hard work and dirty!

Matt

My bus number (if any): RML 2547

Great pictures of your restoration Matt.

Our bus has already been converted. Four seats remain as cafe table seats on the ground floor. It has a child's playground theme on the upper deck, with a crochet lawn and a ball pit. You know, with three inch multi-coloured balls little children can dive into. Not having actually seen it in person yet, its hard to say what we might add or change.

My bus number (if any): RCL 2259

Hi Robert

That does sound an interesting conversion, glad you liked my pics, I was going to have our bus as dual use- with seats back in as original, and with an optional frame so I could turn the seats and put in tables cafe style.

If you're going with an original format seat plan that is straightforward, you can get seat frames from PVS in Barnsley, but if you are considering usage as a cafe bus which would be an interesting option, you would need fewer seats, this idea may not appeal to the purists, but it is your bus and as a cafe style bus has revenue earning possibilities.

You could then hire it out at venues as a corporate bus, with company advertising boards on the sides. The company hires it to use as their base at an event. This is something we have looked at.

The later 'advertising strip' that was fitted in the 1990's has a channel into which styrofoam boards can be slid with your hirers name on, the boards can be wrapped in vehicle wrap vinyl printed sheets, so that means you don't damage the paintwork removing them, you can change 'advertisers' in a few minutes!

Matt

My bus number (if any): RML 2547

My bus number (if any): RTL 960 RMC 1458 RM 1585 and several RTs

Great place to be, this forum. All this info is fantastic. Thanks everyone!

My bus number (if any): RLC 2259

As Brian says the seats for RCLs were different from the standard RMs in that the RCL seat cushions were deeper for extra long distance comfort. The frames were modified accordingly. The same deep seats were also fitted to the RMCs and in both cases the spacing between the seats was widened to provide more legroom.

My bus number (if any): RM1001

Looks from the photos there is a mixture as no RML/RCL seats had stanchions and that one has one upstairs. On my RMC there is a mix of seats, downstairs are mostly RM. If stanchions were fitted for bus work then RM seats must have been used.

My bus number (if any): RTL 960 RMC 1458 RM 1585 and several RTs

CUV250C is not this bus as it is now living in Devon,please see our website

My bus number (if any): rcl2250

RCL2259 is in London at the Kindness Offensive HQ.

was there a typo somewhere?

My bus number (if any): RCL2259,

hi Robert
been trying to contact could you get in touch thanks

My bus number (if any): RCL 2238,RM,RT,RF now sold