24th September 1954: Iconic AEC Routemaster London bus revealed at the Commercial Motor Show at Earl’s Court

Scott Allsop (0:00)

On 24th September 1954, the iconic AEC Routemaster bus was revealed at the commercial motor show at Earl's Court in London. Welcome to HistoryPod.

The Routemaster was conceived by London Transport to replace its extensive trolleybus network with motorbuses. London Transport wanted a vehicle that could carry a large number of passengers while being lighter and more economical than existing buses. Experience gained from aircraft production during the Second World War, particularly in the use of aluminium and lightweight construction techniques, were incorporated into the design. The vehicle, designated RM1, had been developed in conjunction with the Associated Equipment Company, or AEC, with Park Royal involved in the construction of the body. This structure carried much of the vehicle's load, with subframes supporting the mechanical components, and it had independent suspension, power steering and an automatic transmission. Externally, however, the Routemaster contained several features familiar to London passengers. The driver sat in a half cab at the front, while passengers entered through an open platform at the rear, where a conductor was stationed. The prototype displayed at Earl's Court could carry 64 passengers, compared with around 56 on a standard double-decker bus then in use by London Transport.

The Routemaster underwent extensive testing before entering passenger service on a trial basis in 1956 on Route 2 between Golders Green and Crystal Palace. The model went on to become a major part of London's bus fleet, with 2,876 Routemasters being built between 1954 and 1968 Although later models were introduced, the Routemaster remained in regular London service until the last examples were finally withdrawn from normal operation in 2005