Other Events during 2009
This Sunday in September saw the Routemaster in use for a 13th Birthday party, involving a pick-up at Waterloo Station, a scenic Tour of London and a visit to the Science museum in South Kensington.
Wherever we park the Routemaster in London, it attracts visitors to the Capital and their cameras! Everyone wants to pose on the platform for the folks back home.
The unbeatable combination (for London Tourists anyway!), of a traditional open platform, red London bus, a red telephone box, a red postbox, and for good measure Westminster Abbey in the background!
A local Social club hired our bus for a day at Newbury races in mid-September. The long bench seats near the wide open platform, made for easy access to the buffet provided by the hirers for the punters.
A formation flypast by the local wildlife at the racecourse in honour of the Routemaster’s presence!
Someone with a “Pipped at the Post” hard luck story for his fellow travellers!
At the end of September, the bus world descends on Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire, for the annual “Showbus” event. 500 buses and coaches, modern and vintage are on display. Interest in RM 848’s restoration was shown by many people.
A small line up of other Routemasters at Duxford, from the 45 or so present.
I was very happy that our Routemaster, RM 848, was the recipient of 2 prizes at Showbus 2009. She gained a special plaque awarded to the best 25 vehicles of the 500 present, plus the award for “Best 1960s double-decker”, a category that put my vehicle up against most of the other Routemasters there on September 27th.