[DMCForum] Re: History of AEC Routemaster London Bus (Darren Cunningham)

["cunninghamonline" <darren.cunningham@xxxxxxxxxx>]

(see below)

> Message #27681 - I reply that they keep those old "London Buses"
> around because of the open platform in the back. Furthermore, "Central
> London is the only place you'll find those old double deck
> buses. That's why they're called 'London Buses'".

Central London wasn't always the only place you find these buses -
http://www.busweb.co.uk/aecbus/routemaster.htm 


> Message #27690 - Martin complains that I am now saying something
> different than I did in Message #27681. I am not -- reread the
> original message. "London Buses" are those quintessential *OLD*, *OPEN
> PLATFORM*, *DESIGNED BY LONDON TRANSPORT ITSELF* buses built by AEC.
> That's why Brits themselves call Routemasters "London Buses".

Most Londoners I know (and not just those interested in classic
transport) call them Routemasters...


> Message #27698 - I provide some 3rd party info to backup what I in
> fact stated so clearly in Message #27681, to whit: Routemasters remain
> in service (they're still in the background of the bombing
> coverage...) *BECAUSE OF THE OPEN PLATFORM*. That's why "there're
> still a large proportion of those ancient ones plodding around", to
> quote Martin.

The only reason they've remained in service for so long is nostalgia -
Transport for London have been trying to get rid of them for some time
as they are high polluters and won't comply with the incoming
Disability Discrimination Act. 


> Not to be particular, but I spent a year at University in Stirling,
> Scotland. Several times I have visited my Uncle -- a retired COE
> minister living outside Barrow (in Furness). My charming ex-wife and I
> used to travel to Great Britain every 18 months on average. Altogether
> I have spent more than 12 months in your fine country since 1980, and
> have travelled all the way from Dartmoor (Devonshire) to the cliffs
> outside Wick, Scotland. 

Apologies for being blunt, but so what?


> And Routemasters have been identified to me by your own countrypeople
> as "London Buses". Not the much more prevalent Leyland units -- which
> lack the open platform and are simply called "double decker buses --
> but Routemasters in particular.

People have called my Delorean a Ferrari - doesn't mean they're right...


Darren

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