Forum Topic

Routemaster 70 event this weekend at Chiswick Business Park

Had expected to see something more formal on CW4, but I may have missed it.This weekend, you'll see lots of (proper) old routemaster buses around W4 as it's 'RM70', celebrating the bus' 70th year, at Chiswick Business Park. 10-6 on both days, and it's free! See https://routemaster.org.uk/files/RM70%20A5%20flyer.pdf

Gordon McDonald ● 219d12 Comments

The sight of RM 1 was special tooThe old Chiswick Works location seemed ideal for this fairly regular event and so we may well see it here again.A visit to the Chiswick Business Park was a bonus. It's a well looked after site isn't it?

Jim Lawes ● 216d

Yes it was fun, free rides on the Routemasters and seeing the BEA grey and white bus that used to run from the BEA Kensington terminal to the airport was a treat.For a few brief years you could also get a helicopter from Heathrow to Gatwick.

Adrian Irving ● 216d

It was great to see the Routemasters turning round the Chiswick Business Park - even if the drivers could not demonstrate their skill on the skid pan! We posted an item with some interesting links on our website: https://westchiswickgs.org/

Marie-Louise Rabouhans ● 217d

The " Wally Barnes" Sports Shopat 6 Chiswick High Road,near Young's Corner.Well mentioned and remembered AdrianHe was an Arsenal player.

Jim Lawes ● 218d

Also the pole was stored under the bus after putting the arms back on to the wires. Geneva still have trolleybuses.

Nicholas Beard ● 218d

Julian Pavey ● 218d

Thank's Gordon for the alert.My friend Roger used to bus spot in the High Road and tick the numbers off in a book....was it an Ian Allen publication?Another memory was adding up the first two numbers on the ticket. If the total was the same as the last two your luck was in.The only faint memory of the trolley buses was once seeing the connecting arms having to be reconnected outside Wally Barnes shop by means of long pole painted black and white.

Adrian Irving ● 218d

Not just dozens of assorted red ones, but a few green ones and other variations as well.

Peter Evans ● 218d

An opportunity for me and othersto walk around the large grounds that were once the site of Chiswick Works ... the maintenance depot for London Tranport buses.My Father had worked there for over 40 years so it'll be a sentimental experience for me in other ways.The sight of old red buses (and memories of red trolleybuses) should not be missed. They served us well.The event is happening on Sunday too ...I believe.

Jim Lawes ● 219d

Sadly no skid pan anymore and nowhere to out it. I remember being taken by my mother who was part of the design team (she was support to Colin Curtis) to see "the slippery buses". Amazing sight to see RMs sliding all over the place under control. A rite of passage for every RM driver.

N V Brooks ● 219d

Indeed it was. It remains to be seen if Stan and Olive will make an appearance.

Gordon McDonald ● 219d

Wasn't this the site of the old skid pad? Looking forward to a reenactment of that.

Mark Frost ● 219d