RT's straight to OPO's

[Deleted]

Does anyone know how many RT routes were converted to OPO without ever seeing a Routemaster in nrmal daily service?
The one I remember is the 120 (Hounslow Heath-Greenford Red Lion/Station at the time).
'Twas on a brisk October Sunday morning in 1977 when I waited at Southall The Green to see my beloved RT approaching from the railway bridge. Instead, along comes this ugly red box on wheels known as a DMS. Initially Sundays only with RT's the rest of the week, but that happiness lasted only a few weeks before, just after Christmas, RT's disappeared totally from the 120.

[twobellstogo]

Don't know exactly how many routes, but can name a few candidates : 21A (RT to MB Merlins), 96 (RT to DMS), 122A (RT to MB Merlins), 132 (RT to SM), 160 (RT to SM).

[Deleted]

154 157 and 194, the must be loads of others

[Ted Barclay]

Routes
10'* 20, 20A, 21A, 34*, 39, 42, 44, 50, 57, 61, 66*, 70, 78*, 79, 79A, 80, 80A, 84, 89*, 90, 90B*, 91, 92, 96, 98, 99*, 103, 107, 107A, 108, 108B, 110*, 111*, 112*, 114, 115, 116*, 120, 121, 122A, 125, 126, 129, 132, 138, 142, 145, 146*, 147*, 151, 152, 154, 157, 160, 160A, 166, 167, 170, 177*, 179*, 181*, 183*, 184*, 185*, 187*, 188*, 189*, 191*, 193*, 194, 194B*, 195, 197*, 200, 202, 203, 204, 209, 211, 213*, 213A*, 217*, 217A*, 223, 224, 224A, 224B, 226*, 228*, 231, 232A, 234*, 240*, 242, 244, 246, 247, 247A, 252, 273, 274, 277, 280, 287, 289, 292, 297.

These were the numbers at the time of conversion (e.g. route 10 was Victoria - Woodford Wells). Routes marked "*" had RM operation at some time over weekends.

I don't claim this list is exhaustive, but I hope it is of use.

Ted B

With thanks to Twobellstogo 228 deleted

[Deleted]

There was also the Norwood Junction to South Croydon Garage section of route 12, Routemasters were banned because of the tight clearance under the (long since demolished) bridge in Lower Addiscombe Rd

[twobellstogo]

Sept 1, 2013 18:48:48 GMT Ted Barclay said:

Routes
10'* 20, 20A, 21A, 34*, 39, 42, 44, 50, 57, 61, 66*, 70, 78*, 79, 79A, 80, 80A, 84, 89*, 90, 90B*, 91, 92, 96, 98, 99*, 103, 107, 107A, 108, 108B, 110*, 111*, 112*, 114, 115, 116*, 120, 121, 122A, 125, 126, 129, 132, 138, 142, 145, 146*, 147*, 151, 152, 154, 157, 160, 160A, 166, 167, 170, 177*, 179*, 181*, 183*, 184*, 185*, 187*, 188*, 189*, 191*, 193*, 194, 194B*, 195, 197*, 200, 202, 203, 204, 209, 211, 213*, 213A*, 217*, 217A*, 223, 224, 224A, 224B, 226*, 228*, 231, 232A, 234*, 240*, 242, 244, 246, 247, 247A, 252, 273, 274, 277, 280, 287, 289, 292, 297.

These were the numbers at the time of conversion (e.g. route 10 was Victoria - Woodford Wells). Routes marked "*" had RM operation at some time over weekends.

I don't claim this list is exhaustive, but I hope it is of use.

Ted B

One tiny, tiny error to this very comprehensive and useful list, and that is route 228 : it converted to RM Mon-Sat in 1977, then went to DMS about six months later, in early 1978, so should be omitted from this list.