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To many London bus enthusiasts, RT1 represents the equivalent of Flying Scotsman in the world of steam locomotives - a unique and true icon, worthy of an important place in Great Britain’s fine collection of historic transport vehicles. RT1 was built by top craftsmen in 1939 to a revolutionary design. Records show it cost £4,720 compared to £1,500 for a typical STL bus at that time. Importantly, it marked a significant step-change in double-deck bus design and changed for ever the thinking of bus manufacturers and operators throughout the country. It set the gold standard for driver and passenger comfort, as well as for reliability and economy. In London, it fathered almost 7,000 RT, RTL and RTW buses, and led directly to the Routemaster, another transport icon. Following its sale by London Transport in 1978, RT1 had a chequered career. It almost met its end in an American scrap-yard but was rescued in 1986 and brought back to Britain by a group of dedicated enthusiasts. Now beautifully restored to its original 1939 condition, a private collector in Switzerland has made a substantial offer for it. However, the London Bus Preservation Trust, which runs Cobham Bus Museum, is committed to keeping the vehicle in this country, held in trust for ever and used on the road for the public to see and enjoy. RT1’s restoration cost in excess of £200,000 and a target of £150,000 must be achieved within a year to prevent it going abroad again. We have to match the best offer but our own funds are very limited. The Cobham RT1 Appeal is now underway, supported by Ian Allan Publishing and their road transport titles. Please help to keep this historic bus in Britain by sending us a cheque and/or completing a Standing Order to your bank to pay a monthly amount during the Appeal.
CLICK HERE FOR THE DONATION FORMS WHICH CAN BE PRINTED OUT. Thank you in anticipation of your generosity. In addition to thanking you for helping to save RT1 for Britain, we intend to invite donors to some special appearances proposed for this iconic London bus during the Appeal year. Donors will receive a regular newsletter keeping them in touch with the progress of the appeal and including other news about the bus. 5th April 2009 saw the first public appearance of RT1 since completion of its lengthy and thorough restoration. This took place at Wisley Airfield during Cobham Bus Museum’s Spring Gathering event where the RT1 Appeal was launched by David Allan, Chairman of the Ian Allan Group, the world-famous transport publishing company. Ian Allan Publishing and their road transport titles have kindly agreed to support and publicise the Appeal. Also supporting the appeal were Elmbridge Mayor Cllr. Nigel Cooper and the Lady Mayoress as an excited crowd of many hundreds of people witnessed the return of this amazing London bus. Seventy years ago, on 13th July 1939, and just seven weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War, RT1 was unveiled to the travelling public. The location was at the Aldwych in Central London when the bus was parked outside the world-famous Waldorf Hotel, awaiting the arrival of invited guests who would become passengers on its inaugural run, to Hampstead Heath. Moving the clock forward exactly seventy years to the day, RT 1 was once again parked outside the Waldorf, resplendent in its original livery and looking as if it had just been out shopped from Chiswick works, ready to re-enact its launch through the streets of a very different London.
 RT1 outside the Waldorf once again - Photo: Peter Zabek Linking this event to our fund raising appeal, thirty special guests were treated to a trip embracing sights that are synonymous with London the world over. However, due to the vagaries of the traffic conditions, what was planned as a one hour journey subsequently became two but this provided a fine opportunity for everyone on board to appreciate the excellence of the restoration. With Roger Stagg in the driving seat, the grand old lady showed she is no slouch, keeping up with the flow of more modern machinery very easily, which is a fine testament to an engineering masterpiece created so long ago and, of course, the skill of the driver. Mike Scott was the conductor for this historic event. En route, many tourists produced their cameras as this unique vehicle came into their view; an iconic traditional London bus in such superb condition, provided an excellent photo opportunity and is now, no doubt, a feature of holiday snaps that have travelled back to all five continents of the world. The day was a tremendous success, thanks to the hard work of many people, and it has helped with our fund raising effort, but there’s still some way to go to ensure that RT 1 finds a permanent home at Cobham, so if you would like to save this important piece of London Transport history for generations to come, please make a donation by using the link shown here.
 1939 or 2009? - Photo: Peter Zabek |
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The London Bus Preservation Trust Ltd, Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1EF Tel. 01932 868665 |
Registered Charity No. 1053383 |
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For general Museum enquiries, the Museum can be contacted by email
Site created and maintained by Nick Abbott, © 1997-2009