So a warm welcome to 2009! Alas to start with we have an interloper in the form of RT624. This RT was the very last to run in LT service back in 1979 and this being the 30th anniversary of that event she is already in great demand for the season. Unfortunately she requires a complete reframing of the cab, so progress on RT8 will be somewhat less than hoped for whilst her younger sister is brought back to full fitness.
Interestingly the cab area is one that changed little between the 2 and 3RT's with the droopy window being the main difference. After the war with the rush to replace London's tired fleet the decision was made not to make wholesale changes to the cab area, (unlike much of the rest of the construction), and to save time the curved window was done away with for a far easier to construct straight one.
But this is not to say nothing has been done with RT8 as these photos show. As can be seen the lower deck ceiling has gone up as have the interior side walls. Currently work is being done on the inspection hatches.
A close up of the front bulkhead of the lower deck, showing the vents and some of the interior fittngs that are now in place.As to my next posting it will largely depend on progress. If we get back on RT8 quickly then will post as normal at the beginning of February, if however there is little to report the next update will be at the start of March. All the best til next time!
4 comments:
Hi I'm Mark Golding founder of the only British Bus Club in the USA for bus owners I would like to put a link to your blog into our "In the Works" Section of our website.
Please email me if this would be ok with you at
admin@britishbusclub.org
check our site out at
http://www.britishbusclub.org
I have a few question one is wha tis the new inner roof made from metal or wood sheeting, and what type of wood is used in the frame work?
I am thinking of converting a 1948 Leyland double deck bus to a single deck bus since the upper section is in no n restorable condition, the lower deck is not in that much better condition but can be saved.
Any help would be appreciated.
Mark
Hi Mark
The framework of the wartime RT's was made in seasoned Ash and has steel inserts in some pillars. The interior ceilings are made of a type of ply wood known as Gaboon Ply, this is what is specified on the 1939 LT drawings so is what we have used.
If your 1948 Double Deck is an RT, it will be of the post war build type, which has steel framework with wooden inserts that allow the panels to be screwed to. It may look similiar to this one on the flesh but under the skin they are completely different beasts!
Feel free to email me should you want more details steve.newman@ensignbus.com
Helena ,
this restoration is perfection itself , no detail is skimped or overlooked.
Who is paying for it all ? - it must be costing a great deal.
I have an early '70's Landrover and I know what that takes to keep it on the road.
Regards
Roger
Great to see her coming together
keep up the good work.
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