This month has been a month of preparation for the next big visual improvement...

Firstly, the long awaited scaffolding arrived and RT8 was entombed in it. At the moment the level is around the roof so we can refit the roof panels back, whilst working safely. This will also allow us to be able to seal it all properly, so that god forbid should it ever rain won't have drips coming in.

A slightly unusual view of an RT from the back lookiing forwards gives a good idea of the job to be done. At this stage the panels are just lying in place and have not been fiited whilst everything is measured up to make sure the beadings will all fit and join everything together.


And the same view but looking from the front back...

And as I mentioned before, the time has been used preparing the items due to go back in. The top deck windows and pans can be seen here in a before and after stage. The before is with the 'pink' paint thats still left, whilst the grey panels are the completed item. All the winding gear is taken apart, overhauled, greased and replaced where necessary leaving them winding as smooth as when they were built. Once the roof is fitted the standing level of the scaffolding will be lowered to allow the windows to go back in. The plus of making the bus enclosed again will be as the weather turns colder it is easy to keep the interior of the bus warm so work can continue.

Next updates should hopefully be a little more photogenic!

July 09

So back again! This month has been all about the front end with the cab being finished and painted and the framework around the blindbox being completed and the first of the upper deck window pans going back in.

Its not just been the bodywork though that has been tackled as the fuel system has been checked over and the gravity tank refitted having been thoroughly cleaned, sealed and painted. The observant amongst you will notice that the gravity tank on a 2RT2 is deeper than on the post war versions and the handle for turning it off, is notr the large top mounted handle found on the later versions.

A nearside view shows that the canopy is in place now along with spring loaded stencil holder for the route number. The wrapped round panel that runs from the cab window to the first of the nearside windows has also been repaired and coated and is ready to go back on. The sidelight panel that also supports the mud guard is now being worked on as its a little battered and the wood inside it is as rotten as they come but the plan now is to finish the front off to the same level as the rear.

Lastly, not a to brilliant shot of the cab which shows it now its been painted. The cab seat and steering wheel will be last to go back in so as to make as much space as possible to work in whilst the wiring is all put in.

Well hope it was worth the wait and hopefully next month I will be a little more prompt if we have no more holidays or sickness... cheers for now

June 09

Just a brief note that due to sickness and holiday, not enough progress has been made to warrant a full update, so the next one will be first week in July when there should be quite a bit to show

Until then...

OK not going to be a great deal I can write this month as almost all of the work has taken place in the cab, equally the photos won't be the greatest either as its not the easiest place in the world to photograph! Above can obviously be seen the front panel that is now fitted along with side light and headlight mounting.

Well I had to put my tea down somewhere! All the floor has been replaced with original RT parts as the floor on RT8 was as rotten as the proverbial pear. New rubbers have been mounted around the floor and everything has been cleaned and modified to fit.

As can be seen the original flag unit has been restored and repainted and is now mounted back in position as have the front screens. The steering wheel has been recoated and is back with us and will be one of the last things to go back in.

Looking in from the emergency window you can get a better view of the rubbers that have gone down on the floor, the restored hand brake area and the mounting where on later RT's the indicator switch went but on the 2RT2 an antiquated horn is fitted.


Again taken from the emergency window you can see the winding handles that allow the driver to open the front windows and get some air. These were all seized solid and are made up of a spring and bicycle chain like mechanism. Eventually one was freed off enough to allow us to get it all out repaired, re-fitted and working, it is 'small' detailed jobs like this that don't look much but that take up so much time. This month is going to be all about finishing the cab to the point that everything is painted and fitted permanently, then perhaps we can move on to somewhere easier to photograph... until then cheers!

RT8 March Update

Welcome back. Alas visually there is not a great deal to see this month although what has been done is all time consuming stuff that will allow for the completion of the cab area.

The cab door has been stripped down and reassembled. Obviously it takes a lot of work to make sure that it runs true and is alinged properly. As can be seen new rubber has been fitted to the edges and now following numerous small modifications it all glides along perfectly.

One of the more famous faetures of the 2RT2's is of course the 'drooping' front cab window, which has now been repaired, coated and is being fitted back in place on a permanent basis. Perhaps its to poetic calling it a landmark point, but its certainly visually a very pleasing point of the restoration.

Another view showing the panelling going back on the front end. As can be seen the area above the front screen has gone in and the front windscreen is all set to go on as well. The only snag is that the bottom part of the front screen needs to go in first but the winding gear allowing this to be opened is seized solid. Thus far we have sourced four others that have all been seized as well, but maybe, just maybe the one sourced from one of our readers (thanks Mike) appears in better nick and is currently being soaked to try and free it up, fingers crossed.

Its hard to get the feel from this photo but the cab is now getting that enclosed feeling rather than just being an open space on an otherwise reframed vehicle. It has proved time consuming and fairly complex with numerous mods needed to make everything fit but the look of it now is right and by next month should be panelled in its entirety.

And finally a close up of runner for the cab door and the wheelarch framework. The keen eyed amongst you may spot that the runner is topped by a form of hard wearing canvas that was fitted to RT's when new on areas of friction. This has been sourced and used to ensure that the level of restoration on this vehicle is to the highest standard we could possibly reach.

Happy Easter to all

February Update

So here we are again back! This last period has seen two RT cabs tackled, RT624 came in was reframed and has gone back out to be painted and tested, whilst RT8 has had the cab framework fitted as can be seen from this shot.

The side walls and every vestige of the cab has been removed, straightened, stripped, undercoated and put back in. The steering wheel has also been removed to be recovered.

A few other bits still need to go in around the cab, such as the supports for the side light and front headlight (and before the purists amongst you point out the 2RT's weren't delivered with the second headlight, whilst you are indeed correct we are restoring to 1943-44 era and by then the modification had been made!) We also need to add the framework above the wheel arch which will go in next week.

And a final shot looking from the front into the cab towards the bulkhead. Whilst not the best of photos I'm pleased to show that the hand brake has indeed lined up correctly with the newly fitted cab floor, so we are presumably not to far out on the rest of the bus!

Next update will be as usual in the first week of next month, when hopefully some more progress will have been made.

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!