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!

So December is upon us and the last post of the year is here. At the beginning of the year RT8 was a 'single deck toast rack' and at the end not only a double deck but clearly a 2RT2, so all in all a good effort. The early part of this month has seen us tackle alot of the electrics, all the wiring is now in for the lighting, brakes lights and the charging system, so whilst not very visible it has clearly been an important stage.


As can be seen from the wiring now flooding into the cab, a chunk of the month was spent on running this through. The brakes were looked at as well at this time and the tyre and wheel refitted.


The next area tackled was the lower deck saloon where the coving and side panels have been fitted. Once again the original drawings are at odds with certain features such as the seat brackets and floor traps but these have all been negotiated around and are now in place pending rexine and painting in due course.


One interesting point note on the covings is the two and in some cases three small holes around the light fitting, at the '9 o'clock' and '3 o'clock' positions on this example, (no it isn't dirt) this is actually where the springs were fitted for the wartime blackout cowls.

So this is now what the lower deck looks like as it starts to take shape. The wheelarches have been removed and will undergo some further work before being refitted permanently.


And finally a view of the side now as it continues to become less skeletal. This of course is the last posting of 2008 and whilst progress may well be slow over the festive break we will continue to chip away at this project. It certainly looks like 2009 will be the year that RT8 returns to the capitals streets after some half a century away! On that note I will wish all of you who follow this or have just randomly popped by a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2009

November 4 Update

So another month passes us by and this month has seen the majority of the work being carried out on largely completing the rear of the vehicle. The rear quarter can be seen here in the first picture and has been the source of most problems, as we know from records that RT8 took a nasty rear end crunch in the late 1940's. Where we have rebuilt the framework to original 1940 spec it would appear some of the panels had been modified to fit a slightly wonky rear end! However, it has been overcome and is all back together now. Worthy of note is the bottom panel on this quarter which is a unique 2RT2 feature. The steel panel that looks like it has beading around it when in fact this is purely a slightly raised edge to give the impression of beading and this conplete the symmetery of criss crossing beading.


A slightly different view this time taken from a conveniently parked open top.



The rear end is largely now complete as can be seen from this image. Glazing, beading and blind boxes are all now in place. The only problem is now when you walk in to the 'barn' you think its almost finished and then you see the rest of it!


The latest area being seen to is the platform and lower saloon. As can be seen the ceiling has gone in around the platform and this progress will continue through the month as the lower saloon is brought up to the same stage as the upper one, with ceilings and side panels all being added. The unseen area that holds the battery cradle and the conductors 'cubby hole' are also all being finished off.


And finally the cab area, now all stripped down and ready for the the framework to start going back on. A couple of metal brackets that have rotted away need to be recreated before we can start reinstating this area. Hopefully if the progress on the lower saloon is good this month we will get started in earnest on the cab. Who knows maybe the scaffolders will give us a confirmed date and the roof can go back on... well pop back next month and find out what exactly was tackled next on this project