Chiswick will be the venue for a celebration of seven decades of the Routemaster, reports Nick Larkin
Organisers of a major event celebrating 70 years of the Routemaster report a huge amount of interest and are hoping to at least match the 136 vehicles which attended RM60 ten years ago.
The Routemaster Association is staging RM70 on 20 and 21 July at Chiswick Park, a change of venue from Finsbury Park, the original planned venue where RM50 and RM60 were held, though the new site is highly appropriate, having previously been the location of London Transport’s Chiswick Works.
Now a business park, the new site has plenty of room for the event and means a cavalcade of Routemasters can take place.
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Routemaster Association chairman John Ward said he was “delighted” at the venue change. “The historical connection between this site and the development and introduction of the Routemaster bus cannot be overstated,” he commented. “The Association had intended to use Finsbury Park, however during negotiations a number of issues were raised which could not be resolved to our satisfaction, so attention turned to finding an alternative venue. Chiswick has excellent facilities and with easy access for both owners and enthusiasts we feel this site will offer a new perspective for the event,” John added.
Opened in 1921 by the London General Omnibus Company, buses were originally built at Chiswick. Bodywork construction, bus overhauls, the ‘Experimental Shop’ and a legendary skid pan on which driver skills were tested were all part of Chiswick Works over the years. At its peak, 3,000 people worked there.
The Routemaster Association was formed in 1988 for operators and preservationists of the model to share information and experience, while helping with spares. Further details of the association and the event can be found via its website at routemaster.org.uk.
