Nick Larkin reports on a popular and successful South-East running day
Two immaculately restored AEC Routemasters that ran for Southend Transport after their London service was over were reunited at Ensign’s excellent 2022 running day. Both buses operated for the Essex operator between 1991 and 1993, when 22 such vehicles were in the fleet. The last day of RM service was 31 December of that year.
Fast forward to 2022, and RM 1543, 543 CLT, was making its event debut as a member of the Ensign preserved fleet, being in use on running day services. It was joined by RM 44, registration VLT 44, which posed for pictures but was not operated.
Southend Transport’s history can be traced back to 1991, and it became part of British Bus in 1993. It has since been rebranded Arriva Southend. “The Southend buses made a fine sight, and this was one of our most successful running days ever and a great finale to our 50th anniversary year,” said Ensign’s Paul Dickson. “Everything just seemed right.”
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Buses from the Ensign preserved fleet and guest vehicles operated on a network of routes – the X21 from Upminster to Brentwood, along with the X54 Lakeside to Purfleet Heritage Centre and RAF Hornchurch. Also operating was an Upminster-Aveley-Lakeside-Bluewater-Gravesend service and the Shenfield-Brentwood-Lakeside-Grays-Tilbury Ferry route X81.
