On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 09:23:30 +0000, Martin Rich
wrote:

Dark green and looked kind of older than others on that route..
Anyone know what that's about?


It''s painted in the dark green livery which was used by London
Transport's country bus services, as they were, before they were spun
off into a separate company in 1970. Until then London Transport's
bus services extended to places like Reigate and St Albans and beyond.
When London Transport came under the control of the GLC it made more
sense for the country services to be transferred to a new subsidiary
the (publicly owned) National Bus Company.

Quite a few Routemasters were originally used in the country area, so
presumably this one has been painted in its original colours.

It's one of the JJD reg RMLs, I think 2456. (J)JD was once listed as a
West Ham vehicle registration, and I think it originally ran out on an
East London garage (BW? U? WH even?) on routes such as the 8, 15, 25.
Several red RMLs were transferred to the Country area (or LCBS, the
successor companies) in about the early 70s. I'm fairly certain I
remember this bus on the 441 route in the mid-70s. In those days they
had an odd green knob on a spring attached to them, a bit like a tube
car strap handle, presumable to help drivers judge where the kerb was.