BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Q65A:

Thanks, mate, for sharing that link; am really going to ENJOY reading through it later.......I'm sure it will be a real right rum go!

I also grew up with MATCHBOX and CORGI double deckers (all now part of my extensive London bus collection!); I have a large number of vintage ROUTEMASTER toys and die-cast replicas in my collection, not to mention toys which replicate the familiar old "RT's'".

A right ICONIC bus, there, guv'nor!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The CORGI Routemaster for the 21st century......

http://www.corgi-usa.com/shop/themes/routemaster.html

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

For comparison, here is the now-classic 1960's CORGI Routemaster ( I STILL have mine, purchased by my brother and his new bride for yours truly, while on their honeymoon in Bermuda, 1966!)

http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=155266

[Q65A]

You probably would enjoy reading Buses Yearbook, which covers buses in the UK. It is a fairly slim volume but it is a quality product with good color pix:
https://www.amazon.com/Buses-Yearbook-2017-Stewart-Brown/dp/1910415626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492042004&sr=1-1&keywords=buses+yearbook+2017

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I would indeed be amiss if I didn't introduce my favorite Routemaster of all, my good mate,"Topper Deckington" (yes, he's also part of my ever-growing ROUTEMASTER collection).....

http://pixar.wikia.com/wiki/Topper_Deckington_III

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Great photos and a wealth of information.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buses_in_London

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A classic, veteran Routemaster a loooooooooooooooog way from Merrie Old England; I'm getting a bit of a chuckle here, as I am now picturing the late, great Yul Brynner ("The King Of Siam") behind the wheel, proudly intoning: "Ah! Mrs. Anna! I say big horseless vehicle from England is VERY scientific invention!"

https://12go.asia/en/post/2435/vintage-uk-double-decker-bus-appears-on-the-streets-of-bangkok

[Q65A]

A blue Routemaster
This is like seeing a Queens Transit bus painted purple
I suspect traditional London bus fans would be scandalized by this, but honestly the RM has such classic lines that it looks good no matter what livery it may be wearing.
To be honest, the RM is rather like the GM Old Looks and Fishbowls in that it is a very iconic design, so much so that physical alterations of an RM would look very strange.
There is a very interesting thread posted elsewhere at BTN (possibly started by our late great friend Mr. Linsky) that showed pictures of GM Old Looks that had undergone unusual "plastic surgery".
I think extreme modifications of the RM would look similarly unusual.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Q65A:

Ironically, I have a BLUE plastic friction ROUTEMASTER (made in Hong Kong) in my collection that looks to date from the late 60's/early 70's (it is about 1:48 scale)

It has "ad" stickers on each side of the upper deck that read "DOUBLE DECKER BUS" with what appears the outline of the Hong Kong skyline (cannot be at all sure)

Front and rear destination signs simply display: "1668".......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(My) definition of the ROUTEMASTER:

".......an iconic bus as much a timeless symbol of London as bowlers, bumbershoots, and red telephone boxes......."

"LONG LIVE KING ROUTEMASTER!"

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A bit of London in New York (1973)

(Note that rear door has been relocated for US use)

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1486

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1526

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4310

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[Q65A]

Who would have put the words "Routemaster" and "Ave. B & E. Bway" in the same sentence, let alone the same photo?? Wow...

[Hart Bus]

Amazing that Horn & Hardart considered themselves fast food back in the day. It sure beats Mickey D's and their ilk for fast food. Also more nutritious.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]