[LINK] 久別重逢!! RF for the 159 finale!

Just found out from Jimmy's site that an RF did turn up last Thursday for the 159 finale!  Surely it was a bit of surprise!! This is the second time a Green Line RF appeared at Haymarket since the last day of 22.  The previous appearance was long ago in 1939!

http://jimmyshengukbuses2.fotopic.net/p23659515.html

Mal,

just a few points to clarify:

700 RFs were produced firstly in 1951, and never worked either routes 159 or 22.
They entered service in 1952, and were retired in 1980/1.

I have pointed out before that the RF which appeared on the last days of the 22 and the 159 was not authorised or invited for the event.
on the last day of the 159, RML2727 also collected passangers along route 159;

The many special bus fan days we had on the final routemaster days [such as the 14/22 159 and many others] meant that bus fans and ordinary passangers had the opportunity to ride on a vintage bus in real service.
None of this would have been possible without the permission of TfL/London Buses - they own the London bus route network!
To carry passangers in service, the bus has to be taxed, insured and safe to carry passangers, and the operator has to have a license to carry passangers. That is the UK law.

Buses such as the RF are NOT licensed taxed or insured to carry passangers in service in London, and by operating in passanger service they comit an offense and give bus fans a bad name.

In many ways it is a pity that this is the legal situation, but, if we want special buses to appear on ordinary services [such as RML903, RT3871 and possible- M1 on route 4 on 23 Dec 2005], the bus fan world should comply with the law. regulations and rules .

regards, see you on 23/12- route 4?

Yoram