Development of the Routemaster bus started back in 1947, with design by London Transport (LT), and construction being undertaken at LT’s Chiswick Works, assisted by Park Royal Vehicles, and using mechanical units provided by sister company AEC. The prototype emerged in 1954, and the first production examples entered service in 1959. From then until 1968, some 2,876 Routemasters of varying types and were constructed.

The RMCs were introduced in 1962 to work on London Transport’s Green Line cross-London and suburban services. They were a direct development of the standard RM, and while visually very similar, they differed in having twin headlamps, electrically operated platform doors, more comfortable seats with increased legroom, and the addition of luggage racks. A higher rear axle ratio, rear air suspension, and increased fuel capacity also set the RMCs apart from the RMs.

A total of 68 were built, seeing service with Green Line and later London Country, before all were bought back by London Transport. Many ended up as driver trainers, but seven were reinstated as passenger carriers in 1989 for the new X15 route; the latter remaining in traffic until the early 1990s, although some continued in use well into the 2000s.

RMC1513 entered Green Line service at Stevenage in December 1962, remaining there for the next five years, until being transferred to Addlestone Garage in late 1967. London Country livery was applied in December 1970, and in March 1972 it was transferred to St Albans for use on Routes 330 and 330A. It then spent time at Hemel Hempstead, Tring, Grays and Windsor before being bought by London Transport in July 1979.

After serving as a driver trainer with LT, RMC1513 was refurbished for the Route X15 service, receiving a striking red and gold paint scheme and the name ‘Queen Victoria’, which is how our new model is depicted. It joined Metroline in late 1993, receiving LT red at the same time, and remained active for the next two decades before being purchased by Ensignbus in June 2012, which still operates it today.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)