70 years of Routemaster service (Prototypes, Early Types and Odd Ones)25 August 2024
From the collection of the London Bus Company and friends, this unique event will enable visitors to ride on some of the earliest surviving Routemaster buses including the prototypes as well as some of the provincial RMs seen across the length and breadth of the country.
Our steam and diesel train services will also be in operation, together with our route 339 bus service providing connections to Epping Underground station (Central Line, zone 6).
The Penny Salon Gallery
The Penny Salon gallery at Ongar station will be open.
Author and Penny Salon curator Malcolm Batten will be displaying a selection of Routemaster photographs at North Weald and will be on hand to sign copies of his latest book from Amberley Publishing RM70: Seventy years of a London icon. This, and his other London bus and other transport titles will be on display and are available from the gift shops at North Weald and Ongar.
At the Penny Salon on Ongar station a wider selection of Malcolm's transport photographs will be on display in his retrospective exhibition 55 years behind the lens: a transport history in photographs. Fellow curator Geoff Silcock will be on hand to introduce this and also show some of his photographs which will feature in the next exhibition Off the beaten track.
Admission is free and there is also a selection of second-hand books and magazines for sale with all proceeds going to railway restoration projects.
Vehicles in attendance
Vehicles attending and operating at the event are expected to include:
RM1
RML3
CRL4
RM835
RM1159
RMC1453
RMC1507
RM1933
RM1979
RM1993
Timetables and bus allocations
Complete timetables, together with bus allocations, will be available in the programme which can be purchased on the day for £2.
Frequent services will operate on a number of different routes throughout the day.
Getting to us
You can start your journey at any of our stations, or on the vintage London bus service from Epping Underground station.
It's easy to get to us via the London Underground. Our inclusive vintage London buses will run from right outside the front of Epping Underground station (Central Line, zone 6), connecting with our train services and the other bus routes at North Weald station. A feeder service will also operate from Chingford station direct to North Weald at 09.50.
There is only limited car parking for disabled passengers at our stations, which must be booked in advance. There is no public parking at North Weald for this event.
Public car parks are available in Ongar (charges may apply), a short walk from the station (use postcode CM5 9AB); Alternatively passengers may park at Epping Station (charges apply) and join our vintage London bus service (use postcode CM16 4HW).
The bus services are included in your great value fare All Day Rover fare.
More details about how to get to us
Feeder Buses
Feeder buses will depart from Epping Underground station at 09.30 and from Chingford station at 09.50. There wil be a frequent service to Chingford throughout the day on route 718 with a service connecting from the last train arrival at North Weald, and to Epping on our 339 service.
Late afternoon road run and cavalcade
Our usual late afternoon road run and cavalcade will take place at the end of the event, providing ample photographic opportunities. Buses will return participants to Chingford, Epping or North Weald stations afterwards; Don't worry that you will get stranded - we will ensure that everyone gets to where they need to for their onward travel arrangements!
North Weald station access
North Weald station will only be accessible to ticket holders. There will be no parking available, or vehicular access except for buses and other event vehicles. Please use the feeder buses from Chingford or Epping, or use public car parks at Ongar from where you can join buses on some of our additional routes, use the 339 bus service, or use our heritage train service to get to North Weald.
Fares
Adult - Bus only: £10
This ticket allows unlimited travel on the bus services only.
Adult - Bus and train all day rover: £18
This ticket allows unlimited travel on all the bus services and our heritage train services.
Child: £1
Children under 3 are free - no ticket needed.
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Photo Credits
Katie Pickersgill, Keith Valla and Paul van der Hulks