1953 RT TYPE AEC REGENT III RT/2

Vehicle Background:
The famous 'Red Double Deckers' of London Transport are known worldwide as icons of London, Great Britain. The RT bus chassis type is an A.E.C. Regent III 0961 RT/2 specially modified to meet London Transport's requirements. After the end of World War II, London Transport purchased 6805 new double deck buses to a highly standardised design. Based on a fleet of 151 similar A.E.C. buses purchased in 1939 and 1940, the combined fleet of 6956 buses was by far the largest fleet of double deckers ever built. Soon after the
war production resumed and the final vehicle entered service in 1954.

The A.E.C.'s were classed as the RT type and eventually there were 4825 units. The Leyland Titan fleet were designated the RTL and the RTW types and totalled 2131. The 1631 RTL's were generally similar to the RT's, but were fitted with Leyland mechanical components, while the 500 RTW's differed in being 6 inches wider than the RT and RTL types. The RTW's were 8 feet in width. All vehicles seated 56 passengers, 30 in the upper deck and 26 in the lower section.

London buses have always had a system of "letter" classification of each type of bus. In many cases the letter(s) are logical such as "RM" for the Routemaster bus type. However, the reason for the RT classification has always been the subject of debate, most persons believing that the letters denote either "Regent Type" or "Revised Type". RTL stands for "RT Leyland" and RTW for "RT Wide".

The RT family of buses featured many refinements such as lined ceilings, rubber corner panels (to reduce accident damage), clear cabin vision and so on. The design allowed for the body to be lifted off the chassis during overhauls. There were more bodies than chassis in the London fleet. The system of overhaul was such that a body would take longer to overhaul than a chassis with its engine, gearbox and other mechanical components. In order to keep delays to a minimum, the system was adopted to interchange running units and bodies at every overhaul. It was quite possible for example, for say bus RT 3708 to go in for overhaul in the morning and a freshly overhauled RT 3708 come out of the workshops in the afternoon. The only difference being that both the running unit and the body would be different to those that went into the workshops.

RT 3708 entered service at Enfield garage in London in May 1953 carrying Weymann body 8545 of the RT8/2 classification. It was registered NLE-815. This type of RT body was the most numerous. During 3708's service life it was overhauled three times. At its first overhaul in July 1956, it received green body No 8291 and was then allocated to London Country services. At its second overhaul in April 1961 it retained the same body and remained green. At its third and final overhaul in October 1965 it was fitted with red body No 9098 and returned to operate with London Transport. The bus was last in use at Southall garage and was withdrawn and sold in March 1977. Body No. 9098 was built by Park Royal Vehicles in north west London in 1954 and originally entered service fitted to RTL 1528. The body is also of the RT8/2
type.

The owner of Rebel Air Tours, N.S.W. imported RT 3708 into Australia, through operator/dealer Brakell of Cheam, U.K. The bus arrived in August 1984 and was registered as NAC-501. It was sold to the Association in 1989 and overhauled in 1995.

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: Six cylinder A.E.C. 9.6 litre diesel, bore 4.72", stroke 5.59", 115 B.H.P. @ 1800 R.P.M.

TRANSMISSION: Four speed air operated "Wilson" pre-selector epicyclic gearbox and a worm drive differential.

BRAKES: Air operated foot brake to all wheels and a mechanical hand brake on the rear wheels.