On 9 Dec 2005 12:58:56 -0800, " wrote:

Indeed, I too saw it this evening at both Strand and terminating at
Royal Albert Hall - SRM3 (I think! - my camera battery was out by then,
having been on the 159 last Routemaster - yes I managed to get on RM
2217 - there was a real scrum at Marble Arch!) this evening.

You must have had your elbows specially sharpened to make it onto that
bus! They'd certainly done an excellent job in smartening it up for its
special role.

An amazing day.

Yes indeed.

A big Thank You to all the staff that made this such a memorable
occasion (and Thursday too, of course), and good luck to all those
losing their jobs today.

Certainly was memorable. I said good luck to the conductor on the 159
that I made a special effort to travel on on the way to work this
morning.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

I don't know about sharpened elbows, Paul C., but I was at the stop at
10a.m. and there were about a dozen people ahead of me (one had been
there since 7a.m.!) By the time RM2217 arrived at about 12.30p.m,
somehow 40 others had barged their way on before me and I, was amongst
the last 8 to be allowed on, and a friend who had queued with me was
the last person on. All of this, despite the fact that entry was
controlled by 4 Policemen.

Anyway, it's a pity that some people could not play the game properly -
Heavens, if one can't queue for the last Routemaster what can one queue
for? - and those who barged their way on will have it on their
consciences I hope, when they tell their grandchildren etc.

On a different note, I then enjoyed a ride from the LT Museum Shop to
Royal Albert Hall on a virtually empty RM1913, and I really do hope
that the Disney service succeeds and prospers. Peter Hendy was
expressing such a view when interviewed, but he also revealed that the
2 routes are being subsidised to the tune of £1.5 million. He exhorted
us all to use the routes so that they were financially viable. If not,
they will, he said, be scrapped ahead of their 5-year contract. I
don't understand how by us using it more it can be "profitable", since
most of us use Travelcards and I don't understand how that is reflected
in the accounts.

Anyway, Thank God for Routemasters and long may they prosper in
whatever guise they can find.

Marc.

In message . com,
" writes
On a different note, I then enjoyed a ride from the LT Museum Shop to
Royal Albert Hall on a virtually empty RM1913, and I really do hope
that the Disney service succeeds and prospers.
The ones I've been on have been pretty well used, apart from early
morning and one of the last of the day this evening from Aldwych to
Tower Hill.

Peter Hendy was
expressing such a view when interviewed, but he also revealed that the
2 routes are being subsidised to the tune of 0 us all to use the routes so that they were financially viable. If not,
they will, he said, be scrapped ahead of their 5-year contract. I
don't understand how by us using it more it can be "profitable", since
most of us use Travelcards and I don't understand how that is reflected
in the accounts.
Presumably because use of such passes is recorded on ticket machines.

I work *very* hard now to persuade any visitors I deal with who have
free time to take a ride on one of the routes. I have to say, though,
that neither of them passing the Palace of Westminster or crossing the
Thames is a disappointment. But I'll still try as much as I can!

Anyway, Thank God for Routemasters and long may they prosper in
whatever guise they can find.
Indeed. Up there with the B Type and the BMMO D9....... g
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk