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RT1784 History

Allocation History

Chassis no. 0961 3692 delivered for AEC, Southall, to Park Royal Vehicles 19/5/50.

Date Allocation Routes CU No. Body No. Classification
9/6/50 Chiswick Works Stored unlicenced 3224 3768 3RT8
14/6/50 Leyton (T) 10, 35, 35A, 38, 38A, 106, night 296 . . .
19/6/50 Enfield (E) 102, 107, 107A, 121, 128, 135,144,144A, 144B, 191, 205, 242 . . .
8/7/50 Leyton (T) 10, 35, 35A, 38, 38A, 106, night 296 . . .
29/3/51 Old Kent Road (P) 4, 13, 17, 21, 53, 53A, 78, 89, 89A, 153, 159 . . .
31/5/54 Aldenham Works Overhaul . . .
21/6/54 Catford (TL) 1, 47, 54, 75, 89, 94, 124, 138, 160, 180, 182, 186 3224 3768 3RT8
6/10/54 New Cross (NX) 21, 70, 89, 163, 177, 179, 179A, 182, 186 . . .
21/9/55 Chiswick Works Major repairs . . .
9/11/55 New Cross Stored unlicenced . . .
1/12/55 New Cross 21, 70, 89, 163, 177, 179, 179A, 182, 186 . . .
10/4/58 Aldenham Works Overhaul . . .
11/4/58 Turnham Green (V) 55, 65, 65A, 91, 265 3610 2021 3RT3
26/11/58 Barking (BK) 9, 23, 23B, 23C, 33, 62, 62A, 87, 145, 148, 162, 162A, 169, 174, 175, 287, night 295/N95 . . .
24/1/63 Hemel Hempstead (HH) 301/301C, 301D, 302, 314A, 314B, 316A, 320, 330, 334, 334A, 347, 377, 377A, 377B, 378 . . .
1/2/63 Seven Kings Stored unlicenced . . .
21/3/63 Sold . . . .

Old photographs

The body presently carried by RT 1784 pre-dates its stock number by a couple of years. It was fitted to RT 742 when new, which is seen at Victoria bus station in the 1950s. The clippie exchanges a few final words with her driver before they set off on the long run out to Potters Bar.
Photo: Collection of J Hinson
RT1784 calls at the first stop after Hyde Park Corner when westbound on a Sunday between 1958 and 1962. Notice the small dent on the second roof panel – that dent is carefully preserved today!
Photo: A B Cross
RT 1784 was amongst friends when under restoration at Crystal Palace in 1974. Most of the vehicle remains in Lloyd’s of Nuneaton’s livery, although the cab is being prepared for reversion to LT red livery. To the left are an RTL and a RTW.
Photo: J Hinson

RT 1784 has changed hands numerous times during preservation, but one notable event took place in 1978 when London Transport hired a number of RTs for training duties during a severe shortage of vehicles. In July 1978, RT 1784 is departing Chiswick Works where the training school and famous skid pan were to found.
Photo: Collection of J Hinson

Subsequent owners

Date Owner Use
21/3/63 H & C Transport, Garston, Herts. As dealer – stored at LT’s Potters Bar garage
4/63 J Lloyd & Sons, Nuneaton, Warwicks PSV
3/73 E H Brakell, Cheam, Surrey Dealer
3/73 G Francis, High Wycombe, Bucks Preserved
9/75 E H Brakell, Cheam, Surrey Dealer
11/8/76 G Panter, Thornton Heath, Surrey Preserved
?/?? E H Brakell, Cheam, Surrey Dealer
26/5/77 A Daniels, B Dee & B Smith (Daniel D Smith Buses), Purley, Surrey
later reformed into 1784 Preservation Group
Preserved
-/80 Mr Stephenson, Mitcham, Surrey Preserved
12/80 EH Brakell, Cheam, Surrey Dealer, appeared in films in both red and green livery
1/5/83 G Calvert, B Ketteridge, D Mann & J Wells (RT1784 Preservation Group), Enfield, Middx.
Group later comprised M Freegard, J Hinson, M Lane & D Mann
Preserved, Country Area green livery, later repainted red
2/97 G & J Hinson, Wealdstone, Middx & M Lane, Pinner, Middx
Preserved
21/1/02 G & J Hinson, Potterspury, Northants. Preserved
Tax disc issued in 1969 for Lloyds of Nuneaton