One of the most iconic British vehicles is undoubtedly the world-famous London Routemaster bus. This was produced by Meccano Liverpool in 1964 as model 289 and was made until the factory closed down in 1979. In this article, I’ll describe this beautiful model and its box, and will detail the evolution of the Dinky Toys London Double Deck Bus with its open platform from 1934 to 1979.
Preserved 1960 AEC Routemaster Bus RM 254 with quarter-drop ventilation windows.
Image: Mike McDermott
The AEC Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is the 1960’s version of London’s world-famous red double-decker bus, which remained in regular service until the end of 2005 and continued to operate on some routes since then. Between 1956 and 1968, 2,876 of these buses were built for the then umbrella transport company London Transport as a unitized bus for service on the London city bus network, in two versions: the RM and the longer RML. These vehicles were built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and the coach builder Park Royal Vehicles.
The bus is essentially based on the RT double-decker model, 6,956 of which were built by AEC between 1938 and 1954 in collaboration with London Transport.
A Routemaster differs from more modern double-decker buses in its open rear, which allows passengers to easily board and alight. A conductor is also present, so that the driver who sits in a separate cabin without access to the passenger compartment doesn’t need to check tickets. The Routemaster (RM) was the last type of British bus to feature this traditional layout, but its predecessor, the AEC Regent III (RT), with a similar layout, was built in even larger quantities.
Development of this type of bus began in 1947. The Routemaster was introduced on February 8, 1956. Series production began in 1958 and ran until 1969. The Routemaster, of which 2,876 were built, was in service until the end of 2005.
Evolution of the double deck buses with open platform produced by Meccano Liverpool
From the beginning of Dinky Toys production in 1934, open platform double-decker buses were part of the Meccano Liverpool model range until the factory closed in 1979. The first pre-war Double Deck Bus was advertised in the September 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine as No. 29 Motor Bus and illustrated in color in the Hornby Book of Trains 1934–5 and Meccano Book 1934–5.
The Double Decker Bus, advertised with Dunlop Tyres, appeared in the April 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine as No. 29C until 1941. It was reissued post-war without advertising. In 1954, the 29C was renumbered 290, and was listed in the catalog again with Dunlop advertising until 1963.
In the 1964 catalog, the Routemaster London Bus appeared as model number 289. This remained in production until the Meccano Liverpool factory shuttered its doors in 1979. The evolution of these buses as they appeared in Meccano publications is shown below.
Dinky Toys 29 Motor Bus advertised in the September 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Dinky Toys 29C Double Decker Bus “Dunlop Tyres” advertised in the April 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Dinky 29C Double Deck Bus in the Meccano price list of November 1945.
Dinky 29C Double Deck Bus in in color in the 1952 catalog.
The Dinky 290 Double Deck Bus Dunlop as it appeared n the 1954 catalog.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus Tern Shirts in the 1964 catalog.
A restored 1960 AEC Routemaster bus RM 254 with quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows.
Image: Wikimedia
Dinky Toys 289 Routemaster Bus 1964–1979
The first version of the Dinky Toys 289 Routemaster London Bus “Tern shirts”, introduced in the June 1964 issue of Meccano Magazine. Shown without quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows.
The left side of the Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus with quarter-drop ventilation bars in the windows.
This is the first issue of the Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus “Tern Shirts” in the beautiful red London Transport livery. It is larger in scale than its predecessor, the Dinky 29C/290 Double Deck Bus and also weighs more. The 290 weighs 144 gm and the 289 weighs 240 gm. It could have been a Dinky Supertoys model, but the Dinky Supertoys name was no longer registered by the new owner Lines Bros.
It’s a beautiful model, very accurately reproduced with complete interior, such as seats, stairs to the upper deck and windows, and is equipped with a driver and conductress in London Transport uniform. It has beautiful advertising transfers, of which the one with the slogan “Read the Meccano Magazine monthly” on the back appeals to me the most. It also has nice spun hubs instead of the later Speedwheels.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus “Tern shirts” with driver and conductress in London Transport uniform, placed on an attractive picture box.
L: Front view of the Routemaster RM 254. (Image: Mike McDermott)
R Front view of the Dinky 289 model of the Routemaster RM 254.
Rear entrance of the 1960 AEC Routemaster Bus RM 254, on which the Dinky 289 shown below is based.
Rear entrance of the Dinky 289 with conductress in London Transport Uniform on the open platform of the bus and and advertisement for Meccano Magazine on the rear.
Routemaster bus with open platform and stairs to upper deck, 6 windows on the upper deck with 3 ventilation bars and 4 windows on the lower deck with 2 ventilation bars.
Image: Premier Carriage
Shown above is the 289 Routemaster Bus “Tern shirts” model with driver and conductress in London Transport uniform, with a picture box on which the vehicle’s details are beautifully reproduced. Note the delightful transfers of Tern Shirts and the route number with destination and “London Transport” in yellow lettering. The driver, conductress and stairs to the upper deck are also clearly visible on the model and its box. The model includes stairs to the upper deck, which is equipped with six windows and three ventilations bars. The lower deck has four windows and two ventilation bars.
Shown above is the nice early version picture box, on which the technical details of the bus are printed: “This deservedly popular London Bus is the result of many years of operating experience, and has been designed and developed jointly by London Transport, A.E.C Ltd., and Park Royal Vehicles Ltd. It is equipped with an A.E.C. 9636 cc engine with fully automatic transmission, actuated by a five-position gear selector lever and has the capacity of 64 seated passengers”.
This Routemaster Bus has been reproduced by Meccano very accurately and attractively in the nice shiny red color. The only differences are that the fog lamp isn’t painted silver and the fenders aren’t painted black, unlike the real Routemaster Bus and as depicted in the advertisement in Meccano Magazine.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus was issued in 3 main versions:
- Tern Shirts (1964–1965)
- Schweppes (1965–1969)
- Esso Safety Grip Tyres (1969–1979)
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus Schweppes on its attractive picture box.
Image: invaluable.com
The Dinky 289 Routemaster Bus Esso Safety Grip Tyres on its attractive picture box.
Image: eBay
Meccano Liverpool also used advertising for Dinky Toys and Meccano products on the real Routemaster London bus. This photo is shown on page 3 of the 1974 Dinky Toys catalog No. 10, in which the Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus “Esso Safety Grip Tires” model appears on page 12.
The Dinky 289 Routemaster London Bus Esso shown in the 1979 Meccano trade catalog.
According to the 1979 Meccano trade catalog and order form, the Esso version was issued until 1979. Thus, the Dinky double deck bus models with open platform were continuously produced from 1934 to 1979 — a remarkable duration of 45 years — and continues to be a recognizable London icon.
Aside from the main issues, several promotional Routemaster buses have been produced, which are mentioned in Patrick Trench’s Dinky Toy Compendium:
- Festival of London Stores in red (1968–1968)
- Meccano/Dinky Toys in gold (1974–1974)
- Madame Tussaud’s in red (1977–1980)
- Silver Jubilee in silver (1977–1977)
- Thollembeek 1929–1979 (Belgian) in gold (1979)
Much information about London Transport buses can be found in Roger Bailey’s book “The English Dinky Bus & Coach”. This book contains all the Dinky buses and a complete Meccano assembly drawing Job No. 50289 dated 12–3‑63 of the latest issue of the Routemaster Bus “Esso Safety Grip tires” without ventilation bars in windows, which were omitted in the latest issues of the model.