I notice that some overhauled London Transport Routemasters are running
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without the usual cover plates on the rear wheels. Is this yet another step in the decline of standards noticeable among many bus operators including LTB and, if so, why have I seen recently overhauled RMs and RTs complete with cover plates?
Aspokesman for London Transport has
explained that the Routemasters running without cover plates on the rear wheels are based at the Highgate garage, where an experiment is being conducted in the use of tubeless tyres. currently fitted to all of Highgate's RMs. When tubeless tyre equipment is used the cover plates cannot be fitted.
A large proportion of the Highgate RMs have recently been overhauled or resprayed, so giving the impression, perhaps, that it is present LTB policy not to refit the cover plates after a visit to Aldenham works. LTB's statement explains why other overhauled or repainted RMs and Ala have retained their cover plates, although it should be noted that the new single-decker Merlins in course of delivery have not been fitted with cover plates, thus breaking London Transport's long tradition which began with the first RTs in 1939/40.