EFE Rail E42303

AEC Routemaster RML2270 London Transport - Special Railway Service

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation

Manufacturer description

AEC Routemaster RML2270 London Transport, Special Railway Service.

The standard Routemaster bus was an undoubted success story for London Transport (LT), and its integral construction had kept LT at the forefront of new bus innovation. However, by the end of the 1950s, questions were being asked by the wider bus industry about whether a 64 seat double decker was commercially viable long-term, especially as the economics of bus operation became more challenging. Greater capacity was being called for.

In 1961 LT ordered 24 new Routemasters, which would have an increased capacity of 72 seats. Like the 64 seaters, these new buses would be engineered by AEC at Southall, with body construction and assembly completed at Park Royal Vehicles. These new vehicles mechanically similar to their shorter cousins, sharing the same engines, brakes, transmission and electrical equipment. However, they were 2ft 4in longer than the standard Routemaster, having a small square window on the upper and lower decks where an additional bay had been added.

A further 500 RMLs would be built; the first of this new batch being delivered on 1st July 1965, and the last entering service in February 1968. The RMLs would go on to serve London for the best part of the next four decades, finally being withdrawn from front line service in 2005. In fact, one historian would go as far as saying that the RML was “the most successful Routemaster variant ever devised.”

Our model depicts RML2270 (CUV270C), which originally entered London Transport service in November 1965. It is presented in its 1978 condition as allocated to New Cross garage, with solid LT roundels, and working a Special Railway Service linking Waterloo with Paddington, King’s Cross and St Pancras.

The new models are based on EFE Road’s refined and updated RML tooling, and now feature such enhancements as bodyside panel lines and highly detailed liveries and advertisements.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)

Catalogue listing

EFE Rail AEC Routemaster RML2270 London Transport – Special Railway Service is a die‑cast model supplied by EFE Road. The item is listed under manufacturer part number E42303 and represents the British Rail sectorisation era.

The original RML (Routemaster Long) was introduced by London Transport in the early 1960s as a 72‑seat double‑deck bus, larger than the standard 64‑seat version. The first of the 500 RMLs was delivered on 1 July 1965, with the final vehicle entering service in February 1968. RML2270 (fleet number CUV270C) began operating in November 1965 and remained in front‑line use until 2005, making it one of the longest‑serving Routemaster variants.

The model depicts RML2270 in its 1978 appearance, allocated to New Cross garage. It is presented in 1:76 (OO) scale with solid London Transport roundels and a special railway service livery linking Waterloo with Paddington, King’s Cross and St Pancras. The casting incorporates refined side panel lines, detailed liveries and period‑accurate advertisements; colour and detailing may differ slightly from the illustration.

The die‑cast model is intended for use with OO scale railway layouts and is supplied as an authentically detailed representation of the historic London Transport bus.