Londoners will be able to ride vintage buses on the number 19 bus route – Finsbury Park -Battersea Bridge – for free on Saturday, 29 March.
The Route 19 Heritage Day, organised by the London Bus Museum in Weybridge, will see buses dating from the 1930s to the 1980s running on the route between 10am to 5pm.
These special old-style buses will run alongside the normal number 19 service, for which fares will still apply.
Most of the dated double-deckers will be RT-type – London’s largest ever standardised bus fleet, which was most commonly seen on the roads in the 1950s and 60s. Some conductors may even issue an old-type ticket.
Though many of the buses belong to the museum, some are owned by private donors.
The number 19 route is one of the oldest in London, having run continuously between Highbury and Battersea for 118 years. It begins at Finsbury Park and serves several Islington locations, including Highbury and Islington and Angel.
The London Bus Museum is operated by the London Bus Preservation Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, and is entirely run by volunteers.
Laurie Mountjoy, a volunteer, said: “Our chairman is in favour of bringing the museum to the people. The idea is that people can ride on the buses and enjoy them, pick up a leaflet and come to museum.”
The museum organises similar events three times per year, with route 418 (Epsom-Kingston) turning vintage on 8 June. Classic buses will also run on route 54 (Woolwich-Elmers End) on 13 September.
Those who wish to hop on a retro bus need only flag one down at their desired stop. However, these vintage vehicles pre-date modern accessible technology and cannot accommodate wheelchair users or buggies.
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