Routemaster RM3 under construction

The Routemaster RML 3, as it was originally designated, was the third prototype built in 1956 by MCW in its Weymann factory at Addlestone, Surrey.  It was registered SLT58 and taken into stock by LT in 1957.  It had a short career and was used for driver training.  It suffered an accident in 1959 and was retired in 1972.

The "L" designation was meant to identify it as having a Leyland engine but, to avoid confusion, this was dropped in 1961 when the "L" was used instead to identify lengthened Routemasters that were increased to thirty feet by the inclusion of a centre panel that provided eight additional seats.

There were many differences between RM3 and production Routemasters the most obvious of which was the bonnet being made of fibreglass and hinged to the inner side rather than the rear. The vehicle is now restored and preserved at the London Bus Museum at Brooklands.

This set of images are of RML 3 being built in 1956.

battery installation	body structure rear suspension beam ns-1	body structure rear suspension beam ns-2	bonnet top assembley
bottom frame from front	bottom frame from rear	bottom frame from rear ns	bottom frame from rear os
buklhead showing  dynamo control panel os	cab header	cab header panel structure	cab lower front framing
cab panelled os	cab structure complete	cab structure front corner os	connection of 2nd bar 2nd longitudinal bay os
connection of 3rd bar  2nd longitudinal bay os	connection of front bulkhead to 1st longitudinal bay os	differential unit-1	differential unit-2
engine & front suspension	engine & radiator assembly ns	engine to bulkhead & cab ns	engine view from front ns
engine view from front os	engine view from rear ns	engine view from rear os	engine with timing cover
engine with timing  cover removed	footstool & longitudinal seat riser plan os	front bulkhead buttress bracket ns	front bulkhead buttress bracket os
front bulkhead interior structure	front bulkhead interior structure ns	front bulkhead interior structure os	front bulkhead longituinal bar connection ns
front bulkhead mounting ns	front unit assembly	front unit assembly without radiator	front wing structure ns
front wing structure ns from os	front wing structure rear ns	gearbox & trap opening from front	gearbox & trap opening from rear
gearbox mounting brackets & 3rd bar	gearbox trap inverted view	hoopstick stiffeners & exterior panel us	independent front suspension
independent front suspension & frame complete	independent front suspension & steering linkage ns	independent front suspension & steering linkage os	independent front suspension  front ns
independent front suspension on frame-1	independent front suspension on frame-2	independent front suspension os	independent front suspension  rear ns
independent front suspension rear os	independent front suspension & steering column linkage os	inter-roof hoopstick pillar connection	locker structure
longitudinal seat riser footstool end os	longitudinal seat riser footstool side os	longitudinal seat riser partition connections-1 os	longitudinal seat riser partition connections-2 os
lower saloon front  coving panel os	lower saloon rear frame  interior structure below waist	lower saloon rear frame structure below waist	lower saloon side frame bulkhead connection ns
lower saloon side frame bulkhead connection os	lower saloon side frame hoopstick connection	lower saloon side frame seat rail connection	lower saloon side frame  structure os
partition & staircase	radiator grill front	radiator grill rear	radiator mounting
rear axle & brake shoe assembly	rear axle casing	rear frame	rear partiton front os
rear shock absorber service aperture	rear spring & bump stop ns	rear spring & bump stop os	rear suspension complete
rear wheelarch front os	rear wheelarch rear os	route information interior box structure	side frame & seat riser connection of 4th bar os
side frame connection of 3rd bar os	side frame connection  of 4th bar ns	side frame connection of 4th bar os	side frame hoopstick connection os
staircase front inverted	staircase front top section	staircase installation	staircase inter-floor connection
staircase rear section	staircase rear section inverted	stairwell structure viewed from platform	upper saloon & front side frame exterior corner os
upper saloon front frame exterior	upper saloon front frame interior corner os	upper saloon hoopstick & cantrail connections	upper saloon interior rear corner ns
upper saloon rear corner interior os	upper saloon rear frame corner os	upper saloon rear seat framing	upper saloon side frame structure os
	wing structure front ns-1	wing structure front ns-2