RLH 23 has now been lovingly preserved for longer than its service career with London Transport.
RLH 23 was the first RLH in the UK to be re-licensed for commercial passenger carrying service including private hires. It has a fully refurbished interior with all original features retained, including the extensive used of wooden trimming.
View RLH 23's private hire page on the commercial Timebus web site.
23rd October 2016
Visiting the Spring Gathering of the London Bus Museum, Brooklands, Surrey
Photo © E. Pring
1st August 2010
Walton, Surrey. Route 461 was being re-created by RLHs on this date as part of the RLH40 commemoration.
Photo © T. Drake
20th October 2006
Cricklewood
Photo © E. Pring
6th December 2003
City of London
Photo © E. Pring
13th October 2002
Metroline's Harrow Weald Garage (with RLH 44)
During 'RLH50' event
Photo © E. Pring
13th October 2002
Rayners Lane Underground Station, route 230 recreation
Photo © Peter Larkham
2001
Kew Gardens
Photo © E. Pring
2001: RLH 23 was repainted red, but the colour of the central horizontal band changed from cream to flake grey.
13th April 1996 - took part in a route 178 recreation on the occasion of 25 years since the last London lowbridge service
Downstairs interior view, showing sunken upstairs gangway on offside
RLH 23 with an RT
Photo © D. Pring
c1990
Cobham Bus Museum, Surrey
Photo © D. Pring
1st October 1988
Wolverton Station
Photo © E. Pring
9th July 1988
the Lygon Arms, Broadway, Worcestershire
Photo © E. Pring
July 1987: RLH 23 was fully PCV certified with Timebus Travel (later called just Timebus), the first RLH in the UK to be re-licensed for commercial passenger carrying service including private hires.
29th August 1978
Beside St Albans bus garage
Photo © M. McClure
7th May 1972
Brighton seafront
Photo © R. Lanham
1967: Purchased for preservation by David Pring and D James
June 1966: withdrawn
1964: Final garage allocation to Dalston in 1964, where it ran on the 178 route.
1959: Went back to Hornchurch, for route 248
November 1955: Repainted red during an overhaul and moved to another Central garage, Harrow Weald. Only 8 RLHs changed colour (all from green to red) during their London careers.
February 1955: Transferred to the Central area at Hornchurch, the first time this garage had been allocated RLHs. 3 other RLHs also moved there at this time. It was still painted green
1952: RLH 23 began its career in Country area green colours, at Addlestone garage.
1952: RLH 23 was built, painted in green for use in the London Transport country area.
UK registration number: MXX 223. For other identifying numbers (chassis, body etc) please see this table.
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