February 2021
Essex, out on the road for a test run
Photo © K. Valla
February 2021
Essex, out on the road for a test run
Photo © K. Valla
July 2020
Essex
Photo © K. Valla
February 2020: Still in dry storage awaiting its turn to go back on the road
June 2013
Northfleet, Kent
Warehoused next to RLH 69
Photo © K. Valla
April 2012: With the London Bus Company in the UK, along with RLH 69
April 2012
Liverpool docks
After re-patriation to the UK along with RLH 53 (right hand side of picture) and RLH 69
Photo © M. Weeks
September 2011: Sold to the London Bus Company. Awaiting export from the USA to the UK.
January 2010
Oregon, USA
Newly restored and repainted with white roof and side advert for urbanMinx.com
Photo by S. McFadden
May 2008: Restoration nearly completed in Oregon
March 2007
(centre) Sold, along with RLH 69 and 71. About to be moved to Oregon
Photo by M. Walton
May 2005
The same location as below (with RLH 69 and RLH 53)
Photo ©, and used with permission of, Bob Martin
October 2001
Murrieta, California, USA (with RLH 69 and RLH 53)
Photo by David Humphrey
October 2001
Murrieta, California, USA
Photo by David Humphrey
October 2001
Murrieta, California, USA
Lower saloon interior view. Note the original paper interior advertisements which perhaps meant these 3 RLHs, in general, were the least modified of those in the USA at the time.
Photo by David Humphrey
November 1998
Murrieta, California, USA (with RLH 53 and RLH 69)
Photo © E. Pring
July 2001:
North County Times newspaper article about RLH 53, RLH 69 and RLH 71 in Murrieta
(link last updated 2018-03-18)
November 1993: Sold at auction to a gentleman who wished to use them on a proposed tour of the Murrieta Temecula valley. The tour did not go ahead and the buses remained in a back yard for nearly 15 years (see above photos).
January 1972: Exported (perhaps with the non-authentic route 11 blinds in the apertures) to a museum 'the Hill Country Wagons to Wings Collection', Morgan Hill, California, USA along with RLH 53 and RLH 69 (for the next 40 years, those three buses stayed together).
17th April 1971: Withdrawn from London Transport
14th April 1971
With only 2 days of operation left, on route 178. The location is probably Wick Road, and the railway bridge in the distance is a modern concrete structure today. The position where the bus is was redeveloped and is now probably the site of Beanacre Close.
Photo © D. Pring
March 1971
Passing under the low bridge on Carpenter's Road on route 178
Photo © D. Pring
19th February 1971
Believed to have broken down, Well Street bus stand, Maryland, on route 178. The bonnet fleet number looks to have been stolen in anticipation of imminent withdrawal.
© P.A. Aldous
February 1971: Reinstated, to begin a final two month stint from Dalston garage.
September 1970: Stored out of use
Summer 1969
Passing under the Low bridge on St.Mary's Lane, Cranham
On route 248
Photo courtesy of and © Gordon Muir
6th September 1969
Cranham (Front Lane) terminus
On route 248
Photo courtesy of and © Peter Newman
RLH 71 was always a Central area red bus, and during its LT career of nearly 20 years, served at all 4 of the Central area garages which operated RLHs.
Early history: According to the official LT record, it was allocated new to Merton on the 11.12.52. It was first overhauled between 13.9.56 and 1.11.56. It was re-allocated to Harrow Weald from 20.8.58, and overhauled twice whilst working from that base (from 16.6.61 to 1.9.61 and 28.10.65 to 16.12.65). Another change of garage on 1.3.66 took it to Hornchurch for route 248.
1952: RLH 71 was built, painted in red for use in the London Transport central area.
UK registration number: MXX 271. For other identifying numbers (chassis, body etc) please see this table.
© Timebus 2000-2021