Please state your destination!

We've had a good month on RTW335 during May, with many tasks that have been in preparation suddenly coming together and resulting in some good visual progress. For starters, the new roof panels are now refitted and the repaired rear roof dome, looking as good as new. The new stair treads are now in place on the rear platform after a complete rebuild. Visually though, the face of RTW335 looks a bit more complete by the refitting of the destination panel - restoring a part of the characteristic RTW frontal appearance. Next job - the cab framing!

Platform comes together

Firstly, apologies to readers for the lack of posts. This is partly because your writer has been splinning too many plates - and partly going through a phase of laborious but not very interesting work on RTW335. Anyway, this week some of those efforts have resulted in something worth photographing!

After rebuilding all the platform steelwork - that was heavily corroded - and the platform riser, a newly fabricated platform bulkhead has been fitted (no small job in itself) and work is now progressing on reboarding the platform. This view captures coachbuilder Jim Howard finishing off the perimeter timberwork around the platform framing.

Window pans arrive

The arrival of the first batch of specially fabricated steel window pans has allowed a big step forward in the restoration project. Four new units have been fitted to the lower deck, thanks to Rob Duker who had the units commissioned.

Other progress on the specialist timberwork continues, with the offside headlamp surround (illustrated) being one example of the joiner's work. Further joinery work has been completed at the rear end and both the rear wheelarches.

Emergency Exit rebuild

The emergency exit timbers have been rebuilt this week, which means the rear roof dome and new aluminium roof panelling can be fitted. Other work has involved rebuilding the rear platform bulkhead and fitting all seat fixings and brackets on the lower deck. Good news also that some RT window pans are ready and we hope to collect these next week - then we really will start seeing some progress!

Panelling progresses

Whilst work progresses on the lower deck, fitting new seat brackets and the rear emergency exit timberwork is rebuilt, further between deck panelling is in hand. Once the emergency exit timbers are replaced (which is quite complex), the rear roof dome can be refitted and the roof panelling completed. Still waiting for some window pans which would really transform RTW335!

Back with the dome

RTW335's rear dome has arrived back after a few weeks of TLC having the dents knocked out of it and now looks as good as new. It has been prepared by a company that was formed by a small group of staff that were formerly employed in the TVR Cars panel shop at Bispham in Blackpool. The specialist shaped timberwork around the dome and emergency exit is being rebuilt (more rot having been found), but the roof panelling is now ready for refitting.

Also returned recently has been the window parts sent away for re-chroming - again all looking as good as new. All we need now are some window pans - these are being fabricated under the car of Routemaster owner Rob Duker.

Dome of discovery

Ok, I know exactly what you're thinking - one step forward, two steps backward. Why is the roof panelling now off?

Well, this week we removed the front roof dome off RTW335 - it is completely shot. This resulted in two discoveries. The first was that it wasn't one dome - it was two! The outer panel was battered but this was actually a replacement dome with the layer underneath even more battered. Our other discovery was rot in the timbers underneath the dome. The roof panels on the RTW are solid riveted and overlap. To remove the front dome, the first roof panel had to be disturbed and some soft (but not rotten) timber was discovered. In the interests of RTW335's long term conservation and undertaking a thorough restoration, it was therefore decided to repanel the entire roof and replace the timber inserts. The ceiling panels have been taken down - although these were only loose fitted. Other developments are the fabrication of new seat frame supporting brackets and the top securing bolts so characteristic of the London RT and RM classes. Whilst new timbers for the front between deck area are awaited, the back board for the destination box has been replaced with new bulb holders and new wiring.