Mechanical engineering drawing

Mechanical engineering drawing details

Drawing: LT Routemaster double deck bus 3-D diagram, summarising body part numbers, 1981

Designed for comfort and efficiency : Bill Durrant, London Transport’s Chief Mechanical Engineer (Road Services), oversaw the team that developed the Routemaster. The aim, as he described it, was to ‘get down to the ideal bus’.

This large model was changed as plans for the bodywork of the Routemaster evolved. Every detail of the bus inside and out was beautifully designed. Douglas Scott was brought in as an external consultant to work on the body styling, including the front end design, interior colour scheme and tartan moquette seating fabric.

Dimensions: Width: 685mm, Height: 510mm

Reference number: 2000/4748

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Routemaster bus, 1958

London Transport’s reputation for excellence in bus engineering and design is epitomized by the Routemaster. Prototypes were first developed in the early 1950s. AEC produced the buses from 1958–68 and the buses operated regular services until 2005. The Routemaster was designed for 15 years’ service, but lasted for nearly 50. The design was based on engineering principles developed during wartime aircraft production. The Routemaster had a lightweight aluminium body with no separate chassis and fully interchangeable parts for easy maintenance. Power-assisted steering and an automatic gearbox meant it was easy to drive.