Oxford Diecast NNR007 New Routemaster First West Yorkshire.

This Routemaster had a brief encounter outside London in August 2014 when it went ‘Up North’ for a six-month trial with First West Yorkshire. The new Routemaster, designed by Wrightbus specifically for the London streets, usually appears in its familiar London bright red colour scheme. This time, it replicates the Routemaster that was branded as the New Bus for West Yorkshire, where its brightly leafy green colour scheme takes on a much more rural image with floral decoration in white and pale blue. The fully accessible modern double decker is very user friendly with three sets of doors to aid getting on an off more easily. The interior on our model is grey with red seating. Additional decoration includes a white roof and detailed advertising panels promoting a faster, smarter New Bus for West Yorkshire. The bus, registered LT61 BHT, uses the latest green technology.

The bus was displayed at numerous industry and bus enthusiasts’ events but it never entered public service in West Yorkshire, despite its 503 Huddersfield destination board, returning to London in 2018. Its green livery has since been modified to form the basis of a London Country Bus Services retro livery, one of several heritage schemes carried by the new Routemasters since their introduction.

Perhaps our Northern bus collectors had the unique opportunity to see it whilst it was up in Yorkshire.