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The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was first built by Associated Equipment Company (AEC) in 1954 and was produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances. Introduced by London Transport in 1956, the Routemaster saw continuous service in London until 2005, and currently remains on one heritage route in central London. In all, 2,876 Routemasters were built with all but a few delivered to London Transport. Approximately 1,000 are still in existence.
A pioneering design, the Routemaster outlasted several of its replacement types in London. The unique features of the standard Routemaster were both praised and criticised. The open platform, while exposed to the elements, allowed boarding and alighting away from stops; and the presence of a conductor allowed minimal boarding time and optimal security, although the presence of conductors produced greater labour costs. The traditional red Routemaster has become one of the famous features of London, with much tourist paraphernalia continuing to bear Routemaster imagery, and with examples still in existence around the world. (Full article...)
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John Rennie (the Elder) (7 June 1761 – 4 October 1821) was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, and docks. Rennie, a farmer's younger son, was born at Phantassie, near East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. He showed a taste for mechanics at a very early age. After studying at the University of Edinburgh he worked briefly for James Watt in Staffordshire before moving to London in 1784. In London, he worked first as a mechanical engineer before setting up his own business in 1791 at Holland Street, Blackfriars and expanding into the designing of civil engineering projects.
Rennie designed many canals, bridges and docks around the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as harbours and lighthouses.
Amongst the projects designed by Rennie in London were previous versions of Vauxhall Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Bridge and London Bridge and the London, East India and West India Docks.
After his death, Rennie's sons George and John founded the engineering company J. and G. Rennie. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
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- ...that a stuffed puffer fish, a samurai sword, human skulls, breast implants and a lawnmower are amongst items handed into TfL's lost property office during its 75-year existence?
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Image 1The south façade of King's Cross railway station London terminus of the East Coast Main Line.
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Image 2Vauxhall Bridge across the River Thames opened in 1906 and features sculptures by F. W. Pomeroy.
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Image 3A tram of the London United Tramways at Boston Road, Hanwell, circa 1910.
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Image 4The Circle routes of Victorian London, comprising the Inner Circle, Middle Circle, Outer Circle and Super Outer Circle.
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Image 5Escalators at Westminster Underground station descend between beams and columns of the station box to reach the deep-level Jubilee line platforms.
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Image 6Preserved AEC Routemaster coaches in London Transport Green Line livery.
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Image 7Sailing ships at West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs in 1810. The docks opened in 1802 and closed in 1980 and have since been redeveloped as the Canary Wharf development.
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Image 8Tram 2548 calls at Arena tram stop. This is one of the trams on the Tramlink network centred on Croydon in south London.
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Image 10The multi-level junction between the M23 and M25 motorways near Merstham in Surrey. The M23 passes over the M25 with bridges carrying interchange slip roads for the two motorways in between.
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Image 11Qantas Boeing 747-400 about to land at Heathrow Airport, seen beyond the roofs of Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow.
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Image 12Albert Bridge, opened in 1873, crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea.
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Image 14London Underground Battery-electric locomotive L16 designed to operate over tracks where the traction current is turned off for maintenance work.
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Image 1555 Broadway, headquarters of the UERL and its successors, is a Grade I listed building in Westminster designed by Charles Holden.
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Image 16London Underground A60 Stock (left) and 1938 Stock (right) trains showing the difference in the sizes of the two types of rolling stock operated on the system. A60 stock trains operated on the surface and sub-surface sections of the Metropolitan line from 1961 to 2012 and 1938 Stock operated on various deep level tube lines from 1938 to 1988.
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Image 17London General Omnibus Company B-type bus B340 built in 1911 by AEC. One of a number of London buses purchased by the British military during World War I, this vehicle was operated on the Western Front.
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Image 19Archer statue by Eric Aumonier at East Finchley Underground station.
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Image 20Hammersmith Bridge, opened in 1887, crosses the River Thames in west London.
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Image 21Woolwich Ferry boats "John Burns" and "James Newman" on the River Thames, 2012.
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Image 23Rail, road and river traffic, seen from the London Eye.
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Image 24The western departures concourse of King's Cross railway station.
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Image 26Hornsey Lane Bridge, Archway, more commonly known as "Suicide Bridge".
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Image 27The original Hampton Court Bridge in 1753, the first of four on the site.
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Image 29Day (left) and Night (right) sculptures by Sir Jacob Epstein on the London Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway.
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Image 32The New Routemaster built by Wrightbus has three entrances, two staircases and is designed to be reminiscent of the Routemaster.
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Image 33Helicopter landing at London Heliport, a jetty constructed in the River Thames in Battersea.
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Image 34Arguably the best-preserved disused station building in London, this is the former Alexandra Palace station on the GNR Highgate branch (closed in 1954). It is now in use as a community centre (CUFOS).
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Image 36The newly constructed junction of the Westway ( A40) and the West Cross Route ( A3220) at White City, circa 1970. Continuation of the West Cross Route northwards under the roundabout was cancelled leaving two short unused stubs for the slip roads that would have been provided for traffic joining or leaving the northern section.
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Image 37TX4 London Taxi at Heathrow Airport.
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Image 39View of Old London Bridge, circa 1632 by Claude de Jongh.
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Image 40Ruislip Lido Railway's 12-inch (300 mm) gauge locomotive "Mad Bess" hauling a passenger train.
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Image 41"Boris Bikes" from the Santander Cycles hire scheme waiting for use at a docking station in Victoria.
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Image 43Early style tube roundel in mosaic at Maida Vale Underground station.
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Image 44Clapham Common Underground station north and south-bound platforms on the Northern line.
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Image 45Original stations on the Metropolitan Railway from The Illustrated London News, 27 December 1862.
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Image 47Central London Railway poster, published in 1905.
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Image 48Southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel that runs under the River Thames in east London between Rotherhithe and Limehouse.
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Image 49Planes waiting at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.
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