Bridge of Song (1955) - extract | BFI National Archive 

If only buses so clean and smart with conductors were still on on our streets. what a pleasant journey it would be

Oh I do miss those great old open platform RT London buses... apart from being able to hop on and off when convenient, they just had so much character compared to the 'biscuit tin on wheels' monstrosities that ply our city streets today.

Guessing this is Peckham depot, the home of the 36 and 36b and the 141, been a long long time since the 36 ran to Lewisham. I did sometimes pick up the 36 (by accident) at Victoria if the bus chappy hadn't put the right blind up and what a palaver that caused being all kicked off at New Cross lol The killer journey after the old 12 route which me uncle Stan was driver and clippy on (South Croydon to other side of NE London) was the 141 running from Grove Park to Wood Green managing to catch just about every traffic jam on the way, I remember riding that route often as the RT gave way to the MCW's which were fast, very modern and didn't trundle along with those mighty turbo engine sounds out back, the 36b RT's became Catford based RM's but still a good ride. In a way us Londoners were pretty spoilt with decent clean and reliable, safe buses at a very modest price... just a shame Thatcher decided Londoner's had to pay thru the nose ending subsidised LT transport for all :( In my youth I remember when a kids fare was a penny, then for ages it was 2p end to end then 10p then half the adult fare and charged stop to stop grr.

Great footage. I bet everyone of those buses where on time as well.

London transport never had it so good as when the bus was immaculately presented inside and out

Can't wait to buy the DVD of this footage on 28th Feb as described in description. I could watch this all day.

What the Hell's happened to the world since this was filmed?

magnificent presentation

The black and white photo are good to see how they were then and showing where all the changes have done

I love that it had Salad Cream on the side!

Brilliant. Wish I had lived and worked back then

Next stop: a fascinating little gem from 1955 on the trusty London bus: bit.ly/1krnSZm

The old RT's never seem to have achieved the almost cult status of the Routemaster, although I'm sure they were an equally good bus (just a little smaller I think); they were around into the 1970's. Love the final view of Waterloo bridge too; I think the area on the S. bank is now partly occupied by the National Theatre.

For three minutes I was back in heaven, now I've returned to the real world.

The RT was the one ! As a schoolboy Number 65 from Ham to Ealing in the 50’s . As it happens I think they were on time as I was never late !

Fabulous film.😊

very good shot at 2:40

How lovely to see England's capital as it should be - full of English people!

Some of the Drivers too I remember.

see 'HOW TO PARK A ROUTEMASTER BUS' on u-tube for handling

Fascinating Modern History video. well done😉👍😉👍😉👍😉

The Flanders and Swann song "Transport of Delight" is SO much better than the one featured here. Google it for a RU-vid recording.

Brilliant. "The gay conductor" cracked me up!

Well maintained and we'll built vehicle. Buity queens on road that to about seventy years back. Awsome looks and technology.

Great vedio. Perfection to the core like the japanese..brgds

Around about the 50 sec mark you can see the conductor issuing tickets. I can't remember tickets like this, only the ones from the Gibson ticket machine. When did the Gibson take over?

The conductor looks like a young Blakey.

This must be New Cross garage?

Most of the film posters are for High Noon at the Odeon and that was 1952 not 1955.

Get on this route now and You will be the British person on the bleeding Bus!!! What a great Country we used to live in.

Dreadful!! Upper case-only destination blinds; RT 1955 (convenient!) reversing into the line-up. All of it a reminder of the Champion London Bus - the one all the cranks rated highest: the RT (and the Leyland RTW & RTL), but the AEC bus with four variations of body was all-London. Pity they didn't inspire the publicity the Routemaster justly received largely because they were the last of London: open rear platform, giving way to boxes.

We need to revert back to the British way of life, with all its wonderful forward thinking strategy. and give a back seat to the things that matters less. like the foreign immigrants.

Is this Ivor Cutler singing this tune?

Obviously most of you have forgotten what the 50’s were really like.....buses constantly late, service ending on many routes even before the pubs closed....and a six week strike in 1958,

The Gay Conductor - yes this was often the case as I recall:-) Bless em.

Is that Robert Shaw's voice narrating?

great pity about the racist comments. On a far more pleasant note, did anyone else notice a couple of STLs?

Look mummy no black peple.....

Nice film, shame about the crap song soundtrack !

Stupid music.......