above left: RM244 as it is today carrying the plates of RM250 (photo by owner Peter Taylor).

above right: RM244 in its' last incarnation with LT carrying the body of RM869 (photo courtesy of Paul S. A. Redmond).

The "RM 250" Story:  This standard length Routemaster is registered VLT250 but at least on paper it is RM244, though due to London Transport's unusual overhaul policy, its' "A" and "B" sub frames which normally bare the registration mark are not necessarily those of RM244 which was re-registered with an age related plate by LT prior to sale in June 1993.   Its' then new reg  XVS839, was one of the many un-issued numbers formally allocated to Scottish local authorities, later used for age related plates.   The body however, is B689 and would have originally been carried by later built RM689 transferred to RM244 at a major overhaul in Aldenham Works during August 1977.  Routemaster bodies were normally swapped at major overhaul due to the differing time scales involved in overhauling running units to that of bodies, resulting in a quicker turn-round for running units, this necessitated the fitting of a previously overhauled body from another RM  (there being two float bodies constructed in 1963 to begin the process).  Previous bodies carried by RM244 were, B208 from March 1964 and B199 from October 1970.  The original body carried by RM244 number B244 ended up on RM641 (WLT641).  On acquisition by the present owner the bus had been re-registered, this time gaining the identity of RM250 (VLT250) who's number had been transferred to another vehicle prior to the scrapping of RM250.  Very few Routemasters either retained or were re-united with their original bodies.  Hopefully the new RM250 will be appearing at Welsh Historic Vehicle Rallies during the 2010 season.  More information on Routemasters can be found at: the routemaster association.  (The information on body numbers was kindly supplied by Colin Lloyd and Richard Eversden).