AEC RM – Blackpool Transport, Pontins
RM 848 was new to London Transport in 1961 at the Edmonton garage, later moving to Wood Green. This bus was withdrawn by London Transport in 1985 and sold to Blackpool Transport in 1986. One of the thirteen Routemasters bought by Blackpool Transport, it was renumbered 522 and originally liveried with the Travel Card 3 Tram livery, it was allocated Route 12 which started at Squires Gate Airport to the borough boundry of St, Annes. It then moved onto route 55, the promenade service until 1989. In that same year the 55 route was changed to route 40, this route started at Blackpool Tower and was extended to serve Pontin’s Holiday Camp.
Between 1991 and 1993 it was painted with the all over Pontin’s advertisement. 552 was withdrawn in 1994 and it was sold to Reading Mainline in 1997. In 2000 it was sold back to LT for refurbishment and ran until 2005.
In 2005 the bus was re-registered and put into private ownership.