Saturday 11th June 2023 brought a selection of RTs, Routemasters, Leyland Nationals and other preserved buses to the 65 between Ealing and Kingston and 71 between Kingston and Chessington as part of the London Bus Museum's semi-regular running days around London.

I started by trip at South Ealing station after seeing the London Transport Museum's 1938 Stock train on a tour along the Piccadilly Line. After letting a regular 65 to Ealing pass, RM 1400 (398 CLT) arrived to take me to Ealing Argyle Road where the 65 terminates.

While the 65 is a nearby route, I decided to visit as the Friends of King Alfred Buses from Winchester had brought one of their preserved buses to join in. I had tracked the bus to be leaving Argyle Road within 15 minutes of RM 1400's arrival.

Arriving at Argyle Road, POU 494 (a Leyland Titan) was parked waiting for it's departure time back to Kingston and then on to Chessington. As a frequent visitor to the Friends of King Alfred running days, it was very strange to see 494 in London.

I decided that I would ride 494 all the way to Chessington so didn't take many photos on the route. I did get a photo of London County Leyland National YPL 449T waiting to turn in Ealing.

At Chessington, POU 494 met JXC 432 (RT 624) in the rain.

I had intended to change from the King Alfred bus to a preserved London bus, but RT 624 wasn't leaving for a while so POU 494 took me back to Kingston. POU 494 was continuing to Richmond, where it was finishing for the day, but I decided to get out at Kingston as some buses were only doing the 65 so this was the best place to get photos.

All the buses I saw had blinds for the event, some appearing to have been made for the event, like POU 494's - even if it didn't stay attached for the full trip.

RT 624 followed 494 up to Kingston and stopped in the traffic alongside a modern 71, allowing for a great contrast between the old and the new.

Another historical comparison could be seen a bit later was between London County Leyland National YPL 449T and another modern 71.

RTL 554 (KGU 4) could also be seen on the way to Ealing Broadway as a 65 pulling out from behind an X26 on the way to Heathrow. RM 188 (VLT 188) was also seen heading round the one way system, the rear blind says Kingston was the destination but this location suggests it might have been on the way back to Ealing.

Another Leyland National was Provincial HOR 416L, seen after passing under the railway bridge on the turn to Cromwell Road bus station.

The most unexpected bus that was taking part was East Kent Leyland Leopard 273 AUF, I'm not sure whether this vehicle has a previous connection to London or not.

King Alfred Motor Services POU 494 is connected to London because upon withdrawal, it was sent to America painted as a red London bus for a museum. When FoKAB rescued it back to Winchester, another bus was sent to America as a red London bus to take its place as an exchange.