Editing AEC Routemaster (section)

====Northern General====
[[File:Northern Routemaster.jpg|thumb|left|Preserved [[Northern General Transport Company]] 2105 in livery as delivered]]

The [[British Electric Traction]] subsidiary [[Northern General Transport Company]] introduced the RMF in 1964/65, with an initial batch of 18, followed by another 32 and later joined by the prototype RMF1254.<ref name=CountryBusRMF/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-december-1966/72/ltb-sells-rm1254 LTB Sells RM1254] ''Commercial Motor'' 2 December 1966</ref> This order created considerable interest and raised eyebrows within the bus industry, as Northern had been one of the biggest investors in the new rear-engined [[Leyland Atlantean]]s.

However, Northern shared many routes with the [[United Automobile Services]], which operated the [[Bristol Lodekka]], and the Atlantean did not match their performance and passenger satisfaction, so Northern brought in the RMFs as a better match. They were fitted with [[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] engines and a higher-ratio rear axle for operation on longer trunk routes.<ref>[http://www.northernroutemaster.co.uk/ Northern Routemasters] Northern Routemasters</ref> Other notable differences were a standard, single-panel front destination blind, sliding windows and a one-piece driver's windscreen.

[[File:Routemaster bus PCN 762 Northern General 2099.jpg|thumb|upright|Preserved [[Northern General Transport Company]] 2099 in red and cream pre [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]] livery]]
[[File:RMF27712016.jpg|thumb|left| Modified [[Northern General Transport Company]]  2101 originally RCN701<br />(Beatrix – EYY 776B)<br /> Currently owned and being upgraded by the "London to Japan in a Routemaster Bus project"<ref>{{cite web |title=London to Japan in a Routemaster Bus |url=https://www.facebook.com/japanorbust/ |website=Facebook |access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref>]]

They operated in various ''Northern'' red and cream liveries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lewisham/northern/2115.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723133943/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lewisham/northern/2115.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2018 |title=Image of Northern General 2115 (FPT 585C) in Northern livery |publisher=Myweb.tiscali.co.uk |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lewisham/northern/2116.html |title=Image of Northern General 2116 (FPT 586C) in Northern livery |publisher=Myweb.tiscali.co.uk |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref> receiving the poppy red corporate livery and NBC ''Northern'' fleetnames in the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]] era. The RMF fleet wore the long-standing adverts characteristic of buses in the north-east of England, "Shop at [[House of Fraser|Binns]]". Northern Routemasters were well liked by their crews: the high axle ratio meant a good turn of speed on long-distance routes such as [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] to [[Darlington]], and power steering was well appreciated on busy urban services in [[Gateshead]] and [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]]. Their service in the north also produced the odd sight of a Routemaster with a [[rollsign]] "X1 Scandinavia", connecting with the [[DFDS|DFDS ferry]] from [[North Shields]] to [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lewisham/northern/2121.html |title=Northern General 3105 (FPT 591C) with destination blinds for service X1 to Scandinavia |publisher=Myweb.tiscali.co.uk |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-date=23 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723133945/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lewisham/northern/2121.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

However, throughout the 1970s it became increasingly uneconomic to have conductors on inter-urban services. Despite driver and customer satisfaction, Northern had little option but to replace them. Northern placed a large order for [[Bristol VR]]s with [[Eastern Coach Works]] and [[Willowbrook (vehicle body builders)|Willowbrook]] bodywork in 1977 to replace them. Withdrawals began in May 1977 with the last withdrawn in October 1980. Most were scrapped although 14 were sold to London Transport. Only one entered service, as an open-top with [[London Coaches]].<ref name=KBlackerVol2>{{cite book|last=Blacker|first=Ken|title=Routemaster Volume Two 1970–2005|year=2007|publisher=Capital Transport|location=Harrow Weald|isbn=978-185414-303-7}}</ref>