The last day of the scarlet icons.

Today is the last day of the Routemaster in London. The 159RM will finish tonight at 13.15.

Some nerdy details for planning your evening on the last few RM's [provided by Routemaster Association]:

Friday 9th December: Routemasters will be in operation as normal but will gradually be replaced by VLAs from late morning onwards, with the last RM service leaving Marble Arch at around 12.10, bus stop L. The changeover is being carried out in daylight in order to give the best photographic opportunities and to make the event safer for all concerned. The majority of seats on the last bus are being kept for the general public but it will be on a first come, first served basis. The final parade back to Brixton Garage will consist of RMs 5, 6 and, last of all, RM2217 - the last standard RM built. Passengers will be off-loaded at Brixton Garage before the buses enter and nobody will be allowed in to the depot. It is scheduled to arrive at BN at 13.15, but will almost inevitably be late.

There is also a great list of suggestions for RM owners who intend on taking their own bus into the city today to commemorate the last official RM route such as not stopping at bus stops, not carrying official livery and not picking up passengers. Considering the open backed nature of the bus and potential enthusiasm of punters to have a last ride - this should be interesting.

Being the last bus there is of course much mourning in the media today.

The BBC are hosting Bus Night - with listings of the documentaries, sitcomes and movies to be shown on tv tonight. The BBC Four doco Little platform, Big stage looks particularly interesting It tells the stories of five conductors over five decades.

Doubledecker video clips - a compilation of film snippets from Blue Peter to The Good Life where the bus has appeared.

I Love Routemasters - various London figures reminisce about the bus.

The Bus We Loved - one of many reviews of that book by Travis Elborough published this month.

New routes for defunct red buses? All the different uses that new owners are putting their Routemasters to - from bars to accommodation for the homeless.

Requiem for the Routemaster - an orchestral piece composed to coincide with the decommissioning of the last remaining Routemaster by Tom Smail, a musician and composer.

I'm at school today so I may not get there for a last ride. But I hope to hear from some of you who do get the chance.

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[Heath Thompson]

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