The painting depicts an RM and RT bus crossing Westminster Bridge and is set in the 1960s - heyday of the RM bus. In order to attain the superb technical accuracy illustrated in the painting, David Shepherd undertook first hand observation of the vehicles involved at LT's Acton Depot. The mechanical units are mounted on front and rear sub-frames attached to the body which is constructed largely of aluminium alloy. This resulted in a much reduced vehicle weight, with the advantage of low fuel consumption. The bus is operated by a crew of two, with the driver in a cab alongside the vertically mounted engine and radiator at the front.
Passengers board the bus by an open platform at the rear.
The total fleet of over 2700 buses was progressively introduced into service between 1959 and 1968. The creation of the Routemaster was probably the greatest step forward in bus design, not only in London Transport's history, but for the bus world in general. It is still doing sterling service on a number of Central London routes today. Following the success of the Routemaster Bus painting, the Friends of the London Transport Museum has arranged for Peter Green to paint one of the New Jubilee Line trains leaving its depot in East London in the early morning. Peter is well known for his paintings of transport scenes, particularly railway subjects.