The RF Story

Appendix - RF classification

Page last updated 31 January 2016

 
One of the so-called "Uxbridge RFs", classified 1/2RF5/9.  These were the 30 late conversions to one-man operation and could be distinguished by the single pane of glass in each door.  Most, but not all, went to Uxbridge for conversion of the 204, 223, 224 and 224B.  RF350 was at Uxbridge throughout the period of OMO RF operation on the 224. 
Photo © Paul Redmond
 
As explained in the RF Story, London Transport had a detailed classification system for bodies (suffixes) and chassis (prefixes), for the benefit of its engineers.  As significant modifications were made, the classification of the chassis or body (as relevant), and therefore of the vehicle, would change.  The most commonly used classifications are given with a brief description and where appropriate the vehicles concerned.
 

Classification

 

Description

 

  

Delivered or [modified]

 
1RF1/2 Private Hire coach, 27'6" long.  35 seats   RF1-25.  Total 25
1/1RF1/3

Green Line coach, 27'6" long, modified from 1RF1/2.  Lower ratio diff.

 

   [RF16-25]
2RF2 Central Area bus, no doors.  41 seats  

RF289-294, RF295-313 (later renumbered to RF514-532), RF314-513.  Total 225.  [Also RF533-538 (from 2RF2/2)]
1/2RF2

Central Area bus, 41 seats.  Lower ratio diff, converted from 2RF2

 

   [all 2RF2s at second overhaul; excludes early OMO conversions to 2RF5/3]
2RF2/1 Green Line coach, 39 seats   RF26-288.  Total 263
1/2RF2/1

Green Line coach.  Lower ratio diff, converted from 2RF2/1

 

   [all 2RF2/1s at second overhaul]
2RF2/2

Country Area bus, 41 seats

 

   RF514-532 (later renumbered to RF295-313), RF533-699.  Total 186
2RF2/3 Green Line coach, 39 seats, converted in 1956/7 from 2RF2 (red) or 2RF2/2 (green) bus   [RF289-294, RF295-313 (ex RF514-532)]
1/2RF2/3 Green Line coach, 39 seats.  Lower ratio diff, modified from 2RF2/3   [all 2RF2/3s at second overhaul] 
1/2RF2/4 Modernised OMO Green Line coach, modified from 1/2RF2/1 or 1/2RF2/5    
1/2RF2/5 Modernised Green Line coach, modified from 1/2RF2/1    
1/2RF2/6

Modernised Green Line coach with extra luggage racks for route 727.  35 seats, modified from 1/2RF2/1

 

   [RFs 47, 66, 67, 70, 79, 89, 99, 138, 152, 175, 185, 195]
2RF5 OMO Country bus, 39 seats.  Original/very early OMO buses   RF700; [RFs 517, 647, 649, renumbered in 1956 to RF697-699]
2RF5/1 OMO Country bus, 39 seats.  Initial conversions from 2RF2/2, with glazed driver's screen   [RF682-696]
1/2RF5/1 OMO Country bus, 39 seats.  Lower ratio diff, modified from 2RF5/1     
2RF5/2 OMO Country bus, 39 seats.  Simplified conversions from 2RF2/2    
2RF5/3 OMO Central bus, 39 seats.  Converted in 1959 from 2RF2   [RF502-538, from conversion in 1959 to next overhaul]
1/2RF5/2

OMO Country bus, 39 seats.  Converted from 2RF2/2 (or from 2RF5/2 by fitting lower ratio diff)

    
1/2RF5/3

OMO Central bus, 39 seats.  Converted from 1/2RF2 (plus red repaints converted from 1/2RF5/2 on next overhaul)

    
1/2RF5/4 OMO Country bus, 38 seats, converted from Green Line coach 1/2RF2/3     
1/2RF5/5  OMO Country bus, 37 seats, converted from Green Line coach 1/2RF2/1    
1/2RF5/7

OMO Country bus, 39 seats, adapted for Setright and Ultimate ticket machines from 1/2RF5/2 

    
1/2RF5/8 Modernised Green Line coach converted to Country bus    
1/2RF5/9

OMO Central bus, 39 seats.  Converted from 1/2RF2; later conversions in 1970/71 with single-piece door glass ("Uxbridge RFs")

 

   [RFs 324, 330, 345, 346, 349-351, 355, 364, 365, 370, 371, 379, 380, 383, 385, 389-391, 396, 398, 400-404, 406, 407, 409, 418]
3RF3

RFW-class Private Hire coaches 

 

    
4RF4 BEA airport coaches      
 
Certain Country buses (known as the "Amersham RFs") carried a number of non-standard features, including a different design of window pan.  They were not distinguished under the body classification system.
 
The green RFs sent to Muswell Hill in 1969 and later painted red initially retained their 1/2RF5/2 classification.