(06 May 2015, 7:43 pm)Robert wrote Routemasters are old vehicles - they won't have as much power as they did back in the 50s or whenever it was built
This one was re-engined with a Cummins engine - but you are correct, buses 'back then' (and trucks, too) had much lower HP (and torque) than current vehicles.
I can remember driving 140 HP and thinking it was 'fast', and when we got 300HP for 44 tonnes . . .
Now, 44 tonners regularly have 500 to 700 HP and buses 250 HP.
Of course it's not all about HP, it's torque that climbs hills and accelerates vehicles.