Routemaster
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The Routemaster was invented in 1836 by Hillingdon-born anorak Robin Mann. Standing at a diminuitive 5 foot 6, Mann was obsessed by the notion of creating something "that would look down upon all men," to make up for the height he had never possessed.
While walking 20 miles to the local pub in order to obtain a pint of London Pride, Mann was struck by an idea - public transport. He decided that disused rail lines could be converted into roads, and equipped vehicles to take people to and from pubs at much greater speed.
Here was Mann's unique opportunity to combine his two dreams - to leave a legacy taller than him and to get to the pub much quicker. He drew up plans for a bus that was two storeys high, painted bright pink (his favourite colour). (This was later to be changed to red on the insistance of Transport for London.)
The bus became a huge success and lasted for many years as the prime method of transport for London. Unfortunately, Robin Mann became a victim of his own success and was run over by the number 42 to Hillingdon.