Book excerpt: The iconic 1956 double-decker Routemaster bus is as much a symbol of London as Big Ben or Tower Bridge. Today it's gone international, doing everything from hauling tourists around Manhattan to providing passenger service in Sri Lanka. This illustrated portrait, complete with photos, diagrams, and technical details, reveals the secrets of the Routemaster's success and pays tribute to its revolutionary design features--many of which originated in the aircraft innovations of WWII.