Route 9 NBfL Conversion Part 1 26/10/13

Route 9 was the next route to be converted to the Borismaster. Again, I (Au) decided to go out first and cover the first bus. Again, it was the 9, therefore, it was later than normal starts. Yet again, in true Borismaster style, the first journey was late. However, unlike Metroline (24) and London General (11), it was eventually fixed as soon as they could. Due to the sheer amount of photos, and the fact that all of us are covering it separately-ish, the post is split into three parts. The first part covers only the morning of the first bus round trip, and the 9 other buses that followed LT80 to Aldwych and back... (The second post covers the rest of the day, including the whole allocation except LT75 and the third post will cover crewed journeys).

At 06:40, two minutes late, LT80, the first journey arrived at Hammersmith Bus Station, after being lined up earlier at V. I'd think it was late due to the fast that it takes 15mins to check the NBfL, when usually it should take 10mins:


London United LT80 on Route 9, Hammersmith

I took the bus to Aldwych:


The view just before the bus started its very quick journey to Aldywch

9 to Aldwych iBus on LT80

After a very short, fast and uneventful journey there, even with a tiny fault with the iBus, it arrived at Aldwych, one bus late:


London United LT80 on Route 9, Aldwych

LT72 was just moments behind:


London United LT72 on Route 9, Aldwych

Again, I was the first person to get back on the bus, thus I was also the first person to get on the first eastbound OPO journey of an NBfL on 9. I took it to Hammersmith. En-route, it sorta competed with LT72 up to Kensington, where LT72 backed out a bit, and LT80 became the first LT on OPO 9 to arrive back at Hammersmith. Yet LT72 still was the first one to go to stand!:

9 to Hammersmith iBus on LT80

London United LT72, LT80 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT72 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT80 on Route 9, Hammersmith
Yes, the destination is from 148 :P


London United LT72 on Route 9, Hammersmith
This is to show that the LTs do not sometimes fit on the stop at the bus station due to turning circle and length


London United LT72 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT80 was soon curtailed to Trafalgar Square to make up time.
Meanwhile, in order, the other 7 LTs that went out after LT80, before it came back, started to come in. They were LT91, 89, 83, 70, 93, 87, 74 (in that order). I got LT80 to Brook Green:


London United LT80 on Route 9, Hammersmith Brook Green


London United LT91 on Route 9, Hammersmith Latymer Court


London United LT89 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT76 on Route 9, Hammersmith (the second curtailed 9).


London United LT83 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT70 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT86 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT93 on Route 9, Hammersmith


London United LT87 on Route 9, Hammersmith

I then went on LT91 to Charing Cross, which entered service after LT80 arrived at Hammersmith AGAIN (before LT74):


London United LT71, Route 9, Charing Cross


London United LT74 on Route 9, Trafalgar Square


London United LT73 (9), Stagecoach RM652 (15H), Charing Cross


London United LT89 on Route 9, Trafalgar Square

I then took DN33780 (Poppy Appeal all over livery) to Aldwych:


The Ultimate Comparison? A triple whammy, that's for sure!
 London United LT79 (Route 9), London General LT67 (Route 11), Metroline (Poppy Appeal) TE906 (Route 91), all at Strand/Aldwych.

And this is where I'll leave part 1, as I then went to Canning Town, before returning on the 9 for a little. Or rather, the whole allocation of that day!

Random Picture of the Month 10 (October)

In light of the fact that October is now with us, I thought I should do the post for September before it's too late.

In light of the fact that it's nearing the end of October, this post was really the September one but published as the October one. Next month's will probably be an October picture, unless I can help it.

This month's is an interesting one, a working that has only happened once before (but a few times more since)!

Metroline West VW1397 (LK62DVG) on route 487 at South Harrow Bus Station

Originally bought as part of a batch of 15 Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 buses for route 52, VW1397 is now at Alperton in a bid to convert the busy 245 to double deck. The way that buses were transferred preceding the NBfL conversion of route 24 confuses many people (including myself) but I will not hesitate at trying to explain it.

When the 24 contract was awarded to Metroline in November 2012, 24 VWs and 5 VWHs were ordered for the route. Following the NBfL conversion, 24 VWs (not necessarily all the ones from route 24) transferred to Alperton to double-deck route 245. However, the VWHs were transferred to Willesden for the 52 which in turn freed up 5 more VWs which joined the batch at Alperton for route 245. 4 VWs have recently transferred to Brentford to aid the double-deck conversion of route E8, all originally part of a batch ordered for route 43.

If there is anything you wish to add to this explanation, please feel free to comment below.

Next post next month!

Routes 165, 179, 252, 256, 265 (Essex), 365 28/09/13, 08/10/13

Stagecoach took over the last remaining bits of First London, taking routes 165, 179, 252 and 365. Route 256 was also won from Arriva Grays. So I decided to cover them all over two days, because one isn't enough...

Stagecoach London Welcomes You Aboard the First Replacement Buses. And 256.

So I started at Ilford for the 179:

Stagecoach 10177 on Route 179, IIford


Stagecoach 10183 on Route 179, Ilford


Stagecoach 10177 on Route 179, Ilford


Stagecoach 10175 on Route 179, Ilford
Short working to Ilford Station, the stop behind me being its last stop


Stagecoach 10175 on Route 179, Ilford

I then rushed to Romford to cover all the rest, except the 256 (which I kinda forgot if I'm honest!):


Stagecoach 36578 on Route 165, Romford Station


Stagecoach 15016 on Route 252, Romford Station


Stagecoach 15025 on Route 252, Romford Station


Stagecoach 10166 on Route 252, Romford Station


Stagecoach 15007 on Route 365, Romford Station


Stagecoach 15034 on Route 365, Romford Station


Stagecoach 36561 on Route 165, Romford


Stagecoach 10168 on Route 252, Romford


Stagecoach 15024 on Route 365, Romford, leading a chain of Stagecoach Tridents.


Stagecoach 10165 on Route 252, Romford


Stagecoach 10170 on Route 252, Romford


Stagecoach 15009 on Route 365, Romford


Stagecoach 15010 (252), 19719 (174), Romford Station

Afterwards, I went to Lakeside for the other First Capital East loss, in Essex. Route 265 went to Ambus (Amber-Lee Coaches):


Ambus (Amber-Lee) Y172 NLK on Route 265, Lakeside

I also took photos of First Essex 100, but we stay on topic on the next week, where I go to Hornchurch and Romford to cover the whole set of Stagecoach routes, and finally get 256.


Stagecoach 36579 on Route 256, Hornchurch


Stagecoach 36558 on Route 165 passes 10169 on Route 252 at Hornchurch Town Centre.


Stagecoach 36568 on Route 256, Hornchurch


Stagecoach 36557 (165), 15016 (252), Hornchurch


Stagecoach 15002 (248), 15016 (252), Hornchurch


Stagecoach 36578 on Route 256, Hornchurch


Stagecoach 36563 on Route 256, Hornchurch


Stagecoach 36563 on Route 256, Emerson Park

I then went to Willesden Garage in order to meet the rest of the team for the Willesden Garage Open Day on that day....