Picture Archive Post 40

Really, 40 Picture Archive Posts already?!

Metrobus 143 on Route R4, Orpington Station (23/02/13) (© Aubrey)

Route R4 is one of the Orpington Roundabout routes, being introduced in August 1986 between Locksbottom and Pauls Cray Hill. It started initially with the usual minibuses (RHs) on a Monday-Saturday basis. In 1993, the minibuses were replaced (by FMs) and in 1995, practically the whole Roundabout network passed to Centrewest. Centrewest was later bought by First, and gained new low floor buses in 1999. The route was diverted via Ramsden Estate in 2001, and was extended to the Princess Royal Hospital in 2004 from Locksbottom. The route has since had its Marshall Capital bodied Darts replaced by various other short buses in their fleet.

Initially a 51 reg bus, LT02 ZDS was new to First Centrewest (Orpington Buses). It unceremoniously stayed at Orpington (Y) until August 2004 when it transferred temporarily for 3 months to Hackney Wick Garage (H). It was renumbered into the First national scheme thus from DMS463 to DMS41463. Metrobus took over the operations of Orpington Garage in December 2007, and took on these buses, thus this bus was renumbered to 143. It transferred to Rainham (Blue Triangle BE) in January 2014 before moving to Putney temporarily for the 424 split due to Putney Bridge being shut:


London General 143 on Route 424 S, Putney High Street (15/07/14) (CC Aubrey)

It moved to Northumberland Park in December 2014, and lasted there running mainly on the W4 until August 2015.

It hasn't been seen since, and may be being disposed.

BLINDLY CHANGING

Well, it is time for the 88 to some of the last non-OPO LTs for the OPO 88 conversion. And they do have interesting blinds:

London General LT509 formerly on Route 88, Clapham Common (© Aubrey)

(Yes, I know the N11 has converted partly to LT already).

The return of the block capitals to the blind, albeit in a fairly interesting fashion. Fairly similar to the "Kindle Bus":


Metroline TEH1224 on Route 16, Victoria (CC Aubrey)
That is how e-ink displays are changed, hence the black on white panel.

Thanks, Leon Daniels?

Back to the 88, the LTs are, erm... The normal, usual stuff.


London General LT509 on Route 88, Clapham Common (© Aubrey)

Yep, they are well known for also having a very condensed font for Clapham Common.


London General LT481 on Route 88, Vauxhall (© Aubrey)

Or basically just having very notable fonts for the front destinations.


London General LT481 on Route 88, Clapham Common (© Aubrey)

But the fonts seem to be normal here.

The 88 is the last route to get non-OPO LTs, with the 16 being the first route to be fully converted to OPO LTs. Even so, the 16 had finished converting before the 88 due to the 168 kerfuffle (yes, a 16 and 168 post is due out).


London General LT505, LT481, EH32 on Route 88, Clapham Common Old Town (© Aubrey)

Drivers and passengers alike both prefer the Enviro 400H to the LT. When I spoke to a driver on stand, he preferred driving the Enviro. Coincidentally he had an Enviro, so yeah... Another irony is that the EHs are now appearing on their initial intended route, the 87!

Public opinion has swayed so much against the LT, they are to fit opening windows on them. In order to fit opening windows, the existing windows have to be removed. Right, who gets the job with the hammer smashing LT windows?

Long Citaros for Long Route 358

Route 358 has its 53-reg Scania Omnicity single deckers replaced - the first time this route has actually gotten new buses to replace buses ordered under a TfL contract for this route. Prior to 2003, the route was under either a temporary contract to TfL or a Metrobus commercial service. The route started in 1989 as a commercial route with just two return journeys. It is now a high frequency TfL contracted route.

Metrobus MEC61 on Route 358, Crystal Palace Station (© Aubrey)

The first day of service was with about 4 Citaros, all initially having no destination displays. However, by lunchtime, this had been sorted as seen.


Metrobus MEC58 on Route 358, Elmers End Green (© Aubrey)

The route is now one of two bus routes that use the Citaro due to the Shortlands Station bridge. The other route is the 227, running only between Crystal Palace and Bromley North (which is also served by the 358 too).

The second day of Citaro service on the 358 brought more Citaros.


Metrobus MEC57 on Route 358 and Stagecoach Selkent 23106 on Route 227, Crystal Palace (© Jacek)

Rides on it were actually pretty good. Very quiet as well!


Metrobus MEC61 & MEC57 on Route 358, Orpington Station (© Lewis)

They were phased into service over that initial weekend of the 11th/12th September 2015, all without front logos (which they have since gained).


Metrobus MEC59, Green Street Green (© Lewis)

Some buses were still being delivered to the garage or were out for testing when they started entering service.


Metrobus MEC57 on Route 358, Orpington Station (© Jacek)

They look smart, look the part, and hopefully will do well in intensive service over the next few years, travelling along the joint-longest day stopping bus route (joint with the 111).


Metrobus MEC54 on Route 358, Green Street Green (© Aubrey)

At least some have the front logos applied correctly.


The same bus is then seen returning to Crystal Palace at the same place (© Lewis)

Lewis and I got on that bus, and then suddenly we didn't have a nearside wing mirror.


Metrobus 566 overtakes MEC54 on Route 358, Green Street Green (CC Aubrey)

The bus had somehow smashed the wing mirror against a sign or something else. This was also just after a driver change as well, thus it had that incident before the driver's first stop!
We let the Omnicity to pass so we could get on another Citaro. It ended up being a Citaro bunch race between me/Lewis and Jacek (who got on the Citaro behind from Orpington Station) until Crystal Palace!

Overall, it's a positive opinion towards these buses.