Similar Blinds, DIFFERENT ROUTE

Yeah...

Metroline LT559 on Route 16, Victoria (© Aubrey)

The first LT route to be converted to solely OPO LTs, the 16 was another one of those conversions that was "already on the blinds". The blinds are to what seems to be the new standard for LTs.


Metroline LT555 on Route 16, Victoria (© Aubrey)

Otherwise, it just seems to be a normal conversion, with the buses gradually being introduced, albeit faster than usual due to the 168 change using its old buses.


Metroline LT559 on Route 16, Victoria (CC Aubrey)

This conversion led to the 168 getting hybrid Enviro 400s off the 16, and consequently, the 32 for a short time had a few Trident/Presidents. Ironically, this conversion finished before the 88 conversion finished!


Metroline LT545 on Route 16, Victoria (CC Aubrey)

The 16 is just a route that makes a beeline to Marble Arch on the Edgware Road, then just follows Park Lane and eventually ends up at Victoria. So not many turns north of Central London for these LTs to be caught on. Overall, prime candidate for the LT. Short post, too.

Paper Fonts

London's least frequent timetable. (© Jacek)

London's most infrequent route, the 2 hourly 347, has had its second operator change since its creation passing from Blue Triangle at Rainham to Arriva Southern Counties at Grays.

The contract specified a new single decker bus, which there was no sign of in the weeks leading to the operator change, not even a hint. On the day, this turned up:

Arriva Southern Counties 4010, Gallows Corner (© Omar Diab/Lilnetworker, used with permission)

It's an existing ex-Dartford E200, with new (seemingly temporary) blinds in the same font as 1632 on the E10, complete with a spelling mistake where it should read Ockendon but has an E in it! The rear blind is the same font, while there is no side blind.

Arriva TGM 1632, Ealing Broadway (© Aubrey)

Internally the bus is refurbished with standard Arriva seats and yellow poles. It does make the odd grinding sound or two which is typical of GY E200s. Odd workings haven't really happened on the route under Arriva as of writing this post (only 4010 has worked this route since Arriva took over as of writing).

Arriva Southern Counties 4010, Romford Station (© Jacek)

Meanwhile the old bus GAL were using (that's newer than 4010), MDL1, hasn't been seen since the 16th and nobody really knows where it'll turn up. Ironically the bus was new to Arriva Southern Counties, albeit from Dartford as a trial on the 233.

Blue Triangle MDL1, Romford (© Aubrey)

Much better presentation, from the company colloquially termed as "Bandit Triangle", ironically!

Expect quite a few posts to be late (this one definitely isn't) due to the complications with the London-Coventry stuff.

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.