Route EL1 Extension 07/09/13

East London Transit. 

Just normal buses in a new livery. That's it. But EL1 has now had an extension to actually make a difference between EL1 and EL2 apart from 1 runs 24hr and 1 runs to Dagenham Dock Terminus. Now it's 1 runs 24hr and to Barking Reach, the other runs to Dagenham Dock and is day only.

Blue Triangle WVL338 on Route EL1, Barking

EL1 to Barking Reach

Blue Triangle WVL338 on Route EL1, Barking Reach


Blue Triangle WVL338 (EL1), Stagecoach 19739 (387), Barking Reach


Blue Triangle WVL343 on Route EL1, Barking Reach


New EL1 Timetable, literally placed as I was waiting!


Blue Triangle WVL343 on Route EL1, Barking Reach


Blue Triangle WVL349 on Route EL1, Barking


Blue Triangle WVL336 on Route EL1


Blue Triangle WVL346 on Route EL1, Ilford Hill


Blue Triangle WVL346 on Route EL1, Ilford Hill

This also partly replaces the 387 peak journeys to Creekmouth, which are withdrawn later on. 

My Picture Archive Post 15

Travel London 8061 on Route H28, Hounslow, 2007

A scene probably never to be repeated again, even after 2008, because of one Stagecoach ALX200/Dart in the background on the H98, on loan to LU due to iBus floats. LU VA10x is on the 111 on the far left.

But the main focus is H28 and the bus X322 KRX:
Travel London 8061, now Abellio London 8061 started out as a Tellings-Golden Miller bus, for the H28, initally at Fulwell. It had the TGM white/yellow/blue livery, like all their buses at that time, due to now 80% red rule outside of Central London. However, when National Express took over TGM, and placed it under Travel London, it was repainted red (eventually) and transferred to Hayes (the former Wings Buses garage) along with the route. After its life with the H28 ending with it getting new, 10.2m E20Ds (see post by JPN), it is now in BC for Route 599 (see another post) and other routes.

H28 is still a Hounslow local linker, first with London & Country at a Hounslow base, then with Tellings-Golden Miller after L&C was taken over by Arriva. It had East Lancs bodied Darts. To provide a better bus than that, these X-reg buses were ordered. However, the H28 has gotten strength to strength, and under Abellio, it now has E20Ds with Abellio's newest interior.

Meanwhile:
The Stagecoach ALX200 bodied darts were at Hounslow for a short time, and did mainly appear on the "Bath Road single deckers" - 81, 222, H98. But they went back after the T-reg darts were returned to AV.

The VA - started at AV, and now not at AV anymore, always had been at AV for most of it's career (mainly for 111, 120*, H32). However, towards it's end, it had service on the 81/222 pre-ADE and possibly FW/TV/V service. Weirdly, the newest VAs (52 and W reg ones) aren't in service, but the V reg have a few still in service!

Stratford Changes 31/08/13

Posts are getting into some messed up order after the start of school and some other stuff that isn't exactly worth mentioning.

In the morning of 31st August, after the N550 (nearly failed) and N551 (failed) ventures, I went to Stratford International for some newly re-routed buses, and the new N205 was in service. I didn't get it due to me not being bothered to wake up early, so wait until the next proper NBAD I do to cover that, probably in 2014 :(

Anyhow, Routes 97, 309, D8 all changed there, so I first went to Stratford International, albeit deserted!:

N205 tile on the Bow Church DLR Stop


The spider map of changes!

97 - diverted via Westfield Avenue and Stratford International Station.
339 - extended to Leytonstone
D8 - extended one stop to Stratford International Station


Stagecoach 18248 on Route 97, Stratford International


Tower Transit DM44170 on Route 339, Stratford International

But the lack of information was kinda disturbing...:


Bus stop apparently shut. Cars park in front of the stop. This was the MOST informative stop. The rest had NO tiles for routes or "towards".


97 new timetable


Tower Transit DM44268 on Route 339, Stratford International


Docklands Buses SE142 on Route D8, Stratford International


Stagecoach 18274 on Route 97, Stratford International


Stagecoach 17490 on Route 97, Stratford International


Tower Transit DM44263 on Route 339, Stratford International


This is how the buses kept to route. With diversion signs, ironically!

Finally, I got on the 97 from Stratford City (as it seems Stratford International isn't "in use"), and no one got off/on new stops:





No sound for these new stops.

The next Stratford City change is the 388 extension thus 588 withdrawal in December. Nice.

Routes 626, 634 01/07/13, 04/09/13

Routes 626 and 634 have changed operator, after 634 almost because a bus route in withdrawal. Instead, Metroline has it, and Sullivan now has the 626, so I covered them before and after operator change:

Firstly, on the first of July, the 634, with it's sole bus:

Arriva DLP93 on Route 634, Barnet Church


And now in the new school year, 4th September, with it's sole bus, and new operator:


Metroline TP459 on Route 634, Barnet Church


Now the 626, who started 2013 with Metroline...


Metroline TE1441 on Route 626, Barnet Church


Metroline TE1424 on Route 626, Barnet Chruch

iBus of 626 to Finchley Central

Then in September, it changed to Sullivan Buses with ex-London United Volvo B7TLs. Also, the first journey only runs to North Finchley, Tally Ho!:


Sullivan Buses ELV5 on Route 626, Barnet Church


626 to North Finchley, Tally Ho!

iBus of 626 to North Finchley

Route 626 new pm timetable, showing it's curtailed first journey


Sullivan ELV10 on Route 626, North Finchley


Sullivan ELV9 on Route 626, North Finchley


Sullivan ELV8 on Route 626, North Finchley


Sullivan ELV8 on Route 626, North Finchley

Workings on the 75 28/08/13

Whilst waitng for a certain MBK1, I saw from the corner of my eye inside the Central Bus Station waiting area a certain red Dart/Marshall. And it was this:

First Beeline DML41772 on Route 75, Heathrow Central (Au)

It surely isn't on loan to Beeline as it only had these legals:


First Beeline legals on DML41772 (Au)

First Beeline DML 41772 X772 HLR is seen here working the 75 (JPT)

First Beeline DML41772 on Route 75, Heathrow Central (Au)


A rare view of two rarely seen buses, along with more common stuff:
Quality Line MBK1 (X26), Metroline West DC (U3), London United DE (285), First Beeline DML41772 (75), Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station (left to right, Au)

So, a non-London unallocated/rare working. That's now :D

Route N550 31/08/13

The last N550 was either 30mins late or Tower Transit did an extra journey. Either way, that allowed me to get N550 photos - the only ones in early morning daylight (as far as I know). Tower Transit won the N550 off Stagecoach (under First Capital, but like the 425, the contract ended up with Tower Transit). It was run solely by DNs - this one from the 425 allocation. Tower Transit chewing more than it can swallow? That's what some people think about the 25! But this doesn't exactly help. The journey either 30mins late or an extra journey. I don't know. But what I do know is that N550 is still every 30mins.


30mins late, but better than never!
Tower Transit DN33789 on Route N550, Trafalgar Square


Tower Transit DN33789 on Route N550, Trafalgar Square


Tower Transit DN33789 on Route N550, Trafalgar Square

 It's also an NBAD, technically, so it worked out! Afterwards, I covered the Stratford International and 434 changes.

S7 Stock on the Circle and District Lines 04/09/13, 05/09/13

When I heard on forums that the S7s had been introduced onto the Circle and District Lines on the 2nd September, I (Au) had to get a look, as I was free, and I found the workings!

Trains 207/214 of the Circle Line and Train 753 of District Line running (Olympia) Earl's Court-West Ham.

First was the 4th Sept on...:

The District Line (if you haven't gathered!)


I really need to be prepared for photos more...
S7 21317 on District Line (training), Earl's Court


Interior of the S7 - 21317/8


District Line new S Stock train A4 posters were on each cab end.

Video of a ride on the S7 on the District

I rode it to Bow Road:


S7 21318 on District Line (Training), Bow Road


S7 21318 on District Line (Training), Bow Road

Whilst I waited for the train to get back, I went to Mile End, and got:


Tower Transit DN33617 on Route 425, Mile End


Tower Transit VN36152 on Route 25, Mile End

I then went into Mile End Station to find the train again! So I took it to Whitechapel for more photos:


S7 21317 on District Line, Whitechapel

 I then went to Aldgate to cover the:

Circle line S7s:


S7 21330 on Circle Line, Aldgate

Video of a ride on the S7 on the Circle Line

S7 21330 on Circle Line, Moorgate


S7 21330 on Circle Line, Kings Cross St Pancras

I then covered the 626/634, but that's another post. The next day, I covered it again for better photos:

First District line:


S7 21317 on District Line, Earl's Court


S7 21318 on District Line, South Kensington

Then Circle line at Wood Lane/Shepherd's Bush Market:

S7 21357 on Circle Line, Wood Lane*


S7 21358 on Circle Line, Shepherd's Bush Market


S7 21358 on Circle Line, Shepherd's Bush Market


S7 21357 on Circle Line, Paddington

Then I rest, before I go to school the next day. Grrr.