The last Picture Archive post for 2013. There isn't going to be a special post just because it's the 'festive' season, and near Christmas!
London United VA308 on Route 81, Hounslow West, 24/10/11
VA308 was one of the buses intended for the 148 when the route was new. Unfortunately, these buses were a tad late, so TAs were initially used on the route. When they did arrive, they were used on Route 148 from Shepherd's Bush Garage. When SPs arrived, these buses were moved as part of a swap with Fulwell too, where TAs acquired for a 111 PVR increase were swapped with these VAs after SPs replaced these buses. They were then found on the 111, 120 and H32 most of the time, initially. The 81 and 222 where then double decked in 2009-2011 (222 unofficially, initially) using these 'spare' buses as the H32 then the 111 got SPs. The 120 (annoyingly), 81 and 222 then got ADEs in 2012, thus releasing most of the array of double deckers at Hounslow Garage (except SPs). This bus moved to Bath Bus Company, part of the RATP Group. 81 now has Enviro 400 - E40Ds.
Route 81 is the corridor along the traditional Bath Road between Hounslow and Slough. For some of its life, it went to Slough, and even had a Sunday extension via what is now the 237 (then part of the 117) to Shepherd's Bush between 1966 and 1969. That must've been a very long journey! It was also one of the first tendered routes to pass to a non-London Buses operator in 1985, being run by London Bus Lines at Isleworth then Southall. It was then gained by Westlink in 1995 and after Westlink being acquired by London United, it has since stayed at London United ever since.
London United VA308 on Route 81, Hounslow West, 24/10/11
VA308 was one of the buses intended for the 148 when the route was new. Unfortunately, these buses were a tad late, so TAs were initially used on the route. When they did arrive, they were used on Route 148 from Shepherd's Bush Garage. When SPs arrived, these buses were moved as part of a swap with Fulwell too, where TAs acquired for a 111 PVR increase were swapped with these VAs after SPs replaced these buses. They were then found on the 111, 120 and H32 most of the time, initially. The 81 and 222 where then double decked in 2009-2011 (222 unofficially, initially) using these 'spare' buses as the H32 then the 111 got SPs. The 120 (annoyingly), 81 and 222 then got ADEs in 2012, thus releasing most of the array of double deckers at Hounslow Garage (except SPs). This bus moved to Bath Bus Company, part of the RATP Group. 81 now has Enviro 400 - E40Ds.
Route 81 is the corridor along the traditional Bath Road between Hounslow and Slough. For some of its life, it went to Slough, and even had a Sunday extension via what is now the 237 (then part of the 117) to Shepherd's Bush between 1966 and 1969. That must've been a very long journey! It was also one of the first tendered routes to pass to a non-London Buses operator in 1985, being run by London Bus Lines at Isleworth then Southall. It was then gained by Westlink in 1995 and after Westlink being acquired by London United, it has since stayed at London United ever since.
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