My Picture Archive Post 31

First London DML44075 on Route 498, Romford Town Centre, 24/03/12

So the first 2015 Picture Archive brings to a scene from 2012, where DML44075 is seen plying the usually single deck 498 (at that time) which did and still does run between Romford and Brentwood. This bus started out as DML44075 in Dagenham Garage for First London. This was ordered for Route 165 in 2008 for its contract renewal. This bus had since settled at Dagenham running the 165 and 498 amongst other routes, until October 2012, where for some reason, it transferred to Lea Interchange for its single decker routes, including the RV1, 308, 236, W14 and W15. It transferred to Tower Transit on the 22nd June 2013, and is still with them at Lea Interchange today.

The 498 is a route that replaced the 351/551 services run by First Thamesway (Essex) between Romford and Brentwood. The 498 initially ran every 30 minutes run by Arriva Southend from Grays and started on Boxing Day 2005. In January 2006, it was converted to double deckers for the first time with DLAs, before reverting to single deck in June 2006. Even with the 30 minute frequency, there were school time extras run with double deckers. 

In June 2008, it moved to First London where Enviro 200s that had been running at Uxbridge moved to Dagenham after a long awaited extension to Goresbrook got cancelled. The route was re-converted to double deck in October 2012, and was later extended to Romford Queen's Hospital in April 2013 joint with a frequency increase to every 20 minutes. 

The route transferred to Go-Ahead Blue Triangle on the 22nd June 2013. It later had Enviro 400s replaced by Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini (and President) and now the Scania/East Lancs Olympus combination is the main current type.

Route 498 will move to Stagecoach East London on the 27th June with new double deckers from Romford Garage (according to London Bus Routes).