Picture Archive Post 39

Yep, this post is being typed from Coventry.

London United DPS581 on Route 419, Barnes Bridge, 15/11/11 (© Aubrey)

Route 419 is a fairly new route, starting on the 11th November 2000 running between Hammersmith and Richmond via Castelnau and Mortlake. The routing hasn't changed since (except for the Hammersmith terminal revision when the lower bus station opened). The route was born from the R69 which was born in 1990. The 419 started at Stamford Brook Garage, before moving to Hounslow in October 2002 for a short while before returning to Stamford Brook Garage at August 2003. However, in November 2005, the 419 was one of the first two routes for new operator NCP Challenger based in Twickenham. They renamed themselves as NSL Services before being sold to Transdev/London Sovereign. The planned transfer to London United happened and has stayed at London United again since. The route moved to Stamford Brook when Twickenham garage had its TfL services moved away from it. Then when the E3 arrived, the route moved to its present garage at Shepherd's Bush.

DPS581 started out as one of the Darts for Route 290, allocated to Fulwell Garage in December 2001. The bus stayed at Fulwell before moving to London Sovereign (Harrow) then Twickenham (where it is seen here). In March 2013, it was transferred to Fulwell before going off-lease in September 2013. It hadn't been repainted throughout the whole of its life at London United, interestingly.