The Wright Changes Part 1 - Route 444 07/03/15

Tower Transit. Growing in some respects. How tight is the HO?

Well, Chingford Station was very tight, to say the least! (CC Aubrey)
Tower Transit WV46107 leading 2x 444 and 2x 212s on the stand, with 1 212 and 1 444 on the main road. The main road 444 ended up on the 97 stand, sparking a tight, pointless argument between drivers moving the 97 bus to let the 444 bus through. The 97 driver moved his bus after a while.


Tower Transit WV46107 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane (© Aubrey)

Typical green interior, typical story with some buses not having all logos. Daimler Euro 6 engines in these, should be a better ride than the Euro 5 lot with Cummins engines.


Tower Transit WV44700 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane Station (© Aubrey)

Except this. After two years, DRZ6181 (former First Centrewest WM47400) ended up with the successor of First London (well, an uneven third), Tower Transit. This is a Euro 5 Streetlite, the former demonstrator out again roaming London's streets. Or just the North Circular Road.


Tower Transit WV46108 on Route 444, Chingford Station (© Aubrey)

Another typical lot, with some screeches. The interior is very green and grey, typically. Driver changes are at Chingford Station for this route, which seems to be a temporary measure until Picketts Lock actually starts being built as a bus garage.


Tower Transit WV46111 on Route 444, Chingford Station (© Aubrey)

Eleven of these 10.8m Streetlites are used on the 444 (WV46101-111), alongside the 10.4m ex-demonstrator.


Tower Transit VH38104 (Route 212), WV46016 (Route 444), Chingford Station (CC Aubrey)

A sign of the next Tower Transit-related post is shown behind the 444 bus.
Overall, the day was predictably hectic, with drivers complaining YET AGAIN about the blind system and how to change the blinds. Newer Mobitec systems are getting annoying with drivers who aren't used to them. At least the buses ran.

Bedfont Lakes Enviro 200s

Courtney Buses YJ10 MBV on Route BL1, Feltham Station (CC Aubrey)

This was the prior mainstray of the Bedfont Lakes services BL1 and 2. However, Courtney decided to introduce new buses direct from Dawson's Rentals (again). This time, it's Euro 6 Enviro 200s, which are supposed to be in silver. Well, they aren't.


Courtney Buses KX64 AEJ on Route BL1, Feltham Station (CC Aubrey)

Yeah, your bog standard Enviro 200.


Courtney Buses KX64 AEL on Route BL1, Feltham Station (© Aubrey)

These buses are for employees only, as far as I know, and are used to shuttle Bedfont Lakes workers between there and Feltham (BL1), Hatton Cross-T4 (BL2), Hayes & Harlington (BL3) and Staines (irregular BL4)


Rear of Courtney Buses KX64 AEL on Route BL1, Feltham Station (© Aubrey)

Bog standard here again. Dealership generic moquette.


Courtney Buses KX64 AEK on Route BL1, Feltham Station (CC Aubrey)


Courtney Buses KX64 AEF on Route BL1, Feltham Station (CC Aubrey)

These buses also run the BL2. I am unsure what runs the BL3, BL4 is run with Optare SoloSRs.


Courtney Buses KX64 AEJ on Route BL2, Hatton Cross (© Aubrey) (offside)


Courtney Buses KX64 AEJ on Route BL2, Hatton Cross (© Aubrey) (nearside)

As per typical Courtney style, these buses are well presented, even with non-DDA compliant LED displays. The batch is KX64 AEF, G, J, K, L. They will eventually be done into Bedfont Lakes livery, as seen with the Optare Solo above. Courtney are well known for operating other corporate services as seen, so this sort of  presentation is predictable.

Baking Borismasters - Route 55 LT Conversion

To explain the title, these buses go to Leyton, Baker's Arms. Also, in the summer, these buses are well known for being very hot inside, like an oven almost!


Stagecoach London LT371 on Route 55, Clapton Pond (CC Aubrey)

Route 55 is well known for having three spells of crewed operation. Firstly between 1969 and 1972 with RTs, then 1981-1987 with RMs, and finally 2001-2003 with Dennis Tridents (yes, doored crewed operation) as a trial under Ken Livingstone to introduce more widespread crewed operation across London. The conversion to LT, a bus designed for both crewed operation and OPO has predictably placed this conversion firmly into the OPO side, which is the opposite situation in the early 2000s when the Tridents, designed for OPO operation, was used as a crewed bus!


Stagecoach London LT379 on Route 55, Clapton Pond (CC Aubrey)

The batch of LT312-316, 357-390 for Route 55 has been known for two (LT312, 313) of the batch being used, and failing badly in Scotland on the 73 (Dundee-Arbroath) before being moved southwards for London used.


Stagecoach London LT384 on Route 55, Clapton Pond (© Aubrey)

This scene shows how busy Clapton-Hackney is with Borismasters, with 38, 55, N38 and N55 all having them thus a constant day and night presence of these buses.


Stagecoach London LT369 on Route 55, Shoreditch Church (CC Aubrey)
A short ride on these was fruitless, as the driver was regulating time throughout the journey.
Route 55 is another "staggered" conversion, gradually converting until recently becoming fully LT.


Stagecoach London LT364 on Route 55, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

This conversion has been another uneventful conversion, as most are getting, due to the rate and normality of conversions. Next LT conversion is the 15, which has already started.