Triple Variety 39 [While stocks last that is]

LDP222 (SK52MLV) on Victoria Drive,
Putney Heath

The title directly refers to it's former but still used allocation of Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointers (the last of their kind alive right now), formerly used on 368 10.8m Enviro200s (SEN31-7) and brand new Streetlites (WS66-73).

The 39 is a busy trunk single deck route which used to be a double deck routes and used to enter Central London going as far north as Edmonton Park Road, but for the most part used to always serve Victoria until 12 May 1990 where it was converted to midibus operation and was shortened to be Clapham Junction to Putney Bridge, with 'bread-vans' as some call, the allocation, with a PVR of 8.

12 years later an allocation change to Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointers in 2002 with a PVR of 13 to deal with the extra loads balanced by much increased capacity on the busy former central London route. It's hard to believe since 1985 the running number was always 21+, the reason for that is, since 1985, the route was always based at Putney (AF) but moved to Plough Lane (PL) in 2007 to make space in Putney (AF), but transferred without running number change.

Interior of SEN32 (YX61FZR) facing rear

It was 27 November when the route started it's contract renewal with intended ex-368 SENs and new WSs, the WSs were for the most part late, the SENs were refurbished with a hint of First colour scheme to suit the green/purple interior better, some LDPs have left the fleet however.

SEN32 (YX61FZR) at the first stop
on Falcon Road

Before we jump onto 39's routing, I only did majority of the route (Clapham Junction-Putney Heath) and it was a good experience. From the populated Clapham Junction bustling with life, we stroll to Wandsworth Southside, a shopping centre, it's from there that we jump onto residential roads to gather people to get from A to B, with our next checkpoint being Southfields Station.

The distance between Wandsworth and Southfields is decent and a little short but fun if you get the right driver (you're bound to) and is slightly posh in it's residential form, we then arrive at the slightly more populated than average (for small towns) Southfields where people next board/alight as an interchange point. The awaiting checkpoint for us is Putney Heath, whilst I admit I didn't go exactly the known part of Putney Heath, time was running short for me so I alighted along Victoria Drive, at Levana Close.

Once we leave Southfields Station whilst still on Wimbledon Park Road, we go from what we had as house-ful yet calmly residential and posh (but not posh like Chelsea or you name it), we escape onto Victoria Drive to get to Putney as soon as possible as we took time by getting to Southfields in the first place...

Go-Ahead London General SEN32 YX61FZR | ADL Enviro200 10.8m | Route 39 

This is where 39 shares resemblance to another route, one I have done before and loved when I did it back then, Abellio's T33 (or now known as, 433), both the vehicles I did it in and routing (at this point) was striking similar, I had SEN32 (YX61FZR) which had vibration issues but was very nippy on 39 on this journey Putney-bound, and on T33 I had 8776 (YX61ELH) which was nippy too.

So, as my time was short, I decided to escape back to Clapham Junction, but wanted to savour the taste of an LDP in case I never have the chance to do so again as at the time, there was a decent number of LDPs in service despite the possibility to fully convert. My bus was LDP222 (SK52MLV), which was decently loaded, by the time we got to Southfields we were full up but by Wandsworth most people unloaded however a neat amount remained but all have left once we got to Clapham Junction Station.

Thrashy | Go-Ahead London General LDP222 SK52MLV | Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 | Route 39 

Hope you enjoyed this post as I've not done a post of a route in a very long time and by now you probably get the drill if you read my posts before.....but let me twist the words this time...stay safe until next time!

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