Au Revoir 2018

It's been a while since I've done this, the last years I  skipped over was due to lack of keeping up with with what happened I admit. Now I've come back and prepared for this adventure. Enjoy this structure-lacking writing.

Before I start.
Note: Usage of any photos on this blog isn't permitted where no name is present (meaning it's mine, ©Unorm), or an All Rights Reserved symbol © is present. If you desire to use a photo, you must contact the original author. In my case, you should contact my Flickr.

“For last year's words belong to last year's language 

And next year's words await another voice.”

- T.S. Eliot

I will cover 2018's changes month by month, going through operator changes and certain retains. For example, the 300 switching it's Enviro200s with D6's longer Enviro200s. Don't worry, there's better examples below.

January:

6th January:

ADE40402 (YX12FNH), Brent Cross

The first change of the month was 142/258, lost from Arriva the Shires to London Sovereign of RATP. Except Arriva surrendered 258 early in September 2017. Anyhow, the end of Garston (GR) come closer, with the loss of their closest routes only slightly off Watford Junction. The end of the LJ55-reg B7TL ALX400s and the transfer of now-T199 sole Enviro400 (former 5458) and DB300s DW190/1 (6100/1) to Croydon (TC). Without a doubt the loss was anticipated, yet was a sad loss. With this, Arriva have moved one step closer to closing off their north west career.

The change itself brought RATP into Watford, certainly an adventure in uncharted territory. The buses brought in were Enviro400s released from the loss of 120 and 222 to Metroline, some refurbished in time for 142's arrival. Four new E40H MMCs were ordered as top-ups, but were late, extra Hounslow (AV) ADEs from 81 filled in the space of these late ADHs in the meantime.
Operation wasn't quite perfect as you'd expect, with 642s being lost thinking they were school 142s which isn't exactly the case if you look up the route. Back to 142, the changeover was pretty smooth nonetheless, with it remaining so for the coming new weeks of operation.

The Ten to Tend to

LT82 (LTZ1082), Hammersmith

King's Cross to Hammersmith as we know it was the replacement of 73 which ran from Stoke Newington through to Hammersmith, then rerouted at Hyde Park to Victoria on 13 August 1988.

The year later it was extended to Archway via a then predecessor of  390, of which newborn-390 permanently replaced in 2003.

TA1, LX18DGF

"Nigel Road"
Peckham Rye

Tri-axles from abroad, specifically Hong Kong, have made their way into London and tested on few main routes such as 5 or 29, buses in question being Enviro500s. Though it was until April 2018 when we had a set in stone official news of a TfL approved hybrid for London. The BCI Enterprise 2HD, designed with a total capacity of 130 with 78 seats. Of 12.5m length. Includes phone holders and USB ports.

Initially it was to run on the Russell Square to West Croydon express X68, but issues with it's routeing deemed it infeasible at the time, so the other option was fellow garage member 12. The one that runs from the lesser heart of Dulwich through residential Barry Road, to Peckham, Camberwell, run-down Elephant and into Central London via Big Ben and Trafalgar Square to where it terminates at Oxford Circus.

Country 403

E198 (SN61BKD), Fairfield Halls, Croydon

It might not look at it at first glance, but the 403, like the 401, was a London Country route which ran far out of London to places now considered a myth for today's standards. Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Westerham. Tatsfield. Actually that's round the corner from Warlingham.

To 2 too

It's been a long time since I've done my bus route series, where I touch up on certain routes in their individual posts, and go on about them. Most of the time these are local routes so I have more to talk about.

In today's one, the 2. West Norwood to Marylebone via Brixton and Victoria.

HV323 (LK17AKG), Norwood Road, West Norwood

Night experience

In this post I will be focusing on N68.

The night route for daytime 68 and 468 and part of the 60 started on the 27th March 1999 with it's original route from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych as per current route but to Purley instead of Old Coulsdon. Allocated Leyland Olympians from Arriva's South Croydon (TC).

Night photography of moving bus, definitely easy.
Presumably 2614, on it's way to Tottenham Court Road

Bus Axe Scheme

I'll be sharing my opinions on this scheme. For those who have no knowledge on this, I advise going here. I've also devised a spreadsheet for simplicity's sake if you want to view.

Straight to the point and in my personal opinion:

So the 196..

It's now a month since the 196 changed hands, so let's get on with it.

2618 (SN18KLL), Knights Hill, Upper Norwood

Shockingly awarded to Abellio London, later confirmed to be operated out of Walworth (WL). This win was on a scale much lower than 159 but as bizarre. The then current operator has a base directly on route, but unlike 159, the succeeding operator's base is closer to it's route.

The 31st March 2018.

The day the 68, 468, X68 were all separated from one another. 

Loss of 68/N68 to neighbouring garage Abellio from Walworth (WL) with existing LTs.

Loss of 468 to a garage mid-point of Arriva; Norwood (N), with new HV380-412.

Retention of X68' with EH215-224 and 188's transfer from Morden Wharf (MG) to Camberwell (Q) to balance work lost by 68/468/N68 loss.

68 (West Norwood - Elephant & Castle - Euston):

Last allocated New Routemasters (LTs) towards the end of the contract. Normal buses such as Enviro400H EHs and B5LH EvoSeti MHVs appeared, especially en masse the night before the changeover.

LT673 LTZ1673, Ernest Avenue, West Norwood

68-group

The irreversible past.
The explosion of art.
"Art is an explosion."

I'll no doubt make my 31 March post long winded and as informative as possible, so as to save time for both myself and yourself, I'll have this post as the starter pack.

The 68 group, consisting of 68, 168, 468, X68, N68.
Disclaimer: May contain 196.
                    Doesn't contain 168, it was exiled.

I will focus as much as I can on the 68 side of things, making references to 196 here and there as it's a family member too. However, I have an old post that focuses more on 196.

South Croydon Red Deer* - West Norwood - Elephant & Castle - Waterloo - Euston - Chalk Farm.

* South End

142 changes hands

Now, if you've known me for long or read my blog posts, you'd know it's focused on South London. What you're now probably thinking...what made me travel all the way to North West London like Edgware? The 142 changeover? Yes and No.

Yes - because I was conveniently there and thus cannot resist.
No - business. I'm the CEO of a shop*.

Photobombed ADE40428 and PDL117 (not displaying Kingsbury Circle) side by side
Edgware Bus Station