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.