GS67

GS: The Guy Special

Prepared by Ian Smith

This page created 23rd October 2003

336A GR Rickmansworth - Loudwater Village (- Garston LT)

309/361 route map

The 336A became one of the London Transport's institutions. The 336 itself was peculiar enough, operating with low-height RLH buses, but the 336A, with its small saloon bus, operated from an outstation. The regular driver, Harry Cross, took the bus home at nights, and made a garage run once a week to Garston to refuel or exchange buses - and get paid of course! After he retired in 1971 the bus was worked out from Garston on a daily basis, which made the garage run mileage longer than the daily in-service run! With two buses needed at Garston, working alternate weeks, the economics of the route took a definite turn for the worse!

The route shuttled backwards and forwards between Rickmansworth Station - the Metropolitan line - and Loudwater Village - a private estate village. From May 1967 one morning peak journey was extended to Nortwood Station and back.

GS operation began in December 1953, when Garston replaced its Cubs with GSs, and lasted into London Country days in March 1972, by which time most of its passengers were enthusiasts. On the last day - last day of scheduled GS operation by London Country - 29th March 1972, two buses, the regular GS42 plus the spare GS33, were required to carry the crowd! GS33 carried chalked blinds for the occasion. After the last evening run on the 336A GS42 worked back to Garston as a well-laden 309.

GS42 at Cobham, April 2003 GS42 at North Weald, June 1998

GS42 wears 336A blinds during its visit to Cobham Open Day in April 2003, and at North Weald Rally, June 1998

Allocation

At least twenty-five GSs were allocated for service at Garston, and thus had a chance of operating on the 336A. GS71 was the initial allocation in December 1953. After the 309 converted to RF in February 1969 the service was maintained by GS17 and GS33 until March 1971, afrer which GS42 became the regular bus and GS33 the spare.

333/B 348/A

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