Hertford & Stevenage Running Day

Sunday June 2nd 2002

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th June 2002

Part 3: Arrivals and Early Departures, Hertford

Back at the bus station we found rather more sunshine than when we left, and buses starting to arrive. At this stage they were checking in, and the controller was trying to clear them away to the nearby garage area to leave space for the buses that would come in for the early departures - and the service buses too.

Red RM1699 was parked on the east side, with blinds for the 341 (Hatfield - Hertford). It was soon joined by RMC1476 in London Country NBC green livery, also set up for the 341.

A service bus came through - a 395 operated by Arriva - in the shape of Dart SLF 3483, and weaved between the RFs and GSs. It was soon followed by another of the long GreenLine DAFs (3443) on its way to Heathrow. It had less problem turning in the end of the bus-station than the RFs and RTs.

RF679, wanted for the civic inauguration, was turned to the east side of the bus station and reparked. "Get those buses out of here!" suggested the controller, surveying the buses accumulated since before breakfast. RF633, GS62 and the two Routemasters went, off to the "garage". Greenline RF113 checked in, turned, and also headed for the garage area.

Almost unremarked, SNB312 slipped into the bus station, arriving with the 331 from Buntingford, having worked in from Royston. It was followed by red RF366, still requiring blinds for the day's duties.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor then inaugurated proceedings with event organiser Colin Rivers in front of Colin's RF679, and went on to look at the variety of buses on display starting with RF679..

Meanwhile the bus station was becoming more active. RF4 arrived with the first 384 from Stevenage via the scenic route, the touring RF bedecked with small flags like the Paris buses for its main task of providing local tours on this Golden Jubilee weekend. Green RT2083 turned up with 341 Hertford - Ware blinds. Arriva produced a Dart/Crusader, 3440, on the 311 - a change from last year's red Metrobuses.

Then it was GreenLine RF time, with RF269 checking in, and RF308, (one of the early conversions from Country Bus) in its authentic London Country livery of variegated greens, coming in from a turn on the 390 from Stevenage.

Then RF280 (an ex-Greenline coach in bus livery) pulled in, Greenline RF113 came back, with a local 333 turn between Hertford & Bengeo, followed by RT113 in its magnificent wartime red/white livery.

The Mayor and party made the most of it, posing with GS2, RT2083 and RT113.

Then RT113 retired to the garage, and took me with them, to get ready for the 327 trip.

Part 4: 327, Hertford - Nazeing Gate (RT113)

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop