GS1 at Bircherley Green

Hertford & Stevenage Running Day

Sunday June 2nd 2002

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th June 2002


Part 5: 308: Hertford - Cuffley (GS62)

Back at Hertford I just had time for a quick tour round the bus-station, before grabbing lunch. GS1 had arrived back from Welwyn on a 388 (see above). NBC-liveried National SNB 312 was parked between turns on the 390 link to Stevenage.

SNB312 SNB312

GS62, with injector cured and hub-cab replaced, had been for a couple of turns round the 333, and was now parked ready for the afternoon journeys.

GS62 RT604

A pair of GreenLines crossed on the 724: 3448 back from Heathrow, heading for Harlow, and 3445 heading west. They displayed a slight livery variation under the windscreens. I made myself go and have lunch.

Arriva 3448 Arriva 3445

Back from lunch I joined Alan Charman aboard GS62 for the drive up to Hertford Castle, where there was a beer festival. The Running Day was operating the local tours from there, plus this service bus. The narrow bendy approach required the use of either the short RF or a GS.

Up at the Castle we met the Mayor and Deputy again. After a few minutes posing (in the timetable!) we loaded up for the short run back to the bus station.

GS62, Mayor and Alan Charman GS62 at Hertford Castle

Back at Bircherley Green we exchanged loads, most of the castle passengers alighting here. We took on an almost full load for the 308 to Cuffley, and left just behind GS1 which was on the 308A to Little Berkhamsted.

GS62 departs Hertford Castle on 308 GS1 sets off on 308A past RF633

GS1 on 308A seen from GS62 on 308 We were about one hundred yards behind GS1 as we headed south out of Hertford and climbed up into the leafy woods. But a cyclist gave us an opportunity to close up, and the two green Guys climbed together up to Brickendon and through Bayford. The green lanes were delightful. At one T-junction I quickly alighted, but GS1 was gone before I could photograph the two together.

A little further on another T-junction saw the division of the two routes. GS1 turned right for Little Berkhamsted, and GS2 left for Cuffley.

It was still a surprisingly long way, with some significant hills. We were glad that the clutch problem had disappeared once the injector leak had been cured. One of Sullivan Buses' new Dart/Caetano's headed north past us with the Hertford Loop train service from Alexandra Palace to Stevenage.

GS1 zooms off GS62 pauses at a T-junction

GS62 and GS1 part company GS62 at Cuffley Station

We reached Cuffley, and turned in the station yard. The blinds were reset for the return journey and we began the long trek back north. We climbed out of Cuffley, ans began the roller-coaster over the Herrtfordshire hills. The journey was a bit more relaxed than the outward trip, and we stopped at several pubs - for photographs not beer. These included the Baker's Arms and the Farmer's Boy.

GS62, Bakers Arms GS62, Farmers Boy

With a fairly contented company aboard we dropped back down from Brickendon into Hertford, and met up with GS1 again at the bus station.

Inside GS62 GS62 and GS1 at Hertford

I had nearly a half hour until my next journey, so I had a cup of tea and chatted to a few people, booked my seat on RF4 for later, and headed over to the "garage" to find my ride.

Part 6: 388, Hertford - Welwyn (GS2)


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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop