We took on a full load at the bus station for the 350 trip to Widford, and headed out towards Ware. RT3148 scurried towards us on a 395 from Fanshawe Crescent, followed just afterwards by Arriva's Dart SLF 3483 on today's 395 from Fanham Common (the old 395A terminus). We passed Ware Crossing, and turned left over the New River at the next junction, to pass by Ware Station before going up into the lower part of the town. There we turned right onto the Wareside road, and climbed up into the countryside flanking the River Ash. Very pleasant. We passed the White Horse and Chequers pubs at Wareside.
Beyond Wareside we squeezed across the river bridge and continued to Widford, where we pulled round the corner onto the Hunsdon road and reversed back to the bus shelter. Many of our passengers alighted here to take photos, and a lady from the pub came across to take some too. She showed us a bus photo from the wall of her pub dating from The People's era. The blinds were rewound to show our return route, 350A, and Hertford. Most people remounted the bus. Then Ron had a change of heart, and wound the blind a little further to show Essendon.
With RF627 following we wound our way out from the bus station, passing RMC1477 back from a foray to Wormley on the 715. We made our way round the town, meeting RF486 returning from Knebworth on the 329.
Further on we passed SNB312 running in on the 390 from Stevenage. Instead of turning up to Hertford North Station we turned under the tall railway arch and out on the Hatfield road. This road has been considerably straightened over the years, by-passing all the villages that the 350 served, so we were soon turning off it onto the old road that wound down to cross the River Mimram and then up into the village of Hertingfordbury.
We turned west in the village, following the old road, and narrowly avoided being ejected back onto the by-pass. But we made the turn onto the old road along to Birch Green, where we stopped for photos.
We paused again, very briefly, at Cole Green, then turned south to pass under the low Cole Green Bridge, where the Chain Walk uses the old Hertford-Hatfield railway line.
We stopped again at Letty Green, for another round of photos. (Before we set off someone had commented on the slow nature of the timetable for this route, I had responded that it needed to be with me along!)
We crossed the River Lea, and turned right onto the 341 route, along to Essendon Mill. There the 341 turned right to head for Hatfield, but we continued to Essendonbury Farm, turning left there to climb up two hundred feet in three-quartes of a mile to hilltop Essendon. The buses paused at the setting down point, and Keith and I hopped off and went to explore the turning triangle. After an acute angle turn a narrow lane with parked cars led down beside the churchyard, to another tight corner. But it looked passable, so Keith went back to see the drivers round the corner, while I went down to the church corner to await events.
Soon I saw RF679 easing round the sharp bend at the top of the lane, and threading a way down between the parked cars, with RF627 soon nosing along behind. Cars on the bottom corner seemed likely to cause problems, but the RFs were gentled round that corner with consummate skill by their drivers. I rejoined the RFs on the main road, and we set out back to Hertford.
As we eased round into Bircherley Green bus station we met RF4, departing on one of the local tours.
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.
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Part 6: Wormley Greenline