Hertford Running Day

Sunday June 4th 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 29th June 2006

Part 4: Hacking around Hertford

Hertford

I alighted from SNB257 at the entrance to the busy bus station, and for a minute or two watched the comings and goings. RT3062 was ahead of us, nosing into a space between RF627 and a Trustline service. Behind us RF4 was coming in to take a 388 service out to Tewin.

Two more RFs cleared from the scrum: unmodernised Greenline RF269 headed for the "garage" after a trip on the 715, followed by modernised sister RF48 on the 384A to Great Munden.

It was good to see RP21 back in action after an engine rebuild, following the breakdown on the Horsham Running Day. This afternoon it was operating local tours. Leyland National SNB257 followed it out of the bus station, heading for a spell at the London Road "garage".

RF406 departed on a 393 to Hertford Heath - one of the day's new short workings. Saunders roofbox RT3062 headed for the "garage" after a stint on the 390. I retired to the excellent cafe in the bus station for a quick sandwich.

With the bus station slightly clearer, RT3148 came in from a trip on the 331A to Standon. It took the bay next to Trustline's new Evolution, which was waiting for its turn on the Sunday trunk route 311 to Waltham Cross. A bit of a change from second-hand London cast-off Olympians.

393: Hertford to Hertford Heath and back (GS17)

Now GS17 came into the bus station ready for the 393. This was one of the routes added to the Running Day this year, part of the 393 route that had started out as an Epping GS route between Harlow and Broxbourne. It was then converted to RF operation and extended to Hertford via Hertford Heath, and later stretched further to Welwyn using Hertford RFs. It was not to be missed. I pocketed the remains of my sandwich and boarded the Guy.

The route was actually quite short. We headed south on the London Road, along the dual carriageway to the first roundabout, then right onto the old road, now a B-road. This climbed for almost a mile, up away from Hertford, to reach the Inn at Hertford Heath, on the old Roman Road.

We turned on the triangle outside the Inn, and paused for photos, before returning down the hill into Hertford. We reached the bus station at about the same time as GS60, inbound from Little Berkhamstead on the 308A.

I just had time to eat the rest of my sandwich before RF366 arrived on an extra to Potters Bar..

Part 5: Pottering with RF366

All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 5: Pottering with RF366