RT3254 at Watton

Hertford, Stevenage & Harlow Running Day

Sunday 10th June 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 1st July 2007.


Part Six: Hertford to Welwyn

388: Hertford (London Road) to Bircherley Green, GS62

From Hertford Bus Station I cadged a lift across to London Road carpark - the working bus-park, aboard RF48. RF308 was not there. I quickly took pictures of what was there: working down the row there was RF486 off the 384B, RT113 off the 327 and RF4 off the Tour.

RF486 in London Road. RF4 in London Road.

RT1700 was there too, wearing its 390 blinds. RF269 was in the car-park, together with a line-up of other buses: RML2613, working today on the 390, RT3871, RM1699 and an Eastern National VR in yellow. Beyond that were a pair of NBC green Leyland Nationals, a United Counties MkII and a London Country SNB.

RT1700 in London Road. RF269 in London Road. RML2613, RT3871, RM1699 in London Road.

But I didn't have time to investigate. I climbed aboard GS62, which was standing next to GS60, for a quick trip back to Bircherley Green Bus Station courtesy of Alan Charman.

RML2613 in London Road. GS62, GS60 in London Road.

The trip may have been short, but rounding the roundabout we met RF281, which was setting off on a Tour from Hertford Castle, and we met RF633 heading off on a more prosaic journey to Great Munden.

RF281 on Tour. RF633 on 384A.

388: Hertford to Welwyn Church, RF308

Back in the bus station I found RF308, my ride to Welwyn. It had arrived off another service. While GS62 was absorbing the queue for the shorter 388 journey to Tewin I slipped aboard RF308 and bagged a forward seat.

We too loaded up, and set off from the bus station, following empty RF600 out to the roundabout.

RF308 at Bus Stn. RF600.

We rounded the first part of the town, then delved into the west end, passing the massive red block of the Green Dragon Hotel and working through to Hertford North Station. We passed under the railway, and turned west onto the Welwyn road, climbing out of Hertford before forking right onto the green lane to Tewin. These are narrow and winding in places, and tightly constrained by trees. L.T. carefully timetabled the 388 to ensure that buses did not try to pass on this section.

Green Dragon, Hertford. lane to Tewin.

GS62 had reached Tewin before us, had turned, and was waiting opposite the sturdy wooden bus shelter on the green. There was a photo stop.

GS62 at Tewin. GS62 at Tewin.

GS62 and RF308 at Tewin. RF308 at Tewin.

The two buses went their opposite ways. I continued in RF308, north-westwards to Burnham Green, then left along the sinuous road through Harmer Green to Digswell, where we turned up to visit Welwyn North Station.

Welwyn North Station. RF308 at Welwyn North Station.

We turned right, under the railway, and down through the estate to the main road at the bottom. We turned right again, and ran along towardsthe A1, passing underneath to enter Welwyn and join the old Great North Road through the village to Welwyn Church. There we found RT3254 waiting on a 716 from Stevenage, complete with the Mayor of Stevenage.

RT3254 at Welwyn Church. RF308 at Welwyn Church.

I alighted to make the connection with the RT for the trip to Stevenage...

Part Seven: Stevenage again

Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.

Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Five Part Seven: Stevenage