RT3254 at Watton

Hertford, Stevenage & Harlow Running Day

Sunday 10th June 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 1st July 2007.


Part Seven: Stevenage Again

716: Welwyn to Stevenage: RT3254

Greenline RT3254 was already standing at Welwyn Church when RF308 arrived from Hertford. I crossed the road to join the RT, bound for Stevenage as a 716.

RT3254 at Welwyn Church. RT3254 at Welwyn Church.

We set off, turning right by the church to go round the block and north-east on the B197, through Mardley Hill to Woolmer Green. This I recognised, having passed through on the 329 route. We rolled along into Knebworth, but instead of turning left (for the too-low bridge and station) we continued north, soon crossing over the Hertford Loop and entering Stevenage.

801: Stevenage and Martins Wood: RT3254

On arrival in the Bus Station the RT was unloaded, and parked in the middle, while SNB449 used the stop for a 390 arrival from Hertford. Also there was United Counties Leyland National MkII No.578, which had operated a duplicate on the 390. Now it was parked in the middle of the bus station. The SNB loaded up and set off back to Hertford.

RT3254 at Stevenage. SNB449 at Stevenage.

UC587. UC587 at Stevenage. SNB449 at Stevenage.

After a short break we rolled back round to the stop for the 801 service to Martins Wood. We followed the earlier route out to Sishes End, then wiggled on through the estate to the Martins Wood estate terminus. Somewhere on the last stretch there was a loud clunk overhead as a tree put a dent in the middle of the front dome.

RT3254 at Martins Wood. RT3254 at Martins Wood.

We turned round and carefully made our way out of the estate, zig-zagging to avoid the trees, and headed back into Stevenage bus station.

Inside RT3254 on 801. RT3254 at Stevenage Bus Stn.

We were followed into the Bus Station by one of the brand new buses that now serve Martins Wood on route 2: Arriva The Shires' Volvo / Wrightbus Eclipse Urban No.3870. An earlier sister was loading on the other side of the bus station, demonstrating the great length of these modern buses. (They still only seat three more than an RF).

3870 at Bus Stn. 3870 at Bus Stn.

Eclipse Urban at Bus Stn.

390: Stevenage and Hertford: RT3254

We put up the 390 blinds again, and set off for Hertford. I was pleased to see that we took very nearly the same route that I had taken with Ken the day before, down into the Broadwater estate then eastwards until balked by the low trees over the bus-only stretch. As Ken and I had done, we urned up into the estate, and headed east along Broadwater Avenue. We emerged onto the main road near Bragbury End, and turned south towards Watton. RML2613 roared past, heading for Stevenage.

We continued along the old road into Watton, and again pulled up at the stop before The Bull for photos.

RT3254 at Watton. RT3254 at Watton.

Then it was south again, out of the village and down the old road to Stapleford and Waterford. We ducked under the railway again at Hertford North, and made our way in through the town to reach the bus station.

There it was going-home time, with buses loading for return journeys south - or north...

Part Eight: Winding up

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

Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Six Part Eight: Winding up