RT3254 on 716 at Stevenage

Hertford, Hitchin & Stevenage

Sunday June 7th 2009

Prepared by Ian Smith, 12th June 2009.



Sunday: the Deluge

390: Hertford to Stevenage, RT3254

Breakfast at the hotel in Hertford started at 8a.m. Five to eight saw me checking out and heading for the bus station through a torrential downpour. By the time I had walked to Bircherley Green I was drenched. This was not a good way to start the day. I had been wondering how to get to Stevenage, where events kicked off much earlier than at Hertford, when Colin Rivers asked me if I would take some programmes and bus blinds up to Stevenage on the unadvertised 0815 390 service. So there I was, waiting for a bus in the pouring rain.

Trustybus now operate the Sunday 311, and one of their Dart/Marshalls - 528 - arrived through the torrent. The blinds and programmes arrived, and a few minutes later I heard the unmistakeable sound of an RT approaching round the twists and turns leading to the bus station. It was Green Line RT3254, wearing its set of Stevenage RT blinds. As Stevenage buses did not work further south than Aston on the 390, it was wearing the short-working via blind for the 390 trip north.

DM528 at Hertford. RT3254 at Hertford.

I went upstairs for the brisk journey north. I didn't sit in the front seats. The rain was so fierce that it was coming in past the window seals. Photography was impossible (I did try). We waded through a deep puddle at Hertford North Station, and met several more places where water was deep and right across the road as we headed north. Trees that would normally clear the bus were sagging under the weight of water too, giving some alarming thumps on the front dome. But I was content. Hungry?: yes. Damp?: yes, but riding an RT through the countryside.

Too soon we were pulling in to Stevenage Bus Station, where I had to alight to deliver my packages, while the RT took up its appointed timetable on the 716 between Stevenage, Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City. With lights aglow, and the level of ambient light more like St.Albans in January than Stevenage in June, it set off round the bus station and disappeared towards Hitchin.

RT3254 at Stevenage. RT3254 at Stevenage. RT3254 leaves Stevenage.

Stevenage Bus Station

I waited in the bus station for my contact, fielding questions that I mostly couldn't answer, and trying to keep the rain off my cameras and the bundle of blinds. But there was plenty to see, even at this hour on a Sunday morning. Stevenage is a busy bus station. Buses came and went, and stood for a few minutes on the central bus stance. Amongst the latter were Arriva's DAF/Wright Cadet 4525, off the 4, and Volvo / Wright Renown 3313 off the 7.

4525 at Stevenage. 3313 at Stevenage.

Then MB641 arrived, and went to park on the stance. It brought Robb, to collect the programmes, and the blinds for the MB. I could go for breakfast.

MB641 at Stevenage. MB641 at Stevenage.

Whilst I was devouring scrambled eggs and coffee, RF4 arrived with the 384 from Letchworth to Hertford. Peter Penfold picked up the small crowd waiting for the bus, and swept round the bus station on his way south.

RF4 on 384 at Stevenage. RF4 on 384 at Stevenage.

Out on the stance Volvo /Wright Renown 3312 was starting round onto the stop for the 1, Cadet 4525 was still sitting there. Trustline's Dart/MCV Evolution AE55MVL in unusual silver/blue livery was awaiting departure on the Stansted airport service. Meanwhile the blinds had gone up on MB641. It was time to make a move. With yellow tabard on, I headed for the MB.

Stevenage.

As I emerged into the bus station RT3254 twirled through again, heading south from Hitchin to Welwyn Garden City on the 716. Magnificent!

RT3254 at Stevenage. RT3254 at Stevenage.

I joined MB641 on the stance, where final preparations were being made for a return trip to Hitchin. Arriva Dart 3234, in red advertising livery burst past onto a stop, and immensely long Wright Pulsar 3412 swept round onto the central stance.

3234 at Stevenage. 3412 at Stevenage.

We prepared to go..

Part Three: Journeys on the 303


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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Three: Journeys on the 303