Then RT2083 departed with its permitted maxinmum load of eight, on a 715 to Wormley. Almost immediately RT3254 arrived with the previous 715 working, and pulled right round the bus station to unload clear of the congested stands. Then the RT was prpared for a short journey to Watton Station, with appropriate blinds and fare chart.
Then RT3062 came in to unload, and we went round onto the stand to fill up for the trip to Watton Station.
Then we were away, out of the bus station, and immediately meeting RF429 and RF489 coming in different directions. We turned left, and left again, to pass Hertford East Station, before running back west on the inner by-pass. We turned into the town, and progressed along to Hertford North Station, where we had a brief stop.
We headed north, under the 14ft 9in bridge here, and a little later the slightly higher (15ft0in) bridge at Stapleford. Soon we were at the Watton roundabout, and turned left to rejoin the old road into the village. We made our way up the street, past the Bull and the George and Daragon, to the mini-roundabout giving access to Station Road.
RT3254 ground up the steep bank to Watton Station. There we were asked to stay aboard while the bus reversed into a sideroad for a welcome break. Photographers descended. Opposite, across the hedge, was a fabulous field strewn with poppies: a real scene of the fifties.
SWe headed back for Hertford: down into Watton, and south along the old road almost to the roundabout, then down the main road through Stapleford into Hertford. Heavy traffic delayed us through the town. Passing along the by-pass to the east end of town we met RF281, heading south on the 350. We turned the corner at the roundabout, and we were then treated to the proper route into the bus station, via the High Street and the east end of town.
GS2 zipped out of the bus station with a 333 to Chapmore End as we arrived, but then there was something of a hiatus. RF429 was sitting on the far side, empty. I wandered across to Old London Road to see what was over there. It turned out to be RT4317.
There was also an East Kent Reliance....
Part Eight: Reliance to Stevenage
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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