Hitchin Running Day

Sunday 1st June 2003

Prepared by Ian Smith, 18th June 2003

Part 2: Hertford to Hitchin on GS2: 329, 329A

Colin Rivers arrived with RF679, and we went round to the bus park to prepare it with bollards and notices to keep cars out for the day. When we returned it was nearly time for the first departure of the morning in GS2, the 0840 to Knebworth (Tup End). Peter Aves set off with the select band of passengers who had turned up for this special trip, and picked me up on his way out of the bus station. (There are advantages associated with being part of the crew!).

We passed through the very quiet west end of Hertford, and went under the bridge at Hertford North station. Today we did not turn left on the 388 route, but continued uphill to the Bramfield turnoff. Soon all trace of suburban Hertford was behind us and we were enjoying the country lanes and the long avenues of trees. GS country par excellence!

At Bulls Green Peter stopped GS2 and rolled up a blind for the infrequent Bulls Green short workings - he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all facets of GS operations.

Several of us stretched our legs for a minute or two on the green, then we were off again through Datchworth Green to Woolmer Green, then down into Knebworth, where we squeezed under the East Coast Main Line to the station.

Very shortly we were at Nup End, terminus of the 329. Like many bus termini, the key feature was not a traffic objective but a physical turning point, with somewhere to stand, in this case a traingular road junction with lay-by, just on the outskirts of the village. Here Peter changed the blinds again, and we became the first 329A for many years.

After many photos had been taken we all reboarded, and squeezed through the lanes to Tower Lodge, where we joined the old Birch Brothers London-Rushden route for the main road run into Hitchin, through Langley and St Ippolytts. St Mary's Square in Hitchin was closed for car-parking today, and there was a scramble to remove the bollards as we approached.

We were not the only buses there. RF366, with Jim Andress, was there to work the 304 to Whitwell, while Hemel Bus liveried SNB469, rustled up at short notice to cover another unavailable National, was working the 303 link to Stevenage.

We were due a break before our next booked turn, but Peter wanted to recreate one of his October 1953 pictures in the town, so that was our next objective..

Part Three: Hitchin local services

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

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.