GS32 at Hertford

Hertford and Stevenage Running Day

Sunday June 3rd 2001

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th June 2001


Part 2: Stevenage

384: Hertford to Stevenage, RF4

RF4 at Benington RF4 interior, between Benington and Walkern

RF4, with Peter Penfold driving and John Gray conducting, set off rather late on the 384. It wasn't their fault: the mayoral proceedings at Hertford had encroached on their departure slot. But the schedule was a relaxed one. We rumbled down the main road to Ware, and headed for Dane End: up the Walkern road into the Hertfordshire countryside, then right onto the narrower lane to Dane End. A sharp left turn took us off the 384A route and cross-country to Whempstead. There was a road, but we were glad that this was a short RF rather than a 11m National! At Whempstead we rejoined the wider road north to Benington. There we had a pause - an opportunity for that Kodak moment - at the picturesque green. The sun shone as we rolled onwards over the hilly countryside to Walkern, where we turned left for the descent into the New Town of Stevenage.

GS2 on 384 at Stevenage RT2083 at Stevenage

The bus station was brilliant in the June sunshine. We arrived just in time to see GS2, looking gorgeous in sparkling Southern Motorways livery, ready to depart on a short 384 working to Benington and back. Parked in the central bays were RT2083 and Bristol coach 280 KTA, guesting on the X21 between Hitchin and Stevenage.

Sovereign 318 on Greenline 797 to London RF4 and Western National Bristol at Stevenage

RF4 pulled round to the centre to park to keep clear of the busy "normal" bus and coach traffic using the bus station. This included Sovereign's Volvo/Plaxton Premiere on GreenLine 797 service, Sovereign's coaches on the 301 service to St Albans, and Arriva The Shire's local services using Dart SLFs and Volvo B6s. Rail Replacement work also brought strangers such as First London's red Dart Marshall DML719.

Volvo B6 3309, RT2083, DML719 Volvo B6 3311 at Stevenage

807: Stevenage to Weston and back, RF4

After just a few minutes it was time to rejoin RF4 for the 11.38 807 service to Weston - perversely one of the northern outposts of London Transport operation. RF4 pulled round to Stand J - "ours" for the day - and loaded up. The outward route took us past the railway station, where we were surprised to see a Merlin in London Transport livery engaged on Rail Replacement duties: it was MB641!
We wound our way out through the Stevenage maze of highways and housing estates, only losing the way once, where an old road had been truncated and diverted, necessitating a turn in the road. At least it was a short RF! We left the suburbs of Stevenage behind, and found ourselves back in the countryside for the remainder of the run to Weston. A tight turn round the triangle took us to the shelter to wait time for the return journey. This was uneventful, and we were soon back at Stevenage.

MB641, Stevenage Station RF4 at Weston

384: Stevenage to Benington and back, RF4

I looked to see what I could fit in before my departure back to Hertford, and found that RF4 was going to Benington and back. So I stayed aboard for the 1235 departure. The run, with a medium-sized load, was very pleasant: out to Walkern, then winding along the lanes to Benington.

leafy lane: the view from RF4 RF4 at Benington

Once there we waited by the rustic bus shelter for our return departure time, only to see GS1 arriving early on the north-bound service from Hertford to Stevenage. Some of our passengers had already disembarked with the intention of joining it. It must have been a tight squeeze.

GS1 at Benington GS1 at Benington

With a light load RF4 turned round the green and headed back for Stevenage. On the outskirts we picked up one lady at a bus-stop. She showed her bus-pass, and was delighted to learn that it was a free journey, and commented favorably on the comfortable seats and the smooth ride. I suppose it made a change from the resident Volvo B6s!

390: Stevenage to Hertford, RT2083

Back at Stevenage I watched GS1 pull in (early as usual), before jumping aboard RT2083 for the 1330 mainroad ride to Hertford. Grand. The RT engine noises brought back memories of Green Rover days on the 402 and 401. It was a quick journey. All too soon we were descending the hill into Hertford and winding through the town to find the bus station. RT2083 at Stevenage Inside RT2083

It was time to find some lunch and find out what I was supposed to be doing in the afternoon...

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

Ian's Bus-stop Part 1: Hertford Part 2:Stevenage Part 3: Hatfield and Ware