RF395, RF433 at Golders Green

Route 210: Sixty years from first RFs

Tuesday 11th September 2012

Prepared by Ian Smith, 14th September 2012.


210: Finsbury Park to The Spaniards: RF368

When I returned, RF600 was just heading off up the hill, back to Golders Green, and RF368 had just arrived at the alighting stop in Clifton Terrace.

RF368 at Finsbury Park RF368, T223 at Finsbury Park

There were plenty of other buses using the bus station, buzzing in and out, including Arriva's T2223 and T209 on the W3 and Metroline's VW1282 on the W7.

T209 on W3 at Finsbury Park VW1282 on W7 at Finsbury Park

RF368 came round onto the Wells Terrace stop just behind a Metroline bus on the 210, which absorbed most of the queue. Soi twas a more leisurely progress across to Archway and up Highgate Hill. Strangely, we met RF486 at almost exactly the point on the Hill where I had last passed her. By now RF486 was in front of a Metroline 210, as were we, having passed it on the Hill (at a stop!).

RF368 on 210 at wells Terrace RF486 on 210, Highgate Hill

We whispered through the Village, and chundered across the top of the Heath to Kenwood, where we passed RF491 coming the other way.

Then as we approached The Spaniards, and after I had rung the bell to alight, we came up behind TD95, which was on a photographic tour for The London Bus Museum (Brooklands).

RF491 on 210, Kenwood TD95 at Toll Gate

The Spaniards Inn Toll Gate

The RF - and the EnviroTrident behind - hung back: getting past the TD AND through the narrow passage of the Toll Gate was not going to be easy. But it was done, and with its muted roar the RF was away and through the gap.

RF368 on 210, Toll Gate RF368 passes TD95 at Toll Gate

Then the Leyland rumbled into action and made a clean passage through the gap, to the delight of the assembled multitude of photographers - me included.

TD95 at Toll Gate

But today was about RFs, so I hung on here to see what came past. First buses through were a pair of EnviroTridents on the 210, one each way. TE1081, travelling east, was adorned with Olympics advertising for a banking product. TE838, going west, was nicer in traditional blue and red Metroline livery.

TE1081 on 210, Toll Gate TE838 on 210, Toll Gate

Then RF600 nosed through the narrow passageway, heading for Finsbury Park again, while RF395 waited at the stop on the east side.

RF600 on 210, Toll Gate RF600 on 210, Toll Gate

I returned to the east side of the gate, where RF395 was still standing, waiting for a gap in the traffic, which was building up. RF368 returned, squeezing through the gap.

RF395 on 210, Toll Gate RF368 on 210, Toll Gate I crossed the road towards RF395, which pulled away past the Toll House...

Part Four

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

Ian's Bus-stop 1 2 3 4