We climbed back aboard, and rolled down the hill to the Blanche Lane turning triangle. There some folk alighted, including Peter Osborn, the driver of RF486, who had made the most of a long layover to go up the hill for the ride.
RT624 continued, back down to the main road by the service station, then right towards Potters Bar. We met RT3871 pounding northwards on an 84 for London Colney.
Not far behind was Sullivan Buses' Volvo Olympian NV122 (ex London General), still earning its keep on Rail Replacement duties. Today it was replacing the trains to and from Potters Bar, where the line was closed for replacement of the station canopy.
In Potters Bar we did not turn left under the station bridge, to my surprise, but continued round the loop past Potters Bar Garage. Short Dart Marshall DMS18 was sitting on the front edge of the forecourt. Sister DMS8 was further over, with a clutch of Presidents.
Round in Darkes Lane we pulled up behind RT3254, which had arrived from Hatfield Station on another 716 turn. It completed unloading and pulled away past RF48 which was heading south with a 716A to North Finchley.
We pulled away round the Greenline RF, passing GS17 which was loading for a trip to Essendon on the 342. We went under the station bridge and along Mutton Lane to the Lion Inn traffic lights. As we waited there RF48 appeared alongside, waiting to turn right for North Finchley.
As we waited at the lights a Trustline Dart, DPS3, bustled across the junction. The lights changed. We went forwards onto the Cockfosters road, while the RF peeled away to the right.
We sped south-eastwards down the long straight road towards London, and Cockfosters.
Approaching Cockfosters we met Arriva London's DWL39 heading north on the 298 to Potters Bar. As seems to be the trend with Arriva London, it had lost its class letters, displaying just 39.
Then just as we reached Cockfosters Station, there was a Brixton DAF double-decker, DW75, lurking in the side-road near the station. What was it there for? Rail Replacement, presumably.
RT 624 pulled up at the southbound station layby, and the blinds were changed for the return to South Mimms. Across the road were a pair of First London Dart Marshalls including DM41798, terminating on the 299.
DW75 pulled away southwards, and its place was taken in quick succession by Metroline's Dart/Marshall DMS3, on the 384, and Arriva's DWL22 on the 298 (sporting D22 as a fleetnumber).
We made our turn across the road into the opposite bus lay-by, then set off back towards Potters Bar. As we ground up the long hill we met First London Trident TNL33031 heading south, pretending to be a train.
Then came RT1702, heading for Cockfosters with another 29B. As we came up towards the Lion Inn we met RTW29 setting out on its long journey home.
We turned right at the Lion, and again passed the Metroline garage, with many of its buses lined up ready for Monday morning.
Back in Darkes Lane I alighted, leaving RT624 to continue towards Darkes Lane. GS17 arrived back from Essendon.
It was time for me to take a careful look at the timetable, to see what else I could fit in before I headed home. I hadn't been on the 84 or 303 to New Barnet...
Part Eight: New Barnet and back.
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
Ian's Bus-stop
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