Following close behind were RT113 and RT604, both fresh back from New Barnet Station on the 303 and 350 respectively. I climbed aboard RT604. Why that rather than RT113? Because I wanted to enquire about travelling back with them to Croydon. It transpired that they were going straight off on another 303 turn, after a circuit of the block. I stayed aboard as we set off, as RT3148 arrived back from London Colney with a 313.
As we turned the corner at the traffic lights onto Mutton Lane once again we met STL2377 waiting there on a terminating 134. We continued round the square, meeting Metroline President TP341 on the way.
We passed Potters Bar Garage again: this time it was President 445, from the W8, that caught my eye.
As we reached Church Road we were greeted by the cheerful sight of T792 pulling out for a trip to Essendon on the 342.
While we were waiting at the lights a turquoise and cream Domminator, G663FKA, appeared down Hatfield Road, wearing no blinds. This ex-Arriva Southend bus now works on Rail Replacements for Trustline. The original Arriva markings had been crudely covered in splodges of paint, but these area now seem to have been matched in to the background colours.
We turned the corner and ran down to the stops in Darkes Lane, meeting RF406 bound for Cuffley on the 242A.
RT190 returned from a trip on the 84, followed by RF281 heading for Hatfield on the 716A via Welham Green and RMC1476, also bound for Hatfield by the main road and 303.
We completed loading and received the right-away from the "Fat Controller". We were away, under the railway and up to the lights. Once more we turned left into Mutton Lane (a name relic from the days when this was the main drove road into London from the North?). We met RT1702 again, back from Cockfosters on a 29B.
This time we turned right at the Lion Inn, and headed south for Barnet. This stirred memories of long-gone student days, passing through Barnet in the early morning or late evening on United Bristol RELs from/to Ashington.
We pulled up at the St.Albans Road stop in Barnet, to set down a passenger and for a quick photo stop.
We went on, past the Church and forked left for New Barnet Station. There we found RT113 waiting time for a departure northwards, and Metroline's dual door Dart SLF DLD147 on Rail Replacement duty.
Before we pulled away again the Trustline Dominator made an appearance, having followed us down from Potters Bar Station (but presumably via Hadley Wood Station). We set off again. Climbing up towards High Barnet we found ourselves behind Arriva's DAF/Alexander DLA329 on the 34, while DAF President DLP93 came rushing down the hill on a 307. We paused at the High Barnet station stop, to drop off folk heading home by Underground. Metroline Dart DLF102 came down the hill on the 326 for Brent Cross.
Up in Barnet we negotiated our way past the Church, and met RT1700 on a 303A to New Barnet Stn. A little further on, out in the country we met RT1702 heading home to Catford, followed by STL2377 heading for Cobham.
On the way into Potters Bar we passed RMC1476, heading south on the last 303 to New Barnet Station, and then, as we reached the roundabout for the operating base off Darkes Lane RT3148 pulled out at the start of its long journey home.
We headed back up into the industrial estate to take the blinds out and prepare for the return home...
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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