Across the road the Blue Triangle double-deckers - RT34535, RT1700 and RT3871 - were waiting together for their run back to Rainham.
Greenline RT3254 arrived back from its last trip from Hatfield.
I helped with taking the day's blinds from RT604 and restoring the Private blinds that it wears between times.
Then we were away. Right under the Railway Bridge, and straight on at the lights, up a magnificent avenue of chestnuts, to pass under the M25. We turned right along Dancers Hill Road, then right again (after a spin right round the roundabout) onto St.Albans Road.
This took us to the A1, where we turned left for London. So for a while we were insulated from most Sunday-evening bus activity. We did see a Timebus RML heading north at Hendon, then bus activity increased as we went down the A41 into London. The Test Match had just ended as we passed through St.John's Wood, and there were crowds of people. A Metroline Dart on the 46, DLD122, eased along in front of us.
We passed another couple of Darts on the 274 as we passed down the green edge of Regents Park (DLD165 and DLD697).
Marble Arch produced a flurry of activity. A DAF/Wright doubledecker wearing a striking ad about the coming smoke-free legislation was prominent, with a National Express coach and a Greenline lurking in the background. We continued down past Victoria, and crossed the Thames, for the slow wriggle out through the Sunday congestion to Balham and then eventually West Croydon, where I bailed out to catch a tram. It had been a fascinating trip across Central London in a green RT, a fitting finale to an excellent day. Thanks, folks.
Many thanks to all those who contibuted to this memorable day, especially to Jim Andress and Phil Dale who did all the organising. Many thanks to all the bus owners, drivers and conductors, and to Peter Gomm for doing the Control function at Potters Bar.
Buses included (not all operational):
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
Bus-stop
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Nine