RMC1476 in St.Peters Street

St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 14th-15th 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 22nd January 2006


Saturday

The Abbey Station shuttle (SNB312)

I caught up with the SNB, which was parked prior to going forward to the stop for the next round, boarded, and said hello to the crew. I watched one of the local Beavers go past, presumably on a garage run. This one, 451, was one of the two taken over from Sovereign, and still wears a modified Sovereign livery.

SNB312 on S6, St Peters St. Beaver 451, St Peters St.

Also in modified Sovereign livery was the following Dart, 582, on St.Albans local route S5, to and from the Cottonmill Estate, and branded as such as the "Cottonmill Cruiser". The National was set up as a S6, also to Cottonmill Estate, although it was only going as far as St.Albans Abbey Stn. When the time came we set off, along to the lights at the top of the town, then swooping down the long hill into the Ver valley, to pull up at the station.

Centrebus Dart 582, St Peters St. SNB312 on S6, Abbey Stn.

The regular interval shuttle timetable was set to meet with the trains on the St.Albans branch from Watford. So down at the station Eddie Knorn and I went to look at the branch train. Regular readers will be relieved to know that this is NOT Eddie's latest preservation idea (He already has a train and track). We went back to the Leyland National, made the turn, and began the traffic-congested climb up into the town.

Silverlink 321429 at St.Albans Abbey Stn., St Peters St. SNB312 on S6, Abbey Stn.

At least the slow traffic gave us a chance to chat and view the local buses. Universitybus 647, a Dart with Wright Crusader bodywork, came swishing down the wet hill on a 655 to Borehamwood, whilst ahead of us two of the ex-Sovereign Darts crawled up the hill, Centrebus 571 in green and 582 in Cottonmill Cruiser colours. Another of Sovereign's ex-fleet, a Volvo with Wright Renown body, now with Arriva The Shires, and in their turquoise livery with a white "cow-horn" and blue skirt, left the market at the top of the hill on a 301 to Stevenage. (but my photo was more of a blurry mess than usual!). It was followed by the other ex-Sovereign Beaver, Centrebus 454, on a 304 for Colney Heath.

uno647 descends the hill Centrebus 582 and 454.

The SNB continued right up through the busy market to the erstwhile garage, where we turned in front of the pub and parked up on the layby opposite the garage. There were a few minutes before the next cycle, and then the bus was back down the wet street to load up again. But it was time for me to get some proper food inside me, so I gave my thanks and alighted at the Arena stop.

SNB312 in St Peters Street SNB312 in St Peters Street.

The City Station shuttle (SNC168)

I went off to Pizza Hut and had an excellent pizza, together with coffee from Costa Coffee next door. This took some time, and the light was well faded by the time that I re-emerged onto St.Peter's Street, not long before four o'clock. No sign now of the RMC, which was due to go home to Windsor by four. I walked down the street. AV24 swished past, having turned at the roundabout in St Peters Street. It pulled in at the stop. Next thing I noticed it had its warning blinkers on and no lights. A problem? Anyway, after a few minutes it was back in business, loaded up, and set off on the 84 to New Barnet Station.

AV24 in St Peters Street AV24 in St Peters Street.

One of Arriva's massive Scania single-deckers (3160) was on the 300, heading for Hemel Hempstead, and a Universitybus Dart 9114) was on the 602 to Welwyn Garden City.

Scania 3160 in St Peters Street uno114 in St Peters Street.

But here came SNC168, replacement for the RMC on the City Station shuttle - and SNB312 came along the other way too, back from Abbey Station once more.

SNB312 in St Peters Street SNC168 in St Peters Street.

I boarded the Green Line National for the short trip down to the City station, and stayed on for the complete loop back round by Hatfield Road, back up to St.Peter's Street. Indeed, I stayed on again, back down the hill to the dark station yard. A last photo while the bus was stationary, and then I boarded one last time for a halfway journey to the crossroads on the Hatfield Road, where I alighted to seek my bed-and-breakfast accommodation. The National roared off, with another two trips to do round the loop, carrying folk down to the station from the model railway exhibition. It had been a good day.

SNC168 at City Station.

Part Three: Sunday morning arrivals

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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Three: Sunday morning arrivals