We passed through Park Street and Colney Street, and came to a stop at a layby in Radlett. We took some photos there, then continued round the corner to Radlett Station, where we stopped next to the modern station building to change the blinds.
We rolled north again, towards St.Albans and Harpenden. We paused at the bus-stop in Park Street, opposite the massive mill, then continued under the railway bridge and on northwards. We turned into the St.Julians estate, and met RF28 just breasting the hill.
We worked down through the estate, round to St.albans Abbey Station and up the hill towards the Abbey. RT3254 came sweeping down the hill as we crawled up. We crossed the lights and met Metrobus M801 (Blue Triangle's MCW801) on the 84 to South Mimms.
The Metrobus was not the only red bus on St.Peter's Street. Blue Triangle had brought RT3871 as well. We pulled up behind it, and watched while the blinds were being adjusted to something more appropriate.
Peter Gomm came to check that RF308 was displaying the correct 355 to Harpenden blind (it seems that there are two?). We were, apparently. But the blind had to be moved up an inch. Nothing escapes The Controller.
Behind us on St Peters Street was Greenline RB51, on its 724 service between Hatfield Station and St Albans Abbey Station.
But we were not due to stay long on the St.Peter's Street stand, and we set off again for Harpenden. RT3183 came past the roundabout as we set off.
We tootled along through St.Albans suburbia on the old Roman Road through Sandridge, then headed north with the swing of the B651 to Nomansland. Apparently this was one of the places used by London Transport for "Country" photos. We passed over the heathland of the Common and paused at the bus-stop just short of the pub. It was still an old LT octagonal concrete post, even with a Hertfordshire flag on it.
We squeezed through narrow Wheathampstead, crossed the River Lea and climbed up to the site of the old railway station. We turned left alongside the river to head for Harpenden. The river had long been a source of industry, with mills dotted along its length. At Batford we turned off the valley road into the estate, opposite the factories, and paused again.
We made a circuit through the estate, then recrossed the river and wiggled our way into Harpenden. We passed under the railway bridge (no double deckers!) and turned up through the centre of Harpenden to Church Green. The traditional terminus was already occupied by Universitybus Dart 121 on the 357. We tucked in behind, and waited for it to depart before completing the turn and occupying the stand.
Then along came RT3254 on the 321...
Part Five: RT3254 on route 321
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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