RMC1476 in St.Peters Street

St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 14th-15th 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 28th January 2006


Sunday

RB51 on route 724

With a couple of minutes to go before the for o'clock departure I climbed aboard the big Reliance, and took a seat where I could see out of the big front window. There was still two hours of running to go, the twilight and early evening running with lights on being a feature that Country Bus Rallies cannot offer in the summer. Nationals SNC168 and SNB312 bracketed St Peters Street ahead of me. I would have liked to stay longer, but I had two hundred and fifty miles of Sunday railway to negotiate on my way home, so I needed to go now.

RB51 on 724. SNC168, SNB312, St.Peters Street.

Promptly at 1600 the big AEC engine rumbled into life below the floor of the Reliance. BN61 shot past, and we were away, first down to City Station, and then into the darkening east along the Hatfield Road. This was my first time aboard one of the big Reliances, and I found it a really nice experience. I could get used to this Greenline travel!

It was all too brief. We were soon at Hatfield Station. My connection was too tight to hang around to see the coach depart. I climbed the station footbridge, and saw it go from there, before descending to the northbound platform to catch my crowded WAGN train northwards.

BN61, St.Peters Street. RB51 at Hatfield.

Many thanks to Country Bus Rallies for organising the event, especially to Eddie Knorn. Thanks too to all the owners, drivers, conductors, controllers, programme sellers, information disseminators, timetablers, programme compilers, and those who co-ordinated with councils, bus companies and the Police to make this such an enjoyable weekend.

system map Buses:

Routes:


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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Seven