RT1499 in St.Albans

St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 13th-14th 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 26th January 2007



Sunday morning: to St.Albans

713, Victoria to St.Albans: RF633

At 0915 on Sunday morning I was standing on the corner of Grosvenor Place and Buckingham Palace Road, watching for RF633. Then I saw it pull out from Eccleston Bridge and turn south, away from me! Where was it going? Anyway, about ten minutes later it came purring up Buckingham Palce Road, and turned left to the old Green Line Coach Stop - now stop 10, amongst the tour buses waiting for business. A good crowd had assembled at stop Q waiting for it, and dashed across to secure seats. I followed on. By the time that I clambered aboard to greet Peter Aves and Colin Rivers it was very nearly full. Fortunately I could claim a place on the long seat over the nearside wheel.

RF633 at Victoria. RF633 at Victoria.

We headed north, up behind the west wall of Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park Corner, then up Park Lane towards Marble Arch, where we had a scheduled pick-up. Colin manoevred us around the traffic system into Oxford Street, where we promptly turned left into Gloucester Place for the Baker Street stop. From now on the route was quite straight-forward, up the A41 to Finchley Road Station and on towards Hendon Central. There we found ourselves behind Metroline Dart DLF67 on the 143, and paused to make another pickup.

We rumbled on north-westwards up the A41, in company with the M1 for a while, then turned north up the A1 to Stirling Corner. Then it was back to minor roads, descending carefully through the chicanes into Borehamwood. We went on from Elstree Station close to the railway line, running out through suburbia and eventually into the country. Eventually we crossed the railway to join Watling Street for a quarter mile into Radlett. There we turned right again, back over the railway and up a winding country lane to the corner of Shenley.

DLF67 at Hendon Central. Between Radlett and Shenley.

We rolled on northwards through Shenleybury, and turned to run parallel to the M25 for a mile, to the south-east corner of London Colney. There we crossed above the motorway. As we were still a quarter-hour late we eschewed the road through London Colney, with its speed restrictors, and chose the by-pass. We soon crossed the A414 and headed in towards St.Albans. We met M394 heading for South Mimms on the 84. I had heard from Eddie that the 84 was going to run after all, but not what. Then just behind it was MB641, also working the 84.

M394 on 84. MB641 on 84.

We descended gently towards St.Albans, passing under the massive railway bridge, then continuing up the hill towards the cathedral. Traffic lights. More traffic lights. We were still late as we rolled up St.Peters Street. Ahead of us GS13, followed by BN61, pulled out promptly on the 382 to Codicote. We wondered who was driving GS13, as we had Peter Osborn, the booked driver, on board with us!

I alighted quickly, to take a picture of the rear of the RF, but the blinds were already wound up at the back for its next duty, the 304 to Whitwell.

RF633 at St.Albans. RF633 ready for 304.

St.Peter's Street was a hive of activity, but without the market-place bustle of yesterday. The buses present were mostly of a different generation too! Many were just departing on their first excursions of the day. RMC1513 had earlier arrived on a 321 service, extended back to Harrow. Now it was going out on the 330 to Hemel Hempstead.

RMC1513 on 330. RMC1513 departs on 330.

GS17 was waiting for a turn on the 382, while RF280 waited quietly behind for its turn on the 355. On the other side of St.Peter's Street stood RF28, also wearing blinds for the 355.

GS17 waits for 382 ahead of RF280. RF28 on 355.

RF633 departed on the 304 to Whitwell. GS17 pulled up to the next stop to load for the 382. SNB447 rolled up on one of its workings on behalf of the Model Railway Exhibition, presumably fromSt.Albans City Station on the S1. Normal Sunday services also worked round us, such as DLF107 terminating on the 84.

SNB449 on S1. DLF107 on 84.

Now it was time for me to claim a seat on GS17 for the ride to Codicote...

Part Four: GS17 on 382


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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Two Part Four: GS17 on 382