St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 12th-13th 2008

Prepared by Ian Smith, 28th January 2008.

84 to South Mimms and back

V3

By the time that I alighted from RT3254 Ailsa V3 had already departed on the 84. It swept past on the other side of the road. I crossed over, and for once blessed the slow-moving St.Peters Street traffic. I walked past the bus to take a picture from the front.

The traffic was still delayed by the traffic lights. I walked on to the corner. Now which road did the 84 use to leave town? I couldn't remember. It was then that I noticed conductor George aboard V3, pulling up to the lights. He was gesticulating to ask me if I wanted to join. The doors opened, and I was aboard the big bus. Another of the day's objectives realised. We turned south-east at the second set of traffic lights, and headed for South Mimms, down the hill and under the big railway bridge. We found a convenient bus stop, and stopped for a more relaxed picture.

Now that I had my breath back I could take stock of this interesting bus. Sitting behind the driver felt quite enclosed, between the two massive staircases at front and back, and with the doors at front and back it seemed quite small. It was noisy too, with the front engine nestling at the front, opposite the strange three-leaf door. I went for a walk "round the block": up the front stairs, and down the back. Overall it felt very solid, and rather nice.

We rumbled south-eastwards, rounding the big roundabout north of London Colney and taking the old road through the village. We were behind schedule, so did not stop again. We wriggled our way out of the south end of the village and crossed over the M25, turning left to run alongside the motorway and then duck under it to climb to South Mimms. There we pulled up by the service station and alighted through the rear door.

We crossed over the road while V3 pulled away, to round the roundabout and come back to collect us.

We boarded again, and roared back to St.Albans, back under, beside, and over the M25, and through London Colney. We ducked under the railway bridge into St.Albans and climbed up towards the Abbey on the hill. We turned right onto St.Peters Street and met RT3254 heading for Garston again.

BL49

We pulled up behind BL49. I went to enquire whether they were heading to South Mimms in the near future, and found that it was in the immediate future! I jumped aboard. A Sullivan Buses Dart Caetano, DN2, came past on the 656 service to Borehamwood. We set off, rounded the roundabout to the pick-up point, then set off on the 84 route to South Mimms again.

We missed out London Colney, using the by-pass instead, which gave a longer break at South Mimms. Then it was all aboard, and back to St.Albans.

It was time to buy some refreshments, and see what I could fit in before departure time at 5 p.m. Mmmm. RT3254 was working a short to Chiswell Green and returning as an 803 Express, due back at 1650...

Part Eight: 803 Express

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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Six Part Eight