Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,
This page created 29th April 2017, updated 15th July 2021.
First London Tridents: 2002-3Trident/Presidents: TN1113-1129, TNL1130-1140, TN1141-1177.
TNL33122 pauses at Kings Cross en route to Crouch End, October 2007
The remainder of the new Greenford Tridents arrived in June 2002, allowing the First Capital buses to return east - not to Northumberland Park where they were intended, but to Hackney, where they took over some turns on the D7 (and a few on D6). Four went east from Uxbridge too, this time to Rainham to expand the 25 allocation.
An incorrectly numbered TNL33019 heads through the gloom of the Isle of Dogs heading for Mile End, October 2007Trident/Presidents: TN1178-1199.Twenty-two buses were ordered to convert route 295 from single-decker DMLs at Westbourne Park. But when they arrived in August/September 2002 they were divided between Westbourne Park and Alperton. At the former they appeared on the 18 and 27, at Alperton on the 79, 83 and 258. September saw increases in provision on the 18 (X) and 83 (ON), and these provided the necessary buses. The 295 had to wait until February 2003.
But Alperton TNs were themselves displaced from the 79 and 258 during October by new Volvo VTLs. Eight TNs moved east to Rainham, where they allowed four to go to Northumberland Park. Five were allowed to go to Westbourne Park. But these, instead of transforming the 295, were used to start the introduction of new route 414 from November 2002. This route had a western terminus at Fulham High Street, from where the buses ran on empty to Putney Bridge Station to turn. It was not until June 2003 that the route was sensibly extended to Putney Bridge Station for passengers.
Trident/Presidents: TN1229-1248, 1277-93, 1328-42The next batches of Tridents were subtly different. Their President bodies used gasket glazing instead of the bonded glazing used previously. The first six arrived at Westbourne Park in November 2002, just in time for the start of the 414. The others went into store, temporarily, at Westbourne Park, before adding to the 414 pool and preparing for the 295 transition.A further batch of seventeen went to Greenford in April 2003 for the 282 conversion (from DM class Dart SLFs). The new buses were not kept exclusively to the converted routes, but appeared on Greenford's other TN routes, such as the 105, E1 and E3.
Also in May 2003 Uxbridge received fifteen TNs for the conversion to double-deck of local route U4.
TN33238 passes through Kensington towards Putney Bridge on the 414, October 2006. This bus has gasket glazing as well as the one piece upper screen.July 2003 saw seven of Northumberland Park's TNs displaced, four to Westbourne Park and three to Hackney, after the loss of the W8 to Metroline. Two TNLs passed to Hackney in August, and the last bus on the W8 allocation, TN822 stayed at Northumberland Park as a trainer. In November, as new TALs started to arrive at Westbourne Park for the takeover from RMs on route 23, some TNs started to head back to Northumberland Park to improve the allocations on the 91 and 341.
TNL33124 heads through High Holborn for Angel Road Superstore on the 341, October 2007.Long Trident/Alexanders replace Routemasters: TAL1343-1386
In mid November 2003 Westbourne Park said goodbye to its Routemasters on route 23. Forty-four Trident Alexanders had been ordered for the conversion, to be TAL1343-1386. Not all arrived in time for the changeover, so Westbourne Park had been accumulating every TN that it could, which filled the gaps during December and January. The TNs displaced from route 18 by new Citaro bendibuses helped! A requirement of 30 RMLs was replaced by a requirement for 39 TALs: RMLs seated 72, TALs just 63, and RMLs were quicker at stops, with an open platform and on-the-move ticketing, rather than pay/consult-the-driver on the modern buses.
The new buses were long Tridents, with gasket-glazed Alexander ALX400 bodies. They were recognizable from the front by having a full-width safety bar upstairs at the front. Outside they had nearside tree defenders too, possibly prompted by several severe tree-bashes during the previous year. Inside there were prominent advertising screens upstairs at the front.
TAL1376 on 23 to Liverpool Street, April 2004. The same day, renumbered TNA33381 heads the other way to Ladbroke Grove.
|
1999-2000
2001
2002-3
2004-5
Ian's Bus Stop