RF28 at Bengeo

Hertford Running Day

Sunday September 10th 2000

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th September 2000


Part 3: Afternoon Ambulations

384A: Hertford to Great Munden - and back

RF679, Ware Station I was invited to join the team on RF679 as photographer in residence, and we took the bus to the bus station to form the 12.20 to Great Munden (Schools). The bus filled with nearly every seat taken, and we set off along the main road to Ware. The level crossing gates at the station were closed for a train to pass, and there was plenty of time to alight for a picture. The train rattled past, the gates lifted, and we were away again, squeezing through the narrow streets of Ware, and passing RF308 on the previous 384A working.
We headed for Tonwell, but the road was closed, requiring a diversion via Wadesmill.
RF679, Grt Munden

We squeezed past the queue of cars waiting to exit the diversion, and rejoined the main road after an excursion along a narrow lane. Tonwell, off the road on the right, was missed out to regain time, and soon we were turning off the main road onto the lane to Dane End. We wriggled through the village, and on up over the Hertfordshire hills to the hamlet of Great Munden.
A London Transport "dolly stop" had been placed early in the morning, marking the turning circle where the service used to terminate in the 1950s. Agreement with the current owner had been received for the event to use it again for the day. We arrived a couple of minutes early, giving everyone time to stretch their legs if they wanted to.

RF679, Little Munden The blinds were turned to read "Hertford", and it was time to set off again.
We stopped at the pub at Little Munden, partly for photographs, but also to allow one of the spare drivers to collect some liquid refreshment (non-alcoholic) from the pub. A family out for the day joined us for the ride down to Tonwell.
As resident cameraman I was allowed to stop the bus anywhere that it wouldn't interfere with traffic, as the bus negotiated its way back through Dane End.


RF679, near Dane End RF679, Dane End
RF679, Tonwell The return journey included the deviation off the main road into Tonwell, where we pulled up opposite the Robin Hood. A happy family alighted, having enjoyed their short trip.

The bus continued, wiggling out onto the by-pass, then following the diversion again past the road closure. We circulated through Ware, and passed a couple of Green Line coaches on the ruin back to Hertford, veteran RMC1476 on a Hertford-Ware short working, and modern DAF PDL206 on the 724.

RMC1476 PDL206
Back at Hertford there was just a quarter hour before the RF's next trip. RF308 came in for the 1400 working on the 308A to Little Berkhamstead, and GreenLine RT3228 came and went on the 1405 GreenLine 715 departure to Wormley.

RT3228, Hertford RF308 Hertford

329: Hertford to Knebworth Station - and back

RF679, Knebworth Another good load for the 1410 service 329, aboard RF679. We wound through Hertford and out through Bramfield into the countryside. It was so peaceful that I almost went to sleep! Pretty Datchworth woke me up, as we crossed the green, past the cricket match. Stands the clock at ten to three? Nope, 1433, 17 minutes early for honey and tea.
We wound our way on to Knebworth, and climbed up into the station yard under the 14ft 0in bridge. No RTs on this run. We turned there, and headed back towards Hertford.

It was 1503 at Datchworth Green, but they were still playing. Perhaps they don't read poetry.

RF679, Datchworth Green RF679, cricket, Datchworth Green

We slipped on down the hill into Hertford, and through the quiet Sunday afternoon streets to the Bus Station. There I met GS17 for the first time, which was working on the 308A, as well as seeing RF 308 again. RT3228 was back from its GreenLine trip to Wormley, and was alongside modern GreenLine PDL206 again in the bus station.

GS17, Hertford RT3228, PDL206, Hertford

384A: Hertford to Great Munden - and back - again

There is no peace for the wicked - or at least for the organisers of events. Whereas the original plan had RF679 booked off now after an interesting variety of journeys (388, 384A and 329), a missing bus required a substitute, and RF679, as the organiser's go-anywhere bus, was it. He needed a conductor too, and muggins was drafted.

RF679 passes RF28 near Dane End So it was the 384A again, leaving at 1539 so as to be back by 1715, the end of the day. It was a quiet run, most of the traffic home for tea by now. We went out through Ware and up towards Dane End. On the way we met RF28 coming the other way down the lane from Dane End.
This cannot have ever happened in the old days!
RF679 by the old pumps, Dane End At Dane End we pulled in beside the old petrol station to allow a tail of cars to dissipate, before continuing up the lane to Great Munden.

We had a job to do there before leaving: collect the dolly-stop. It went in through the rear door and was secured before we set off back to Hertford.

Yes, and we did bother to change the blind for the home run to Hertford.

GS32, Hertford GS17, Hertford

GS1, Hertford Back at Hertford many of the buses and most of the crowd had gone. Strangely, it was a moment for the three GSs of the day - GS1, GS17, GS32 - to gather in the lengthening shadows of the bus station. They had finished off a day of full loads with trips to Chapmore End (333), Bengeo (333) and Little Berkhampstead (308A).

Thoughts turned to the future, and to next year's Hertford Running Day, to be held in June and enveloping Stevenage. A 807 blind appeared on GS1 in anticipation.

RM1699 came in to collect its patrons, and that was it. Another excellent Running Day done.

Or almost. Colin Rivers still had to get his RF679 back to its home in the depths of Kent, and I had to get back to Sevenoaks. It seemed sensible to offer company on the long drive. Long it was, too, down the A12 and round the M25 to the Dartford Crossing. Then down the M20 to Ashford as the last of the afternoon sunshine faded into velvety night. Colin dropped me off at Ashford Station in time to catch the last train back to Sevenoaks. It had been an excellent day.

Map of the Day

system map

Preserved vehicles I saw at Hertford:

  • GS1
  • GS17
  • GS32
  • RF4
  • RF28
  • RF48
  • RF308
  • RF406*
  • RF486*
  • RF679
  • RT113*
  • RT604
  • RT2083
  • RT2177*
  • RT3148
  • RT3228
  • RTL1256
  • RMC1476
  • RMC1477
  • RM1699*
  • SNB312
  • *=red
Thanks to all owners who provided vehicles, to Arriva for co-operation with the bus station, and to those who organised before and on the day. It was great!
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on them for a larger picture.

Ian's Bus-stop Part 1: Arrivals Part 2: Morning Meanders