St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 14th-15th 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 22nd January 2006

Sunday

Sunday morning arrivals

When I returned to St.Peter's Street at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning I was not surprised to see that the two Leyland Nationals, SNB312, and SNC168, were the first to arrive. The street looked very different this morning. The market was gone, the traffic was gone - and most of the bus services were gone too! The light was rather grim - cars still had headlights on - but that's January for you. The service pattern today was to be very different. Whereas yesterday the two buses on duty at a time had struggled through the traffic, never going more than half a mile from St.Peter's Street all day, today the model railway exhibition's needs would be filled as part of a programme of much wider-ranging routes. So SNB312 was set up for the S1, linking estates on opposite sides of the city via the centre, and SNC168 was initially to operate the 361, between St.Peter's Street and the How Wood Estate. In practice, due to road works and horrific queues of traffic this was abbreviated to a shuttle once more between St.Peter's Street and Abbey station.

But lo! There were other bus services running too. Next to appear was a red bus, on one of the longest-standing and deepest penetrating red fingers of London Transport into the surrounding areas: the 84. (Yes, I DO know that London Country operated it for some years with green Olympians). Metroline puts some of its older Olympians, no longer welcome on TfL contracts, onto Hertfordshire's 84 during the week, but on Sundays lets the newer low-floor Presidents out for a breath of fresher air. TP457 came along the street, turned round the roundabout and came back to rest for a short while.

There were other buses too. An Arriva Dart (I think) had gone along the street trailing clouds of steam (or smoke), and was to be seen with its rear engine cover open, and St.Albans Dart 582, with Cottonmill Cruiser labels, had come out to play on one of its proper routes, the S4. It ground to a halt. In the distance, beyond the church I spied the small green shape of an RF.

RF308, wearing London Country livery of Lincoln Green with yellow fleetnames and numbers, came sailing down S.Peter's Street from the north, proudly wearing a blind display for route 355, (of which more anon).

The time was now approaching 0940, and the bus service for the exhibition was due to begin then. SNB312's engine roared back into life, and the National disappeared towards St.Albans City Station to pick up the first load.

RMC1476 had arrived to take up its 341 shuttles, and was tucked in behind RF308 until the queue of buses shuffled forward. Universitybus 121 brightened the street in pink and mauve as it headed past towards the station on the 357.

On the other side of St.Peter's Street SNB312 came back with the first load from the station, and was followed onto the stand by red RMC1513, decked out ready for the 330, and Greenline Reliance RB51, ready to assume duties on the 724 between Hatfield and St.Albans Abbey.

The Greenline RT3254 arrived, drifting down St.Peter's Street to tuck in behind RF308. The immaculate RT was dressed for the 321 to Chiswell Green, but would not reach there today due to the road works beyond Abbey Station.

I bagged a place aboard RF308, and went to do my duty: the Mayor was formally opening proceedings at 10 o'clock, and I had to be there to record it! Peter Larkham presented him with the model of the day (you have to have models on hand at these events). I took the pictures, and sprinted for the RF, which was ready to leave. My bag had been moved, of course.

Part Four: RF308 on route 355

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: RF308 on route 355