St Albans Running Days

Saturday & Sunday January 13th-14th 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 30th January 2007.

Sunday

84 to South Mimms: MB641

I couldn't resist going for a ride on MB641. I hadn't been on a Merlin since 1969, on the 126. MB641 is a remarkable survivor, having spent many years now earning its keep on occasional rail replacement forays with Brians of Enfield. Who would have thought that one of these would still be operating after thirty seven years! Anyway, I crossed the street and joined it for a short trip down the 84. The 84 itself is a remarkable survival, one of London Transport's red fingers into the Country Area. It has been operated by green buses on occasions (London Country used LR Olympians on it for a while), but reverted to red, and although not a TfL route is operated by Metroline.

The big engine rumbled into operation at the back of the bus, and we eased out into the traffic. RF28 rounded the roundabout ahead of us.

We made our turn around the roundabout and headed west down St Peters Street, and left into the gloom of Victoria Street. RF633 was waiting at the lights, having completed its trip down to the station. It was followed by a Centrebus Dart.

We turned right at the traffic lights at the foot of the hill, short of the railwy station, and headed for the London Road. Universitybus Dart 120 came the other way on the 602.

We headed south-east along the London Road, under the enormous skew railway bridge, and up the long hill to cross the A414. We picked a slow way through London Colney, then crossed over the M25, turning right onto the old main road to South Mimms, which runs alongside the M25 for a way. We gradually caught up with the Falcon Coaches Tiger. Just before we swung left under the motorway we met Metroline's service bus, DLF110, heading the other way.

In South Mimms the Tiger stopped outside the garage, but we turned round and came back to the stop opposite. Most people got off to take photos of both vehicles.

We reboarded, and headed back towards St.Albans. As we passed under the big railway bridge RT3871 hurried south, lights blazing. We turned up towards the station. At the Victoria Street lights a GS scurried across our bows. We followed it up the hill. RMC1513 came down, heading for the City Station with folk from the Model Railway Exhibition. Round the corner in rapidly darkening St.Peter's Street we met BN61.

Back out on St.Peters Street the event was winding down, and buses were starting to head home. Nevertheless there was still RF308, The Tiger, RT3254 and a GS lined up when I alighted from the MB. RMC1513 passed by again, doing circuits and bumps to and from the station.

713 to Victoria (and New Cross Gate): RF633

Across the road stood RF633, ready for the 713 back to Victoria. Again it fully loaded, and at five o'clock we set off through the January evening for the return to the Capital (ie Westminster).

We took the London Road out of St.Albans, and again by-passed London Colney before heading for Shenley. We wiggled down the dark windying lane to Radlett, then took the back road into Borehamwood. Then it was back into red bus country for the ride down the A41 to Swiss Cottage, making odd drop-offs on the way. Baker Street, Park Lane passed as I dozed off. But then we were coming down Buckingham Palace Road, and turning in to Victoria Station.

The epic didn't end there. The bus still had two hours to go to reach Ashford. Some of us were travelling on beyond Victoria too. We headed on for Vauxhall and then Elephant & Castle, then down the Old Kent Road. I made my farewells at New Cross Gate, and the bus continued eastwards into Kent.

Many thanks to the Country Bus Rallies team and others for organising all the aspects of the day, including planning, booking, seeking permissions, timetabling, staffing, preparing the programmes, doing insurance, preparing the vehicles, getting them there, driving, conducting, manning the stall. Especial thanks to Eddie Knorn, the event organiser, and to Colin Rivers and Peter Aves for their hospitality on RF633.

Buses:
PS1 Tiger (1947)
RT1499, RT3254, RT3871*
RF28, RF280, RF308, RF633
GS13, GS17
RMC1513*
MB641*
SNB449,
BN61
RP21
M394*

System map.

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

Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Three Part Three Part Four Part Five