|
Post by busaholic on Jul 18, 2019 13:36:23 GMT
There was a time when the 136s and 181s were on diversion due to a house on fire on downham way (believe it was near headcorn road) anyways, This was back in late 2011 was in year 7 on my way to school at knights acamedy (terrible school may i add) i usually caught the bus from what it was then called “Bromley Road / The Pond” now “Green Man Community Hub “ found out 10 minutes later buses were on diversion up whitefoot lane right into Northover i literally missed the 181 so walked over to The Tigers Head Stop now Southend Lane an waited for a 136. Anyways, got on an oddly the bus went straight down on its LOR instesd of left on Whitefoot whuch was its diversion route. Part of me was like “has the diversion finished” but still didn’t feel right so i went down politely asked the driver if there was still a diversion, he replies with he didn’t know there was one, i said well the bus stop informed passengers about a diversion due to a fire in downham. He response wss well i’ve not heard anything about a diversion so i’ll be following normal routing. Got to headcorn road stop and right infront was a big blob of smoke. Drivers apologised to ne rang control shut engine and closed all windows strangely also had a can of air freshener. So was stuck on for atleast an hr and 45 mims didn’t mind though got mum to phone up school made it the school day shorter. 😂😂 was also nice to have a quick nap on the old tridents they had on the route for the first time before they were replaced by the E400Classics Same area, almost the same route. During the aftermath of the Hither Green rail crash, which took place on a Sunday evening, somehow a rogue 36 which had been instructed to curtail at Catford instead of its usual HG Station terminus managed to intrude to the area (only the South Circular was cordoned off.) The young crew (driver/ conductor on a Routemaster) seemed absolutely mortified when they realised what they'd done, but I managed to re-direct them straight down HG Lane to Lewisham, possibly the first time ever a bus nominally 'in service' had gone that way. Absolutely true story: I was a young local trying to do my bit by controlling side road traffic, the emergency services having far more important things to be dealing with on that deeply tragic Bonfire Night.
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Jul 18, 2019 19:53:19 GMT
Interesting thread. When in the hot seat driving a bus in an unfamiliar area can make people very nervous. To be quite honest whenever diversions are put out on the radio they are not very clear. Some drivers carry an A-Z.
Knowing where large roundabouts are useful too because you can spin the bus around there. I would say that and Mirrors and large roundabouts for Large vehicles drivers are their best friends.
To add on when knowing many routes you also have to remember what your driving especially when you routes run down the same road. I mainly do the same route, but I do get around and have done everything except the 301 eventually I’ll end up doing them. When I do them I have to remember that I’m not doing the 99 because the 301 serves both the stops on Woolwich Road near New Road & Brampton Road before turning off.
I remember once I was doing a 269 and at the Junction of Bexley War Memorial turned right thinking I was doing the 229 instead of turning left on the last bus too! So I just went to North Cray Road and spun it around the roundabout and was back on the 269 route. In fact on the first day we got the 269 I was about to go straight ahead like a 229 at Sidcup Station and on another occasion put my left indicator on at Albany Park to turn left into Foots Cray Lane when doing the 229 but didn’t make the turn. Funny enough bus types don’t confuse me even if I get them on other routes.
You can easily do the route correctly all day then all of a sudden make a wrong turn or think your doing another route.
|
|