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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2018 22:37:43 GMT
40 from Camberwell Green to Aldgate 115 to East Ham (Central Park) 58 to Walthamstow Central (diverted via Plaistow and Wanstead Flats) 275 to St James Street 212 to Chingford 444 to Turnpike Lane 121 to Wood Green Shopping City W4 to Tottenham Hale Station Stansted Express to Liverpool Street 42 to Camberwell Road 12 to home
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 13, 2018 10:40:46 GMT
Just for a bit of variety, here is a South Devon bash I did last Friday. All these routes are covered by the Torbay DayRider (£5) or Torbay 7-day MegaRider (£18).
First off was Scania/Enviro400 no. 15863, working the 10.40 route 22 departure from Torquay Harbour to Dawlish Warren. This is one of a number of Scanias that were transferred in from Exeter and repainted in a two-tone green version of Stagecoach livery, and are branded as "Hop 22" for the route. This route runs along the coast and there are terrific views out to sea and also inland towards Dartmoor, with the stretch between St Marychurch and Teignmouth being particularly stunning. If you are in the area and you only go for one bus ride, make it this one. The 22 itself is quite a recent creation, first appearing in May 2015 as a replacement for routes 11, 12a and 12c which it effectively combined.
Arrival at Dawlish Warren was at 11.53. I could have walked along the famous Sea Wall back into Dawlish, but I decided it was too cold and windy so I rejoined the same vehicle for the ten-minute run back into Dawlish, departing at 12.05. Incidentally the section between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren was added to the Torbay Dayrider area in early 2014, as a response to the closure of the railway line through Dawlish that winter.
I had fifteen minutes in Dawlish before my next bus, just time to nip to Gay's Creamery (I always have to suppress a giggle at this point) on Brunswick Terrace where, as well as selling pots of arterial-sclerosis-inducing Devon Clotted Cream they have an excellent selection of pies and pasties. I went for a Homity Pie - sliced potato, onions and cream with a cheese, tomato and herb topping, £2 and delicious, as I don't eat a lot of meat these days.
My next bus was another Scania/Enviro400, no. 15895 which was also painted in a "Hop" livery, this time two-tone purple for route 2 (Exeter-Newton Abbot). I joined at Dawlish for the 12.30 departure to Newton Abbot which was reached on time at 13.17 after an uneventful journey, which is within the Torbay DayRider area - route 2 drivers issue and accept these between Dawlish and Newton Abbot. Although not quite as dramatic as the 22 there are nonetheless attractive views across the Teign Valley, and across to the hills of Dartmoor on the approach to Newton Abbot. The 2 was a late outpost of crew operation London, retaining its conductors until 1983.
Normally at Newton (locals rarely add the Abbot, even the GWR didn't bother until 1876) I have a look around the second-hand stalls in the Indoor Market, a couple of the stalls sell model buses and I have turned up some interesting finds. Today was not going to be one of those days as my next bus was departing at 13.30 and I needed a pee - fortunately the public toilet is close by.
For those who don't know Newton, sorry, Newton Abbot, the main bus departure point is Sherborne Road, a bus-only thoroughfare behind the Indoor Market and Market Walk development that acts as a linear bus station. It was to stand E that my third Scania/Enviro400 of the day, no. 15803, pulled up bang on time at 13.26 for the 13.30 X64 departure for Dartmouth via Totnes. 15803 is one of a large batch that were allocated when new to Torquay Depot in late 2011 for the busy 12 route (Newton Abbot - Torquay - Paignton - Brixham) and recently displaced by new Scania/Enviro400 MMCs, of which more later. They have now been reallocated to Exeter and Barnstaple and have received mini-refurbishments, and the long X64 is a favourite haunt. The X64 originally ran Exeter-Totnes, and was extended to Dartmouth in November 2014 to replace the Gold service on this section - this enabled the Plymouth service to be enhanced to half-hourly. Gold itself commenced on 30th September 2013 as direct competition for First's X80/X81 which were withdrawn four weeks later. A lovely long run through attractive Devon countryside and the delightful town of Totnes, which is well worth a visit although I didn't on this occasion, reaching Dartmouth at 14.47 - and the Newton Abbot-Dartmouth section is covered by the Torbay DayRider.
For my next trip I forsook the buses for a ferry trip across the Dart to Kingswear. There is a passenger ferry that operates across from the Town Jetty and is a direct descendant of the railway-operated ferries that carried passengers from Dartmouth to the Station at Kingswear for their onward journeys, the South Devon Railway having been frustrated in its efforts to run the railway into Dartmouth itself. So lucrative did the Dartmouth traffic become that in 1886 the Great Western Railway constructed a full-scale Station building on the quayside at Dartmouth and this still stands today, nowadays used as a café. However I used the alternative, the Lower Ferry, which carries both foot passengers and light vehicles. This consists of a pontoon, attached to a tugboat which turns through 180 degrees on departure, a fascinating manoeuvre to watch. There is a third ferry, the Higher Ferry, which operates higher up the river and is a chain ferry, or floating bridge; this too carries foot passengers but doesn't have a bus link on the far side.
I had just missed the 18 to Brixham at 15.05, so my next bus was Optare Solo 47698 on the 15.33 route 18a variant which loops around the Summercombe Estate. A tight schedule, narrow roads approaching Brixham and parked cars made this a lively and interesting ride; certainly anything bigger than a Solo would struggle. This dropped me into Brixham at 15.56, a couple of minutes early, giving me enough time to nip round the corner to catch my next bus.
Which was one of what is fast becoming a rare breed, the once-ubiquitous Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 combo, in this case 18301 on route 13 back to Newton Abbot. This should have arrived at 15.56 and departed at 16.00 but actually arrived slightly late at 16.03 and departed as soon as I had boarded. The 13 is a circuitous route providing all sorts of useful links around Torbay that aren't covered by other routes and has several variants, notably to cater for schools and college traffic, but runs infrequently and to an irregular timetable in order for it to remain viable as Torbay Council no longer supports any socially necessary bus services financially - a sign of our times I suppose. Anyway, after a long trundle around the delights of South Devon College, Foxhole Estate, Marldon, The Willows and Aller arrival into Newton was bang on time at 17.35.
Last bus of the day was 15314 on route 12, departing around 18.00. This is one of the aforementioned Scania/ADL Enviro400 MMCs, 22 of which were delivered new to Torquay Depot in November 2017 and 17 of which carry a two-tone "Hop 12" red variation of Stagecoach livery specifically for the route - all 22 were displayed on Paignton Seafront on the morning of 8th November and were then phased into service the same day. An uneventful run, with a quick sprint along part of the new South Devon Highway and though Kingskerswell brought me to Torquay Harbour around 18.45, from where my accommodation (and more to the point my dinner) was just a few minutes' walk away.
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Post by sid on Feb 13, 2018 17:28:37 GMT
Just for a bit of variety, here is a South Devon bash I did last Friday. All these routes are covered by the Torbay DayRider (£5) or Torbay 7-day MegaRider (£18). First off was Scania/Enviro400 no. 15863, working the 10.40 route 22 departure from Torquay Harbour to Dawlish Warren. This is one of a number of Scanias that were transferred in from Exeter and repainted in a two-tone green version of Stagecoach livery, and are branded as "Hop 22" for the route. This route runs along the coast and there are terrific views out to sea and also inland towards Dartmoor, with the stretch between St Marychurch and Teignmouth being particularly stunning. If you are in the area and you only go for one bus ride, make it this one. The 22 itself is quite a recent creation, first appearing in May 2015 as a replacement for routes 11, 12a and 12c which it effectively combined. Arrival at Dawlish Warren was at 11.53. I could have walked along the famous Sea Wall back into Dawlish, but I decided it was too cold and windy so I rejoined the same vehicle for the ten-minute run back into Dawlish, departing at 12.05. Incidentally the section between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren was added to the Torbay Dayrider area in early 2014, as a response to the closure of the railway line through Dawlish that winter. I had fifteen minutes in Dawlish before my next bus, just time to nip to Gay's Creamery (I always have to suppress a giggle at this point) on Brunswick Terrace where, as well as selling pots of arterial-sclerosis-inducing Devon Clotted Cream they have an excellent selection of pies and pasties. I went for a Homity Pie - sliced potato, onions and cream with a cheese, tomato and herb topping, £2 and delicious, as I don't eat a lot of meat these days. My next bus was another Scania/Enviro400, no. 15895 which was also painted in a "Hop" livery, this time two-tone purple for route 2 (Exeter-Newton Abbot). I joined at Dawlish for the 12.30 departure to Newton Abbot which was reached on time at 13.17 after an uneventful journey, which is within the Torbay DayRider area - route 2 drivers issue and accept these between Dawlish and Newton Abbot. Although not quite as dramatic as the 22 there are nonetheless attractive views across the Teign Valley, and across to the hills of Dartmoor on the approach to Newton Abbot. The 2 was a late outpost of crew operation London, retaining its conductors until 1983. Normally at Newton (locals rarely add the Abbot, even the GWR didn't bother until 1876) I have a look around the second-hand stalls in the Indoor Market, a couple of the stalls sell model buses and I have turned up some interesting finds. Today was not going to be one of those days as my next bus was departing at 13.30 and I needed a pee - fortunately the public toilet is close by. For those who don't know Newton, sorry, Newton Abbot, the main bus departure point is Sherborne Road, a bus-only thoroughfare behind the Indoor Market and Market Walk development that acts as a linear bus station. It was to stand E that my third Scania/Enviro400 of the day, no. 15803, pulled up bang on time at 13.26 for the 13.30 X64 departure for Dartmouth via Totnes. 15803 is one of a large batch that were allocated when new to Torquay Depot in late 2011 for the busy 12 route (Newton Abbot - Torquay - Paignton - Brixham) and recently displaced by new Scania/Enviro400 MMCs, of which more later. They have now been reallocated to Exeter and Barnstaple and have received mini-refurbishments, and the long X64 is a favourite haunt. The X64 originally ran Exeter-Totnes, and was extended to Dartmouth in November 2014 to replace the Gold service on this section - this enabled the Plymouth service to be enhanced to half-hourly. Gold itself commenced on 30th September 2013 as direct competition for First's X80/X81 which were withdrawn four weeks later. A lovely long run through attractive Devon countryside and the delightful town of Totnes, which is well worth a visit although I didn't on this occasion, reaching Dartmouth at 14.47 - and the Newton Abbot-Dartmouth section is covered by the Torbay DayRider. For my next trip I forsook the buses for a ferry trip across the Dart to Kingswear. There is a passenger ferry that operates across from the Town Jetty and is a direct descendant of the railway-operated ferries that carried passengers from Dartmouth to the Station at Kingswear for their onward journeys, the South Devon Railway having been frustrated in its efforts to run the railway into Dartmouth itself. So lucrative did the Dartmouth traffic become that in 1886 the Great Western Railway constructed a full-scale Station building on the quayside at Dartmouth and this still stands today, nowadays used as a café. However I used the alternative, the Lower Ferry, which carries both foot passengers and light vehicles. This consists of a pontoon, attached to a tugboat which turns through 180 degrees on departure, a fascinating manoeuvre to watch. There is a third ferry, the Higher Ferry, which operates higher up the river and is a chain ferry, or floating bridge; this too carries foot passengers but doesn't have a bus link on the far side. I had just missed the 18 to Brixham at 15.05, so my next bus was Optare Solo 47698 on the 16.33 route 18a variant which loops around the Summercombe Estate. A tight schedule, narrow roads approaching Brixham and parked cars made this a lively and interesting ride; certainly anything bigger than a Solo would struggle. This dropped me into Brixham at 15.56, a couple of minutes early, giving me enough time to nip round the corner to catch my next bus. Which was one of what is fast becoming a rare breed, the once-ubiquitous Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 combo, in this case 18301 on route 13 back to Newton Abbot. This should have arrived at 15.56 and departed at 16.00 but actually arrived slightly late at 16.03 and departed as soon as I had boarded. The 13 is a circuitous route providing all sorts of useful links around Torbay that aren't covered by other routes and has several variants, notably to cater for schools and college traffic, but runs infrequently and to an irregular timetable in order for it to remain viable as Torbay Council no longer supports any socially necessary bus services financially - a sign of our times I suppose. Anyway, after a long trundle around the delights of South Devon College, Foxhole Estate, Marldon, The Willows and Aller arrival into Newton was bang on time at 17.35. Last bus of the day was 15314 on route 12, departing around 18.00. This is one of the aforementioned Scania/ADL Enviro400 MMCs, 22 of which were delivered new to Torquay Depot in November 2017 and 17 of which carry a two-tone "Hop 12" red variation of Stagecoach livery specifically for the route - all 22 were displayed on Paignton Seafront on the morning of 8th November and were then phased into service the same day. An uneventful run, with a quick sprint along part of the new South Devon Highway and though Kingskerswell brought me to Torquay Harbour around 18.45, from where my accommodation (and more to the point my dinner) was just a few minutes' walk away. Sounds like you had a lovely day? Wife and I visited Gays Creamery (in case anyone is unsure the owner is a Mr John Gay!) last summer when we were in Dawlish and I can't recommend it highly enough, a fantastic selection to suit every taste (we don't eat much meat either) and the prices were very reasonable. I didn't get to to do any bus rides but did do the lovely Tarka Line to Barnstaple and I'll make a note to do that 22 route next time we're there.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 14, 2018 18:10:51 GMT
Yes, it was a lovely day (the weather held and it was sunny, albeit cold and windy).
I'm a regular visitor to that part of the world (at least once a month) and I always enjoy a ride on the 22 when I can, I never tire of the views.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 15, 2018 13:01:15 GMT
Just for a bit of variety, here is a South Devon bash I did last Friday. All these routes are covered by the Torbay DayRider (£5) or Torbay 7-day MegaRider (£18). First off was Scania/Enviro400 no. 15863, working the 10.40 route 22 departure from Torquay Harbour to Dawlish Warren. This is one of a number of Scanias that were transferred in from Exeter and repainted in a two-tone green version of Stagecoach livery, and are branded as "Hop 22" for the route. This route runs along the coast and there are terrific views out to sea and also inland towards Dartmoor, with the stretch between St Marychurch and Teignmouth being particularly stunning. If you are in the area and you only go for one bus ride, make it this one. The 22 itself is quite a recent creation, first appearing in May 2015 as a replacement for routes 11, 12a and 12c which it effectively combined. < snip > Sounds like you had a lovely day? < snip > I didn't get to to do any bus rides but did do the lovely Tarka Line to Barnstaple and I'll make a note to do that 22 route next time we're there. Coincidentally the 22 features in a new Bus Users UK survey to discover Britain's most scenic bus route. www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ScenicBusThe survey allows participants to nominate their favourite three routes from lists for England, Scotland and Wales, as well as being able to make their own suggestions. No London routes appear to feature, so if anyone feels aggrieved about that, they know what to do!
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Post by galwhv69 on Feb 15, 2018 13:44:39 GMT
Sounds like you had a lovely day? < snip > I didn't get to to do any bus rides but did do the lovely Tarka Line to Barnstaple and I'll make a note to do that 22 route next time we're there. Coincidentally the 22 features in a new Bus Users UK survey to discover Britain's most scenic bus route. www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ScenicBusThe survey allows participants to nominate their favourite three routes from lists for England, Scotland and Wales, as well as being able to make their own suggestions. No London routes appear to feature, so if anyone feels aggrieved about that, they know what to do! On it right now,link should be here soon! Edit:Here It Is: Survey(Please tell me if something is wrong with the link/survey)
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Post by NWBusConnoisseur on Feb 15, 2018 15:47:12 GMT
Today I was bored so decided to go on an all day round trip for fun. Took 142 from home to Stanmore on ADE40421. Took H12 from Stanmore to Harrow Weald(Just for Voith Presidents ) on VP617. Took 140 from Harrow Weald to Harrow Bus Station on VWH2200. Took 114 from Harrow Bus Station to Ruislip on VWH2172 and saw VP617 again at South Harrow which annoyed me because I could've just taken that all the way to South Harrow. Took U1 from Ruislip to Uxbridge on DE1597 and it began to rain very heavily. Rain stopped at Uxbridge. Took A10 from Uxbridge to Heathrow on DEL2153. Very disappointing speed on the M4. Chilled round Heathrow a bit and used the pods. Then I took tube and Thameslink to Mill Hill Broadway. Took 240 from Mill Hill Broadway to Edgware on TEH1234. Driver made me miss my bus Took 142 from Edgware to home on ADE40427
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Post by overgroundcommuter on Feb 17, 2018 21:23:37 GMT
185 from home to Forest Hill London Overground to West Croydon. Walk to George Street tram stop. Tramlink 3 to Ampere Way Tramlink 4 to West Croydon London Overground to Forest Hill 185 to home.
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Post by arrivaarriva on Feb 18, 2018 5:28:39 GMT
Had to abort my planned end to end on the 297 (Ealing Broadway-Willesden Garage) at Alperton Station mid-morning Saturday. The driver was genuinely going so slowly that other traffic - including an E10 bus at one point - were hooting at him to get a move on. Was planning to do the 98 from Willesden as I've never been on a 98.
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Post by Dillon95 on Feb 20, 2018 18:42:56 GMT
There was to rhyme or reason to this. I was just bored.
286 Sidcup to Eltham Went to Subway for lunch 161 to Woolwich Stood by the river for a bit, then walkes through the foot tunnel. 474 to Cyprus DLR to Canning Town DLR to Woolwich Arsenal Went to Tesco to get some dinner. 51 to Sidcup
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Post by routew15 on Feb 22, 2018 19:04:10 GMT
On the 20 - WVL460 tonight and this driver is great every passenger that gets off he is saying "see ya/bye" to and everyone who gets on he is saying hello to. Not to mention he handles the bus really well.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Feb 22, 2018 19:12:32 GMT
On the 20 - WVL460 tonight and this driver is great every passenger that gets off he is saying "see ya/bye" to and everyone who gets on he is saying hello to. Not to mention he handles the bus really well. Would be nice if you send in a Thank you to TfL for him, always lightens up my day when a driver does similar and I hope they do get recognised for it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2018 20:07:58 GMT
On the 20 - WVL460 tonight and this driver is great every passenger that gets off he is saying "see ya/bye" to and everyone who gets on he is saying hello to. Not to mention he handles the bus really well. Would be nice if you send in a Thank you to TfL for him, always lightens up my day when a driver does similar and I hope they do get recognised for it. The driver will get a £20 voucher and a commendation on their record when a passenger compliments them. I'm sure he'd really appreciate it. He certainly deserves some reward for this positive attitude and friendly behaviour, and it may encourage other drivers to show the same positive and friendly attitude! You can fill in a form here: tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-bus-staff
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Post by routew15 on Feb 22, 2018 20:12:26 GMT
On the 20 - WVL460 tonight and this driver is great every passenger that gets off he is saying "see ya/bye" to and everyone who gets on he is saying hello to. Not to mention he handles the bus really well. Would be nice if you send in a Thank you to TfL for him, always lightens up my day when a driver does similar and I hope they do get recognised for it. Way ahead of you sent that off whilst on the bus 👍 He seemed like a genuinely nice driver.
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Post by sid on Feb 22, 2018 20:22:08 GMT
Would be nice if you send in a Thank you to TfL for him, always lightens up my day when a driver does similar and I hope they do get recognised for it. The driver will get a £20 voucher and a commendation on their record when a passenger compliments them. I'm sure he'd really appreciate it. He certainly deserves some reward for this positive attitude and friendly behaviour, and it may encourage other drivers to show the same positive and friendly attitude! You can fill in a form here: tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-bus-staffI used that recently to commend a really nice driver on the 21, couldn't have been more friendly and helpful, hope he got his voucher!
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