Roundabout

[greenboy]

Dec 11, 2020 20:46:38 GMT buspete said:

Dec 10, 2020 16:28:02 GMT wirewiper said:

I got the impression that the 431 (which the R6 replaced) was operated mainly as a way of getting vehicles and drivers from Dunton Green (DG) Garage to and from  Orpington to operate the 493, which was the only London Country route to operate entirely within Greater London.  

Fascinating, I never gave it any thought that the 493 was the only route to operate entirely in London.

Where the 493 operated to the Ramsden Estate was a late development in the the 1950-60s. So wonder how the bus route came into London Country hands, opposed to London Transport instead? When Roundabout was founded it took over the 493 partially, from Orpington to Green Street Green via Chelsfield. So wonder if you guys know why Roundabout didn’t take over the Ramsden Estate section on Roundabout inception?

If I remember correctly the 493 was unusual in being operated by Leyland Nationals Monday to Saturday and RMC on Sunday when it was interworked with the 477?

[buspete]

If I remember also the 493 only operated Sunday afternoons.

[rugbyref]

Did the 493 use the GS in the dim and distant past?

[wirewiper]

Dec 16, 2020 18:06:57 GMT rugbyref said:

Did the 493 use the GS in the dim and distant past?

I suppose the route might have started off with GS operation to get a service into Ramsden Estate when only a few of the houses were completed and occupied, with bigger buses allocated as more residents moved in. 

[bustavane]

Dec 15, 2020 19:43:39 GMT buspete said:

If I remember also the 493 only operated Sunday afternoons.

This might be of interest: www.flickr.com/photos/9003948@N05/16729258638
When LC used hired RegentVs in place of RMCs (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dickdapre/8791388746)
[neither are my photos]

[southlondonbus]

When the 261 effectively replaced the two routes that terminated at Farnborough George am I right i thinking the stand was removed as it was considered not suitable hence the introduction of the through route from Lewisham, Bromley and Orpington? As we know it was then replaced by the R1 and now a beefed up 358.

[greenboy]

Dec 25, 2020 17:44:24 GMT southlondonbus said:

When the 261 effectively replaced the two routes that terminated at Farnborough George am I right i thinking the stand was removed as it was considered not suitable hence the introduction of the through route from Lewisham, Bromley and Orpington? As we know it was then replaced by the R1 and now a beefed up 358.

The 261 replaced the 47 and 229 at Farnborough in the mass changes of September 4th 1982. From memory I think the stand was removed soon afterwards, it wouldn't have been suitable for OPO buses.

[southlondonbus]

Possibly why that section of the 47 survived so long with Routemasters as by 1978 that section was largely self contained from Lewisham .

[buspete]

Following on from Roundabout ‘success’ was Bexleybus.

But really wondering if they could’ve dons a similar scheme in Bromley, history now tells us there were new bus routes and possibilities of frequency upgrade?

I am thinking of buses 126, 138, 146, 162, 227, 246, 314, 336, 352, 354, 358 and 367.

[southlondonbus]

In many ways in Bromley, Metrobus bought services to people's homes on a commercial buses with the 351, 354, 356, 358 and possibly the 367 aswell saving tfl the job.

[wirewiper]

Dec 26, 2020 15:50:24 GMT buspete said:

Following on from Roundabout ‘success’ was Bexleybus.

But really wondering if they could’ve dons a similar scheme in Bromley, history now tells us there were new bus routes and possibilities of frequency upgrade?

I am thinking of buses 126, 138, 146, 162, 227, 246, 314, 336, 352, 354, 358 and 367.

I believe at one time there were plans to introduce a couple of 'B' routes to complement the then-B1 (Bromley North to Kidbrooke), most of which was incorporated into the new 314 in 1990. The 336 may have been one of these proposed 'B' routes. As said, the Bromley situation was different to Orpington's as some of the local routes were developed off the back of routes which were at one time operated independently by Metrobus, although they were subsidised to charge London Transport fares and accept their tickets and passes.  

[southlondonbus]

I think the 320 was a LT introduced route rather then introduced by Metrobus commercially?

[southlondonbus]

I wonder if the southern section of the 208 was investigated for Roundabout like the 261. Could have had let's say and R8 between Bromley and Orpington with the 208 increased to every 7-8 mins between The Crown and Lewisham and the 199 withdrawn in 1986/87 without replacement as the 208 would have now had 8 bph.

[wirewiper]

Dec 26, 2020 18:02:10 GMT southlondonbus said:

I think the 320 was a LT introduced route rather then introduced by Metrobus commercially?

The 320 has its origins in the 410, which was a long-standing East Surrey/London Country route between Bromley North and Redhill. When it commenced in 1990 it was operated by London & Country from Dunton Green Garage near Sevenoaks. Until 1998 (when Metrobus took over the route) some journeys continued to Westerham, these were replaced by the new 246.  

[rugbyref]

As candidates were rejected from the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Biggin Hill, they were handed form 410, which was a bus ticket on the 410 to Bromley South.