Interesting blog indeed. Very nice to see a written route record of each route, certainly unique. However, whilst it is excellent for its very purpose, I find the writing style a little prosaic. There is ample description of roadside furniture, but this is public transport - what about the people? Often, the jetsam and flotsam of society can be found riding on buses. Not for a purpose like 99.9% of people, or as a recreational pastime like myself and other enthusiasts - but simply because they have nowhere else to relax. I'd love to read a blog that has a focus on the colourful characters, as well as the route.
In contrast, I find Diamond Geezer's occasional bus ride entries highly entertaining. The route records are frequently interjected with a witty backstory of the passengers who sit next to him and the general atmosphere of the bus and areas passed through.
This review of the 607 is fantastic! His comments on the number of different languages spoken and use of the word "cacophony" had me cracking up for ages. It resonates with my experience on the route and turns it into something hilarious.
They should be on 386 by now. I did the 387 last week (see image below) - one of the two Creekmouth journeys of the day. I somehow ended up on the N15 to Romford by which time it was almost 6am. I decided I wanted to do that 387, so I took the 247 (nice route) to Barkingside then the 169 to Barking. I hope they cover the Creekmouth element of the route - I'd be interested to read their take on the brownfields, extremely dusty roads, the old power station and the Sam's Chicken distribution depot along the way. It's a pity about the new buses - with routes like this (serving depressing areas,) I feel that being on an old, clapped out Euro 2 bus really adds to the viewing atmosphere.
I'm thinking of writing a blog on my experiences on night buses. Some of the things I've seen need to be aired. Not least the attempted murder occurring in the bay of seats behind me on the N29, or the very scary girl on the N207 who got upset and didn't stop cussing from Shepherds Bush to Acton Town. Or the way I was propositioned by a.) a prostitute before getting on the N381 and b.) a man on the N207 which I couldn't escape from. Even on dead routes like the N21, there is always some scumbag to ruin the experience. One such specimen boarded at Greyhounds Roundabout. There was only me and one other passenger on the entire bus, both sitting at the back in the lower saloon. This guy gets on, takes the seat immediately next to the other passenger then started masturbating. When challenged, he refused to stop, his defence being "it's a free country."
I've now done almost every proper night route. I don't really bother with the inner city ones like the N2, N52, N137 and N343. Over the last week, I finally did the N26, N86 and N28. Also would like to cover the driving styles on the "extension" parts of the night routes, that is the suburbs covered beyond the equivalent day route. I've experienced F1 style driving on the following routes;
N15 Canning Town - Romford
N7 East Acton - Northolt
N9 Hammersmith - Heathrow
N26 Temple Mills - Chingford - bit of a rollercoaster moment around the Crooked Billet roundabout and going over Chingford Mount
N3 Crystal Palace - Bromley ;D
N35 Shoreditch - Tottenham Court Road
N98 Willesden - Stanmore - a bit white knuckle going around the "circles" in Kingsbury/Queensbury :/, very fast going through Canons Park
N207 Southall - Uxbridge
N89 Blackheath - Erith
N55 Leyton - Woodford Wells, especially after Whipps Cross
N87 Wandsworth - Kingston - a route where the buses tend to fly along, from Vauxhall west
N68 Croydon Town Centre - Old Coulsdon
N8 Bow - Hainault
N47 Catford - St Mary Cray - certainly a route where you'll hear Voith Tridents being hammered relentlessly
N13 Selfridges - North Finchley
On many of those routes, I'm the only person on the bus (less so with straight trunk routes N9/N15/N207) and the driver seems not to realise that I'm there. On certain routes, it's not uncommon for the bus to suddenly start being flung around corners and reaching up to 55mph after a certain point, once the bus has emptied out. Maybe that explains why I enjoy travelling on night buses, although I had to put in a complaint about an N15 driver. Fair enough if you're going to do 60mph, I don't have a problem with that, but slamming the brakes on so hard that I get whiplash and repeatedly stopping dead unexpectedly, when the traffic ahead is stationary 30 metres away is unacceptable. I've driven the E400H and it takes a real numbnuts not to be able to get used to the admittedly crappy braking system between Fair Cross and Trafalgar Square. The previous driver from Romford to Fair Cross was doing 50mph+, but the roads are straight/open and at least the braking was smooth.
I also think Stagecoach would benefit from having RIBAS/Genius or whatever installed. Sorry but those drivers on the night 69s who keep speeding over the endless humps between Leyton and Stratford really need reining in! Admittedly, you don't see that kind of awful driving on Abellio these days, except for when I was on V reg Trident 9730 the other day, which I strongly suspected didn't have the Genius monitor installed.
Anyway, I may well be starting a night bus review blog - keep your eyes peeled!