Post by borneobus on Feb 17, 2024 4:53:01 GMT
A recent afternoon out and to the Holloway Road via London Overground Willesden Junction – Gospel Oak and onwards to Upper Holloway. The day’s objective was a diesel end2end on the 263. On the day three VWs were operating amongst the hybrid VWHs but I just missed a southbound VW to Highbury Barn and with the remaining two VWs headed north to Barnet Hospital I caught a 43 and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the Holloway Road near to the LU station.
After lunch positioned to Highbury New Pk / Highbury Grove School that’s most of the way to Highbury Barn on DEM2682, of course operating the 393. At Highbury Barn the next 263 was operated by VWH2007 followed by my bus of choice VW1195. I have never knowingly been to Highbury Barn and what a nice area. Between work the 263 parks behind “The Parish Church of Christ Church Highbury with St. John and St. Saviour” adjacent to Highbury Park clock. I’m not partial to all Victoriana by any means but this rather splendid maroon clock tower built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee is an exception but I had to be quick to take a picture of VW1195 together with the clock as it turned to commence service…followed by a run across the road to the first stop ‘Highbury Barn’.
I departed just after 1pm and accordingly the bus was lightly loaded throughout. The route feels ‘inner city’ up the Holloway Road but north of Archway feels more prosperous and stays that way all the way to Barnet; in fact one of the 60 stops en route “The Bishops Avenue”, that’s just south of East Finchley Station is one of the most expensive addresses in the UK. The 12 year old Volvo felt similar to the rest of the Metroline fleet, far from new of course but definitely with life left it in and not a bad ride, certainly not uncomfortable upstairs.
We made trouble-free progress up the old ‘Great North Road’ (A1000) through North Finchley where my first SL1 and SL10 were sighted and then via Whetstone up to Barnet which I always enjoy visiting.
At Barnet Hospital I was looking forward to seeing Electroliners on the 307 for the first time and a couple were noted together with the only ‘short’ Volvo EV working the 384 that day, VMSS2834. If I’d been more fleet of mind and foot I would have boarded for a ride. As it was, I waited 20 minutes for the next Edgware bound 384 that was operated by DEM1917 and I was surprised as it was verging on packed.
The 292 was also a target for a VW ride but tricky as only one VW was operating, and the route requires ‘positioning’ to of course either Colindale or Borehamwood. I’d been tracking VW1206, and it was headed north to Borehamwood, so I alighted the 384 at ‘Moat Mount Open Space’. Crossing the A1 wasn’t fun and not recommended but safely across I only had to wait five minutes for VW1206 at the stop ‘Mount Moat Park’ (but on the signboard as Moat Mount Open Space) where last year only 104 pax boarded the 292 and the driver flashed me 150 metres out with “Did I really want to board?” the message. My bus was busy: 80% full.
I thought I was around three quarters to Borehamwood, but it took another 31 minutes to reach Rossington Avenue that coincided with schools ending for the day and the bus was rammed. I knew little about Borehamwood save it was where Eastenders was filmed (1984-2022) and Boreham Wood FC’s recent ‘giant-killing’ in the FA Cup beating Bournemouth but was surprised at the size and the number of residential roads that the 292 takes in.
At Rossington Avenue, I walked a few metres to Wetherby Road the first stop southbound. It was busy, but not as busy as the northbound and I didn’t feel progress was being made until we were headed back south on the A1 towards Edgware…somehow this route still feels it ‘belongs’ at EW, not HD. After Elstree it’s just a case of following the 32 until turning off the Edgware Road on Capitol Way and parking up at Colindale Superstores somewhere between Asda and M&S Food.
By 32/83 to Hendon Station and Thameslink Hendon-Farringdon and Elizabeth Line (not “Liz Line”, not “Crossrail” and most definitely not “The Tube” [groan]) home. Regarding the Elizabeth Line it’s easy to dwell on the fantastic east-west connectivity but as a user it’s also brilliant now having a simple rail connection to the north or south at Farringdon 😊
A good afternoon out with another couple of Metroline diesel DD ticked-off. That leaves just one Metroline dedicated diesel route (240) and ‘possibles 114, 282 and 306…though VWs on the 306 are few and far between since the route’s moved to HT.
After lunch positioned to Highbury New Pk / Highbury Grove School that’s most of the way to Highbury Barn on DEM2682, of course operating the 393. At Highbury Barn the next 263 was operated by VWH2007 followed by my bus of choice VW1195. I have never knowingly been to Highbury Barn and what a nice area. Between work the 263 parks behind “The Parish Church of Christ Church Highbury with St. John and St. Saviour” adjacent to Highbury Park clock. I’m not partial to all Victoriana by any means but this rather splendid maroon clock tower built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee is an exception but I had to be quick to take a picture of VW1195 together with the clock as it turned to commence service…followed by a run across the road to the first stop ‘Highbury Barn’.
I departed just after 1pm and accordingly the bus was lightly loaded throughout. The route feels ‘inner city’ up the Holloway Road but north of Archway feels more prosperous and stays that way all the way to Barnet; in fact one of the 60 stops en route “The Bishops Avenue”, that’s just south of East Finchley Station is one of the most expensive addresses in the UK. The 12 year old Volvo felt similar to the rest of the Metroline fleet, far from new of course but definitely with life left it in and not a bad ride, certainly not uncomfortable upstairs.
We made trouble-free progress up the old ‘Great North Road’ (A1000) through North Finchley where my first SL1 and SL10 were sighted and then via Whetstone up to Barnet which I always enjoy visiting.
At Barnet Hospital I was looking forward to seeing Electroliners on the 307 for the first time and a couple were noted together with the only ‘short’ Volvo EV working the 384 that day, VMSS2834. If I’d been more fleet of mind and foot I would have boarded for a ride. As it was, I waited 20 minutes for the next Edgware bound 384 that was operated by DEM1917 and I was surprised as it was verging on packed.
The 292 was also a target for a VW ride but tricky as only one VW was operating, and the route requires ‘positioning’ to of course either Colindale or Borehamwood. I’d been tracking VW1206, and it was headed north to Borehamwood, so I alighted the 384 at ‘Moat Mount Open Space’. Crossing the A1 wasn’t fun and not recommended but safely across I only had to wait five minutes for VW1206 at the stop ‘Mount Moat Park’ (but on the signboard as Moat Mount Open Space) where last year only 104 pax boarded the 292 and the driver flashed me 150 metres out with “Did I really want to board?” the message. My bus was busy: 80% full.
I thought I was around three quarters to Borehamwood, but it took another 31 minutes to reach Rossington Avenue that coincided with schools ending for the day and the bus was rammed. I knew little about Borehamwood save it was where Eastenders was filmed (1984-2022) and Boreham Wood FC’s recent ‘giant-killing’ in the FA Cup beating Bournemouth but was surprised at the size and the number of residential roads that the 292 takes in.
At Rossington Avenue, I walked a few metres to Wetherby Road the first stop southbound. It was busy, but not as busy as the northbound and I didn’t feel progress was being made until we were headed back south on the A1 towards Edgware…somehow this route still feels it ‘belongs’ at EW, not HD. After Elstree it’s just a case of following the 32 until turning off the Edgware Road on Capitol Way and parking up at Colindale Superstores somewhere between Asda and M&S Food.
By 32/83 to Hendon Station and Thameslink Hendon-Farringdon and Elizabeth Line (not “Liz Line”, not “Crossrail” and most definitely not “The Tube” [groan]) home. Regarding the Elizabeth Line it’s easy to dwell on the fantastic east-west connectivity but as a user it’s also brilliant now having a simple rail connection to the north or south at Farringdon 😊
A good afternoon out with another couple of Metroline diesel DD ticked-off. That leaves just one Metroline dedicated diesel route (240) and ‘possibles 114, 282 and 306…though VWs on the 306 are few and far between since the route’s moved to HT.