Uploads from Matthew Wharmby

London General Enviro400 E 278 (SN13 CJJ), Mitcham 18/05/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:20:49 -0700

A snatched shot from an oncoming bus on a poor day for photography, but it had escaped me once already. This is one of four Es to top up Merton (44 and 77, I think, but it's a dead cert they'll pitch up on anything Merton runs, as shown).

Abellio London Enviro200 8589 (YX62 DVA) at Hounslow, 06/05/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:43:53 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

The H28's just received new E20Ds to replace its ageing X-reg Mini Pointer Darts. Whatever clearance issues there must have been along this route have obviously been sorted out, as the new buses are 10.1m versions like 8589 (YX62 DVA) at Hounslow. Almost missed the angle, as it was right up the tail of the bus in front, but just about got it.

Preserved MCW Metrobus M 161 (BYX 161V) at Pinewood, 12/05/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:30:09 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Slough running day saw the usual line-up of green (mostly) RMCs, RTs and RMLs, but my fave was a surprise - M 161, an old friend from Anglian, a company you could set your watch by as its Surrey school route sped past on its long and convoluted journey from behind Hersham station, avoiding the low bridges. It came off that duty at the end of last year, completing a stupendous 32 years in continuous service, and is now preserved. It's in good nick as well, having been opened up daily on open roads. Excellent! Hope to see more of it on the circuit.

Preserved London Transport RT 2657 (LYR 641) at Brooklands Museum, 21/04/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:13:33 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

RT 2657 (LYR 641) is new on the rally circuit, having spent the last 48 years in a museum in Paris. Displaced from Peckham by an RM and withdrawn in 1965, it carries Park Royal RT3 roofbox body no 1956. The new venue at Brooklands is a success, allowing aircraft fans to cross-subsidise the buses, but on events days can get a little on the crowded side, as is seen here, complete with cloud of dust thrown up by the previous bus...

Stagecoach Selkent Enviro200 36330 (LX58 CCV) at Woolwich, 14/04/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:50:13 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Plumstead appear to be the first garage to reintroduce white-on-black blinds after 18 years - a strange idea, but explained by the fact that dayglo yellow fades so quickly to white anyway. TfL ought to know that it's not the colour of blinds that's the problem - they could be pink with blue spots for all the difference that makes - it's the sheer lack of information. Where the hell is Woodlands Estate for anyone that doesn't live there? What makes it so unacceptable as a qualifier after 'Woolwich Common' or 'Plumstead Common'? And I thought we weren't allowed to have 'Estate' on blinds, because it's classist? Even so, white-on-black blinds actually still fall within DDA, they'll be disgusted to discover, as white is a contrasting colour. This E200 is 36330 (LX58 CCV) of Plumstead, and born as East London 36030.

Metrobus Enviro200 745 (YX13 AFU) at Lewisham, 14/04/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:41:19 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Metrobus have struck up another contract on the 284 and have replaced its Scania OmniTowns with new long-wheelbase E200s like 745 (YX13 AFU) seen pulling into Lewisham.

First Ealing Buses Enviro200 DML 44131 (YX10 BCY) at Hayes, 09/06/2012

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:37:47 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Centrewest's westernmost operations will be passing to Metroline in June, so the E200 on the 195 hemmed in by two of its competitors in this 9th June 2012 shot at Hayes and Harlington station needn't feel as threatened. Keep an eye on the MAN in front, as they might be first out when cascades start. I wonder if this DML (the code of which was fudged badly to denote medium-sized rather than Marshall-bodied, as on Dart predecessors) will become a DE - Metroline's numbering system isn't much cleaner than First's. Hopefully they'll bring back running numbers, which Centrewest refused to display; yeah, maybe I'm kicking them when they're down, but I always thought that was a lazy way of fooling roadside inspectors.

First Capital Volvo B9TL VN 36116 (BJ11 DUU) at Stratford, 11/08/2012

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:28:29 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Well, First have only gone and flushed their entire London portfolio. Absolutely desperate for money, they've split CentreWest and what remains of Capital between Metroline, who were rumoured to be taking much of it a few weeks ago, and an Aussie firm called Transit Systems Group (nope, me neither). This is where Lea Interchange and Westbourne Park will be headed in June. I never cared for First, to put it mildly - they stumbled from bad mistake to worse and haemorrhaged money. Changes will hopefully be few, given that liveries are obstinately dull red - but at least the cockamamie numbering system will depart (Metroline's is only a little bit better, mind, with classes thrown about at random through sequential numbers). During the Olympics Lea Interchange's B9TL VN 36116 (BJ11 DUU) is passing through Stratford.

Metroline Dennis Dart EDR 38 (P314 MLD) at Whitehall, 22/05/2002

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:20:18 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Converting a route that ran down Oxford Street and Regent Street to single-deck OPO was not the brightest of ideas, but all that could satisfy the low-floor craze by the time 1998 came along was Dart SLFs, and to be fair, the 139's RMs were completely knackered. But sometimes Cricklewood, who inherited the route when MTL London was absorbed into Metroline, would slip and stick out an EDR. These were the Edgware minibus routes' staple otherwise, and on 22nd May 2002 EDR 38 (P314 MLD) is working W207 at the Whitehall stand.

South London MCW Metrobus M 520 (GYE 520W) at Crystal Palace, 04/09/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:20:17 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

The second 249 to ply the Clapham Junction-Tooting Bec-Streatham-Crystal Palace corridor has had a varied innings in its 22 years. Commencing with Streatham DRs, the route had to transfer to Norwood, which proceeded to chuck at it everything on wheels, including Metrobuses like M 520 (GYE 520W) when it had them. It was reallocated again to Thornton Heath but then returned to Norwood, where its more recent claim to fame was in fielding the last Ls in service, and today, with a couple of extensions that have taken it as far north as Clapham Common, is the province of Stockwell under London General.

Kentish Bus National Greenway 357 (SIB 1288) at Crystal Palace, 04/09/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:20:16 -0700

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

East Lancs managed to hold off the kind of privation that put paid to giants like MCW and Leyland at the end of the 1980s, by reinventing itself as a refurbisher of old buses. All sorts of vehicles gained a second chance when there was simply no money to buy new, and just such were the first wave of National Greenways created out of Kentish Bus SNBs. KB took over the 227 from Bromley LSs in 1992 and accented its Greenways first with green bands and then with faux-Ulster registrations to hide the fact that these were 12-13 years old; thus 357 (SIB 1288), formerly numbered 431, 479 and new as SNB 522) was previously EPD 522V. Best Impressions redesigned the Greenway front and rear, but I don't think it needed it.

Stagecoach East London Dennis Lance LA 16 (J116 WSC, Barking 14/10/1995)

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:57:57 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Every so often London falls victim to a gimmick, and has to go through all sorts to shake off its effects. In 1992 the trend was full-size single-deckers, even though an idiot could tell you they don't work in London - the seated capacity is simply too small. Thus after two years on the 36B, the sixteen Alexander PS-bodied Dennis Lances were switched to the 75, but when that route too resumed double-deckers, over the river they went to Barking. Allocated on paper to the 145, in reality Barking threw them at every route it had, and this miserable Barking town centre scene sees LA 16 (J116 WSC) on the 369, normally run by Deltas. Both the DAs and LAs were pretty decent for what they were, but Titans ten years older won out on the 145 too and off went the LAs to Bolton. But not LA 16, which I came to know from seeing it on the Brooklands Tesco contract between 2005 and 2009. LA 16 was scrapped in February 2012, unfortunately.

MTL London Northern MCW Metrobus M 501 (GYE 501W) at Potters Bar, 17/07/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:32 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Only ever photographed the one of the three Ms that came home from Merseybus in the summer of 1995 still in white and red MTL Lancashire Travel livery, M 501 (GYE 501W) entered service at Potters Bar to release the two Vs, bizarrely, to London Suburban where they helped out on the 4 before heading north.

London Central Leyland Titan T 717 (OHV 717Y) at Lewisham, 21/09/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:31 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Offering no evidence to its privatised status other than the loss of the roundel, Bexleyheath's T 717 (OHV 717Y) sets off from Lewisham.

Metrobus Leyland Olympian CUB 64Y at Lewisham, 21/09/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:31 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Got some surprisingly decent shots out of cheap camera when the light was right; at Lewisham on 21st September 1995 is one of the ex-West Yorkshire Olympians used by Metrobus on the 261, CUB 64Y (no fleetnumbers in those days).

Stagecoach East London MCW Metrorider MRL 119 (F119 YVP), Stratford 14/09/1995

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:31 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

These noisy and rattly heaps just about made up for it by having high-backed seats, though that didn't make any difference if you were over five-eight... Stratford (SD) inherited the minibus operations of Bow and West Ham in 1992 and passed to Stagecoach on privatisation.

Arriva London South Leyland Olympian L 169 (D169 FYM), Crystal Palace 16/02/2003

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:31:30 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Finally got the nod for another book, after far too long a gap. This one's going to be on Ls 1-263 - effectively the last buses ordered under the old way of things by the old London Transport. They were also the last major class to live out a full lifespan, the production batch lasting 19 years between 22nd March 1986 and 2nd September 2005. By 16th February 2003, when I took this picture in the new Crystal Palace bus station, L 169 (D169 FYM) had lost its coach seats despite a late-life refurbishment for the 2 and 249 in 2000 - the 2's southern section was hived off as 432 and would field the last Ls of all.

First Capital MCW Metrobus M 178 (E478 SON), Wood Green 15/02/2003

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:31:30 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Despite the 123 gaining new TNLs at the end of 2001, three ex-Harrow Buses mark II Metrobuses managed to survive and were put out as reinforcements; one of them, M 178 (E478 SON), formerly plain 178 and before that M 1478, even got a repaint, though without the yellow stripe. It is seen at Wood Green on 15th February 2003.

First Capital Dennis Dart DW 95 (JDZ 2395) at Leytonstone, 04/02/2003

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:31:30 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Ten years ago - and I have absolutely no recollection of taking this, even though my records clearly show that on 4th February 2003 I was stood here at Leytonstone in the bitter cold that roars through this pretty decent photographic location, recording an extensive rail job. As First Capital's stuff invariably migrated west, so did DWs replace the wretched RWs at Beeline Slough, and this is DW 95 (JDZ 2395). For some reason it's come back to Rainham and has been turned out on the W19!

Arriva London North Wrightbus Gemini 2 DW 410 (LJ11 AFA) at Waterloo, 24/02/2013

nobody@flickr.com (Matthew Wharmby) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:10:46 -0800

Matthew Wharmby posted a photo:

Arriva's DLAs are almost done; the W-, X- and Y-reg short ones are being replaced this year by the Gemini 2 version of the DW class, like Tottenham's DW 410 (LJ11 AFA) seen at Waterloo.