Blog Merge!

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Regards

Jack

A DPS Returns!

Today I was very lucky. When exiting Hatton Cross Station the first bus my eyes laid sight on was DPS715 on the 285. This route is usually served with 10.2m E200's and DPS's rarely stray onto the route. Route 285 runs from Heathrow Central - Kingston and is operated by London United from Hounslow Heath (HH) garage

Route 285, London United, DPS715, SN55HKW, Seen at Feltham Station

If you’re going to graffiti learn how to spell it right first!

Here we can see some rather lovely graffiti on board Abellio's 8419,W437CRN. It seems these unintelligent people are incapable of spelling "Alley" right. I bet they thought they was cool at the time, but now they just look like fools!

New Countdown Clocks at Bus Stops

Here we have an example of the New Countdown Clock. This picture was taken at Bus Stop 'Nortbiton Church' in Kingston.

This is one of the new imporved TFL bus countdown systems. While observing this I noticed how much more accurate this one is. The Countdown even tells you '1 Min' when the bus is coming whereas the old system just had '2 Min' then striaght to due!

The roll out of the new signs will be completed in 2012.

Click Here to see a document which shows all of the bus stops in London which will get a new countdown screen. Mainly Key bus stops will get them.

Optare Tempo Hybrids for Route 380 EX Route 276

Unfortunately Stagecoach lost Routes 276 and 376 to Go Ahead London on the 17^th September 2011. Route 276 was one of the Routes chosen to operate the 5 Optare Tempo’s ordered 25111-25115. Before Go Ahead London took over the Routes it was decided Route 380 was to be partly converted to Optare Tempo’s!

The 380 is Quite a shocking candidate because this route has been using 8.9m Darts for years! I thought Stagecoach would move them to Route 246 or P4, but of course this was not the case was it, but the 380 of all routes!

However when Plumstead Garage ran it buses 34551-34560 from the 178 was sometimes used on the Route 380 in service. The 178 is also now operated from Catford Garage as well as the 380. These are the first set of Hybrids to be operated at a Stagecoach Garage south of the river and will be regularly seen on Route 380, Catford Garage have also seen this as an opportunity to use 10.2m Plaxton Pointers on Route 380 as well. The date Route 380 moved to Catford Garage it has only been using 8.9m buses, now it is using a mixture of 10.6m Tempos and 8.9m buses.

Here we have A side shot of 25112 WLT 461 outside Lewisham, Shopping Centre. Note the New Spec Side Blinds. It would normally show 380 via Woolwich.

Here we have 25112 WLT 461 at the First Bus Stop in Lewisham bound for Belmarsh. For all those who have never heard of Belmarsh it is acutally a Prison in Thamesmead East. Note it still has the former Garage WH Code!

Here we have 25115 LX09BGK just by Lewisham Station, the last stop before the Route terminates at the Next Stop Lewisham, Shopping Centre.

London Sovereign Storage Base

As many of you know, London Sovereign have started to replace there Dennis Pointers with brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200. There were 17 buses on the site I visited were they are storing this decommissioned buses (DPS1, DPS2, DPS511, DPS514, DPS516, DPS517, DPS518, DPS522, DPS523, DPS524, DPS529, DPS531, DPS532, DPS533, DPS536, DPS544 and DPS548).

These buses first entered service aroun 10 years ago and now they are approaching the end of their service. The X reg buses took to the road in around 2000 starting their life at Fulwell (FW) garage on Route 33 wereas the Y Reg buses started their service at Hounslow Heath (HH) garage on Route 285. DPS1 and DPS2 started service at Shepherd's Bush (S) garage on Route 72. In November 2005 the X reg moved to Hounslow Heath (HH) garage and entered service on Routes 411 and H22. The Y reg moved to Tolworth (TV) garage and entered service on the K routes, where some still remain today. DPS1 and DPS2 transferred to Stamford Brook (V) in November 2007 were they entered service on Route 391. These buses were then put into storage in the beginning of 2010 but five months later were reallocated to Harrow (SO) Garage. In April 2010 the Y Reg pointers started to move over to Harrow (SO) garage with the X reg pointers joining them in October. Ever since then they have been working there time along the street of Harrow so you can see these buses have had a lot of moving around and not one set home!

From Left to Right: DPS533, X533UAT DPS524, X524UAT DPS523, X523UAT DPS536, Y536XAG

From Left to Right: DPS517, X517UAT DPs518,X518UAT DPS516, X516UAT

From Left to Right: DPS2, V802KAG DPS514, X514UAT DPS531, X531UAT

DPS544, Y544XAG, Blinded for Route 183

DPS544, Y544XAG, Blinded for Route 292

DPS532, X532UAT

DPS1,V801KAG

DPS2, V802KAG, Rear View

DPS544, Y544XAG

DPS533, Y533XAG

Odd Observations In West London

Below are some odd working photos in and around the West London area. Firstly SP26 is seen here taking time at Twickenham before its return journey to Staines. Route 290, as you would know by the post below, is now operated by decker routes.

Route 290, London United (Now Abellio London), SP26, YN08DHM, Seen at Twickenham

Next up is 8574 serving Route H25. I was lucky enough to see this just two days after the buses had entered service on the newly won Route 117 (West Middlesex Hospital - Staines). To this day I have yet to see another 11 reg on the H25 so this can be considered as a rare shot.

Route H25, Abellio London, 8574, YX11HPN, Seen at Hatton Cross Bus Station

Seen here in Brentford High Street is MDP 8058 serving Route 235. Its not the first time I have seen a 8.9m bus on this route, but it is not a very common working

Route 235, Abellio London, 8058, Y864KTF, Seen at Brentford High Street

Finally we have OT5 on the 203. Route 203 was recently retained by London United with new MCL's. I had heard word of there being one previous sighting of an OT on the 203 and was very happy when I saw this one pull into Staines bus station so I could get a snap. This buses are meant to be on Route H37 (Hounslow, Blenheim Centre - Richmond, Manor Circus)

Route 203, London United, OT5, YJ11EHM, Seen at Staines Bus Station