Picture Gallery: London Bus Running Days 2024
15 December 2024
ABOVE: Ex-London Transport RF 636 (NLE 636) rounds the War Memorial in Golders Green, during a very wet Running Day based on Golders Green and Muswell Hill, on Sunday 10 March 2024. Green RFs did run on route 210 for a few months in 1969. Apart from an extension to Brent Cross Shopping Centre in the 1970s, the 210 route between Golders Green and Finsbury Park is basically the same one that began in 1934 (and even that was a renumbering of an earlier service).
It's wonderful that so many bus enthusiasts work so hard to keep long-retired buses going ("you can't get the parts, you know"). It's even more wonderful that they bring them out to let us, the great British public, travel on them.
Whether it be a one-off trip on a selected route for a special occasion, or a whole "Running Day" dedicated to running old buses around a particular area or on a particuar route or group of routes, the sight of old buses still makes people who probably don't even notice normal buses smile broadly, stare, point, and, in such an anachronistic way for the periods that most of these buses come from, whip out their camera phones for a photo to post on Facebook or to send to Auntie Flo.
I wrote in general terms about the organisers of these events, and the huge logistical considerations that they must have to think about when planning them, in a very early article back in 2021. And I have already published full Picture Galleries of this year's Route 62 / 145 Running Day and, of course, Imberbus.
So here are the best snaps I have from the four other events I attended in 2024.
Golders Green and Muswell Hill
ABOVE: RTW 75 (KGK 575) is one of over 2100 Leyland Titan PD2s that London Transport purchased alongside its main, nearly 5000 strong A.E.C. RT class. The 500 RTWs, at eight feet wide, were six inches wider than other buses, and were restricted to certain carefully-evaluated routes because of concerns about their 'excessive' width on the streets of London.
This photo is taken as the bus rounds the Golders Green War Memorial, during the Golders Green and Muswell Hill Running Day on Sunday 10 March 2024 (Golders Green bus station is in the background). I believe that this event was organised by North London Transport Events (NLTE), but I never confirmed this as they keep their involvement in the days very low-key / near-non-existent.
Incidentally, most buses nowadays are more than five inches wider than this RTW!
This photo is taken as the bus rounds the Golders Green War Memorial, during the Golders Green and Muswell Hill Running Day on Sunday 10 March 2024 (Golders Green bus station is in the background). I believe that this event was organised by North London Transport Events (NLTE), but I never confirmed this as they keep their involvement in the days very low-key / near-non-existent.
Incidentally, most buses nowadays are more than five inches wider than this RTW!
ABOVE: If you were a bus enthusiast growing up in London in the early 1980s, you probably favour one of the two modern double-deckers of the time over the other, depending where you were. The first MCW Metrobuses were introduced in South-West, West and then North London, whilst the Leyland Titan made its debut in East and South-East London.
Having grown up in West London puts me firmly on the Metrobus side of the fence, so it was lovely to ride on M 394 (GYE 394W) on 10 March, where it was replicating a journey on route 240. Despite the blind display, this journey on the Golders Green event was only ever intended to run as far as here - Mill Hill East Station, where it terminated. The 240 ran with Metrobuses for over 22 years - one of the longest continuous allocations of the type in London, I believe.
Having grown up in West London puts me firmly on the Metrobus side of the fence, so it was lovely to ride on M 394 (GYE 394W) on 10 March, where it was replicating a journey on route 240. Despite the blind display, this journey on the Golders Green event was only ever intended to run as far as here - Mill Hill East Station, where it terminated. The 240 ran with Metrobuses for over 22 years - one of the longest continuous allocations of the type in London, I believe.
Windsor
ABOVE: Fate and bad fortune conspired to make me miss most of the Running Days organised by the Amersham & District Motorbus Society this year. I did make it to half of the Windsor event on Sunday 28 July 2024, which was blessed with warm, sunny weather. Guy Special GS 13 (MXX 313) shows off what minibuses looked like in the 1950s as it recreates long-gone route 445 (Windsor to Datchet). It is passing along Windsor High Street, where the Guildhall can be seen in the background. The Castle is further down on the right.
ABOVE: A few yards further along WIndsor High Street finds RT 3491 (LYR 910) on the long run from Hedgerley Hill, near Slough to Staines - part of the even-longer route 441 which once ran all the way from High Wycombe to Staines. Windsor Castle, and the statue of HM Queen Victoria, are visible behind.
Route 61 / 261 Running Day
ABOVE: RTL 554 (KGU 4), is another of the Leyland Titan PD2s that were built for London - the RTL type being identical in appearance to the vast majority of the A.E.C. RT fleet. It turns the corner at Lewisham station whilst replicating a journey on route 47 at almost its fullest extent - Shoreditch to Farnborough, Kent. It's Saturday 14 September 2024, and the event is the London Bus Museum's (LBM's) Route 61 & 261 Running Day, which was a really good day out in very pleasant summery conditions.
ABOVE: After experimenting in the 1960s with Leyland Atlanteans and Daimler Fleetlines, when planning how to replace the iconic Routemaster with vehicles capable of operating without a conductor (see below), London Transport decided to buy the latter. DMS1 (EGP 1J) was the first of 2646 examples of the Daimler Fleetline which would come to London. The "Londoner" name that appears on the side of this bus was an attempt by London Transport to make the DMS fleet as well-loved as the Routemasters that they were supposed to replace, but the idea flopped very early on.
The DMS fleet was much less reliable than the Routemaster, so it's probably little surprise that the latter outlived the former in full London service by 12 years (1993 / 2005 respectively). On 14 September 2024, as part of the LBM 61/261 event, DMS 1 stands at the Chislehurst terminus of the 61.
The DMS fleet was much less reliable than the Routemaster, so it's probably little surprise that the latter outlived the former in full London service by 12 years (1993 / 2005 respectively). On 14 September 2024, as part of the LBM 61/261 event, DMS 1 stands at the Chislehurst terminus of the 61.
ABOVE: As in many parts of the country, the Leyland National was the single-decker bus of choice for London from the mid-1970s onwards. After six prototypes, London Transport suddenly bought 51 of the type (displaced from a cancelled order elsewhere) and put them all into service from Hounslow Garage (again, not far from me at the time)... This released other types for use elsewhere, (slightly) easing chronic shortages of serviceable vehicles.
LS 30 (KJD 530P), one of that original Hounslow batch, is somewhere between Orpington and Locksbottom during the LBM 61/261 event on 14 September.
LS 30 (KJD 530P), one of that original Hounslow batch, is somewhere between Orpington and Locksbottom during the LBM 61/261 event on 14 September.
Archway
ABOVE: Surely a bus that I can remember being introduced into service can't qualify for one of these events? Bristol-LH BL 88 (OJD 88R), replicates the Archway to Golders Green section of route 210 during an NLTE Running Day based on Archway on Sunday 3 November 2024.
That the vehicle is running at all in 2024 is a remarkable testament to its owners - the buses were incredibly unreliable and only lasted a few years in revenue-earning service in London. This one, new in 1977 and withdrawn in 1981, is seen in Archway. The bus went on to work for another 16 years with OK Motor Services of Bishop Auckland.
That the vehicle is running at all in 2024 is a remarkable testament to its owners - the buses were incredibly unreliable and only lasted a few years in revenue-earning service in London. This one, new in 1977 and withdrawn in 1981, is seen in Archway. The bus went on to work for another 16 years with OK Motor Services of Bishop Auckland.
ABOVE: The Archway event of 3 November again, and here is Routemaster RML 903 at the Friern Barnet terminus of route 43.
ABOVE: XF 1 (CUV 51C) is a Park Royal-bodied Daimler Fleetline. London Transport bought eight of these, as well as 50 Leyland Atlanteans (the XA class) for experimental use in the mid-60s (hence the "X" classification for both types).
These were the first double-decker buses in London to be suitable for driver-only operation, although most of them were used initially as crew buses (just too long ago for me to remember). The experiments resulted in the order for the 2646 DM/DMS vehicles (see above).
This is East Finchley station, on the Archway day on 3 November - used as the turning point on the Running Day as the old Highgate Village terminus has been closed off to traffic since the 271 was withdrawn in 2023.
These were the first double-decker buses in London to be suitable for driver-only operation, although most of them were used initially as crew buses (just too long ago for me to remember). The experiments resulted in the order for the 2646 DM/DMS vehicles (see above).
This is East Finchley station, on the Archway day on 3 November - used as the turning point on the Running Day as the old Highgate Village terminus has been closed off to traffic since the 271 was withdrawn in 2023.
And finally...
ABOVE: We finish with another view of RTL 554 (KGU 4) on 14 September. I thought I had finished my day at the LBM route 61/261 event when I got back to Bromley, and I was just waiting for an 'ordinary' bus to get me back towards the tube. This was the first bus to turn up, reversing its morning journey from Farnborough, Kent to Shoreditch (and Dalston Bus Garage). And it had room on it! So that's how I ended up here, at Liverpool Street station.
The ADL Enviro400MMC on route 35 opposite is seven or eight years old; about 67 years younger than the RTL. Will the Enviro be operating on Classic Bus Running Days in 2091? I would put more money on the RTL still being there!
The ADL Enviro400MMC on route 35 opposite is seven or eight years old; about 67 years younger than the RTL. Will the Enviro be operating on Classic Bus Running Days in 2091? I would put more money on the RTL still being there!
Thanks as always to the people who make these Running Days happen - the organisers, the owners, drivers, conductors and officials who come out on the day to make these events such a success. It really is appreciated.
I look forward to the 2025 selection with great anticipation...