This plate came from a southbound stop near Malden and dates from the 1950s. Unusually, the reverse is cream rather than the usual background colour of the front. |
This “E” plate is likely to have come from a southbound stop on the southern portion of the route beyond Kingston. |
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The only example of an “E” plate with this text came from Ware Crossing, towards Hertford. |
London Transport Coaches (Green Line) tickets for the CS1 route: Hertford–Guildford. The 2´- (10p) ticket has fare stage names but no numbers and was introduced about 1949. The other tickets have fare stage names and numbers and were introduced about 1952, but disappeared about two years later with the introduction of Setright Speed machines. The 9d (33⁄4p) ticket has faded some, originally being a somewhat darker green. |
This six-panel timetable dates from 1 October 1947. |
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Route 715 (the pre-war M1 service) ran between Guildford and Hertford via Ripley, Cobham, Esher, Hinchley Wood, Hook, Malden, Kingston Vale, Barnes Common, Hammersmith, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Camden Town, Finsbury Park, Wood Green, Palmers Green, Enfield Town, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Wormley, Hoddesdon and Ware. The 715A ran on Saturdays only over much the same routeing, but was diverted to serve Kingston town centre instead of Hinchley Wood and Malden. |
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Route 715A ran on Saturdays only between Guildford and Hertford via Ripley, Cobham, Esher, Kingston Town Centre, Kingston Vale, Barnes Common, Hammersmith, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Camden Town, Finsbury Park, Wood Green, Palmers Green, Enfield Town, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Wormley, Hoddesdon and Ware. As I recall, the southern section was withdrawn about 1966, some years before the northern section. |
Both of the “GUILDFORD” plates are from southbound stops. |
This “E” plate came from a stop in the Esher area. |
This plate is from a northbound stop. With only one destination listed, it’s possible that this plate came from near the end of the route. |
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This plate is from a northbound stop. The while colour for the lettering suggests that it was a newer plate, from the ’70s. |
Another “E” plate from a northbound stop. The cream lettering and the use of the word “VIA” indicate that this is an older plate. |
Laurie Akehurst adds: “This particular plate was displayed at Lister Hospital, Stevenage. From 15.10.1972 the coaches were diverted to call there on Sunday only when bus services were not as frequent as they were on Monday to Saturday”. |
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← This plate is made with vinyl sitckers, possibly put on during privatisation, on the reverse of a route 280 “E” plate. |
This plate probably came from a stop in Central London where space was at a premium on the stop flags. |
Route 716 was introduced in 1946 as part of the post-war re-instatement of the coach services, replacing the west leg of the C1 and north half of the K1 services. It ran from Chertsey to Hitchin via Addlestone, Weybridge, Walton, East Molesey, Hampton Court, Kingston, Ham, Richmond, Barnes, Hammersmith, Kensington, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Baker Street, Finchley Road, Golders Green, North Finchley, Barnet, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth and Stevenage. Operated throughout most of the 1950s and the early 1960s by the famous RF-class coaches, conversion to RMC (Routemaster) coaches came in 1963, although the service reverted to one-man-operated single-deckers in 1972. The 716 struggled on until 1976 when it was amalgamated with the 716A, and the southern terminus switched to Woking. In 1978 it was withdrawn north of Oxford Circus, with the southern section not surviving much longer. |
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Route 716A began running in October 1955 from Woking to Stevenage via Addlestone, Weybridge, Walton, East Molesey, Hampton Court, Kingston, Ham, Richmond, Barnes, Hammersmith, Kensington, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Baker Street, Finchley Road, Golders Green, North Finchley, Barnet, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Welwyn and Knebworth. The 716A disappeared in May 1976, and there is virtually no trace of it left, like so many of the traditional Green Line coach routes. |
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A plate from a southbound stop. The use of the word “VIA” on a plate with white lettering is unusual. |
Eliminating the word “VIA” allowed for an extra destination. Unfortunately this southbound plate is damaged by a couple of stone chips. |
| “MARBLE ARCH” was generally used rather than “HYDE PARK CORNER” because it would fit onto one line. The sole example with this wording was at at Hampton Court (Bushy Gate). |
Another “E” plate from a northbound stop, again with the word “VIA”... |
... and without. |
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