Green Line Coach Routes 717–723

Route 718 was established after the War commencing in April 1946, and ran between Windsor and Epping via Slough, London Airport, Chelsea, Victoria, Baker Street, Camden Town, Finsbury Park, Walthamstow, Chingford and Buckhurst Hill. It replaced the pre-War service G in the west and N in the northeast. By 1958 it had been extended to Harlow (New Town). At the transfer of Green Line services from London Transport to London Country, it was using RMC-class short Routemaster coahces out of Harlow [HA] and Windsor [WR] garages.

Both of these “E” plates are from westbound stops. The use of the word “VIA” on a plate with white lettering is unusual.

Route 719 was unusual in a number of ways: firstly, it was not part of the original, post-war Green Line network. The number instead lay vacant until 1956 when a new daily service was introduced using RF coaches between Hemel Hempstead and Victoria via Leverstock Green, Bedmond, Garston, Watford, Bushey, Stanmore, Kingsbury, Neasden, Willesden, Kilburn, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, which was also unusual in that the route did not cross central London. Converted to double-deck operation with RMC Routemaster coaches in 1962 and back to RFs in 1967, the route finally became a cross-town service in 1968 with a southern extension to Wrotham via Millbank, Elephant & Castle, Old Kent Road, New Cross, Lewisham, Eltham, New Eltham, Sidcup, Swanley, Farningham and West Kingsdown to replace the withdrawn 717. As most of the coach network died away in the 1970s, the 719 saw a brief diversion to East Grinstead to replace the 708 before breathing its last.

Route 720 ran between Aldgate and Bishop’s Stortford via Whitechapel, Bow Road, Stratford, Leytonstone, Wanstead, Woodford, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Epping Forest, Epping, Thornwood, Potter Street, Old Harlow and Sawbridgeworth. The 720 was one of the very first routes to be introduced after the War, the other being the 715. (Before the war Green Line service “V” ran to Bishop’s Stortford from Liverpool Street.) It was worked by 10T10 class vehicles from Epping Garage and ran every 30 minutes daily. In the mid ’60s it was diverted between Harlow (Potter Street) and Old Harlow to serve the New Town and replace route 720A. In 1974 the 720 was extended from Bishop’s Stortford to Stanstead Airport.

Route 721 ran between Aldgate (Bus & Coach Station) and Brentwood via Whitechapel, Mile End, Bow Road, Stratford, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Ilford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Gallows Corner and Harold Park. While the 721 was once one of the busiest Green Line coach routes, running every 10 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays in the mid-60s, it was an withdrawn in about the mid-70s. The routes running from Aldgate were much shorter than the rest of the cross-London network, so “E” plates for the 721 are amongst the rarest to find.

Route 722 ran from Aldgate via Mile End, Bow, Stratford, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Ilford, Becontree Heath, Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster to Corbets Tey. Route 722A was planned to run from Aldgate to North Romford (Chase Cross), but it was cancelled before service started.

This -year old “E” plate has never been used as the 722 was never introduced.

Route 722A route was planned to run from Aldgate following the 722 from Aldgate via Mile End, Bow, Stratford, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Ilford and Becontree Heath to Romford, from where it would have continued to North Romford (Chase Cross). However, the plans for the 722A were cancelled at the last minute owing to objections from Central Buses. Nevertheless, the number 722A did find its way onto “E” plates, and also into one timetable dated 14th October 1959.

This is an unique “E” plate, as routes rarely had plates made if they were not actually introduced. It sold on ebay for a tidy £600.

Route 723 ran between Aldgate and Tilbury (Ferry) via Stepney East, Poplar, East Ham, Barking, Dagenham, Rainham, Wennington, Aveley, Stonehouse Corner, Purfleet, Grays and Chadwell St. Mary. The 723 was worked initially by TF class vehicles from Grays garage and ran every 15 minutes daily between London and Grays, and hourly on to Tilbury.

Route 723B ran between Aldgate and Tilbury (Ferry) via Limehouse, Poplar, Canning Town, East Ham, Barking, Dagenham, Rainham, Aveley, Stonehouse Corner and Grays. By the end of 1964 the 723B had been cut back to Grays in the east and East Ham in the west, except for a rush hour extension to Aldgate, and it was withdrawn completely by 1969. As with so many of the traditional Green Line coach routes, there is no sign of the route left today.

This plate is I think particularly interesting as it combined the very rare use of a “B” suffix for a Green Line route with the use of “WEEKDAY” rather than the usual selection of place names.