Express Routes

Route 74X was a seasonal express working of the 74 between Baker Street Station and London Zoo during the 1980s. It was operated by a wide range of vehicles, sometimes on loan to London Transport, and the “E” plates would have only been found at either Baker Street or the Zoo, as buses did not stop intermediately. It is therefore an astonishingly rare “E” plate.

Route 174X ran between Dagenham, Kent Avenue and Noak Hill, Tees Drive via Heathway, Oxlow Lane, Rush Green, Romford, Gallows Corner and Harold Hill. An EXPRESS service was introduced during Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturday shopping hours in November 1955 running between Romford Station and Harold Hill, Gooshays Drive. In 1957 the Saturday express service was withdrawn, but the peak hour service remained unchanged until it was withdrawn on 23 July 1977. In June 1986, a Saturday express service was reintroduced, replacing weekend journeys to Ford’s Foundry on the 174. The express service was yet again withdrawn on 1 September 1990. This plate could date from the original introduction of the express service, as days of operation are not shown, and the style of manufacture is similar to older plates.

Route 292 was introduced on 3rd January 1962 on Mondays to Saturdays between Borehamwood (Rossington Avenue) and Willesden Garage via Theobald Street, Elstreet Way, Manor Way, Stirling Corner, Burnt Oak, Colindale, West Hendon and Cricklewood, replacing the northern end of route 52. Express journeys on the 292 were also introduced during Monday to Friday rush hours between Borehamwood and Colindale. It seems that the express service was withdrawn at the beginning of 1965, and thus lasted for just three years.

Express route plates are not common at the best of times, but one for a conventional route such as this is astonishingly unusual, particulalrly as it appears to have had such a short life.

Express route 296 was introduced on 31 March 1979 at the request of Barnet Council. Running from Copthall Stadium to Hendon Central Station via Private Road, Page Street, Pursley Road, Engel Park, Bittacy Hill, Frith Lane, Lullingon Garth, Argyle Road, Alexandra Grove, Ballards Lane to Tally Ho Corner returning via Ballards Lane, Regents Park Road, Hendon Lane, Finchley Lane, Church Road, The Burroughs and Watford Way, returning via Queens Road and Brent Street, it stopped only at Mill Hill East Station, North Finchley and Finchley Central Station. Evidently the expected patronage never materialised, as the last day of operation was 28 September 1979.

At it zenith route 403 ran between Wallington Station and Tonbridge Station via Beddington, Waddon, West Croydon, South Croydon, Sanderstead, Hamsey Green, Warlingham, Chelsham, Botley Hill, Tatsfield, Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge, Riverhead, Sevenoaks and Hildenborough. In 1971 the 403 was withdrawn beyond Chelsham. I don’t have any information about express journeys on the 409, but they likely predate the London Country era when the route was drastically shortened.

A more detailed history of route 403 and its branches can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

I would imagine that London Transport avoided making split-background-colour plates as far as possible owing to the additional complexity. Judging by the irregularities in the figures, this “E” plate may have been hand lettered.

Route 409 began operating on 1 December 1924, when it assumed the identity of London General Country Services’ route S4, which dated from 3 June 1922. It took 2 hours and 58 miniutes to run from West Croydon to Uckfield via Purley, Old Coulsdon, Caterham, Godstone, Blindley Heath, Lingfield, Felbridge, East Grinstead, Forest Row and Chelswood Gate. In 1933 it was withdrawn beyond Forest Row (which was now Southdown territory), and remained in that form for the next 46 years. On 26 October 1979 the 409 was withdrawn between East Grinstead and Forest Row, and a limited stop express service was introduced, partly replacing withdrawn Green Line route 719 which had, in its turn, replaced the 708. From 31 December 1981 bus journeys on the 409 operated only as far south as Lingfield (Stoats Nest Road).

A more detailed history of route 409 can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

There were a total of only 11 stops on the express section of route 409, making this a very rare “E” plate.

Route 606 was operated by Golden Miller and ran in the Staines area, linking Stanwell Moor and Stanwell Village with Staines town centre. It was unusual in that the plate did not give the operator’s name and the blue colour would normally be associated with an express route, but in this case I think it was simply a colour used by the operator in their livery and on their publicity. The route has long since disappeared.

Route 616 was one of two express routes numbered in the 6xx series (the other being the short-lived 615 between Poplar and Cheapside) which did not fall into the Red Arrow network. It was introduced on 15 June 1970, running Mondays to Fridays between Cricklewood and Oxford Circus via Kilburn, Edgware Road and Marble Arch, supplementing the 16. In latter days it was reduced to peak hours only, and was eventually replaced by route 16A (which has also now disappeared).

Green Line coach 724 ran from Romford to Staines via Abridge, Epping, Harlow, Hertford, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, St. Albans, Watford, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge and Heathrow Airport. It had previously ran to High Wycombe instead of Staines, but was rerouted in the early ’70s with the growth of travel to Heathrow Airport. The 724 survives as the last remnant of the “’round-London” routes introduced in the 1950’s (725, later 725/726: Gravesend–Windsor; now X26 Croydon–Heathrow) and 1960 (724 and 727: Luton–Heathrow–Crawley). It was operated by RF coaches, and subsequently RPs and latterly Leyland Nationals. It was once a major link and remains alive and well, operating daily with coaches hourly (2-hourly on Sundays) between Harlow and Heathrow. (Thanks to Matthew Keyte for the additional information.)

Express journeys on route 803 were introduced on 21st March 1956, running on Mondays to Fridays during rush hours between Welwyn Garden City and Uxbridge via New Hatfield, St. Albans, Garston, Watford, Rickmansworth and Maple Cross. The service lasted until the late seventies I believe. There were only limited stops on the route and so the number of “E” plates would have been small compared to the length of the route, and even fewer with the words “FARE STAGE” added.

Route C1 was one of four flat-fare routes between Croydon and New Addington introduced in 1970 as express runnings of the 130 group of services. It was effectively the Sunday version of the C3, with a different routing at the Croydon end. Originally operated by XA-class Atlanteans, the “C” routes were converted to DMS vehicles in 1973. The C1 lasted until 1980 when the C3 was introduced on Sundays. Today the express service to New Addington is provided by TramLink. A Sundays-only express operation is extremely rare!

The C2 was introduced in 1970 as part of an express network that ran between New Addington (Salcot Crescent) and West Croydon (Bus Station). It replaced part of the express services on the 130 group of routes and was operated by the XA class of experimental Atlanteans until they were sold to Hong Kong. The route has long since been withdrawn.

The C3 was one of four flat-fare routes between Croydon and New Addington introduced in 1970 as express runnings of the 130 group of services and was effectively the Saturday version of the C1. Originally operated by XA-class Atlanteans, the “C” routes were converted to DMS vehicles in 1973. The C3 lasted until 1982.

These plates date from the introduction of the route in 1970. The second one bears traces of a sticker over the word “SATURDAY” from when the route was later altered to run on different days of the week.

Route C4 was introduced in 1970 as part of an express network and ran between New Addington (Salcot Crescent) and West Croydon (Bus Station). It replaced part of the express services on the 130 group of routes and was operated by the XA class of vehicles until they were sold to Hong Kong. The route has long since been withdrawn.