Lettered Routes A–C

Route B1 was introduced in 1972 between Eltham Church and Bromley North Station via New Eltham and Elmstead Woods. During rush hours the service ran via Logs Hill to Bickley Station instead of Bromley. The B1 was one of the first four experimental routes that were introduced using 16-seater midibuses which could serve new areas that larger buses could not reach. The B1 has long since been replaced and absorbed by the current route 314.

Route BW1 was a local circular route in the Borehamwood area in the late ’70s. It was to have been a joint operation between London Transport and London Country, but agreement could not be reached with the staff of Edgware Garage (who would have operated the London Transport allocation), and so in the event the route was operated only by London Country. The route did not last very long.

Route C1 originally ran Monday to Friday and Sunday between New Addington (Homestead Way) and West Croydon (Bus Station) via King Henry’s Drive, Lodge Lane, East Croydon Station and Wellesley Road, but the weekday service was withdrawn in 1978 or 1979, replaced by route C3. At the same time it was rerouted from King Henry’s Drive to Arnhem Drive. The C1 lasted until 1980 when the C3 was introduced on Sundays.

Blue background “E” plates are far less common than the white versions, and a Sundays-only express operation is even rarer! The second plate dates from the last years of the route.

The C2 ran Monday to Friday between New Addington (Salcot Crescent) and West Croydon (Bus Station) via Gasciogne Road, Fieldway, Lodge Lane, East Croydon Station and Wellesley Road. The route was withdrawn in 1978 or 1979 and replaced by route C4 journeys.

This “E” plate features a blue background which was traditionally used by London Transport for express services, and is far less common than the white ones.

The C3 was effectively the Saturday version of the C1. It ran between New Addington (Salcot Crescent) and West Croydon (Bus Station) via King Henry’s Drive, Lodge Lane, East Croydon Station, Croydon High Street and North End. Monday to Friday journeys were added in 1978 or 1979, replacing the C1, and it was rerouted from King Henry’s Drive to Arnhem Drive. The C3 lasted until 1982.

These “E” plates date from the introduction of the route in 1970. The first plate bears traces of a sticker over the word “SATURDAY” from when the route was later altered to run Monday to Saturday.

Route C4 ran Saturdays between New Addington (Salcot Crescent) and West Croydon (Bus Station) via Gasciogne Road, Fieldway, Lodge Lane, East Croydon Station, Croydon High Street and North End. In 1978 or 1979 it was introduced on Monday to Friday, replacing the C2 service.The route has long since been withdrawn, and as with all express “E” plates, it is on a dark blue background.

Route C11 was one of four experimental minibus routes introduced in 1972 (the others being B1, P4 and W9). The cross-Camden C11 was operated by FS-class Ford Transit minibuses and had a flat-fare of only 10p! It ran on Mondays to Saturdays between Archway Station and Cricklewood via Parliament Hill Fields, Gospel Oak, Hampstead Heath, Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road and West Hampstead. It has become very successfull over the years and in more recent times has been extended to Willeseden Green and Brent Cross Shopping Centre and now runs daily. It did, for a period, reach King’s Cross Station, although that section has been replaced by route 390. The remainder of the route survives today.