Other Operators: A–L

Alder Valley’s route 48A ran a short distance into the London Transport area at Addlestone.

Alder Valley ran express buses between London and Reading during the ’80s. One or both of these “E” plates may well have come from Heathrow bus station where the 310 and 300 converged.

“E” plates with the operator’s name above the route number are more unusual. The second plate is particularly notable in that it is black on the reverse.

The Alder Valley LondonLink group of routes ran between Victoria and Reading, I believe, and the different numbers represented different routeings. Some routes may have finished at other towns.

This “E” plate is a particularly unusual one as it shows three route numbers and an operator’s name.

Alder Valley route 320 was renumbered from service “C” on 23rd May 1976, and ran between London (Victoria) and Farnham via Staines. It was again renumbered, this time to X20 on 13th April 1980, lasting just under four years.

As can be seen by these two plates, there was great variation on the green colour used by London Transport on “E” plates.

The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company’s express coach services ran from London, though the north and northeastern suburbs to Norfolk and Suffolk. I’m not sure precisely where this plate would have been displayed, but I don’t think there would have been many stops involved, possibily in Ilford and Romford where Eastern Counties picked up for their excursions and tours. I think families would have waited at these stops at the beginning of their holidays to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cromer. There may possibly also have been commuters to Ipswich and Norwich, etcetera. (I’m now regretting having sold my LT timetable book collection!)

Eastern National route 2 ran between Romford and Southend via Basildon, and the 2B provided some rush hour journeys which served the industrial area in Basildon. It should also be noted that suffix routes for other operators were especially unusual.

Obviously, split “E” plates are much rarer as they were usually produced where there was insufficient room to accommodate every route on a separate plate, and this tended to be on just a few stops in town centres, this one probably having come from Romford.

Eastern National route 46.

Eastern National routes 151 and 251 were very long-established trunk routes that ran from Wood Green [EN Depôt] to Southend-on-Sea via Turnpike Lane Station, Seven Sisters, Blackhorse Road Station, Walthamstow (Bell), Southend Road, Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Eastern Avenue, Romford. Gallows Corner, Harold Park, Brentwood, Shenfield, Billericay; then the 151 continued via Basildon, Pitsea, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Leigh and Westcliff to Southend; whereas the 251 ran via Wickford, Rayleigh, Eastwood, and Prittlewell to Southend. In latter days the 151 was diverted to run to Canvey, but both routes have long since been withdrawn. Together with the 351, they once provided six buses per hour between Wood Green and Brentwood. Such memories!

Eastern National route 253 was the Brentwood to Upminster service. It was withdrawn in the early 1970s because of very poor patronage.

Eastern National routes 305, 306 & 309.

Malcolm Payne writes: “Eastern National route 401 was a summer-only service renumbered from X11 on 18 April 1971. One limited stop return journey was provided on Saturdays and Sundays (also Monday to Friday during the summer) from Enfield via Edmonton, Walthamstow, Leyton, Snaresbrook and Newbury Park, then the same as route 400 (via Romford, Gidea Park, Laindon, Basildon, Pitsea, Benfleet and Westcliff) to Southend. (A Gants Hill stop added later). Passengers were not carried for journeys entirely within London. After September 1972 the 401 was withdrawn during winter months. It last ran on 7 September 1974. (It was advertised to run 15 June to 6 September 1975, but believed not to have operated.) East of Gants Hill the 400 (previously X10) and 401 had joint plates, so this was probably from Enfield or Edmonton [and dates from 1973].”

I do not have a full route history, but Eastern National route 402 ran betwen Dartford and Southend via the Dartford Tunnel, Grays, Basildon, Tarpots, Hadleigh, Leigh and Westcliff. I believe that this plate was sited at either Grays or Dartford.

This plate would have been used on a stop where Eastern Scottish picked up for their long-distance operations to London. It would probably have been on stops in central London or on the main roads to the north.

These plates would have been used on stops where Eastlander Coaches picked up for their excursions and tours. They did not run any normal stage carriage services at the times when “E” plates were used. I have not been able to establish where Eastlander Coaches ran or were based, but I doubt there would have been many stops carrying these plates. If anybody can I shall be happy to add the information.

Note that the second Eastlander Coaches “E” plate has unusual taller condensed lettering.

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.

Grey Green Coaches was an operator based in Stamford Hill that did not run any normal stage carriage services at the times when “E” plates were used. It is rare to find “E” plates nowadays for other operators that used LT stops, which for many people brings back memories of childhood holidays to the coast.

In 1987 Grey-Green successfully bid for routes 125, 173, 179 and 379 (originally the 179A). In 1988 they began operating the 24, 298 and 313. Route 103 was taken over in 1991, and by 1994 the list had expanded to include the 20, 141, 167, 168, 210, 235, 275, 473 and D9.

This plate would have been used on a stop where Grey Green picked up for their excursions and tours, and the plate would no doubt have come from a stop in North London, of which there would not have been many.