Other Operators: T–Z

Thames Valley route 20 provided a regular daily service between High Wycombe (Bus Station) and Windsor Central Station via Wycombe Marsh, Loudwater, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, Cookham, Boulters Lock, Maidenhead and Fifield. One bus per hour was numbered 20A and served Hatch Bridge instead of Fifield. This “E” plate could have come from a busy stop in any of the places where London Transport ran: High Wycombe, Slough or Windsor, although most likely from Slough.

The 25 was a short route and ran on Mondays to Saturdays between Bourne End (Post Office) and High Wycombe (Bus Station) via Flackwell Heath, Loudwater and Wycombe Marsh. This plate would therefore have come from one of the few stops in High Wycombe town centre. Needless to say it is a rather uncommon “E” plate.

These “E” plates are for four routes running in the Country Area of London Transport which were operated I believe by either Thames Valley or Aldershot & District, where they were the majority operator; hence the plates do not carry the operator name, nor are they in green. They could not have been for London Transport’s Central bus routes as these routes did not run together. Nevertheless, they are very interesting combinations for split plates, and are not to be seen very often. “E” plates with three route numbers are particularly unusual.

Thames Valley service “A” ran between Victoria Coach Station and Reading via Chiswick, Egham, Sunningdaler, Ascot, Bracknell and Wokingham. There were seven return journeys daily. Operation was taken over by Alder Vally upon its formation on 1st January 1972, and service “A” was renumbered as their 310 in 1976.

The “ALIGHTING POINT” plate may have come from a terminal point.

Thames Valley Service B ran daily from Victoria Coach Station to Reading via Kensington, Hammersmith, Turnham Green, Osterley, Cranford, London Airport North, Colnbrook, Langley, Slough, Cippenham, Maidenhead and Twyford. It was withdrawn in the ’70s when Alder Valley (who were formed by an amalgamation of Thames Valley and Aldershot & District bus companies) revamped the London express services.

In the 1963 Luton area local timetable, Luton & District route 12 ran between Luton (Vauxhall Works) and Biscot Mill during Monday to Friday rush hours and lunchtimes with one morning journey on Saturdays. However, this L&D route may not have been the one that became United Counties route 12, and I have been advised (many thanks) that by 1965 route 12 ran a local service in Luton between Round Green and Roman Road via Park Square, with some journeys to Vauxhall Works. This route was parallel to London Transport routes 364/364A for a short distance and may have been the one that became United Counties route 12.

This plate would have been used on a stop where United Counties express services picked up for their excursions and tours. It could have been on stops in the Luton or Dunstable areas, or possibly other stops towards central London.

This plate would have been used on a stop where Western SMT (or Western Scottish Motor Transport, to give its full name) picked up for their long-distance express services to and from London. It would probably have come from a stop in central London or on one of the main roads to the north.