After visiting North Wembley I took the long tedious trip to Stamford Brook via Willesden Junction Overground. The garage is home to the recently won Route 10 contract that was won from First. The contract is a huge boost to the company (London United). I have also obtained a fleet list for the garage which includes some of the transfers and the buses awaiting disposal. The fleet list shall be uploaded shortly.
The Garage opened in 1980 after a rather short two years construction for an elapsed fee of £2million. It was originally built as Chiswick Tram Depot however in the later years of its operation it was used to operate the British Airways Bus service that linked Heathrow Airport with the West London air terminal in Kensington. However this was not the plan for the garage.
The original plan was to create a temporary base for the buses and staff for the nearby riverside garage which was undergoing construction at the time with an indefinite view take on the workload from the Mortlake Garage and Turnham Green Garage which were due to close. However there was another twist as the idea was changed when Turnham Green Garage closed in 1980. In 1983 following a number of service reductions, Mortlake garage also closed with a small proportion of their routes moving to Stamford Brook. Following the withdrawal of British airways operated service, the garage took on the running of the airport routes A1 & A2 using that ever prestige and distinguishable Alexander Royale Bodywork.
However in 1994 the vehicles were transferred to West Ramp which coincidently became an outstation of V thus leaving the garage with Dennis Darts, MCW Metroriders, Leyland Olympians and MCW Metrobuses.
Two years later, following only 16 years of operation, the garage completely ceased operating and became a store for unlicensed vehicles within the company. However the closure of the base did not last long and in 1999 the company re-opened the garage due to the increase in demand in the area. Interestingly up until 2001 the allocation of the garage was entirely made up of Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts which was a very smart move as it allowed the company to standardise engineering.
Although when the 9 converted from Routemaster operation to OPO (One Person Operation) using East Lancs Mylenium bodied Volvo B7TLs on the 4th of September 2004, the allocation was transferred from Shepherd's Bush (S) and thus allowing double decks to reappear at the garage once again.Other types such as the comfortable Optare Versa have been introduced into the garage following the retaining of the 391 back in 2009.
Since the reopening of the garage back in 1996, it has enjoyed a wide range of success which is testament to how much the garage was needed when it was originally closed. On the 12th of November 2005, the company re-gained the 27 after a five year stint with First London, the operative type chosen was the Scania N94UD Chassis with the ELC Mylenium bodywork or Scania Omnidekka to you and me and on the 30th of January 2010 the company gained the Route 10 from this base using Polish built Scania Omnicitys to put an end to First's 7 year stint operating the route.
Key Facts to note about Stamford Brook Garage
The Garage opened in 1980 after a rather short two years construction for an elapsed fee of £2million. It was originally built as Chiswick Tram Depot however in the later years of its operation it was used to operate the British Airways Bus service that linked Heathrow Airport with the West London air terminal in Kensington. However this was not the plan for the garage.
The original plan was to create a temporary base for the buses and staff for the nearby riverside garage which was undergoing construction at the time with an indefinite view take on the workload from the Mortlake Garage and Turnham Green Garage which were due to close. However there was another twist as the idea was changed when Turnham Green Garage closed in 1980. In 1983 following a number of service reductions, Mortlake garage also closed with a small proportion of their routes moving to Stamford Brook. Following the withdrawal of British airways operated service, the garage took on the running of the airport routes A1 & A2 using that ever prestige and distinguishable Alexander Royale Bodywork.
However in 1994 the vehicles were transferred to West Ramp which coincidently became an outstation of V thus leaving the garage with Dennis Darts, MCW Metroriders, Leyland Olympians and MCW Metrobuses.
Two years later, following only 16 years of operation, the garage completely ceased operating and became a store for unlicensed vehicles within the company. However the closure of the base did not last long and in 1999 the company re-opened the garage due to the increase in demand in the area. Interestingly up until 2001 the allocation of the garage was entirely made up of Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts which was a very smart move as it allowed the company to standardise engineering.
Although when the 9 converted from Routemaster operation to OPO (One Person Operation) using East Lancs Mylenium bodied Volvo B7TLs on the 4th of September 2004, the allocation was transferred from Shepherd's Bush (S) and thus allowing double decks to reappear at the garage once again.Other types such as the comfortable Optare Versa have been introduced into the garage following the retaining of the 391 back in 2009.
Since the reopening of the garage back in 1996, it has enjoyed a wide range of success which is testament to how much the garage was needed when it was originally closed. On the 12th of November 2005, the company re-gained the 27 after a five year stint with First London, the operative type chosen was the Scania N94UD Chassis with the ELC Mylenium bodywork or Scania Omnidekka to you and me and on the 30th of January 2010 the company gained the Route 10 from this base using Polish built Scania Omnicitys to put an end to First's 7 year stint operating the route.
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| London United DP10 S310 MKH |
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| London United VLE26 PA04 CYJ and VLE45 PO54 OOG |
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| London United U.I.D Olympian |
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| London United SP152 YP59 OEL |
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| London United SLE50 YN55 NKW |
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| London United ADL31 SK07 DYU |
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| London United DPS4 V904 KAG |
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| London United TA231 LG02 FAJ |
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| London United ADS07 SK07 MLV |
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| London United SLE58 YN55 NLJ |
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| London United VLE3 PG04 WHE |
Key Facts to note about Stamford Brook Garage
- Opened in 1980 after two years construction
- Cost £2million to build
- Closed briefly for 3 years in 1996
- Holds 77 Buses
- Runs 4 London Bus routes
1 Comments:
at: Monday, March 05, 2012 6:46:00 am said...
Nice collection of photographs! Thanks!
Lewis
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