DLA206 - W437 WGJ is seen on stand at Edgware Bus Station.
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| DLA206 - W437 WGJ |
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Picture of the Week [W/E - 23.02.2014]
The return of SEL746 [LK07 BBE]
A recent yet unexpected repaint comes in the form of long term absentee SEL746, the vehicle is part of a batch of 33 ordered by the company in 2007 and delivered between the summer of that year and January 2008. For no apparent reason on the 19th of February 2013, the vehicle was withdrawn from service, however it was later emerged that it had suffered severe damage, although the details were not disclosed.
During my various trips to CELF, I never did actually manage to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, it became somewhat of an interest point for me as at the time it seemed weird as to why it was out of action for so long. One the 18th of January 2014, just a month shy of a year out of service, it inaudibly slipped back into service on the 297. Albeit sporting a fresh coat of paint complete with the latest Metroline logo and a very small roundel.
For all the efforts of repainting the vehicle, it will become redundant in June 2014 along with sister vehicles, SEL739 - 745 & 747 - 764 which will be replaced by 21 brand new Volvo B5LH/Gemini3 buses as per the new route 7 contract. No doubt the repaint has activated the rumour mill again to where these buses will end up after their duties are relieved on the route 7. One was seen driving in the Holloway area in the direction of HT garage. I'll let that one land where it does...Feel free to comment!
During my various trips to CELF, I never did actually manage to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, it became somewhat of an interest point for me as at the time it seemed weird as to why it was out of action for so long. One the 18th of January 2014, just a month shy of a year out of service, it inaudibly slipped back into service on the 297. Albeit sporting a fresh coat of paint complete with the latest Metroline logo and a very small roundel.
For all the efforts of repainting the vehicle, it will become redundant in June 2014 along with sister vehicles, SEL739 - 745 & 747 - 764 which will be replaced by 21 brand new Volvo B5LH/Gemini3 buses as per the new route 7 contract. No doubt the repaint has activated the rumour mill again to where these buses will end up after their duties are relieved on the route 7. One was seen driving in the Holloway area in the direction of HT garage. I'll let that one land where it does...Feel free to comment!
Arriva London Edmonton Garage [EC]...Welcome back
I think I'm being really generous, today's visit caps off four garage visits in as many weeks. As the title suggests, today's visit was one to Arriva London's Edmonton garage which is strangely not even located in the area of Edmonton. The garage itself is situated just a short walk from the Lea Valley Garage on a piece of land adjacent to the river Lea. The area has a somewhat industrialised feel to it, which is exaggerated by the Pylons towering over and almost makes you feel out of place if you don't work in that sort of industry, and although I vowed to never come back to this area any time soon, I couldn't refuse to opportunity to add to this year's already promising looking portfolio.
Opened in 1993 by the now defunct operator, London Suburban bus, Edmonton Garage was the base chosen to house the recently won 4 and 271 routes, with the 41 being won at a latter date. The obstruction of the River Lea and Pymme Brook, means that drivers would have to cautiously drive alongside the canal for quite some distance before joining the main road, which was interesting to see.
Opened in 1993 by the now defunct operator, London Suburban bus, Edmonton Garage was the base chosen to house the recently won 4 and 271 routes, with the 41 being won at a latter date. The obstruction of the River Lea and Pymme Brook, means that drivers would have to cautiously drive alongside the canal for quite some distance before joining the main road, which was interesting to see.
Arriva London Lea Valley Garage [LV]...Farewell
The garage itself is located at the back of an industrial estate just north of Tottenham, and seems about a million miles away from civilization and can proved difficult to get to, providing you don't have your own form of personal transport. One thing I did note whilst inside the main reception, is that the garage actually overlooks EC (Edmonton Garage), it was probably the aquamarine vehicles in the background that caught my eye.
Go Ahead London General Northumberland Park Garage [NP]
Today was a perfect day to test out the quality of my new camera, which has grown on me, my other was destroyed by my younger brother, but i picked this one up for the same price, so it seems as if this was a blessing in disguise. So the day's visit was London General's Northumberland Park, which is pretty much in the middle of scenic nowhere! Just kidding, there is a railway station that provides very infrequent rail services to London Liverpool Street and a few fields.
I have actually done this garage before, although I'm not sure if I can count this one as a revisit but I did come here back in June 2010, just shows you how long I have actually been doing this for and a lot has changed since then....back then it was utilized by a company who went by the name of First.
Before I go any further I would like to credit the Go Ahead London staff, who were so polite to show me around and take time out of their busy day to ensure that I was safe whilst on site.
I have actually done this garage before, although I'm not sure if I can count this one as a revisit but I did come here back in June 2010, just shows you how long I have actually been doing this for and a lot has changed since then....back then it was utilized by a company who went by the name of First.
Before I go any further I would like to credit the Go Ahead London staff, who were so polite to show me around and take time out of their busy day to ensure that I was safe whilst on site.
Picture Of The Day [25th of January 2014]
See here picking up at Waterloo Station in the ever fading daylight is Camberwell based WHV14 LJ61 CXN whilst operating on the limited stop X68, one of only three Tfl express style routes, which seem to be falling out of favor. As the years have gone by transport for London have felt the need to minimize the number of express routes in London, with them swaying towards a more Metro style of transportation. Has anyone noticed how the Metropolitan Line has now lost many of the off-peak fast journeys?!
The Route links Russel Square and West Croydon, with the first stop after the terminus being Waterloo, before continuing non stop to West Norwood, however despite this the route whenever I have done it, never actually seems very fast. At present it is allocated WVLs from the 68 & 468 contract, however odd appearances are never a rarity, picturing one is!
One thing that does baffle me, is the fact, that it is a 'limited stop' route but numbered in the letter prefix series as opposed to the 6xx series that follows suit with the 607 which runs limited stop on the Uxbridge Road from White City to Uxbridge.
However if you want a real express route, please travel on the X26, which runs from Heathrow Central to West Croydon also using some lovely Mercedes Citaros. Anyway that's all from me!
The Route links Russel Square and West Croydon, with the first stop after the terminus being Waterloo, before continuing non stop to West Norwood, however despite this the route whenever I have done it, never actually seems very fast. At present it is allocated WVLs from the 68 & 468 contract, however odd appearances are never a rarity, picturing one is!
One thing that does baffle me, is the fact, that it is a 'limited stop' route but numbered in the letter prefix series as opposed to the 6xx series that follows suit with the 607 which runs limited stop on the Uxbridge Road from White City to Uxbridge.
However if you want a real express route, please travel on the X26, which runs from Heathrow Central to West Croydon also using some lovely Mercedes Citaros. Anyway that's all from me!
Picture Of The Day [21st of January 2014]
Former Go Ahead London VM1 BJ11 XGZ is seen at the Mile End terminus of the D7 prior to running to Poplar.
The vehicle is an MCV DD103, a body that originally introduced in 2005 in Singapore as the ComfortDelgro engineering bodywork and mounted to the Volvo B9TL trix-axle chassis.
Vehicle Focus: MLF122 [AJ02 ZRY]
Continuing on from our vehicle focus posts, we decided to do an entry on possibly one of my favourite single decks, MLF122. London has had its fair share of odd vehicles but they always seem to depart well ahead of their time and this vehicle was no exception. The Marshall bodied Dennis Dart was one of a few demonstrator vehicles heading to London at that period and some may remember the first ever Wright Electrocity, YG52 CCX that went into service at Arriva's Wood Green garage back in 2003.
The Marshall Capital body was not the most successful of single deck bodies in London despite receiving orders in huge quantities from First London who appeared to be a big admirer of the body.
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| MLF122 AJ02 ZRY on the 210 at Golders Green © Stephen Hughes |
