In message , Paul Corfield
writes
It felt very like the last day of the 73 to me.
I wasn't able to make that day. It's made me more determined since to
try to do my farewells, work and family commitments permitting.
The Arriva staff at Clapton were wonderfully patient when I was there in
the morning and they'd taken the very sensible step of establishing a
small cordon which allowed people into the edge of the depot to take
pictures. A nice and sensible touch.
I noticed that and wondered if that's what it was.
Is the traffic in the Northern (Southbound only) section of Mare Street
*always* that bad in the middle of the day? Or was it caused by the RM
festivities? Or by something else?
I took a ride on the 38 to work earlier the week to "sample" it on a
normal day. I've done this for the 19 and 73 as well because they're all
"on the line of route" for my journey to work. The conductor who worked
that journey was around on Friday. As his bus was about to pull off from
Clapton garage one of his colleagues wished him a happy retirement and
gave him a big hug. As the bus left the colleague nearly had tears in
his eyes as he went back to wait for his bus. I found that very touching
and it seemed to bring home the human element of what these changes mean
- a way of working and a set of relationships will never be the same
again.
For various reasons, none of them sentimental, I can foresee the
reintroduction of conductors or something rather like them at some point
in the future.
But staff at Victoria Bus Station were becoming *very* exasperated with
the number of photographers in the morning. Not many seemed to be
doing anything wrong like spilling into the roadway (not that I saw
anyway). Another chap and I took a couple of photographs from one of the
raised islands facing the entrance to the bus station. As I left,
three TfL (?) staff asked him to move and - when he questioned why -
gave him a bit of verbal about health & safety. I wouldn't say he was
doing anything wrong but just the sheer numbers of photographers around
seemed to be worrying them.
This is a difficult issue really. Some enthusiasts forget themselves
completely and act in a silly manner.
I;ve seen that before (and cringed). I didn't really see it on Friday.
But the numbers were obviously an issue.
While I understand how their
interest or desire to get a picture can "take over" it won't be much use
if they are dead or on the way to hospital. The transport system isn't a
museum or an entertainment show - it still has to get people from a to b
even on a day like Friday.
Absolutely what was going through my mind.
Therefore someone has to try to ensure safety
and to keep the buses on the move. On the other hand some TfL inspectors
are appalling and heavy handed.
There is in the transport industry a sometimes quite unpleasant dislike
of those who (usually quite harmlessly) enjoy looking at or
photographing vehicles. I;ve heard a lot of abuse from coach drivers
with whom I've been working when we've encountered enthusiasts. (I
usually keep my interest to myself when working!)
I "did" Victoria very briefly on
Thursday and stayed away on Friday as I'd seen what happened on the last
days of the 36 when things started to get a bit silly.
Victoria BS doesn't lend itself to this sort of thing, does it?
The 159 is going to be very difficult. Just taking into account the poor
photographic conditions with diminishing light and long shadows will be
hard enough. I dread to think what it will be like if it rains or is
very dull. While the 159 will be "last" it doesn't feel as special for
me as the 38. The only real bits of the 159 that are worth capturing are
views on Westminster Bridge with Big Ben and the river in shot as they
are a truly iconic London combination.
I would have liked to see the Heritage 9 or 15 extended down Whitehall
either to Parliament Square or even across Westminster Bridge to serve
the London Eye. These are the two "missing icons" from the repertoire
enjoyed by these routes.
I wonder how they'll fare? Given the interest in varied "special"
vehicles turning up for these "last day" commemorations, I wonder if
there'll be mileage (no pun intended) in doing that on the heritage
Routes from time to time? Maybe a London equivalent of Fleetwood's
"Tram Sunday"?
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK
Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk