London Banter - View Single Post

Bill Hayles · June 29th 06, 04:08 PM posted to uk.transport.london

On 29 Jun 2006 05:27:59 -0700, wrote:

Hadn't considered the possibility of such a routeing at the Inner
London end. What did the buses show as their destination on the way to
the "loop"

WESTMINSTER and
Embankment

BLACKFRIARS and
Embankment

(i.e. "and Embankment was a qualifier)

and was there a recognised point on the loop for the blinds
to be changed and layover taken?

IIRC, Charing Cross (now Embankment) station

On this theme, for more than a few years Orpington local route 493
ran both ways round Ramsden Estate. It had other complexities.
Green Street Green journeys, as well as going round Ramsden Estate
one way or the other to, it appeared, no logical pattern, double ran
the section between Orpington War Memorial and orpington Station -
except, that is, the journey that didn't and turned left at
Orpington War Memorial and headed straight up Sevenoaks Road. School
journeys took a completely different route (via The Highway and
Court Road) between Chelsfield Station and Ramsden Estate.

One mammoth journey went Chelsfield Station - Sevenoaks Road -
Orpington War Memorial - Orpington Stn - Orpington War Memorial -
Avalon Road - Ramsden Estate - Tintagel Road - Orpington War
Memorial - Sevenoaks Road (direct) - Chelsfield Station - The
Highway - Court Road - Tintagel Road - Ramsden Estate - Avalon Road
- Orpington War Memorial - Orpington Station.

(As a DG driver at the time I can say "been there, done that, got
the T´shirt and needed a cuppa by the end)

Little wonder that not only did buses seldom show the correct blind,
but also sometimes went the wrong way round the estate (I plead
guilty m'lud). That's why common sense prevailed, and all journeys
were changed to run clockwise, and a common fare was charged to all
points on Ramsden, whereas previously, you were charged more if you
went the long way round.

And finally, lets' mention the (in)famous 471 and its Pratts Bottom
Circular (which ran the other way via Cudham as well, but that was
never so funny). The blind read

Pratts Bottom (Circular)
471 Knockholt Pound
Cudham
Orpington Stn

--
Bill Hayles

http://billnot.com