Day 66 from Whitechapel to Edgware via Finsbury Park and New Barnet The Nos 106 and 107

I left on the 1150 to West Croydon and changed onto the London Overground to Whitechapel where I arrived 1244.

DW517 at Cavell Street Whitechapel

DW517 awaiting
departure

The No 106 starts from Cavell Street on the opposite site of the Royal London Hospital, and so after a short walk I found the Arriva London DW517.

Raven Row Whitechapel

 This bus started at 1250 and immediately turned right down a cobbled street (Raven Row) before swinging left onto the A107 Cambridge Heath Road to Bethnal Green and on to Hackney.

Almost new CT plus 1287 with 68 plate

Just after the canal was crossed the bus stopped to change drivers; this being adjacent to Ash Grove bus depot in Mare Street near junction with Victoria Park Road. This stop was very short indeed, and the bus was soon off to Hackney and then turned right at Hackney Downs station towards Clapton Pond.

Clapton Pond this time in Autumn colours having last been here when doing the No 38, 55 and 56

A little further beyond the roundabout we passed the original Tram depot which has businesses with appropriate names such as the Tram Store. After passing Clapton station the bus turned left and headed towards the library towards Stoke Newington common where I had previously dis-embarked from a No 73.

Stoke Newington fire station now a nursery

Finsbury Park railway and tube station

We ran up the A10 until Stoke Newington station before turning left down Manor Road and onto Lordship Park and on to where we met Blackstock Road where it ran to Finsbury Park railway station where it reached at 1348.

Thameslink train to Cambridge North

At Finsbury Park railway station I made my way to Platform 8 to catch the 1403 towards Welwyn Garden City which may be the last time I travel on a class 313 as they are expected to be replaced soon by class 710.

Class 313 approaching Finsbury Park from Moorgate

1403 to Welwyn Garden City Platform 8 at Finsbury Park

Class 313 at New Barnet heading for Moorgate

Class 313 leaving for Moorgate at New Barnet

At New Barnet I alighted at 1418 and found myself back at the same bus stop where we had previously caught the No 84.

Waiting for the No 107 at 1422 at New Barnet with a No 84
DEL848 in front of TE981, both buses of Metroline

Before departure the No 84 displays a red poppy on the opposite
end of the destination box on DEL848

 The No 107 was a Metroline double decker TE981 which departed at 1428. Initially progress was quite slow up the hill towards High Barnet owing to one lane of the road being closed for roadworks. Unlike the No 84 we bared left at Barnet Church

The flint made church and church hall at Barnet

and headed for Barnet Gate where speed was considerably quicker. The bus crossed the Stirling Corner roundabout and was then outside Greater London and in Hertfordshire in the borough of Hertsmere.

Another No 107 heading to New Barnet. Note the yellow and green bus stop no longer TFL but Hertfordshire

The bus then turned right into a housing estate which eventually became an industrial estate before reaching Borehamwood town. We went briefly into the Tesco car park next to Elstree Studios before heading on to Elstree station.

The side of Elstree Studios

From Elstree and Borehamwood railway station the bus reached Elstree village and then crossed the M1 and up Brockley Hill to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, reached at 1520.

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

Destination achieved Edgware station

My mum was having a blood transfusion here at 1330 but should have been on her way back to Orpington by then. The bus then went downhill to reach a roundabout with Stanmore to the right. The bus here turned left running just north of Edgware before turning right through the built up area to Edgware station.

 From here I took the Northern line to Balham and from there the 1800 Southern train to Sutton at 1807.