Day eighty seven The No 139 from Waterloo to Golders Green

My bus map from 2016 states this bus runs from Waterloo to West Hampstead but since the changes which saw the No 13 shifted from Aldwych to Victoria in April 2017 and the demise of the No 82, this bus now runs to Golders Green. The day's journey began by my driving the wife to Hither Green crematorium and then leaving the car there and walking to Hither Green railway station in order to catch a train to Waterloo. The walk initially took me through the graveyard to the entrance on the opposite side on Verdant Lane. Once across the South Circular I took Springbank Lane and eventually reached Hither Green station after a twenty minute walk at 1518. There was a train indicated to Cannon Street at 1528 on platform three but at 1522 on platform five, so boarded that train right time. This proved to be a mistake, however, as when we arrived at New Cross at 1531 we made no further progress for eight minutes. At 1539 the driver announced that there had been reports of train surfers between the units and he was going to investigate. A train came alongside on what must be a bi-directional line, but was leaving before I had noticed it had arrived. At 1548 another train did likewise-this was the 1544 which could have been the train I erstwhile would have caught from Hither Green platform three. This train enabled me to reach London Bridge platform three at 1553 and I then rushed under and up to platform nine for any train that would take me to Waterloo. The 1555 duly obliged and finally I arrived at 1601 at Waterloo where I could board the No 139.

RATP 45104 at Waterloo bus station

Searching the map outside the mainline ex LSWR station I found that the first stop for the No 139 is in the bus station outside the IMAX. This is despite the buses laying over outside the Old Vic. The service was provided by RATP London Sovereign No 45104 a Volvo Wrightbus Gemini 2 of 2013 and it left the bus station at 1609.

Southern Transit Dennis Trident of 2001

As we crossed Waterloo bridge another bus came alongside that appeared to be on a railway replacement service. The bus was an ex Stagecoach London bus operated by Southern Transit of Steyning West Sussex but the railway replacement seemed to be bogus as it was full of people with movie cameras, soundmen and the like.

Note the advert for Sussex Wildlife Trust and camera on tripod in bus aisle

The No 139 turned left along the Strand whereas the Media bus went right into the Aldwych and was not seen again. This bus then passes Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses where the bus turns left along Oxford Street; how much longer will buses do that?

Looking down Oxford Street in case I can't do it from a bus again

At 1641 the bus turned north towards Baker Street tube, although, there was a brief diversion for the Nos 139 and 189 to Gloucester Place down George Street.

Bus diversion sign on lamp post telling Nos 139 and 189 to turn left but not all buses?

By 1653 we were crossing the bridge over the throat of Marylebone station but within five minutes the dry day turned increasingly drizzly and the at Lord's Cricket Ground the floodlights shone brightly. As the bus approached the end of Abbey Road it was raining steadily but I was able to take a photo of a strange appartment block with the back cut away because the Euston mainline ran there.

Concrete garden estate but at the rear the buildings are cut under to allow a railway cutting,
which is not balanced on the opposite site, that being a solid triangle shape.

Arrival at Golders Green bus station

Abbey Road became West End Lane and we then passed by the three West Hampstead stations before climbing to meet the A5 and across to terminate at Golders Green at 1731.

After this I needed to get to St. John's Church Kensington as I was taking part with the rest of Carshalton Glee in a concert, the Sangstevne 2019. I quickly caught a No 328 back to West Hampstead Overground where a London Overground train was taken to Willesden Junction. On approach to this station there was one of the new Class 717 trains waiting to do a trial run presumably along the Goblin line. I then waited at the station for ten minutes and the next London Overground train took me the one stop further to Shepherds Bush.