Day 206 the second part of the No 319 from Clapham Junction to Streatham Hill

 I caught to 1030 train tp Clapham Junction where I arrived at 1100: 30 Seconds! I walked through the underpass and out into Grove Road where I turned right to return to the spot where I alighted a week or ago.

Bus stop at Clapham Junction

Arriva's EA1 arriving from the direction of Battersea

At 1107 EA1 the first of 22 electric double decker buses that Arriva have registered in 2021. The bus went in a straight line from here under the railway line and straight across at the Arding and Hobbs junction into St John's Road. There were many other buses until we reached Northcote Road which were sharing the road but from here until Broomwood Road only the G1 was also mentioned on the bus stops. Having turned right at Broomwood Road and then left along Bolingbroke Grove we were running alongside Wandsworth Common.  At the end of this road we turned right into Nightingale Lane where we rejoined the G1 route and together we crossed the LB&SCR at Wandsworth Common railway station. At the end of the parade of shops we turned left into Trinity Road and here joined with the No 219 to run to Tooting Bec Underground Station where we arrived at 1123.

Running beside Wandsworth Common

Plaque on building in Trinity Road acknowledging the home of David Lloyd George 1900-1904 

The No 319 goes straight on here whereas the No 219 turns left taking the A24 towards Tooting Broadway. We were then  following the No 249 route along Tooting Bec Road and passed the athletics stadium and then the outdoor swimming pool at 1128.

The Wheatsheaf at Tooting Bec built 1892

Tooting athletics stadium

At the far end of this road we ran alongside Streatham St Lawrence church after we had re-entered Lambeth borough and its ubiquitous 20 mph speed limits and turned left to run along the Streatham High Road. The bus continued north up the A23 past Streatham Hill railway station coming to rest at 1139 just by the Brixton bus garage.

EA1 at the final stop called Telford Avenue

I then walked back to Streatham Hill station where the next train to Crystal Palace was at 1209 but was going to London Bridge there being no West Croydon trains. I alighted at platform 6 at Crystal Palace and went outside in the hope of finding a replacement bus service. There was mention of one in three minutes but no indication of where it would stop. A lady saw me looking quizzical and told me where I could catch it which I duly did to West Croydon at 1225 and arrived 17 minutes later, having stopped at Anerley, Norwood Junction and Selhurst along the way. This is exactly the route of the No 157 so one wonders why Southern bother to purchase a replacement bus from London General, especially as London General now operate the No 157! I arrived home at 1310 having caught a No 410 after a five minute wait.