Day 235 The next two nearby buses on the 24th July 2024, the No's 354 and 355.

I caught the 1030 to West Croydon and then the 1046 London Overground train three stops to Penge West where I arrived at 1058. From here it was a short walk down the hill towards the Crooked Billet and as I approached I could espy a bus in the layover space. I was just too far away to reach it though and so I had a twenty minute wait for the next No 354 service to Bromley North once more.

A No 354 too far away for me to catch

Starting point of the
No 354

My bus waiting 'for the off' outside the Penge
Crooked Billet 

This time it was London General (Metrobus) No 176 that arrived at 1125. The bus took me straight back the way I had come turning left so as to pass Penge West station and onwards running parallel with Crystal Palace Park to reach Anerley Road. Here the bus went left to join with the Nos 157 and 358 as far as Croydon Road. 

Anerley Town Hall

As we crossed the traffic lights here this was only route that now takes the hill down to Birkbeck. This road used to be covered by the No 194 up to the 1980s operated out of Elmers End garage; now long closed. 

Passing Beckenham Crematorium and cemetery

The No 356 joined us just before Birkbeck station but soon we were off on our own again down Beck Lane and Churchfields Road to reach Beckenham Road.

Beckenham Library building undergoing renovation

Here the bus headed east past Clock House station and past Beckenham library to reach the war memorial and on down the High Street unlike the No 352. At the traffic lights at the end the bus turned left past St George's church and over the railway line at Beckenham Junction station. From here at 1147 it was announced  the bus was on diversion and went down The Avenue rather than Foxglove Road which caused some passengers some inconvenience.

At traffic lights by St George's church
 and Beckenham Junction station

Diversion from Foxgrove Road

Half way down The Avenue the bus went left into Westgate Road and then right into Foxgrove Road regaining its normal route. This route proved to be very windy thereafter and I can understand why when the route was introduced by Metrobus it was with small minibuses. There was a sharp turn from Downshill into Ravensbourne Avenue to access the railway station and then  right turn into Farnaby Road. The road gave us access to Beckenham Lane which climbs Swan Hill and at the top the bus drove to the Market Square then along West Street to terminate at Bromley North at 1205.

Sharp turn into Ravensbourne Avenue

Market Square Bromley

Arrival at Bromley North

Before boarding a No 119 I enquired if the High Street was open unlike last week. The driver answered that it was, so I boarded the short distance to Bromley South station. On arrival I saw that chaos reigned and the 1203 had not arrived yet and most other trains did not have times at all. Apparently something had hit a bridge between Bromley and Bickley. I had hoped to catch a train to Brixton where the No 355 starts but the 1203 stopping service arrived at 1218 called at Victoria only. This train conveyed me to Victoria by 1238 and then I used the Victoria line to get me to the starting point of the No 355 where I arrived at 1250.

Only five minutes to wait

Another 40 minute or so journey

London General's WS102 arriving

On arrival at bus stop F, I had a 5 minute wait and London General's WS102  arrived at 1302. This bus then headed past the station and then did a circuit around the church to stop at Lambeth Town Hall and then turned left along Acre Lane. We were accompanying the Nos 35 and 37 until we swung left into Kings Avenue and from then until the end we were with the Nos 137 and 415. We turned towards Clapham at that point along Poynders Road, now with the No 50. At Clapham Common at 1323 we headed south along the A24 through Balham and Tooting to turn left at Tooting Broadway. At Tooting Bec station we were held for three minutes, as the bus had been travelling too quickly. 

Brixton Hill outside Lambeth Town hall

At the end of Kings Avenue new
 builds on Poynders Road

Clapham South Underground station

We then followed the road from Tooting Broadway to Mitcham via Amen Corner, Tooting railway station and Figge's Marsh, terminating at the Canons Leisure Centre at 1357. 

Tooting Bec where the Sewing Machine museum is located

I then walked to Mitcham Junction  station and took a tram home.

The end of the road with two No 355s and No 270s awaiting return whence they had cometh