Day 296 a few local buses the No 433 and 434 with hopefully the No 435 to follow.

 Leaving home at 1030 I caught a No 407 and alighted at Centrale and boarded a New Addington bound tram at 1054. this conveyed me to the Addington interchange wheer I disemabrked and waited for aNo 433 to return me to Croydon.

I had arrived at 1115 and there was already aNo 433 waiting and this bus an electric TransportUK no 1536 picked me up at 1120. We went to the Gravel hil roundabout and then on to Featherbed Lane wheer we turned left and then right into Courtwood Lane which I had also done on the No 353. Indeed this route used to be known as the No 354 before the trams came and linked Croydon with Bromley. Soon we were alone though heading up Bardolph Avenue and then Pixton Way, Linton Glade, Sorrel Bank and on entering Peacock Gardens we then used many roads all with bird names.

Eventually we emerged onto Farley Lane and turning right set off for Selsdon Sainsburys where we went straight across swapping the No 409 for company with the No 64.

Day 295 A short trip homeward on the No 432 after revisiting the No 20 on 5th March 2026

 I first when up to Debden with Phil and juliet from church to catch the No 20 and then having alighted atWalthamstow Central took the Victoria line the whole way to Brixtopn. Emerging from the station I walked right and found the correct bus stop labelled Brixton police station.

At 1420I was aboard Arriva's hybrid HV136 on the No 432 to Anerley. At the junction by Lambeth Town hall the bus took Effra Road with 5 other bus routes. However, once across Brixton Water Lane there were only three as we started to climb Tulse Hill, which was covered in the opposite direction when aboard the No 417.

We only briefly joined the South Circular before turning right and heading towards West Norwood. Here we encountered some very restricting roadworks which menat we didn't reach West Norwood library until 1446 when we had left the South Circular 11 minutes earlier

Once past the library the traffic was much lighter and on reaching the Ernest Avenue stop the bus was alone as  all other routes go right to run past Norwood garage. Climbing Elder Road we passed Norwood Park and after this turned left to climb Central Hill with the No 417 for company.

Later on this road the No 450 joined us and then other routes as we passed onto WestowHill to reach Crystal Palace Parade. Here we went staright over the roundabout and down Anerley Hill at 1458. Once over the London Bridge to Norwood Junction railway the bus turned left into Anerley Station Road and termoanted at 1503.

To get home I then took a London Overground train to West Croydon and then a Southern train home.

Day 294 Another trip to Sevenoaks to do a bus that has been renumbered. Now the No 3 but previously the No 431.

 There are only three buses a day on this route now but consulting my 1974 timetable there were 20 buses on the no 431 with one on the 431A. When I was a kid there were buses like the 431C and 431D to Fort Halstead as well. So to do the full route I needed to drive to Orpington and catch a train to Sevenoaks. The best fit looked likely to be the 1209 Hastings train which delivered me to Sevenoaks at 1218. 

Orpington station with platforms 6,7 and 8
 all occupied but wih different types of stock

The bus stop in Pembroke Road which still
expects a No 431 to call!!

After a short stop for lunch at Costa I walked up Tubs Hill. The bus stop at the station does not allude to any 400 series buses but the next one up the hill does, as does still the one I snapped last time in Pembroke Road. 

Two GoCoach buses in the bus station the nearest
was my mount 

GoCoach operate double-deckers,too.

A rear view of my future No 3

GoCoach operate demand led buses too

I then made my way to the bus station and waited for the 1325 departure of my chosen bus, the now No 3 operated by GoCoach.  YJ18DLX reversed from its parking spot at 1320 and I was aboard for the 1325 departure to Orpington via Halstead and Knockholt.

This was the site of the Sevenoaks cattle market

Five 400 series buses shown including 431

We headed straight back the way I had walked and was back at the railway station at 1328. The bus took the old A21 to Riverhead, brifel deviating ino a parking bay near Tesco where some passengers got on. We returned to he old road and transitted Dunton Green, passing over remains of the Westerham branch railway and by the site of the old Dunton Green Country area LT garage.

Matching gonk on pillar box in Dunton Green 

Crossing over the M26 and next the M25 we would normally have gone up Star Hill but this is closed for roadworks so we were diverted up Polhill instead. 

Passing Polhill Arms, last time when doing
 the No 421 I walked past this establishment

Entrance to Polhill garden centre

The bus passed what had been the Polhill Arns and turned into Polhill garden centre where five passengers boarded at 1341. After leaving the garden centre the bus would have normally gone up Shoreham Lane to Halstead but I later learned this has been deemed unsafe owing to parked cars making the road too narrow. Thus we continued along the old A21 through Badgers Mount then left up Watercroft Road which becomes Station Road before reaching Halstead.

Halstead bus stop

Three Horseshoes Knockholt

In Halstead the bus headed right for Knockholt and did a circuit at the Three Horseshoes pub and returned the way it had come not only to Halstead but also back down to the old A21. Here we turned left passing Knockholt station at 1358 and finally joining the current A21 to get to Pratts Bottom. Here the final passenger to join the bus boarded.

The bus left the A21 at the Rose and Crown Green Street Green and took 

Queens Head Green Street Green

Sevenoaks Way to the Orpington war memorial.

Orpington war memorial

We went left here up Station Road following this road, the A232 all the way to Locks Bottom where we terminated at Pallant Way at 1415.

Lay over point occupied by a No 336 so bus has to stop where it can

I then caught a No 61 to Orpington railway station and walked to where I had left my car. 

 

Day 293 In the last week of February I managed the short trip to South Kensington to do the No 430

 I caught the 1100 Victoria train allthe way and then took a District and Circle line train two stops to South Kensington. The bus starts from outside the Victoria and albert museum and at 1200 London General's EH108 was departing, initially easterly along the A4 but very quickly in turned right and made fro South Kensington Underground station.

EH108 outside the V&A

Having turned around V&A now to right of bus 

The bus turned right with only the No C1 for company along the Old Brompton Road.We stopped at Brompton library in Beatrix House where the No 74 joined us past Brompton cemetary and west Brompton station.

Institute Francais opposite south ken Tube

Brompton library- is reference to Beatrix Potter?

Once pass Empress State Building we took Lille Road but as we stoppedto let two classes of key stage one kids off the next No 430 overtook us. We next took Fulham Palace Road at the end of Lille Road now with the Nos 424, 220 and 74 for company at 1225.

Empress State House where I did my
Effective Speaking course in 1985

The same bus type on the No 74

Passing along Fukham high Street we reached Putney bridge and by 1236 had crossed the bridge and were climbing Putney High Street. Once at the end of the Putney High Street the Bus turned right along the Upper Richmond Road with the No 337. 

Entrance to Fulham Prep school

About to cross Putney Bridge

Next the No 430 turned right at Dover House Road and was then alone for the length of this road until it reached Putney Heath. 

Roadsworks in Dover House Road

Passing east of Queen Mary's Hospital

Fountain by Roehampton Lane

Danebury Avenue Roehampton

Here we went left and then right around a one way triangle before heading along Medfield Street to Roehampton lane and then left into Danebury Avenue which was taken to near Sherfield Gardens where we terminated at 1256.

Arrival at final stop 

Bronze casting of bull from 1961

To return home I caught a No 170 from here to Clapham Junction andthen a train home arriving about 1535 after a little time spent at Clapham junction station.

Emirates A380 over Clapham Junction before USA attacked Iran

Freighliner heavy haul 66620

Very clean class 701 Arterio