A Look At London , Part 4

Friday 28th October 2005 saw the end of Routemaster operation on route 38 from Victoria Station to Clapton. Buses in Ireland took a trip over for the event and also to sample the current London bus scene.

Each page contains many shots and make a while to download depending on your connection speed.

NOTE: Some of the night-time shots are not up to the usual quality but I included them for their content so to speak

Friday 28 Oct. 2005 (contd.)

Above: TAL129, an ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident, heads for Cricklewood along Grosvenor Gardens

Below: WVL150 of London General heads for Fulham Broadway

Below: Partly restored RM2097 also made a brief appearance. Seen here turning into Terminus Place from Buckingham Palace Road

Above: RM613 was another of the special on the 38. Seen here heading along Piccadilly

Below: TNA33344, an ALX400 bodied Transbus Trident of First, traverses Piccadilly Circus

Below: RM1280 enters Piccadilly Circus heading for Streatham

Below: RML2278 was also noted at Piccadilly Circus

Below: WVL173, a Wrights Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL, heads along Piccadilly

Below: RT3062 heads for Clapton Pond through Piccadilly Circus

Below: PDL44, a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident, sets down at the Aldwych terminus of the 77A. It is the last remaining route in London with a suffix (i.e. the A after 77) and is shortly due to be renumbered the 477

Below: After a short respite to grab something to eat it was back to Victoria as time grew closer to the last 38. RML2688 arrives into Victoria from Clapton Pond shortly after 2345

Below: DLA15, arrived into Victoria shortly before 0010. But it was not very well received by the crowds who wanted Routemasters

Above: RML2638 prepares to leave Victoria for Clapton Pond. This was the last public serivce route 38 operated by a Routemaster. The next bus that arrived in was an N38 From Walthamstow. However it was quickly moved for the arrival the last buses

Above: RT3871 arrived in form Clapton Pond shortly before 0045 at the head of the precession of buses which had operated the last 38 from Clapton

 Below: RML888 at Victoria, The last 38. Apologies for the photo but it was quite hard to get one in the crowds and small space of the bus lane there and still manage to then hop on RM5 for the trip out to Clapton. The precession out to Clapton consisted of RT3871, RT3062, RTW75, RM5 and finally RML888

Above: RML888 on arrival at Clapton Pond. Again apologies for the photo. But there was very little time to get a photo before hopping back onto RM5 to go back to Clapton Garage. Plus the crowds didn't help either

Above: RML888 arrives into Clapton Bus Garage for the last time just after 0210 on Saturday morning. And with it went Routemaster operation on the 38 which will now be operated by articulated Mercedes Citaros

Below: RM5 parked up in Clapton Garage after the short trip down form Clapton Pond

Above: RML888 and RM5 were parked together in Clapton Garage specially for photgraphers and the TV crew who were also there

Finally: I end Friday pictures with this photo. A shot of the crew who worked the last 38, in front of RML888 and RM5 in Clapton Garage

Only one Routemaster route now remains in London. The 159 from Marble Arch to Streatham Station. It is due for conversion on Friday 9th December 2005 and Buses In Ireland will be there for the historic event

To continue to Saturday click here. To return to the home page click here.