This week, a series of bus rides centered on Harrow-on-the-Hill, including a trip over the border into Herts, then down to Edgware, Brent Cross & Acton, featuring some older and newer vehicles.

***RATP Group Enviro200 MMC DDE20287 of Harrow (SO) Garage on the 395 at Westway Cross Retail Park.***

*The brown skirt is caused by road dirt and is not part of a new livery scheme!*

Route 395: Harrow to Greenford Westway Cross (& back to South Harrow)

An early-ish Saturday morning start at Harrow Bus Station saw me board one of the habitual Enviro200 MMC single deckers on the 395 to Greenford, DDE20287 of Harrow (SO) Garage. This number still looks odd on a TfL route to someone like me, who associates it with the long-standing and still existing former Country Bus 395 Hertford & Ware local service, not that many miles away.

A fairly quiet journey, as we made our way direct to South Harrow Station via Bessborough Road, with no intermediate stops. After continuing to just beyond Northolt Park Station, we turned off the main road to loop around the Racecourse Estate the long way to Northolt Station, much to the chagrin of one passenger who wanted the station and was late for work - should have taken the 140 I said! Nevertheless, it is odd after coming from the Harrow direction to approach Northolt Station from the south. Following this, we turned off the main drag once again to serve more estate roads unique to this route in the Northolt Park area, turning right by the shops at Oldfields Circus. Emerging onto Oldfield Lane North, it was a short hop to Greenford Station, where we dropped our remaining passengers except me. Just a couple of minutes from here to the terminus at Westway Cross Retail Park. 35mins end to end on this short route.

I rectraced my steps as far as South Harrow on the return journey after the break, via the reverse of the outward trip. Again, not that busy, although with passengers on and off throughout, but never into double figures on board. 25 mins later I alighted at South Harrow Station.

The 395 is a relatively new entrant to the TfL network, only coming in 2009 and mainly replacing the 398 between Northolt and Greenford. There have been two operators - Metroline until 2019 with DE Enviro200s and RATP / London Sovereign since then with the current vehicles., although some older vehicles have guested.

***RATP Group Enviro400 ADE40405 of Park Royal (RP) Garage on the 258 at Watford Junction after my ride on it from South Harrow.***

*A sight that will soon be history, as the route passes to Metroline on re-tender from 1st Feb 2025.*

Route 258: South Harrow to Watford Junction

At South Harrow Station, I swapped to the 258, the reason for this choice being that the route was due to pass from current operator RATP to Metroline from 1st Feb 2025 as the result of retendering, so a final chance to ride the service with the old firm. I had one of the usual Enviro400s, ADE40405 from Park Royal (RP) Garage.

Departing on time, we almost immediately hit a snag, due to temporary lights on London Road causing a traffic queue up Roxeth Hill. After navigating this obstacle, a reasonable run over Harrow Hill past the famous Harrow School with traditional uniforms in evidence. Down the other side to Harrow Town Centre, where we did the double run to the Bus Station, but then encountered a further queue due to more roadworks in Station Road up to Harrow & Wealdstone Station. More than half an hour just to this point.

However, after this, we finally sped up and rocketed past Harrow Weald (HD) Garage, soon to be the new home of the route. Then the delightful countrified stretch through the woods via Clamp Hill and Old Redding Nature Reserve, to “The Alpine” at Bushey Heath - another famous hostelry no longer there. From here, we joined the common section with the 142 through Bushey Heath and Bushey to Watford, running in tandem with a WDE on the latter route, which meant that the two buses shared the load and we made good progress. Just a small hiatus for yet another set of temporary lights and one way working north of The Red Lion in Bushey. After calling at Bushey Station, a straight run into Watford Town Centre, taking the usual one way loop around to Clarendon Road and the terminus at Watford Junction Station. 65 mins overall for the run wasn’t that bad considering the delays on the initial section.

The 258 commenced in 1971 between Watford Junction and Harrow-on-the-Hill Station, replacing the northern section of the 182. Always OPO, it used MB types initially, although these were replaced in 1976 by SMS and three years later with LS. The extension to South Harrow came in 1978, initially direct, but in 1987 it adopted the route over Harrow Hill that we know today. From 1984, the service was upgraded to double deck M operation, but only on Sats initially.

A 5 year period from 1991 saw the route operated by Arriva with Darts, but in 1996 the contract passed to London Buslines with their Darts - it was only then that a Sun service was introduced, the route having always been M-S only prior to this. In 1999, London Buslines was subsumed into First Centrewest and following this, in 2001, double deckers returned using TN and VTL types. Arriva had a second stint on the service from 2006 with DWs, until RATP / London Sovereign took over in 2017 with the current ADEs.

With Metroline assuming control in Feb 2025, the wheel has turned full circle, so to speak, as the route will return home to its first garage at Harrow Weald for the first time in 34 years!

***Not the example I travelled on, but representing electrics on the 142, we have Metroline BYD Enviro400EV BDE2758 of Edgware (EW) Garage at Watford Junction.***

*Although scheduled for these vehicles, a number of WDE type Wright StreetDeck Electroliners usually make up part of the allocation.*

Route 142: Watford Junction to Brent Cross

To return from Watford, I switched to the other TfL route to serve the town, the 142. I had last ridden this in the opposite direction when it first passed to Metroline in 2023, during the initial period of operation with TE class Enviro400s. However, I had yet to sample the new electrics, so this was my opportunity. Officially, the 142 is now allocated BDE Enviro400EV types, but these tend to be mixed with WDE Wright StreetDeck Electroliners.

My vehicle on this occasion was BDE2768 of Edgware (EW) Garage which arrived at the Watford Junction stop duly “singing its song”, as do most new electrics which have been given an artificial noise to warn pedestrians of their approach at low speed. The interior was a blend of traditional Metroline moquette with high back seating, USB ports and other new features we now associate with TfL electric buses. A smooth and swift departure as we accelerated down Clarendon Road back to the town centre and around the remainder of the loop back to Watford High St Station, picking up a reasonable number on the way. A little bit of a queue leading up to Bushey Arches, before looping around to serve Bushey Station. Then back through Bushey itself and Bushey Heath, the only delay being a small one at the temporary lights just before The Red Lion.

At “The Alpine” junction, we parted company with the 258 and continued straight on downhill to Stanmore, passing on the way the Bentley Priory Museum, formerly Fighter Command HQ during the Battle of Britain and featuring in the 1960s film of that name. Worth a visit for those interested in the wartime history of London. We had a straight run past Stanmore Station to Canons Corner, where we swung a right along Stonegrove to Edgware High St, following the course of former Trolleybus 645, replacement bus 245 and latterly bus 251, until the 142 was rerouted this way into Edgware in 1993 away from its old course via Edgwarebury Lane.

The 142 now does a double run along Station Road to serve Edgware Bus Station, which we did without a driver change. Continuing immediately, a reasonable run down the Edgware Road serving Burnt Oak and Colindale, but busy with people on and off along the way. A small traffic delay at West Hendon where more roadworks narrowed the road and the Bus Lane was out of use for part of its length. Then we were at Staples Corner and the short rapid run to Brent Cross, terminating at the Shopping Centre where we disgorged our load. Our overall journey time was 1h 20m.

Back in the late 60s, the 142 was a crew operated RT route between Watford Junction, Edgware and Kilburn Park. With OPO conversion to SMS in 1970, it was cut back to Edgware from the north apart from a M-F Peaks extension to Colindale, the 32 taking over the southern section. In 1976, when the shopping centre opened, the extension to Brent Cross began. The route was re-double-decked in 1980 with Metrobuses, but tendering in 1986 saw the route pass to London Country from Garston (GR) Garage, which was to be home for the route for over 30 years, passing through the incarnations of LCNW, Luton & District and Arriva. Principal types changed through AN, LR, DLA and VLA during this period. In 2018, control moved to RATP / London Sovereign with ADE types plus the odd SP, but this only lasted 5 years until the last contract change in 2023 when current operator Metroline took over.

Volvo B5LH MCV EvoSeti VMH2546 of Cricklewood (W) Garage on the 266 at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. These hybrids were made spare from the 31 at Holloway (HT) and the 113 at Edgware (EW) Garages recently after replacement by electrics, so were able to take up the new contract on the 266 with Metroline which began in December 2024. This one is a former HT inmate.

*Photography at this location is often hampered by the buses being parked close together on stand, but a rare gap enabled this shot to be taken!*

Route 266: Brent Cross to Acton Town Hall

After a short break at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, it was time to continue the rides with a trip on the 266 to Acton, which transferred in December 2024 from RATP / London United to Metroline when the contract was re-awarded. Pending the delivery of new electrics, a number of VMH hybrids have been put together at Cricklewood (W) Garage for the operation, having been made spare after replacement by electrics at Holloway (HT) and Edgware (EW) on the 31 and 113 respectively. A few VWH types also appear on occasion, together with one or two VW diesels.

I had VMH2550, an ex-Holloway machine, which filled up with returning shoppers as to be expected at this busy location on a Saturday afternoon. Not a bad run overall, with several alighting at Staples Corner Retail Park, before we continued to the garage, where we had a short pause for a driver change. Then on to Cricklewood Broadway, where we turned right, following the old 666 Trolleybus route to Willesden Green and Willesden (AC) Garage. At Willesden Magistrates Court, due to Church Road being blocked by roadworks, we diverted the short distance along the main road over the roundabout at Neasden Lane before gaining line of route. Progress was halted by a jam at Craven Park into Harlesden, although once onto the one-way system, we got moving again. Less busy after Willesden Junction, as we past the massive building sites in Old Oak Common Lane in conjunction with the construction of HS2, which is completely changing the look of the area. Through North Acton and across the A40 to Acton Main Line Station, before taking the direct route to Acton High St, terminating at the Old Town Hall after a 1h 10m trip time.

The 266 dates from 1962, when it replaced Trolleybus 666 between Edgware and Hammersmith with RM operation. At the northern end, it was cut back to Colindale / Cricklewood in 1970 and then gained the Brent Cross extension in 1976. At the other end, it retracted to Acton Town Hall in 2019 following the introduction of new routes 218 and 306 over parts of the southern section.

OPO conversion with M types came in 1985, until replacement with AV Olympians in 2000. Low floor types arrived in 2005, mainly TA, although with appearances by other classes such as TP. The route passed to First in 2012 with VN operation, although this morphed into Tower Transit the following year. Metroline returned with TE in 2017, although this was only short term and RATP took over in 2019 using ADE and VH types.

Part Route SL9: South Harrow to Harrow

From Acton Old Town Hall, I took a 10min stroll to Acton Town Station, joining the Piccadilly Line for a few stops on a Rayners Lane service as far as South Harrow.

There, I was lucky that BCE47101 of Harrow (SO) Garage was just arriving on a northbound SL9, so I jumped aboard for the final leg of this non-stop “Superloop” run back to Harrow Bus Station, a short trip of just 5 or 6 mins.

RATP Group Enviro 400H ADH45033 is now at Canons Park (CP) Garage, which is effectively an outstation of Edgware (BT), but still bears its former Hounslow (AV) Garage code when seen at Northwick Park Hospital on the H14.

This is an unusual allocation on the H14, as the route is mainly operated by newer MMC versions of the Enviro400 Hybrid. The internal and external lights are on, as this was a late afternoon shot not long before dusk.

Route H14: Harrow - Northwick Park Hospital - Hatch End - Harrow

By now late afternoon, there was just time to fit in a rounder on short local route H14 before darkness fell. This service is operated by RATP / London Sovereign out of Canons Park (CP), which is essentially an overflow location for Edgware (BT) Garage. Whilst Enviro400 MMC double decks are the norm, I was lucky to find a sole older Enviro400H out and about with “classic” bodywork, ADH45033, on its way to Northwick Park Hospital. This is just a 5 min run from Harrow Bus Station and we had just a few on board. The terminus has moved from the former stands in front of the hospital, the area now being grassed over, to a new location at the side of the buildings a few yards away.

Due to late running, we departed again for Hatch End after just a couple of minutes with a handful of takers. A small crowd joined us back at Harrow Bus Station, after which we were sent on a long diversion, due to a width restriction on the direct route via Headstone Road and Harrow View. This involved continuing along Pinner Road via the 183, then right along Canterbury Road to Station Road and Parkside Drive via the H10 back to Harrow View, rejoining the normal route just south of Eastman Village. It seems no extra running time is allocated, but our driver made a commendable effort to stick to the schedule.

Up Courtenay Avenue to Long Elmes, where we turned left towards Headstone Lane and up to the Uxbridge Road, before arriving into Hatch End, serving the station and shops, where all but me alighted. One more stop to the terminus at St Thomas’ Drive, just under half an hour from the start. A former famous resident of Hatch End was comedian, scriptwriter and panel show player, the late Barry Cryer, who was a regular on the H14 and apparently used to amuse drivers and passengers with a one-man show during his bus rides!

At the terminus, a short layover, then I returned on the same bus back to Harrow Bus Station to complete the round trip. However, this time, we took the normal route along Harrow View and Headstone Road, there being no restriction in this direction. Arrival back in the town centre just as darkness was falling after a rounder of about an hour.

The H14 was a product of the “Harrow Buses” scheme in 1987, which saw the start of a number of “Hoppa” routes serving the area, including this one between Hatch End and Northwick Park Hospital via Harrow Bus Station. Initially, it was jointly operated with the H15, which followed the H14 from Northwick Park to Long Elmes and then diverged to serve Harrow Weald, terminating at Oxhey Lane. This variant came off in 1999 when the 182 was extended to cover the Oxhey Lane leg.

After beginning with MR minibuses, the H14 graduated to longer single deckers, progressing through SR, DT and DR types, going “low floor” in 1999 with DLD Darts. London Sovereign took the contract from Metroline in 2004 and has gone through its various phases with Transdev and RATP. Darts were the norm at first with DPS then DE classes, but although the odd double deck appeared before this, full conversion only came in 2018, initially with SP class Scanias but then with the current ADH type Enviro400 MMCs.

Back at Harrow Bus Station, my rides were concluded for the day after an interesting selection of routes and vehicles.

Watton

Haring Around Harrow

Enveloping Enfield

Harping Back in Hertford & Harlow