On & Around the Great Cambridge Road

A series of rides on routes operated by Go Ahead out of Northumberland Park Garage, including a couple serving the Great Cambridge Road, with a 70th Anniversary thrown in.

Operation of the 217 passed from Arriva to Go Ahead London on 16th November 2024 on a 1 Year contract. WVN14 is seen at Waltham Cross Bus Station before my trip.

This was one of 6 WVN/WVL buses transferred from Henley Road (DS) to Northumberland Park (NP) Garage for the route, together with 6 from Merton (AL).

Route 217: Waltham Cross to Turnpike Lane

This is a route which has hit the headlines this year, when its operator Sullivan Buses suddenly pulled out of all its TfL work in August, seemingly amongst much acrimony. Without commenting on the reasons for this, for the enthusiast, it has resulted in an interesting period in terms of operation. Initially, Arriva London stepped in on a temporary contract, operating at first from Tottenham (AR) and later from Edmonton (EC) Garage, with a reduced timetable using mainly spare T type Enviro400s either from the existing fleet in North London or transferred from Thornton Heath (TH) after being released by the arrival of new electric buses there. However, other types like DW, HA and HV also appeared on occasion. Eventually, the full frequency was restored.

Meanwhile, TfL retendered the route and Go Ahead London assumed control on a 1 year contract from 16th November 2024. Operation is from Northumberland Park (NP) Garage using WVN and WVL class Volvo B9TLs to start with. 6 buses were transferred to NP from Henley Road (DS) and 6 from Merton (AL), comprising 5 WVNs and 1 WVL from each, joining a couple of WVNs already at NP.

For me, it was a rare opportunity for a Boxing Day ride, when a Sunday timetable is in operation and, away from the shopping centres, the roads are relatively quiet. I began at Waltham Cross Bus Station, where WVN14 (one of the former Henley Road examples) was tucked away in the corner of the stand. It departed on time with me and a couple of others on board, very quiet at first, but we gradually filled as we progressed along Bullsmoor Lane and onto the long straight stretch of the Great Cambridge Road dual carriageway.

The diversion to serve Enfield Retail Park at Southbury Road always adds a few minutes to the journey time, compared with the former direct routeing. Soon after this, we caught up with a southbound 231 and ran in tandem with it for the rest of the trip, clearly no attempt to operate the 217 and 231 on an interworked frequency over the common section which would be of greater benefit to passengers. Down through Edmonton and across “The Cambridge” Roundabout to White Hart Lane, by which time we were full and standing. The final section via the Roundway and Westbury Avenue was accomplished quickly and we arrived at Turnpike Lane Bus Station after a decent 40 min run.

With all the other excitement concerning the 217, it may be forgotten that the route celebrates its 70th Birthday this year, having begun in 1954 as a renumbering of the 144A (the 231 similarly being renumbered from 144B). In those days, the 217 was a longer route between Upshire & Alexandra Park, with RT operation from Enfield (E) and RTL from the old West Green (WG) Garage, the latter switched to Wood Green (WN) with RT when WG closed in 1962, although a year later E took sole control.

The 217 spawned two variants - the 217A Epping Forest Wake Arms to Alexandra Park in 1963 (which later became Loughton Garage to Enfield and lasted until withdrawal in 1977) and the 217B Ninefields North to Enfield in 1976 (which was later extended to Upshire and then cut back to Waltham Cross, eventually becoming today’s 317).

The plain 217 was cut back to Turnpike Lane at the southern end with the “Reshaping” changes of 1968 and finally succumbed to OPO with DMS types in 1977, these being replaced by Ms in 1981. The following year saw the route being withdrawn between Upshire & Waltham Cross in favour of the 250A, although there was a short lived extension in a different direction to Hammond St from 1989-90. The latter year saw the route move to Potters Bar (PB) Garage when London Northern (later MTL London) took the contract. A period of single deck operation ensued from 1998 with DML Darts, although a top deck returned in 2003 with TP conversion. By now with Metroline, TEs were the final type to operate from PB, until Sullivans took over in 2017 using mainly new Enviro400 MMCs. Which brings us back to where we came in on this story!

Not the one I rode on my trip, but similar vehicle SEe6 of NP Garage illustrates the type at Chingford Station on the 444.

This is one of the class that previously operated on Red Arrow routes in Central London and was up-seated for suburban operation.

Route 444: Turnpike Lane to Chingford Station

At Turnpike Lane, I switched to my sole single deck route of the day, the 444, which I had yet to sample since its conversion to electrics in 2020. Another route based with GAL at NP Garage, it mainly uses some of the low numbered SEe types that were made redundant when the Red Arrow routes 507/521 were discontinued. These have been fitted with additional seats in the front section for their new life in the suburbs. Some newer SEe types are also allocated to make up the numbers.

I had SEe31, one of the ex Red Arrow batch, with non functional information screen inside, although the verbal route and next stop announcements were working. Strangely, I was the sole passenger boarding at Turnpike Lane and had the bus to myself all the way back down Westbury Avenue, only gaining another couple of passengers in The Roundway. Past White Hart Lane to just short of Edmonton Cambridge, before turning right past North Middx Hospital to Silver Street Station and Angel Corner, by which time we were a little busier but not much. A speedy run around the North Circ to Hall Lane, where we turned off and joined the suburban housing section through to Chingford Mount. A 3 min pause for early running at Chingford Leisure Centre, before continuing via Larkshall Road the short way to KIngs Road and Station Road to the terminus at Chingford Station. Another 40 min trip.

The 444 is largely unchanged from introduction in 1991, when it took over most of the then 144. However, for me, I recall the days prior to 1988 when the 102 covered much of this route, when it ran from Golders Green to Chingford. In the mid/late 70s, a long run on an RT between these points was good fun!

Starting with County Bus using green and cream Darts, the 444 passed to successor Arriva with red and cream Darts, then ADL and DWL types. Tower Transit had the contract from 2015 with Wright StreetLites, but GAL took over in 2020 with the current electrics.

Premier class member Ee1, also of NP Garage, before my ride on it at Chingford Station.

Apart from USB ports, these early electrics have “traditional” interiors, whereas later examples incorporate the new features of wood effect flooring, high backed seating and new style information screens.

Route 212: Chingford Station to Walthamstow St James’s St

At Chingford Station Bus Station, I swapped my single deck electric for a double deck version, in the form of Ee1 on the 212, premier member of what became a large class of over 300 vehicles and still growing. Yet another NP Garage inmate, I had another quiet journey, as we made our way out of Chingford via Friday Hill to Chingford Hatch and along New Road to Larkshall Road. Then south through Highams Park to the outer reaches of Walthamstow, before descending Prospect Hill to Walthamstow Central, where the Bus Station has just been remodelled for safety reasons. After emptying out here, only a handful left on board for the short run to the terminus at St James’s St Station. A mere 35 mins on this short route end to end.

The 212 began in 1981 between Chingford Station and Walthamstow Garage, replacing parts of routes 191 and Walthamstow Circular W21. Initially DMS operated, Titans soon replaced them. Route changes in 1982 saw a surprising extension to Yardley Lane Estate swallowing up the whole of the 276 and making the 212 an unusual “U” shaped route. However, in 1988, the extension was abandoned, the Walthamstow Central - Yardley Lane section again becoming a separate service, but this time numbered 215, as exists today.

1991 saw the 212 go to Capital Citybus (later First) with Olympians and Metrobuses, although single deck DMLs replaced them in 2000, which also saw the Walthamstow terminus change to Mission Grove, later amended to St James’s St. Double decks returned in 2005 with TN/TNL, with First later morphing into Go Ahead. HCT took over in 2010 with Scania double deckers, followed by Tower Transit in 2015 with Volvo Hybrids. Current operator Go Ahead have been in charge since 2020.

My trip included a brief ride on part of the 56, which provides the excuse to include this photo of Enviro400H City 12546 at Whipps Cross Bus Stand, taken during the summer.

This type is an unusual allocation to the 56, which is normally the home to older Enviro400Hs, but is one of the batch transferred to Leyton (T) Garage for the 20 earlier in 2024.

Part Route 158: St James’s St to Leyton Gloucester Road

At St James’s St, I jumped on a busy DW540 of Edmonton (EC) Garage on the 158, for a short ride of just a few stops down to the Lea Bridge Road. Following the loss of the 217 to GAL, the 158 is now the sole “normal” TfL service operated out of EC Garage.

Part Route 56: Leyton Gloucester Road to Dalston Junction

At Leyton Gloucester Road, a swap to the 56, where Enviro400H 12133 of Stagecoach London’s Leyton (T) Garage was the next southbound arrival. An easy run of just over 20 mins across the Lea Valley to Clapton then around the nether regions of Hackney to Dalston Junction.

LT232 of NP Garage demonstrates the usual type on the 67 when seen at Dalston Junction stand before my ride on the vehicle.

As with many buses at this time of year, the vehicle displays a degree of road dirt on the lower panels and windows, caused by the weather.

Route 67: Dalston Junction to Wood Green

From Dalston Junction, I returned north on Route 67, yet another operated by GAL from NP Garage, although this time with “New Routemasters”. LT232 was the first of the three vehicles on stand to leave on this short but frequent and busy service. The expected crowded run up the Hertford Road corridor through Stoke Newington to Stamford Hill, where we turned off on the freehold section of the route along St Ann’s Road, where there was a brief hiatus as a passenger with a buggy argued with the driver about being denied entry due to two buggies already on the bus! Eventually, one of the passengers already on board folded her buggy to allow the third one to board.

With calm restored, we continued along La Rose Lane, which was recently renamed from Black Boy Lane with some local controversy. Indeed, I noted several houses had mini “Black Boy Lane” street names displayed in their front windows, clearly some differing views here. Then along West Green Road to Turnpike Lane, completing the circle so to speak on my rides, before finishing at Wood Green Station after 40 mins on the road. The nearby Wood Green Shopping City being heaving with those seeking a bargain in the sales!

The 67 is another with a complex history. It began as a replacement for Trolleybus 647 between London Docks and Northumberland Park in 1961 with RM operation, with an extension to Wapping at the southern end from 1966. Interestingly, it operated the experimental XA class Atlanteans from 1966-70, with a few green XF Fleetlines joining in, but reversion to RM occurred at the end of this period.

Conversion to OPO with DMS came in 1971, with the northern terminus becoming Stamford Hill, the Northumberland Park leg moving to Route 97. In 1979, the route was restructured to run between Aldgate East and Wood Green, although the in town terminus later moved to Aldgate Bus Station. 1982 saw conversion to M class Metrobuses.

Operator changes began in 1996 and continued over the ensuing 25 years. This started with Capital Citybus using Olympians, then Stagecoach with VA Olympians, First with TN / VNL, Go Ahead with PDN, Arriva with DW / VLW then HV and finally Go Ahead with LT in 2020. The cut back from Aldgate to Dalston Junction took place in 2019 following changes to the 242.

Route 217: Turnpike Lane to Waltham Cross

At Wood Green, a short walk back to Turnpike Lane to end the day as I began on the 217, although this time a northbound ride back to Waltham Cross. WVN41 was the bus for this journey, one of those transferred to NP from Merton (AL). We made reasonable progress despite the roads being busier than earlier in the day and took just 5 mins longer than on the southbound trip at 45 mins.

My large loop around North London was then complete!

Watton

Finally, a reminder of the temporary operation of the 217 by Arriva London between August and November. Enviro400 T128 shows only a card route number in the windscreen after dropping off at Waltham Cross Bus Station.

Arriva stepped in on the 217 when Sullivan Buses pulled out of TfL operation in August at short notice. This bus was one transferred from Thornton Heath (TH) to Edmonton (EC) Garage for the service.