Heritage Bus Running Day - Route 19

The last Saturday in March saw one of the periodic Running Days organised by the London Bus Museum at Brooklands, featuring preserved buses on a particular TfL route, the subject on this occasion being the 19 between Finsbury Park & Battersea Bridge. Watton’s Wanderings was there to review operations and ride the vehicles.

The flyer issued by the London Bus Museum to advertise the event.

Around 30 vehicles attended, mainly of the RT and RM families, from the London Bus Museum and other private owners.

The Route & Timetable

The Running Day featured preserved buses in service over current TfL Route 19 between Finsbury Park Station and Battersea Bridge South Side. Buses operated about every 10 mins or more frequently over the whole route between about 0900 & 1800, with a few buses running into the evening.

There were a number of short working journeys from each end, with destinations seen including Highbury Barn, Rosebery Avenue, Tottenham Court Road Station, Hyde Park Corner and Sloane Square. Some of these were scheduled, others unscheduled due to late running.

Unfortunately, traffic congestion exacerbated by various sets of roadworks contributed to delays, meaning end to end journey times were averaging around 90 mins, whilst the schedule indicated nearer 70-75, at least earlier in the day. Nonetheless, the crews did well to cope with the conditions and it failed to spoil the enjoyment of the day for most passengers.

There was an RTL allocation from Battersea (B) Garage on the 19 from 1950 to 1967. RTL1105 recalls the Leyland era at Finsbury Park Interchange on a short working to Hyde Park Corner.

The different radiator design was one of the main distinguishing features between the RTLs and their AEC cousins the standard RT.

The Vehicles

Around 30 buses were in service on the day, mainly RT and RM family vehicles from the 1940s/50s/60s.

The RT types included prototype RT1 from 1939, a handful of RTLs and a plethora of standard RTs. One RTW was seen, although this variant was never officially allocated to the 19.

The RM types included prototypes RM1 and RML3 (Leyland), with a couple of longer RMLs amid the standard versions.

STL441 provided a reminder of an earlier era, as the class had operated on the 19 until 1950, although this bus was not running in service.

In addition, Ipswich Buses Open Top Leyland Atlantean MRT9P was non-authentic but operated a few trips during the day.

Standard RTs ran on the 19 from 1950 to 1972, reprised here by RT1790 crossing Battersea Bridge having just started its journey to Finsbury Park. I had travelled on this bus on its previous southbound trip.

RTs ran initially from the old Holloway (J) Garage until operations moved to the new Holloway (HT) Garage in 1971. Battersea (B) Garage operated the class from 1967 after the RTLs were replaced.

Morning Rides

Arriving at Finsbury Park Station by rail shortly before 9AM, I emerged onto the adjacent Interchange, where a fairly large crowd was already awaiting the first departure of the Running Day at the 19 Pick Up Stop.

After observing proceedings for a while and allowing the masses to disperse on the first few vehicles, I boarded a later arrival, RT714 owned by The London Bus Company and secured the nearside front seat downstairs. This is an interesting vehicle, being one of those that went to Prince Edward Island, Canada, for sightseeing work many years ago after London service and was repatriated more recently by Roger Wright, together with several other buses from the same source. Despite remaining generally in the same condition as it was in LT days with period adverts still in place, evidence of alterations made whilst in Canada are evident, with signwriting for “Abegweit Sightseeing Tours” on the outside together with additional lights on the roof corners to comply with North American legislation. Inside, speakers are still fitted to the front bulkhead although no longer in use.

Despite the relatively early hour, we were busy in terms of passengers, picking up not just enthusiasts, but many “normal” members of the travelling public who mostly seemed pleasantly surprised to find a vintage bus turning up instead of a modern one. Indeed, it appeared that many of the usual LTs on the 19 were running around almost empty, whilst the RTs and RMs were often full and standing! We made good progress until Highbury Corner, where the new road layout replacing the former roundabout seems to cause perpetual delays on all approaches. However, once past this point, we made better time through Islington and The Angel to Rosebery Avenue, where temporary lights caused a hiatus. On through Bloomsbury, where we overtook another RT in front, before reaching the West End at Tottenham Court Road. A bit of a slog along Shaftesbury Avenue and across Piccadilly Circus towards Green Park, before reaching Hyde Park Corner. On through Knightsbridge and down Sloane Street to Sloane Square, where we picked up more local shoppers through Chelsea.

At this point, we were following RT3933, which instead of turning left into Beaufort Street, continued straight on with us in hot pursuit! Having inadvertently morphed from a 19 into a 22, our driver realised the error and we circumnavigated Parsons Green to return. Eventually, we regained the correct route and crossed Battersea Bridge to terminate on the south side after a run of 1h45m - some 35 mins more than scheduled, of which around 20 mins was due to general congestion and the balance from going off-piste!

A reasonable number were awaiting return buses at this point, so I let a couple of departures go before boarding RTL1076 for the return run to Finsbury Park, thus giving me a ride on the type which operated together with standard RTs on the 19 for many years in the 50s and 60s. This is another London Bus Company vehicle, which also enjoyed a stint in Canada from 1964 to 2010 until repatriated to the UK.

The return run was quicker than the outward trip at 1h30m, although traffic was again busy through Chelsea and we were delayed on approach to Hyde Park Corner due to closure of the Piccadilly Underpass. Reasonable progress through the West End up to Bloomsbury and Islington, with another protracted passing through Highbury Corner, before arriving back at Finsbury Park. Good numbers of excited passengers carried again on this trip.

Interior of RTL1076 crossing Battersea Bridge on my first return trip of the day to Finsbury Park.

The period adverts, individual light bulbs and cord bell pull evoke memories of a previous era.

The “No Smoking” sign is a reminder that although this was banned on the lower deck, it was acceptable upstairs and busy journeys could be accompanied by a heavy and smelly fog of smoke!

Afternoon Rides

After lunch, it was time for a second rounder, commencing with RT1790. This vehicle was one of the last of its type in service with London Transport, running on Route 62 at Barking until April 1979. Now also owned by The London Bus Company. Traffic seemed to have improved a bit since earlier in the day and we made good time on the first part of the trip through to Central London. At Sloane Square, a lady boarded with shopping and, sitting next to me, started reminiscing about the “good old days” on the buses. After politely correcting her that this was not a Routemaster(!), she was interested to hear about the history of the bus, the type and the route, thanking me when she alighted for making her journey so interesting! Arrival at Battersea Bridge was after another 1h30m, some delay on the last section beyond Sloane Square prolonging the trip.

For my final ride, I opted for my third vehicle of the same class, RT3933, yet another now with The London Bus Company. As we began our trip back across the Thames over Battersea Bridge, the smartly dressed conductor issued suitable tickets from his Gibson machine. It was good to see that most of the crews wore traditional LT uniforms for the occasion to complete the effect. In Sloane Street, we passed a broken down WHV which was being hitched up to a tow truck which drew a few ironic remarks about the old buses keeping going whilst the new ones don’t! Through the West End for the final time and back up to Finsbury Park, with the good loads seen all day continuing, largely at the expense of the “normal” 19s. Arriving at Finsbury Park Rock Street, the journey terminated after 90 mins or so, with a fresh crew taking over for the next trip.

“Roof Box” RT1705 is on stand at Battersea Bridge South Side and rests before setting off on a short journey to Hyde Park Corner.

Roof Box RTs had earlier bodies and were withdrawn before the standard ones. The adverts are typical of the early 60s.

Now to the History: The RT Era

In RT days, the basic 19 route ran between Finsbury Park and Tooting Bec, although there was an extension to Streatham Common (later Streatham Garage) at various times from the 1950s to the early 70s on Sundays.

RT family vehicles were scheduled from 1950 to 1972. Interestingly, the route allocation was split between the old Holloway (J) Garage (which operated standard RTs) and Battersea (B) Garage (which operated RTLs). When the RTLs were withdrawn in 1967, the B Garage allocation switched over to RTs in line with J Garage. When the latter closed in 1971, the northern share of the route moved to the new Holloway (HT) Garage.

RT714 leads two others at Finsbury Park Rock Street after completing a trip across Central London. A crew changeover is taking place in the background.

This is one of a number of vehicles exported to Canada after London service and later repatriated to the UK. Note the “Abegweit Sightseeing Tours” legend on the side from its Canadian days and the additional lights on the top corners which were required to meet local legislation.

History: The 19A

Unlike many low numbered routes, the 19 didn’t have any well known or long-lived suffixed variants, although the number 19A was used briefly twice.

Firstly, from 1969-71, short-working 19s from Finsbury Park to Clapham Junction on Sundays only were extended off the main route to Hammersmith via Wandsworth & Putney as 19A, to replace the withdrawn 255 on that day. RT operated from B Garage.

Secondly, from 1972-74, the southern section of the 19 between Battersea Parkgate Road and Tooting Bec Station was converted to OMO on Sundays and renumbered 19A using DMS types. This was to provide some Sunday work for drivers at B Garage on Route 39 which didn’t run on that day. Eventually the 39 was made daily and the main 19 was re-extended to Tooting Bec on Sunday.

The conductor issues a ticket from his Gibson machine in time-honoured fashion aboard RT3933.

Most of the drivers and conductors on the Running Day wore traditional LT uniform and were smartly presented.

History: The Routemaster Era

Conversion from RT to RM at both B and HT Garages took place in 1972. In the 70s & 80s, some HT garage journeys were extended in service to/from Tufnell Park Monnery Road or Archway Station via Route 4 at different times. When B Garage closed in 1985, its allocation moved to Victoria (GM) Garage.

This was followed by mixed RM/RML operation from 1987 onwards, the same year seeing a cut-back of the route at the southern end to Clapham Junction (except on Suns) when new route 219 replaced the withdrawn section. This coincided with the OPO conversion of the Sunday service on the 19 using Ms, although some DMSs from Merton (AL) later joined in.

By 1991, GM Garage was the sole operator of the route, with the HT and AL allocations withdrawn and the route cut back further to operate Finsbury Park - Battersea Bridge as today.

Under tendering, the route transferred to Kentish Bus in 1993 with maroon and cream RMLs, displaying prominent signwriting for the 19, although on Sundays the route remained OPO with Olympians.

In 1998, red RMLs returned when Arriva took over the contract from Battersea (BA) Garage, with Brixton (BN) or Tottenham (AR) providing the Sunday OPO vehicles until 2001 when the Sunday service reverted to crew operation.

Routemasters operated on the 19 from 1972 to 2005, although standard RMs were replaced by the longer RMLs in the 1990s. RM1962 illustrates on stand at Battersea Bridge South Side.

This vehicle is in original condition with cream band and full depth front ventilator grille, together with suitable adverts from the 1960s.

OPO Conversion & After

2005 saw the 19 finally converted to OPO using Arriva DW class double deckers from BA, BN and N garages at first, although the allocation was eventually consolidated at Brixton (BN).

In the 2012, the contract passed to Go Ahead / London General using a mix of WVL / WHV types. Initially operated from Stockwell (SW), later a share was added from Northumberland Park (NP), restoring the old north / south joint allocation that had existed back in previous decades.

2017 saw the route revert to Arriva, this time operated from Tottenham (AR) Garage using New Routemasters (LT class), although this later shifted to Stamford Hill (SF) when that shed reopened. This brings the story up to date and reflects the current situation on the 19.

At the other end of the route, an offside view of RM1400 at Finsbury Park Station. This bus is in the later white band and solid roundel livery adopted in the 1970s/80s.

By now, the relief band continued across the bottom of the front ventilator, unlike on the earlier version.

Conclusion

After enjoying two round trips on RT family vehicles and observing the comings and goings at each terminus, I felt well satisfied with my day out on the 19 and prepared to take the train home from Finsbury Park Station.

Many Thanks to the London Bus Museum, The London Bus Company, the volunteer crews and all those who made the Running Day a success!

As evening falls, a final view of RT3933 with exterior and interior lights ablaze at Finsbury Park Station after my last journey of the day on it back from Battersea.

Another good load awaits the next southbound trip.