Hello there - hope you are well. First off Happy New Year. It's been a while since I have last posted and I apologise for that, with me being busy (at the time) I am struggling to write posts. I originally started writing this post back in October.
Disclaimer: The journey was ridden a few weeks before Lockdown #2 was in place.
Anyway, today I would like to write on a particular route that I've used for a while. Before that, let's get into the vehicle background allocation.
Some History and Route Allocations
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| King George Hospital |
The 173 bus route goes from King George Hospital to Beckton Station, and has been with Arriva London since 1987. 9 miles in length, vehicle types such as Dart Pointers were used, but I first encountered the route with Alexander Dennis Enviro 200s, which were still a couple of years old when I boarded in 2013. They were great buses back then and had alot of speed, but sadly due to lack of maintenance these days has led them to become very unreliable. During my school days it would often get really packed, people already standing when I boarded the bus. The route was managed at Barking (DX) depot.
These are the Enviro 200s that were allocated:
ENL49 - LJ10CSF
ENL50 - LJ10CSO
ENL51 - LJ10CSU
ENL52 - LJ59LVL
ENL53 - LJ59LVM
ENL54 - LJ59LVN
ENL55 - LJ10CSV
ENL56 - LJ10CSX
ENL57 - LJ10CSY
ENL58 - LJ10CSZ
ENL59 - LJ10CTE
ENL60 - LJ10CTF
ENL61 - LJ10CTK
ENL62 - LJ60ATY
ENL63 - LJ60AYF
ENL64 - LJ60AYG
ENL65 - LJ60AYH
ENL66 - LJ60AYK
ENL67 - LJ60AYL
ENL68 - LJ60AYM
ENL69 - LJ60AYN
ENL70 - LJ60AYO
ENL71 - LJ60AYP
ENL72 - LJ60AYS
ENL73 - LJ60AXV
ENL74 - LJ60AXW
In September 2015, there was a consultation to make the route double deck. On top of that, increasing the frequency. A much needed one, I was happy that it went ahead - as the buses would carry more passengers. The change happened on the 17th October 2015. It received 59-reg ADL Enviro 400s (LJ59), that previously worked Central London routes 78 and 168. Those 59-reg as of typing have moved elsewhere. Some buses from route 150's allocation (LJ60) was also added into the mix. As a result, the 59/10-reg went to Thornton Heath (TH) for route 255 replacing the Wright Cadets. The 60-reg stayed for route 325, which is in need of new buses right about now as I'm typing this. My suggestion would be converting it to double deck operation, in order to cater more passengers as it can get very busy.
One of the more interesting vehicle types was the Volvo B7TL ALX400s. Arriva London coded these VLAs in short. I liked them, always used to provide kickdown and good acceleration. I didn't really ride any Volvo B7TL Plaxton Presidents at all in London, so these were the closest I was going to get in terms of Volvo B7TL. Some of them, managed to cling on after the 128 was lost to Stagecoach in October 2019; however in April 2020 their time came to an end, due to a reduction in services and were withdrawn from service. VLA57 and VLA131 were preserved thankfully. As for the VDL DB300 Wright Pulsar Gemini 2s - I will discuss later.
So it begins...
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| T184 (LJ60AUN) is approaching the first stop. |
I wanted to go on the 4th October,
however the weather was letting out it's emotions (raining) - so I waited another week. Sunday 11th October, sunny skies predicted with temperature being 12C. This turned out to be true, so I took the opportunity to treat it like a last day sort of thing. I still did have a few days but it was the last weekend at the time - so I made my way to King George Hospital. Was pretty chilly I have to say. When I arrived, there was no 173s on stand so I immediately went to the first stop. Two minutes later the bus arrives, I assume the driver was late since he only stood for a minute. I boarded and sat upstairs on the left hand side, noticing that it was one of the refurbished buses.
Interior
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| Upper deck |
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| Lower deck |
The AC fans were on for the duration of this journey, noting the time we departed. After navigating our way out through the hospital, we took a left onto Barley Lane - the point of interest here being Little Heath. Only one route terminates here (EL3), and the A12 can be seen ahead but we had to turn right (a bit sharp!). Chadwell Heath Lane, pretty much houses and some shops really - also a few speed bumps. A little bit of traffic on the end of this road, Chadwell Heath High Road (A118) is seen. Very busy during weekday rush hour! Turned left and instead of going ahead, we took an immediate right - for some people it can be very annoying; "Why can't this go straight on?" There is a reason for that. It has to serve the bus stop closest to the station, which is Herbert Gardens and this is where we say "hello" to routes 62, 86 and 368. The bus was still empty at this point, though we picked up a few passengers after looping around to the Chadwell Heath Lane bus stop. Staying on the A118, one can see shops on both sides including a Sainsburys until we reach Whalebone Lane.
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| Stuck in traffic, passing over the Great Eastern Main Line. |
We turned right at the junction onto Whalebone Lane South, approaching Chadwell Heath High Road bus stop. The bus started to fill up a little bit here, maybe people want to go shopping. Now, we were heading towards Becontree Heath after passing over the GEML (Great Eastern Main Line), 499 joins us from Crow Lane having served Queens Hospital. A bit of traffic, the driver moved along stopping at Stanley Avenue opposite McDonalds and Asda.
There was a man sitting on the other side talking on the phone, though the fans made it bearable at least. Now at Becontree Heath, we meet up with routes 5, 175 and EL2. As well as passing over Green Lane which routes 128 and 150 stay on. The huge building in front of you is Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, a good place to be fit and healthy! Near the traffic lights we stop at Morris Road - which is next to a Morrisons. Wow. Why am I not surprised? After staying on Wood Lane for a short while, we turn left onto the straightest road that this route has to follow; Heathway. One word. Houses. If you like looking at houses, this bit has it all. Oxlow Lane, the point where 174 joins us and 175 heading towards Dagenham.
Becontree Heath and Oxlow Lane
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A Wright Pulsar Gemini 2 is seen at Becontree Heath, one of other workings that this route received from June 2017.
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| DW325 (LJ60AYE) is seen at Oxlow Lane on route 175 towards Hillrise Estate. |
Dagenham
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| Busy Dagenham Heathway! |
Ahead I could see some shops - that meant we were in Dagenham Heathway! That's right we're officially in Dagenham now, and the road made sense. It wouldn't be called Heathway for nothing would it? The road was a bit busy here, and it reminded me a bit of Barking in the way that it was laid out. Dagenham Heathway station is served by the District Line, which goes up to Upminster from Central London - it seemed closed today though so maybe there's rail replacement. Some people got off here and a few boarded.
Leaving Dagenham...
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| Merrlelands Retail Park |
We met with the 145 temporarily at the next junction. It goes from Leytonstone to Dagenham Asda, via Wanstead, Redbridge, Ilford, Becontree, and Dagenham. I have done the route in this direction quite a few times in the past; ALX400s, Enviro 400s and MMCs. Gives me memories every time I see it. More housing after this - until we reach Merrlelands Retail Park. Alot of people got off here so I guess I was
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| The A13. |
right... Going onto the A13 which is the quickest part of the route - our bus was really squealing along this section!
The bus was picking up at a decent speed, almost hitting 40 but I could tell it was a bit worn out. Part of me hoped that I got T199. Barking (DX) garage. A depot that has been talked about alot more over these past few years for it's vehicles and service. Our bus went past it so no need for any driver changeovers.
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| Barking Bus Garage (DX) in October 2020. |
Their newest vehicles they have are the ADL Enviro 400s and the Wright Pulsar Gemini 2s which are over 10 years old. The Wright Pulsar Gemini 2s are okay but are a bit sluggish. Would prefer an Enviro 400 even they are worn out. So um... yeah, no hybrid vehicles or anything in the depot. Part of me wonders if they are going to get any new vehicles at all. That discussion is for another day. If they do then that's news to me. After we reached Lodge Avenue, the 287 goes it's own into Barking while we stay on the A13. We were pretty much going fast until we reached the River Road Junction. I saw some traffic ahead and a Wright Eclipse B9TL Gemini 2 which seems to have come from River Road (RR) to start it's shift.
Staying on the A13 (until Beckton)...
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| East Beckton |
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| Sulivan Buses E77 on rail replacement duties. |
Moving slowly, we approached North Circular Road (A406) which from that point meant the journey was almost coming an end. Entering another borough (London Borough of Newham) Beckton Triangle Retail Park. Unlike routes 262, 325 and 366 which stop nearby the shops, we actually stop just outside. It has a nice little bus stop next to the bridge - barely any cars pass through here. Could be a good photography spot... well if you are chasing 173s! Coming out of the bus stop, there was traffic into the approach of Beckton. While waiting to exit the A13 among the traffic, I saw a Sullivan Buses ADL
Enviro 400 MMC heading to Canning Town and a Scania N230UD Omnicity to Barking. Guess there was rail replacement after all. Taking the exit left onto the A117 and past the roundabout Beckton Station managed to be in sight.
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| Beckton Station - about to turn right into the bus station. |
Start time: 12:32
End time: 13:37
Not a bad run.
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| T184 (LJ60AUN) heads to the stand having completed the journey from King George Hospital. |
I hanged around in Beckton for a bit before deciding what to do next. I hope you enjoyed this one, part 2 may take a bit of time but I will try my best.
Thank you for your time, stay safe out there and happy 2021. :)
