Another Know Your Routes is in order, today's one bringing us back north onto the relatively short route 288.

 The route, currently operated by Arriva The Shires uses 6 Wright Cadets with a frequency of every 10 minutes during the Monday-Friday daytime. The route, from Queensbury Morrison's goes around the back of the large-chain superstore via Westmoreland Road to join fellow routes 79, 114 and 614/644 at Queensbury Station just a stop away before heading along a unique section to 288 only via Turner Road, and then Camrose Avenue before making it up to High Street Edgware quickly followed by Edgware Bus and Train Stations and making the short leg up Purcells Avenue to dive into Broadfields Estate. Here buses on route 288 are unique because there is a one-way loop system, with buses running to the top of Broadfields Avenue to terminate (buses don't usually stand) then running back down towards Queensbury via Kenilworth Gardens, Glendall Road and a shorter section of Broadfields Avenue.
Route 288 operates between Queensbury, Morrisons and Broadfields Estate.

The route only dates back to 1972, where the route was crowned as one of the shortest routes in London, with 288 only running between Broadfields Estate via it's current route up until Edgware Station only. The whole purpose was to give an easy access link to Broadfields Estate as local buses for people at the northern end of the estate were a mere walk away being some of Edgware's most unreliable routes, 113 and 186. Route 288 didn't run on Sundays however, and buses ran in a circular route style - like H18 and H19, so didn't actually terminate at Broadfields.

In 1975, with Edgware (EW) running the route, the service was increased to two buses Mon-Sat and a brand new Sunday service operating with 1 bus of the SMS type. In 1980, the route was converted to double-decker operation with MCW Metrobuses (?) before converting back to midibus in 1990.

In 1993, Cricklewood (W) actually decided to operate the route with one additional bus to the existing Edgware (EW) allocation with a Dart. Just in July, two months later Cricklewood withdrew their allocation and at the same time Edgware (EW) had to raise the PVR to 6, which matches today's PVR with route 107 being withdrawn between Edgware Station and Queensbury Station. Route 288 replaced this section over the A5 and Camrose Avenue.

In 1996, route 288 was extended to Queensbury Safeway's, now Queensbury Morrison. There was a minor alteration in the timetable and no need for a vehicle or PVR change. EDR Darts were now operating the route.

In 2002, route 288's allocation was transferred to North Wembley (NW) garage, with buses running light from Queensbury Morrison's along the 79 route. One of the first low-floor buses, the DLD type Dennis Darts were introduced on routes 288, 303 and 305.

In 2006 was a change that forms today's exact 288 - Arriva The Shires won the contract against Metroline with a bid from Garston (GR) garage located north of Watford. This was a joint contract win with routes 268, 303 and 305. So 24 Wright Cadets were purchased for this huge win, with bonnet numbers 3704-3728 as well as being supplemented by two new Darts 3804 and 3805.

In 2013, the route was retained again with it's other sister routes and the buses ordered in 2006 were all refurbished. Here are some double deck workings - as the route is known to take double deckers from time to time. 

First up is Arriva's 6123 (LJ05 BKX) which caught on fire days after this photo. This hasn't been seen since but has been said it's being repaired.

And second one up is Arriva's 6035 (YJ55 WOV) which is a batch from route 258 (South Harrow - Watford Junction). This was on a day where Garston (GR) put out workings on all their routes, whether common or rare! This was 288's share for the day:

For more interesting observations as they come out and we snap them, click here. Now to round off the post with the fleetlist. Note the Darts 3804/5 are actually allocated to routes 303 and 305, not 288 or 268.

Fleetlist:

LJ03 MUW - 3515

YJ06 LFE - 3704

YJ06 LFF - 3705

YJ06 LFG - 3706

YJ06 LFH - 3707

YJ06 LFK - 3708

YJ06 LFL - 3709

YJ06 LDK - 3710

YE06 HRA - 3711

YE06 HRC - 3712

YE06 HRD - 3713

YE06 HRF - 3714

YE06 HRG - 3715 - Written off, replaced by 3515.

YE06 HRJ - 3716

YE06 HPA - 3717

YE06 HPC - 3718

YE06 HPF - 3719

YE06 HPJ - 3720

YE06 HPK - 3721

YE06 HPL - 3722

YE06 HPN - 3723

YE06 HPO - 3724

YE06 HPP - 3725

YE06 HPU - 3726

YE06 HNT - 3727

YE06 HNU - 3728

Thanks for reading this post, we apologise for the long wait for a Know Your Routes, stay safe and we hope you enjoyed!

All photos are copyright to LondonBuses72. Do not reproduce them without consent.

If anyone is wondering what the corny title is about, this is our new corner of the monthly section on trains. We will try our hardest to go "On the rails" too once a month, with this being our first edition in some time. 

April 2014 sees the end of the line for London Underground's C Stock units, these being represented in two batches and two 'special' units. These trains will be replaced by the rolling out S7 stock which will run the Circle, Hammersmith & City Lines and District Lines. A slightly longer variant, the S8 operates on the Metropolitan Line. 

C69 Stock 5598 arrives into Westbourne Park Station, on a
Hammersmith & City Line service stations to Liverpool Street
running duty number 234. 

The C stock operates in two batches: The C69, which ran the Hammersmith & City and Circle Lines, the C77, which runs the District Line between Wimbledon to Edgware Road and the two special units 6734 and 6548 which are the C08 units.

If you may be scratching your head thinking, "Wait a minute, the District Line operates with D78 stock" then you are correct. However the C stock also operates on the District Line between Wimbledon to Edgware Road only due to the shorter platform lengths stations Edgware Road - High Street Kensington which cannot accommodate the D78 stock. 

However, the C stock hasn't always been STRICTLY between Wimbledon and Edgware Road, some C stocks have been spotted on the 'Main Line' District Line before, I do remember myself seeing a C stock operate (In service) on the District Line at Ealing Common, which is way off route back in 2006.

I have to credit the fact that despite being refurbished over 25 years ago, these trains have kept themselves together in a decent condition, something I am impressed with. The C stock's exterior is immaculate, definitely the best out of the A, C and D rolling stocks. Perhaps that must explain the reason why prior to withdrawal it was actually London Underground's face, any posters, especially international ones or any form of advertising to come to London or something like that always had a photo or video of the C stock and never anything else in most cases. 

Not just with posters and adverts, even the London Underground Simulator, which seems very impressive and highly popular (It is a good game, I tell you) has taken all the details of London Underground stations and even railway tracks on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and District Lines (Wimbledon Line), and made it in the game like the real thing. The rolling stock used, even though is updated on a yearly basis (?) and the S stock has drafted into service has still been chosen that you and your peers drive the C stock on any of the lines and the S stock in fact doesn't exist.

Just last week, I rode a C77 unit myself before withdrawal for probably the last time in my life. Prior to this, I didn't enjoy the C stock that much. But that was on the Circle Line, and you can't really enjoy the Circle line to say the least. I've only used the C stock between High Street Kensington and Earl's Court on the District Line, but this time I decided to ride the whole journey end to end. I have watched a few videos and they did seem more exciting as they actually go faster than the D stock, so that is something. 

I hopped on the train at Wimbledon on a nice, sunny and bright day, probably the first we've had in ages. The train was relatively empty so I actually got to take in more of the details of the train. At first I was on the wrong platform at Wimbledon, as there are 4 platforms, consisting of two island platforms. On the platform I was on was a just a D stock train, and no other train on the other platform. I was waiting there for another 10 minutes on no train arrived, although by then a D stock train left. I was just wondering when a C stock train was coming, only to switch platforms to realise all that time a C stock was on stand in the platform. Considering C stock trains are dramatically shorter than the D stock for the  reasons stated above, the entire D stock was covering the C stock train, and the C stock train didn't actually reach all the way to the end of the platform, so you had to walk up halfway the platform to get on the train.

I ended up on C stock unit 5516, and about 4 minutes later the train was ready to leave for a journey bound for all stations to Edgware Road. As I was on the other end of the train, or what is now the front as it has switched directions (Don't get on at the end, all the passengers go in there and make your journey more cramped and miserable).

C77 stock 5516 is seen at Edgware Road on the District Line
having finished the 30 minute run from Wimbledon in it's last
days. LondonBuses72's favourite C stock train, without a doubt
as she ran duty 074.

I couldn't believe it, the journey was thrilling, the train moved off quickly and within 3 minutes we were at Wimbledon Park. Unit 5516 showed me a side I had never seen on the C stock, the good side. As I moved onto Southfields which seemed to be familiar with it's unclear announcements (Read below). Skipping to East Putney, several passengers on the platform seemed to embark. As it left we went over on the viaduct around East Putney before crossing the River Thames where the train picked up serious speed. I kept bouncing on and off my seat at one point because the train was vibrating the bridge so hard. At Putney Bridge we had to wait because an extremely slow District Line (D stock) train which I saw leaving earlier at Wimbledon was moving extremely slowly. Due to this as we had docked into the platform for 5 or so minutes, we did pick up several passengers. We continued into Parsons Green after some time as the D stock did pick up a bit of pace and I saw the whole C stock operational spare train which sits in the siding looking rather fresh.

I passed another 'sports landmark' just a stop after Parsons Green, at Fulham Broadway, home of 'The Blues' or Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium which is pretty much outside of the station. Luckily Fulham Broadway station was rather empty, as there was to be a scheduled match later on in the evening, right now it being around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. 

We shortly arrived into the hub of the District Line: Earl's Court. I could have the train to myself again from here as most of the crowds left the train to change to other services from the station, or visit the nearby Earl's Court exhibition centre. We did wait again, this time not for an D stock to move up ahead, that was over (thankfully!) but a faulty S7 stock train on the Circle & Hammersmith & City lines which broke down at Paddington caused severe delays on the Circle Line and meant that trains were being diverted/ delayed severely which altered the service of the 'Wimbledon Line' as well. 

Eventually the train was ready to leave and the driver put pace as we swerved through the Earl's Court/ Gloucester Road sidings (or whatever it is) to get to High Street Kensington, very quickly in order to pay up for the time already wasted. The rest of the crowd that didn't alight at Earl's Court got off here, leaving I and about two other people at the other end of the carriage on the train which seemed to be moving quite slowly now due to the aforementioned delays.

There wasn't anything interesting worth jotting down except for the lengthy delay which had now by Paddington affected all sub-surface lines in one manner or another. The section of Paddington was actually normal, of course 5516 was waiting in the tunnel for about 2 minutes, but that was to wait for another C stock train, running number 073, to head en-route to Wimbledon, which is normal during the peaks as the train platforms are rarely empty at Edgware Road as such with Heathrow Terminal 4. We docked into Edgware Road where I did a bit of filming before heading for a Hammersmith & City line train that was heading to Plaistow. 

I decided to film the journey between Wimbledon and East Putney, which can be seen underneath the next paragraaph. 

In fact, I did something new. Not that any other blogger has done, I decided to even make a farewell video of these trains, which is about 15 minutes. Unfortunately, all this will filmed before the camera, so it means the quality of the phone may be lower. Apologies for that!

Then I decided to take an S Stock in comparison to the C Stock, to see how my personal experience was, between East Putney and Wimbledon and Edgware Road and High Street Kensington. One thing I could note down at first was the clearness of the announcements, whereas on the C stock it was so muffled. At Southfields was one example, it took me some time to figure out the announcements were saying "Exit for Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club". The C Stock sounded more like "Exit for Wimbledon Dawn Resting Club" and that sounded weird and not right at first until I noticed it was 'Lawn Tennis'. Even then I was still baffled on why it was referred to as that, as that is not the actual name for the club, it's actually supposed to be "The All England Lawn Tennis Club" which is near the Wimbledon Tennis.



For the stations between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road on the S7 stock, if you were in the first car or in the last car, you would hear something like this on the announcements "The next station is Notting Hill Gate. This is a District Line train to Edgware Road.....The front/ rear doors will not open at the next station, please use other doors". There was a fault in the announcements system at Edgware Road, probably the wrong line was selected was "The next station is Edgware Road, where this train terminates. Change for the Central Line (?!) and Hammersmith & City Lines, and as of 12th April 2014, this error still hasn't been fixed (!) 

There were two rail tours (typical of TfL) for the C Stock. One was on the 13th April, this one dubbed as the 'Off the Rails' as the C stock ran around lines it didn't serve - the tour started at Moorgate, and ran on the Metropolitan Line to Amersham, then around the North Curve to Watford, then to Harrow-On-The-Hill where the train ran to Uxbridge. After taking a short break, the train ran along the Piccadilly Line to Acton Town, where it switched directions to Northfields and made a pit stop there for an hour whilst all the managing directors and staff, as well as enthusiasts, drivers and engineers enjoyed a photography session and their lunch break.

Afterwards, the train departed Northfields and followed the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith, before switching onto the District Line tracks and went round via Earl's Court, Embankment and Tower Hill to Upminster, before the train returned down to Barking, then to Aldgate East, where it diverged off the District Line to join the Hammersmith & City Line to Hammersmith, where the tour called for an end, at around 1700 hours. The train used on this tour was 5596 + 5727 being the motor cars with 6 carriages lettered A-F. I must say, for a C-stock train, I did see it shoot past on the rails).

The other rail tour was the grand finale of the C Stock, on the 29th June 2014, which the C stock ran around the lines it did serve in it's life time (The Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Lines). The train started the tour at Hammersmith (H & C station) and did a run to Moorgate where a double run was made up to Edgware Road, as the train then followed the length of the Wimbledon Line before going to Barking via Edgware Road, then back via one loop of the Circle Line. Lewis was there to get the last shots, as seen at Wimbledon:

Here's 5721 at Wimbledon - on the 29th July tour. This was in the afternoon, but the shot earlier on is seen below. Note the special blinds made for the occasion. Here's 5578 (the other end of the train) at Moorgate. Trains ran duty number 770.

Well, these trains are now withdrawn. And the past is the past. But whether you liked them or hated them - let's remember the iconic Modern-day Underground train.

Most of you haven't been on the 640, which is fair enough because it's one of those awkward school routes where you have to get a day off in the middle of a school term to come and see. However, the 640 is a very special route, because it's one of only a few left in London which still has a flourishing character. Or at least it did until Metroline won the contract.

It was one of those routes which saw the same people day in, day out. Everyone sort of knew who everyone else was, even though they had never conversed. This was all because of the way that Arriva ran the route.


The 640 uses two buses for two journeys, northbound in the morning and southbound in the afternoon. The second journey always used the same driver, who has to be one of the best drivers in TFL service. He kept the community alive on the 640, known as the 'uncle' of the route. And somehow, I became the 'nephew'!

Arriva won the contract for route 640 in 2009, and for some reason two brand new Wright Gemini II buses arrived - numbered 6100 and 6101 - which were to be utilised on the 640 (although in practise they were more commonly found on route 258). I do not know why this decision was made: it can't be profitable to buy brand new buses for an infrequent school route which could be quickly worn down, but it is a decision I definitely approve of. Those 'DWs' are bloody brilliant at the hands of a fast driver!



Arriva have now operated the route for 5 years, and the contract has fallen back to Metroline from Harrow Weald. I agree that it is both more practical and convenient as well as better for the environment to run the route from a garage which is actually on the line of route, rather than in Hertfordshire, and new-ish buses for Harrow Weald is definitely a bonus.

But it's not the same.

for more pictures of Arriva on the 640, please see here

There's another, rather quiet, month that has just gone by. Summer's drawing to a close, with Winter creeping up extremely quickly. Time to do the most recent round up.

Arriva London:
- One contract loss, with Arriva seeming to have gone through a rough patch, of route 432 between Anerley and Brixton stations. This time to Go-Ahead London.

- On the upside, Arriva have won new school route 663 between Pampisford Road and Thornton Heath using one existing bus with the route starting this week.

Arriva Shires & Essex:
- Route 321, which runs Luton to Watford, was converted to Sapphire operation on Sunday 31st August 2014. New StreetLites have entered service on route, alongside 3 existing Mercedes Citaros. A post on this will come soon.

Arriva Southern Counties:
- Route 66 was converted to double decker operation on Saturday 30th August using DWs ex-route 38 before the LT conversion. The buses have been renumbered 6201-6212.

Abellio London:
- Not many losses this year for Abellio, however there is one to note from this month of route 322 between Clapham Common, Old Town and Crystal Palace which has been lost to Go-Ahead London.

- Route 112 passed to Metroline at the start of the month, with 8440 (RX51 FGP) and 9767 (YN51 KWB) being the last Abellio buses on route. The last Caetano Nimbus was 8468 (HX04 HTT) leaving the 112 at Ealing Broadway around 2230. A post on this is coming soon.


- Abellio have put the new buses for route 49 on other routes for the coming week until 6th September, when 49 leaves London United for Abellio. Bar 2465 (SL14 LOA) and 2466 (SL14 LOD), the new buses are 64-reg and on 1st September, when 64-reg vehicles are legally allowed on the road, 2467 (SN64 OER), 2469 (SN64 OET), 2473 (SN64 OEX) and 2475 (SN64 OEZ) entered service respectively on routes 3, 344, 414 and C2. They should also appear on route 156 as well. The fleetlist for the buses should be SL14 LOA/D then from 2467, SN64 OER/S/T/U/V/W/X/Z and SN64 OFL. More buses to be confirmed of their registrations in the upcoming week.

Go-Ahead London:
- The following routes have been retained: G1, 191
- The following routes have been won: 322, 432

Route 322 and G1 has been won/retained with new 'flybrids', a Flywheel hybrid system installed on the buses.

Route 191 has been retained with existing Enviro 400s to be refurbished.

Route 432 has been won with double deckers, the type confirmed later although one journey to be crosslinked with route 468.

- There's a new V6, this one replaces BF63 HFE and IS NOT the same one as some may have thought. It's also a Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL.

London Sovereign RATP Group:
- Buses have not gained any logos. However, VH20 (BT13 YWS) was the first to make it onto route 292 on the 11th August 2014.

- DLE26 has still not arrived yet, and route 582 continues.

London United RATP Group:
- Route 49 is to be lost, and the last bus is to run just after midnight on the 6th September 2014. What is the last bus? We won't know, with the amount of buses that can be found on route 49 from VEs to ADHs and everything inbetween (SPs, TAs, SLE44) remains to be a mystery until the last day. The SPs will then move to Fulwell (FW) for routes 71 and 281.

- Two unusual workings happened on route 94 - SLE44 and ADE65 both appeared on route 94, the route usually allocated TLAs and ADHs, with the odd TA and SP.

Metroline Travel:
- Route 112 now runs from Cricklewood (W) garage, with the new vehicles arriving into London, 10.8m Enviro 200s (DEL2062-71) now. They should be out on the route by the end of the next fortnight. These have 64 plates, and are LK64 Exx plated.

- Route 395 is to have it's last buses run later than 2200, to around 0015 now. The route is now allocated 58-reg DEs, ex-245 which none have been refurbished.

- 16 MMC Enviro 400s, with no known destination are on order, for the New Year of 2015. 

- The buzz of the week has been about the start of 640 on Wednesday 3rd September 2014, with buses VW1243-8 allocated to it, the first of the type at Harrow Weald (HD). These buses will run both 140 and 640, of which 140 has had a frequency increase to every 7 minutes and the PVR to 28 and two journeys to be crosslinked to route 640. These buses DO NOT replace any vehicles at Harrow Weald (HD).

- Three 11-reg VWs have been spotted on route 7 this week. The SEL conversion on route 297 is done, and seems to be doing well on route 79 too. However the conversion isn't done yet, although some VWs have left for HT, 1196, 1205, 1207-1216, 1198 and 1201. The buses moving out should be 1193-1216.

Metroline West:
- Route 282 is a pretty much TE route (using ex-E1/3 buses), with the TPs now withdrawn (except 1508 which showed up randomly once again) with 3 TPs fleeing off to Uxbridge.

Stagecoach London:
- Some more Enviro 400 Hybrids are coming in, registered as SN64 Oxx. These are for Plumstead (PD) garage, as part of Stagecoach Shambles.

- Whilst on the topic of PD, also route 177 has been retained by Stagecoach with brand new hybrids. 

Tower Transit:
- WSH62292 (LK60 HPN) is to be returning back to London service soon, on route RV1 between Tower Gateway and Covent Garden.


Some of the next tenders to be announced are:
T32: New Addington - Addington Village. This route is operated by Metrobus. This route may be withdrawn, however should be confirmed at tender.
353: Addington Village - Ramsden Estate. This route is operated by Metrobus.
654: Ramsden Estate - Addington Village. This route is operated by Metrobus.

331: Uxbridge Station - Ruislip Station. This route is operated by Metroline West.
A10: Uxbridge Station - Heathrow T1, 2 and 3. This route is operated by Metroline West.

Thanks for reading this edition! Last updated: 18:56 05/09/2014.

Lewis returns with a new article indebted to Arriva Sapphire and their new services moving closer to our capital.