Route History

Date
Gar
Mon-Fri
Sat
Sun
at 03.10.34
AC
25STL
23STL
31STL
 
CL
35STL
32STL
25STL

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - Roman Road - Bethnal Green Stn - Shoreditch - Bishopsgate - Threadneedle Street - Bank - Holborn Circus - High Holborn - New Oxford Street - Oxford Street - Oxford Circus - Marble Arch - Edgware Road - Maida Vale - Kilburn - Willesden Lane - WILLESDEN White Hart or Neasden - BLACKBIRD CROSS - Wembley Park - WEMBLEY STADIUM
( Thurs evenings Summer months )

08.04.36
AC
25STL
23STL
31STL
 
CL
@50STL
32STL
25STL

OLD FORD  - WILLESDEN or BLACKBIRD CROSS  -  WEMBLEY STADIUM ( Thurs evenings Summer months )
Mon-Fri Clay Hall jointly operated with Route 8A

12.10.39
AC
25STL
23STL
31STL
 
CL
@51STL
32STL
25STL

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - BLACKBIRD CROSS
Thursday evening extension to Wembley Stadium withdrawn

15.11.39
AC
25STL
24STL
22STL
 
CL
@27STL
18STL
27STL

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( daytime )
The Blackbird Cross leg cut back to Willesden Garage in the evenings

15.05.40
AC
25STL
18STL
21STL
 
CL
@35STL
26STL
29STL
 
ON
18STL
12STL
--

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings )- BLACKBIRD CROSS ( Mon-Sat daytime / Sun)
Sunday evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross
Mon-Sat Alperton allocation added

It is not clear if ON garage journeys ran in service - because this would have meant a partial evening service beyond Willesden unless no evening buses ran from ON

20.11.40
AC
25STL
18STL
21STL
 
CL
@35STL
26STL
24STL
 
ON
18STL
12STL
 

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Sun evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Sunday evenings )
The Blackbird Cross leg cut back to Willesden Garage

14.05.41
AC
25STL
18STL
17STL
 
CL
@35STL
26STL
28STL
 
ON
18STL
12STL
--

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - BLACKBIRD CROSS
Sunday evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross

29.10.41
AC
32STL
21STL
20STL
 
CL
@40STL
28STL
30STL
 
ON
9STL
6STL
 

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN White Hart or - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Sat evenings )
The Blackbird Cross leg cut back to Willesden Garage Mon-Sat evenings

14.01.42
AC
32STL
21STL
20STL
 
CL
@40STL
28STL
30STL
 
ON
9STL
6STL
 

OLD FORD Lady Franklin - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Sat evenings )
WILLESDEN White Hart journeys diverted to Willesden Garage

22.04.42
AC
31STL
17STL
17STL
 
CL
@38STL
26STL
30STL

OLD FORD - BLACKBIRD CROSS
Mon-Sat evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross
Alperton (ON) allocation withdrawn - replaced by Route 46

28.10.42
AC
29STL+
14STL+
23STL
    3STL/112 1STL/112  
 
CL
@40STL
28STL
29STL

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Sat evenings ) - Wembley Park - Wembley Park Drive - Park Lane - Wembley High Road - Ealing Road - ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Mon-Sat evening service withdrawn between Willesden and Blackbird Cross
Sunday extended from Blackbird Cross to Alperton via withdrawn Route 46

21.04.43
AC
29STL+
14STL+
23STL
    2STL/112 1STL/112  
 
CL
@39STL
27STL
27STL

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Fri evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Fri evenings ) - ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Sat evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross

27.10.43
AC
27STL+
16STL+
18STL
    1STL/112 1STL/112  
 
CL
@37STL
30STL
19STL

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Sat evenings ) - - ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Saturday evening service withdrawn between Willesden and Blackbird Cross

19.04.44
AC
25STL
3ST+
17STL+
25STL
    1STL/18B 1STL/18B  
 
CL
@37STL
29STL
25STL

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Fri evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Fri evenings ) -- ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Saturday evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross

25.10.44
AC
25STL
4ST
19STL
20STL
 
CL
@36STL+
29STL
20STL

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE ( Mon-Sat evenings ) - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( except Mon-Sat evenings ) - - ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Saturday evening service withdrawn between Willesden and Blackbird Cross

13.02.46
AC
28STL
21STL
25STL
 
CL
@41STL
@33STL
@28STL

OLD FORD - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( Mon-Sat ) -- ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
Monday-Saturday evening service restored between Willesden and Blackbird Cross
Sunday service amended to run all through being previosly split at Willesden Garage

Taken from February 1946 Red Book

03.05.50
AC
28RT
24RT
30RT
 
CL
@41RTL
@32RTL
@30RTL

OLD FORD - BLACKBIRD CROSS ( Mon-Sat ) -- ALPERTON STATION ( Suns )
RT type introduced

A look at the allocation shows that on Mon-Fri peaks there was an impressive 35bph between Old Ford and Liverpool Street

02.05.51
AC
28RTW
24RTW
30RTW
 
CL
@41RTW
@32RTW
@30RTW

OLD FORD  -  BLACKBIRD CROSS ( Mon-Sat )  -  ALPERTON ( Suns )
RTW type introduced

Taken from July 1952 Red Book

16.10.57
AC
24RTW
1RML
20RTW
1RML
--
 
CL
21RTW+
26RTW
--
    5RTW/8A    

OLD FORD -   WEMBLEY Empire Pool (Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Sat extended from Kingsbury to Empire Pool and further extended Mon-Fri peaks to Wembley Trading Estate.
Sunday renumbered 8B.
RML prototype on trial

Scanned from April 1958 Red Book - the complete book is available from the Sales List

The 1127pm departure from KILBURN Willesden Lane is a mystery but there was a destination display for KILBURN Quex Road so maybe the outward journey terminated there


26.11.58
AC
17RTW
1RML
17RTW
1RML
--
 
CL
22RTW
25RTW
--
    +5RTW/8A    

OLD FORD - NEASDEN Dog Lane (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Fri outside peaks and Saturday withdrawn north of Neasden.

Taken from November 1958 Red Book
Note: No journeys from Old Ford ventured west of Willesden

13.05.59
AC
11RTW
7RM
11RTW
7RM
--
 
CL
22RTW
25RTW
--
    +5RTW/8A    

OLD FORD - NEASDEN Dog Lane (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
RM type introduced prior to trolleybus conversions.

 

RTL1338 the victim of a head butt and RTW314 stand side by side at Willesden Garage stand

 


11.11.59
AC
18RTW
18RTW
--
 
BW
23RTW
25RTW
--

OLD FORD - NEASDEN Dog Lane (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
CL garage closed - allocation transferred to BW.

 

 

RTL301 waits at the Elgin Avenue stand

 


18.11.64
AC
18RTW
16RTW
12RTW
 
BW
23RTW
27RTW
16RTW

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE (Suns) - NEASDEN (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Sunday Route withdrawn between Willesden and Alperton thus 8B renumbered 8.

01.01.65
AC
18RTW
16RTW
12RTW
 
BW
23RM
27RM
16RM inc 8A

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE (Suns) - NEASDEN (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
RM type introduced at BW

01.02.65
AC
18RM
16RM
12RM
 
BW
23RM
27RM
16RM inc 8A

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE (Suns) - NEASDEN (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
RM type introduced at AC.

25.10.69
AC
16RM
15RM
8RM
 
BW
24RM
24RM
14RM

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE (Suns) - NEASDEN (Mon-Sat) - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Sunday joint allocation with 8A withdrawn.

13.06.70
AC
15RM
14RM
7RM
 
BW
24RM
23RM
10RM

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN - NEASDEN (Sat shop hours) - WEMBLEY (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Fri withdrawn between Willesden and Neasden except for peak journeys to Wembley
Saturday withdrawn between Willesden and Neasden except for shopping hours.

22.09.73
AC
15RM
15RM
7RM
    +1RM/52    
 
BW
23RM
23RM
11RM
    +1RM/25    

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN - NEASDEN (Sat shop hours) - WEMBLEY (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Fri withdrawn between Willesden and Neasden except for peak journeys to Wembley

RM439 is seen one week before the changeover at AC to RML.
The bus was transferred to Alperton when the RML's arrived

busmap.co.uk


23.02.75
AC
15RML
14RML
7RML
 
BW
23RM
23RM
11RM

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN - NEASDEN (Sat shop hours) - WEMBLEY (Mon-Fri peaks)
AC introduced RML type.

19.10.75
AC
15RML
14RML
7RML
 
BW
23RML
23RML
11RML

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN - NEASDEN (Sat shop hours) - WEMBLEY (Mon-Fri peaks)
BW introduce RML type.

10.01.76
AC
16RML
14RML
8RML
 
BW
23RML
23RML/2RM
11RML

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN - NEASDEN (Sat shop hours) - WEMBLEY (Mon-Fri peaks)
Revised to operate in Old Ford both directions via Roman Road
St Stephen's Road and Old Ford Road. Eastbound routeing via Driffield Road discontinued.

25.04.81
AC
9RML
7RML
6RML
 
BW
22RML
24RML
14RML

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Saturday withdrawn between Willesden & Neasden.

23.01.82
AC
10RML
7RML
6RML
 
BW
22RML
24RML
16RML

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE - WEMBLEY Trading Estate (Mon-Fri peaks)
Wembley Trading Estate journeys rerouted at the Arena via Engineers Way First Way to South Way instead of Wembley Hill Road.

04.09.82
BW
29RML
27RML
23RML

OLD FORD - WILLESDEN GARAGE
Mon-Fri peak journeys beyond Willesden to Wembley withdrawn in favour of bifurcation journeys on Route 297.
AC allocation withdrawn.

28.07.84
BW
32RML
30RML
20RML

BOW GARAGE - WILLESDEN GARAGE
Route extended from Old Ford to Bow Garage at all times.

16.01.88
BW
37RML
32RML
--
 
WH
--
--
21T

WEST HAM GARAGE
(Suns) Stratford - BOW CHURCH (Mon-Sat) - WILLESDEN
Sunday converted to One Person Operation and transferred to West Ham (WH)
which filled the gap left by Route 25 withdrawal from WH on this day

21.05.88
BW
37RML
33RML
--
 
WH
--
--
25T

WEST HAM GARAGE (Suns) Stratford - BOW CHURCH (Mon-Sat) - WILLESDEN
Sunday First Bus from West Ham Garage rerouted to loop via Bow Church and Bromley High Street.

23.11.91
AC
10RML
9RML
 
 
BW
27RML
25RML
--
 
WH
--
--
25T

WEST HAM GARAGE (Suns) Stratford - BOW CHURCH (Mon-Sat) - WILLESDEN
Mon-Sat AC allocation re-introduced.

T643 Stratford Broadway seen on a garage journey to WH

busmap.co.uk


18.07.92
BW
26RML
23RML
14T

BOW CHURCH - Old Ford - Bethnal Green - Liverpool Street - Bank - High Holborn - Oxford Circus - Berkeley Square - Hyde Park Corner - VICTORIA Bus Station
Re-routed at Oxford Circus via withdrawn section of Route 25 to Victoria. Willesden section replaced by new Route 98.

01.06.93
BW
22RML
19RML
11S/T
evenings
BW
T
T
--

BOW  -  VICTORIA
Scania type introduced for OPO workings.

 

 

 

S58 Oxford Circus performing a short working journey

busmap.co.uk

 

 

 


15.07.95
BW
22RML
21RML
11T
evenings
BW
T
T
--
Evening Route converted to One Person Operation.

BOW  -  VICTORIA
Mon-Sat evenings converted to OPO

07.12.96
BW
22RML
21RML
11T/VN
evenings
BW
T/VN
T/VN
--

BOW  -  VICTORIA
VN type introduced

VA77 Holborn

28.04.01
BW
28RML
23RML
15RML

BOW  -  VICTORIA 
MS evening and Sunday Route reverted to crew operation except for a few late evening journeys ex N8.

Normally found on Route 15 - but seen on our route at Bank is Green Line liveried RML2456

05.06.04
BW61+
34TA
28TA
18TA

BOW  -  VICTORIA  
Route converted to OPO operation - click here for conversion night

Trident 178844 at Bank Junction

BOW CHURCH - OXFORD CIRCUS
Contract renewed but withdrawn between Oxford Circus and Victoria - most of this section covered by extending Route C2 from Oxford Circus to Victoria. Revised to stand in Henrietta Place

Scania Omnicity 10.9m ( 15107 ) Bethnall Green

24.08.13
BW61+
30TA
25TA
15TA

BOW CHURCH  -  TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Withdrawn between Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus

Click map to expand
28.06.14
BW61+
30LT
24LT
15LT

BOW CHURCH  -  TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
New Contract with new Wrightbus ( Borisbus )

 

 

LT250 Bethnal Green Station about to enter Roman Road

 


28.06.14
BW61+
27LT
24LT
15LT

BOW CHURCH  -  TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
The curtailment at Tottenham Court Road made permanent

29.06.19
BW61+
27LT
22LT
14LT

BOW CHURCH  -  TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Contract renewal

Current blind



8

 

=====================================================================================================================================================

Operating Garages

AC Willesden
Changeover point at garage

CL Clay Hall
Changeover point at Old Ford

BW Bow
Changeover point at Old Ford

WH West Ham
Changeover point at garage

 

Live visual

 

 

 

© Ian Armstrong 2024
Date of edit   Wednesday, 20.03.24