Route History

Date
Gar
Mon-Fri
Sat
Sun
03.10.34
SP
5ST
5ST
7ST

SIDCUP STATION - Foots Cray - St Mary Cray - Orpington - Sevenoaks Road - Farnborough - Locks Bottom - Bromley Common - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Previously numbered 411


Taken from 1934 map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk

17.04.35
SP
5ST
6ST
--
 
TB
--
--
7ST

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Sunday Sidcup (SP) allocation moved to Bromley (TB)

05.06.35
SP
5ST
5ST
1LT
--
 
TB
--
4ST
7ST

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Saturday Bromley (TB) introduced

02.10.35
SP
5ST
6ST
7ST

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Bromley (TB) allocation withdrawn

27.05.36
SP
5LT+
1LT/21
6LT
5LT
 
TB
--
4ST
--

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Saturday Bromley (TB) reintroduced

07.10.36
SP
6LT
--
5LT
 
TB
--
6ST
--

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Saturday Sidcup (SP) allocation withdrawn

04.05.38
SP
6LT
9LT
7LT

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Bromley (TB) allocation withdrawn

03.05.39
SP
--
--
7LT
 
TB
6STL
9STL
--

SIDCUP STATION - BROMLEY NORTH STATION
Mon-Sat Sidcup (SP) allocation moved to Bromley (TB)

22.11.39
TB
4STL
4STL
8STL

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat ) - BROMLEY NORTH STATION ( Suns )
Mon-Sat withdrawn between Farnborough and Bromley North
Sunday only Sidcup (SP) allocation withdrawn

29.10.41
SP
3LT
3LT
--
 
TB
4STL
4STL
7STL

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat )  or GREEN STREET GREEN ( Mon-Sat ) - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Suns )
Mon-Sat part of service diverted to Green Street Green
Sunday withdrawn between Bromley Garage and Bromley North
Mon-Sat Sidcup (SP) allocation reintroduced

22.04.42
SP
4LT
4LT
--
 
TB
4STL
4STL
7STL

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat )  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Suns )
Mon-Sat Green Street Green journeys withdrawn

28.10.42
SP
4LT
4LT
--
 
TB
4STL
4STL
7STL

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
Sunday am withdrawn between Farnborough and Bromley Garage except for garage journeys

09.12.42
SP
4LT
4LT
--
SP allocation includes 51A
 
TB
4STL
4STL
7STL
Mon-Sat TB allocation includes 51A

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
Diverted via Sevenoaks Way and Cray Avenue
Mon-Sat journeys to Green Street Green reinstated but numbered 51A

27.10.43
SP
5LT
4LT
3LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation includes 51A and daily 51B
 
TB
6STL
4STL
4STL
Mon-Sat TB allocation includes 51A and Daily 51B

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
Sunday Sidcup (SP) reintroduced
Daily journeys bifurcated to Orpington Station but were numbered 51B

13.02.46
SP
7LT
6LT
7LT
Mon-Sat SP allocation includes 51A and daily 51B
 
TB
5STL
5STL
4STL
Mon-Sat TB allocation includes 51A and Daily 51B


24.03.48
SP
7LT
7LT
11LT
Sunday allocation includes 51B

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
Bromley (TB) allocation withdrawn

13.04.49
SP
7RTL
7RTL
14RTL

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
LT type replaced by RTL


04.05.55
SP
7RT
7RT
13RT

SIDCUP STATION - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat / Sun am)  - BROMLEY GARAGE ( Sun pm)
RTL replaced by RT.

30.04.58
SP
7RT
7RT
13RT


26.11.58
SP
10RT
10RT
18RT

WELLING STATION (Sat/Sun) - BLACKFEN (Mon-Fri peaks) - SIDCUP STN (Mon-Fri) - FARNBOROUGH - BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun afts)
Mon-Fri peaks extended from Sidcup Station to Blackfen
Sat & Sun extended from Sidcup to Welling replacing withdrawn 241 on these days.


28.03.62
SP
10RT
10RT
15RT

WELLING STATION (Sat/Sun) - SIDCUP STN (Mon-Fri) - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun aft)
Mon-Fri peak extension between Sidcup and Blackfen withdrawn.


08.05.63
SP
10RT
14RT
14RT

WOOLWICH ROAD Victoria Way (Sat peaks) - WOOLWICH Hare Street (Sat/Sun) - SIDCUP STN (Mon-Fri) - FARNBOROUGH  (Mon-Sat / Sun am)-; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun afts)
Sat & Sun extended from Welling to Woolwich and further extended Sat peaks to Victoria Way.

Scanned from Winter 1963 Red Book
01.07.64
SP
14RT
14RT
15RT

WOOLWICH Victoria Way (Mon-Sat peaks) - WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH ( Mon-Sat ) - FARNBOROUGH HOSPITAL (Suns) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
Mon-Fri extended from Welling to Woolwich - further extended to Woolwich Road replacing Route 241 which was withdrawn.

Taken from 1964 map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk

15.06.68
SP
32RT
22RT
10RT

WOOLWICH Victoria Way (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
Saturday withdrawn between Woolwich and Victoria Way
Route increased to compensate for 51A and 51C withdrawal.

RT3264 Sidcup Hill / Cray Road known at the time as
FOOTS CRAY Barley Mow

© Jim Blake


07.09.68
SP
17RT
11RT+
10RT
      1RT/161  

WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
Route decreased with the re-introduction of Route 51A.
The Victoria Way projections were transferred to Route 51A.

18.04.70
SP
16RT+
12RT
9RT
    2RT/228    

WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
Saturday cross link with 161 withdrawn

04.08.73
SP
16RT+
12RT
9RT
    1RT/228    

WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
One crosslinked 228 withdrawn

01.03.75
SP
15RT
12RT
9RT

WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
Cross linked 228 withdrawn

RT2866 seen in Woolwich on a Sunday afternoon

busmap.co.uk


13.06.76
SP1+
15RM
12RM
9RM

WOOLWICH - FARNBOROUGH -; BROMLEY GARAGE (Sun pm) - HAYES STN (Daily pm jnys)
RT type replaced by Routemasters.

RM34 Welling

busmap.co.uk


21.05.77
SP1+
29DMS
21DMS
10DMS

CONVERTED TO ONE PERSON DOUBLE DECK OPERATION
CHARLTON STATION (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - ORPINGTON STATION or GREEN STREET GREEN
Extended from Woolwich to Charlton Mon-Fri peaks and diverted at Orpington to Green Street Green instead of Farnborough.
This in fact was the 51A renumbered.

The Farnborough section was replaced by a revised 229 although the Hayes Station journeys were not replaced.

DMS74 Orpington

busmap.co.uk



M801 part of a trial comparing the Titan with the Metrobus

busmap.co.uk


04.09.82
SP1+
24DMS
16DMS
9DMS

CHARLTON STATION (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Withdrawn between Orpington and Green Street Green - this section being replaced by a revised 229.

02.11.85
SP1+
18T
16T
9T

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Extension from Woolwich to Charlton Mon-Fri peaks withdrawn.
Converted from DMS to T operation.

04.05.86
SP1+
18L
9l16L
9T

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Titan type replaced by Leyland Olympian

 

L36 Orpington

busmap.co.uk

 

16.08.86
SJ41+
AN
AN
AN

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION - GREEN STREET GREEN (Mon-Fri peaks)
Operation transferred to London Country operated by Swanley (SJ) which was an outstation of Dartford (DT)
Mon-Fri peak journeys diverted to Green Street Green

AN319 Orpington

busmap.co.uk


19.08.89
DT
15ON
16ON
9ON

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Mon-Fri peak journeys to Green Street Green withdrawn.
Operation transferred from Swanley to Dartford.

Kentish Bus 705 seen at

busmap.co.uk


26.12.90
BO
?
--
--

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Special one day only service operated by Boroline

Boroline 922 Orpington Sation

busmap.co.uk


19.01.91
DG
ON
ON
ON
 
DT
ON
ON
ON

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Dunton Green (DG) allocation introduced


26.09.92
BX81+
15T
16T
9T

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Operation transferred from London & Country to London Central (BX)

T1010 Thomas Street

busmap.co.uk


25.11.95
BX81+
16NV
16NV
9NV

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
T type replaced by Volvo Olympians - new contract commenced.

 

NV12 at Welling

 


22.02.03
BX81+
17PVL
17PVL
9PVL

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Low Floor introduction

PVL4 Orpington High Street

06.12.08
PD101+
17SC
16SC
13SC
Contract reassigned

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Contract transferred to Selkent (PD) using Scania Omnicity buses.

07.12.13
PD101+
18SC+
16SC
13SC
    1SC/672    

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Contract renewal

 

15096 loads up at Thomas Street

 


30.01.16
PD101+
19SC+
18SC
11SC
    1/672    

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Schedule includes changeovers at Plumstead Common in addition to Woolwich

09.12.18
MB171+
19WVL
19WVL
11WVL
logo Contract reassigned to GoAhead Metrobus (MB)

WVL465 Woolwich

© Samuel Letsu


22.06.19
BX21+
19EN
19EN
17EN
logo From Metrobus to London Central

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Transferred within GAL to Bexleyheath (BX)

EN31 Woolwich Town Centre

© Samuel Letsu


02.12.23
BX21+
19EN
19EN
17EN

WOOLWICH -ORPINGTON STATION
Contract extended for two years

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

Current Blind



51

 

 

Operating Garages

BX Bexleyheath
ibus code 10

Changeover point at Welling, see below

Stop G towards Woolwich / Stop H towards Orpington
RELIEF POINT Stop G towards Woolwich / Stop H towards Orpington

MB Orpington
Changeover points at Sidcup Station and Orpington Station

SP Sidcup
Changeover point Foots Cray.

PD Plumstead
Changeover point Woolwich Beresford Square stand

MON-SAT only Plumstead Common as well

SJ Swanley
Changeover point ?

DT Dartford
Changeover point ?

DG Dunton Green
Changeover point ?

TB Bromley
Changeover point ?

Live visual

 

Route 51 guide

 

 

 

© Ian Armstrong 2024
Date of edit   Friday, 22.03.24