Route History

22.10.52
AM
27RTL
20RTL
10RTL
 
P
34RT
29RT
9RT

CAMDEN TOWN - Gt Portland Street - Oxford Circus - Charing Cross - Westminster - Elephant - Old Kent Road - New Cross, Deptford Broadway - Blackheath - Charlton - Woolwich - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - PLUMSTEAD GARAGE (Suns)
Renumbered from 53A.

RTL460 seen on 2nd July 1953

© Alan B Cross

04.05.55
AM
26RT
20RT
15RT
 
P
30RT
27RT
4RT

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -  PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
RTL type at AM replaced by RT.

17.10.56
AM
25RT
16RT
14RT
 
P
30RT
26RT
7RT

CAMDEN TOWN - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - Wickham Lane - King Harolds Way - Bedonwell Road - Carlton Road - ERITH  (Suns)
Sunday extended from Plumstead Garage via 122A to Erith.

30.04.58
AM
24RT
16RT
24RT
times below
P
30RT+
26RT
13RT
    1RT/13    


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

26.11.58
AM
22RT
17RT
7RT
 
NX
29RT
25RT
13RT

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  - ERITH ( Suns )
Old Kent Road (P) closure - allocation transferred to New Cross (NX)

08.05.63
AM
23RT
19RT
6RT
 
NX
29RT
20RT
11RT

CAMDEN TOWN - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - PLUMSTEAD GARAGE (Suns)
Withdrawn between Plumstead Garage and Erith - 122A re-introduced.

01.07.64
AM
16RT
9RT
--
 
NX
36RT
29RT
16RT

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Sunday Plumstead (AM) allocation withdrawn.

23.01.66
AM
16RT
11RT
8RT
 
NX
36RT
23RT
11RT

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Sunday Plumstead (AM) re-introduced.

01.07.67
AM
15RM
10RM
8RM
 
NX
34RT
19RT
10RT

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Plumstead (AM) allocation converted to Routemaster operation.

RT4195 Blackheath

© Malcolm Allan

01.09.67
AM
15RM
10RM
8RM
 
NX
34RM
19RM
10RM

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
New Cross (NX) allocation converted to Routemaster operation.

23.08.69
AM
8RM
--
7RM
 
NX
41RM
26RM
10RM

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Saturday Plumstead (AM) allocation withdrawn.

24.01.70
NX
49RM
26RM
17RM

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Plumstead (AM) allocation withdrawn.

16.01.71
NX
50RM+
26RM
17RM
    1RM/141    

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Crosslinked Route 171 replaced by 141

17.04.71
NX
50RM+
26RM
17RM
    1RM/171    

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Crosslinked Route 141 replaced by 171

RT4616 CAMDEN Gardens stand

busmap.co.uk
26.01.75
NX
50RM+
23RM
16RM
    1RM/151    

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Crosslinked Route 171 replaced by 151

RM52 Westminster Bridge

busmap.co.uk

08.01.77
NX1+
48MD
23MD
16MD

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Scania double deck replace RM type.
Diverted westbound at Blackheath from Charlton Way via Prince Charles Road and Shooters Hill Road

MD133 Westminster Bridge

busmap.co.uk

19.03.77
NX1+
48MD+
23MD
16MD
    1DM/141    

CAMDEN TOWN  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
DM type added to the mix albeit cross linked 141

DM1168 Powis Street

busmap.co.uk

31.10.81
NX1+
48RM
23RM
16RM

CAMDEN TOWN - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - PLUMSTEAD STATION ( Suns and garage journeys )
Sunday Route diverted at Plumstead Common to new PD garage.
MD type replaced by RM - MD'S were transferred to Plumstead (AM)

27.10.84
NX1+
43RM
25RM
14RM

PARLIAMENT HILL FIELDS (Mon-Sat,) Kentish Town - CAMDEN TOWN (Suns) - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - PLUMSTEAD STATION (Suns)
Mon-Sat extended from CAMDEN Town to Parliament Hill Fields replacing withdrawn section of Route 3.

03.08.85
NX1+
30RM
15RM
13RM
 
PD241+
13RM
10RM
6RM

PARLIAMENT HILL FIELDS (Mon-Sat ) - CAMDEN TOWN (Suns) - PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat ) - PLUMSTEAD STATION (Suns)
Daily Plumstead (PD) allocation added.

RM194 is seen on the stand at Parliament Hill Fields off Highgate Road. On the roster as NX4 on route 53, a brand new Optare with London Country North West from a base in Muswell Hill is out on the C2, introduced on this day, can be seen also waiting in the rain. These two routes could be seen side-by-side at this location for just two weeks before the 53 was cut back to CAMDEN Town. 
© Malcolm Allan

04.04.87
NX1+
24RM
17RM
11RM
 
PD241+
14RM
8RM
5RM

OXFORD CIRCUS - PLUMSTEAD COMMON - PLUMSTEAD STN (garage jnys)
Withdrawn between Oxford Circus and Parliament Hill Fields - this section replaced by new minibus Route C2

RM1727 appears a little scruffy this Sunday in CAMDEN Town. Out as PD243 on route 53, it's scheduled for a through run to Plumstead Common then back home to Plumstead Garage.

© Malcolm Allan

16.01.88
NX1+
17T
20T
13T
 
PD241+
28L
10L
6L

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
Converted to double deck one person operation.

T1014 Vincent Road, Woolwich

busmap.co.uk

 

19.11.88
NX1+
7T
12T
--
 
PD241+
38L
23L
26L

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
Sunday New Cross (NX) allocation withdrawn.

27.04.91
NX1+
--
11T
--
 
PD241+
48L
23L
26L

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
Mon-Fri New Cross (NX) allocation withdrawn.

L136 Whitehall

busmap.co.uk

19.06.93
PD241+
42L
27L
18L

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
New Cross (NX) allocation withdrawn.

1998
PD241+
45VN
27VN
24VN

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
Vehicle type change to Volvo

VN113 Trafalgar Square

2001
PD241+
49TA
27TA
24TA

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON ( Mon-Sat )  -PLUMSTEAD GARAGE ( Suns )
Converted to low floor double deck operation.

Trident 17835 seen in the corridor of power - still with the unique ultimate destination which was later to become a plain Plumstead Station
01.07.02
PD241+
49TA
27TA
24TA
 
BT
M
--
--

OXFORD CIRCUS  -  PLUMSTEAD COMMON  -  PLUMSTEAD STATION ( garage journeys )
Mon-Fri additional peak Route introduced between Elephant & Castle and New Cross Sainsbury's worked by Titans from Blue Triangle

 

M27 (Blue Triangle) helps out
New Kent Road - Blue Triangle's impeccable eye to detail has failed here on the intermediate blind

 

15.02.03
PD241+
32TA
27TA
17TA

TRAFALGAR SQUARE - PLUMSTEAD COMMON - PLUMSTEAD STATION (garage jnys)
Withdrawn between Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus - replaced by new bendy bus Route 453

29.07.06
PD241+
27TA
27TA
17TA
Contract renewal

TRAFALGAR SQUARE - PLUMSTEAD COMMON - PLUMSTEAD STATION (garage jnys)
Contract renewal

15046 Woolwich Arsenal

30.07.11
PD241+
27E
27E
17E
Night service
PD301+
7E
7E
7E

TRAFALGAR SQUARE - PLUMSTEAD COMMON - PLUMSTEAD STATION (garage jnys)
Contract renewal with new Enviro buses

19748 Royal Standard

17.01.15
PD241+
26E
26E
19E
Night service
PD301+
7E
7E
7E

PLUMSTEAD  -  LAMBETH NORTH  --  WHITEHALL Horse Guards ( nights )
Withdrawn between Lambeth North and Whitehall although the night service continued to Whitehall

12369 12369 Bricklayers Arms / New Kent Road


23.07.16
PD241+
26E
26E
19E
Night service
PD301+
7E
7E
7E

PLUMSTEAD  -  WHITEHALL Horse Guards
Contract renewal
Daytime service restored to Whitehall

24.04.17
PD241+
31E
27E
21E
Night service
PD301+
7E
7E
7E

PLUMSTEAD  -  LAMBETH NORTH  --  WHITEHALL Horse Guards ( nights )
Withdrawn between Lambeth North and Whitehall although the night service continued to Whitehall

02.09.17
PD241+
31E
27E
21E
Night service
PD301+
6E
7E
7E

PLUMSTEAD  - WHITEHALL
Service restored between Lambeth North and Whitehall

15.06.19
PD241+
31E
27E
21E

PLUMSTEAD  - LAMBETH NORTH
Day service withdrawn between County Hall and Whitehall, night service remains unchanged but renumbered N53

30.01.21
PD241+
29E
25E
21E

PLUMSTEAD  - LAMBETH NORTH
New schedule for reduced running time

24.07.21
PD241+
29E
25E
21E

PLUMSTEAD  - LAMBETH NORTH
Contract extended for two years

12395

12395 Woolwich Arsenal Station 27.05.22

© Ian Armstrong

22.07.23
PD241+
29E
25E
21E

PLUMSTEAD  - LAMBETH NORTH
Contract renewal 7 years


 

Operating Garages

AM Plumstead
 Changeover point at garage

PD Plumstead
Changeover point at garage

NX New Cross
Changeover point at garage

P Old Kent Road
Changeover point at garage

2021 Map

Taken from 2021 map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk

 

 

Current Blind

 

 

Live Visual

 

 

53 Times

 

© Ian Armstrong 2024
Date of edit   Friday, 22.03.24