Route History
Route History from 1904 to 1947
The origins of Route 68 compiled by Roland Wilcox
The following are all motor bus routes. In fact TG1 was Tilling’s first motor bus route
Route numbers were not used on these services until 1914 with the exception of the 12 and 13. The lettered routes below are purely for identification purposes on this site – they were not used by the operators..
30 09 04 TG1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM via Westminster Bridge - Elephant. New route Thomas Tilling (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
26 02 05 TG1 operated outside the Atlas & Waterloo Association)
02 03 05 TG1 operated within Atlas & Waterloo Association.
01 04 05 ST1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM New route Star Omnibus Co (London) Ltd (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
01 06 05 HT1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM New route H Turner (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
21 10 05 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – LAW COURTS via Kingsway. New route New London & Suburban Omnibus Co Ltd
08?11 05 PH1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM New route P Hearn (Atlas & Waterloo Association)
13 11 05 AO1 CHALK FARM Adelaide - CHARING CROSS via Kingsway. New route Associated Omnibus Co (Camden Town Association)
30 11 05 AO2 CHALK FARM Adelaide – LAW COURTS via Kingsway. New route Associated Omnibus Co Ltd (Camden Town Association).
30 11 05 LG1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – LAW COURTS via Kingsway. New route London General (Camden Town Association).
31 12 05 AO2 CHALK FARM Adelaide – LAW COURTS via Kingsway. Associated Omnibus Co Ltd (Camden Town Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
01 01 06 BB1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CHARING CROSS via Kingsway. New route Birch Bros (Camden Town Association).
08 01 06 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – WATERLOO STN via Kingsway,. New London & Suburban route extended from Law Courts. Became London Central Omnibus Co Ltd.
23 01 06 LG1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – LAW COURTS via Kingsway. Associated Omnibus Co Ltd (Camden Town Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
24 01 06 LG2 CHALK FARM Adelaide - CHARING CROSS via Kingsway. New route London General (Camden Town Association).
30 06 06 HT1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM. H Turner (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
30 06 06 PH1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM. P Hearn (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
30 06 06 ST1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM. Star Omnibus Co (London) Ltd (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
01 07 06 AO3 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route Associated (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
01 07 06 HT2 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route H Turner (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
01 07 06 PH2 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route P Hearn (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
01 07 06 ST2 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route Star (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
31 07 06 AO3 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route Associated (Atlas & Waterloo Association) Last day this operator - withdrawn.
31 07 06 HT2 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. H Turner (Atlas & Waterloo Association) Last day this operator - withdrawn.
01 08 06 PH2 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - OLD KENT ROAD Dun Cow. Extended to Finchley Road Station. Diverted to Old Kent Road (previously Camberwell Green).
01 08 06 ST3 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - OLD KENT ROAD Dun Cow. Extended to Finchley Road Station. Diverted to Old Kent Road (previously Camberwell Green).
01 08 06 FN1 FINCHLEY ROAD Eyre Arms – PECKHAM via Westminster Bridge. New router F Newman (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
01 08 06 HT1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM H Turner resumed on this route (Atlas & Waterloo Association).
20 08 06 PH3 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route operated by P Hearn
20 08 06 ST4 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - CAMBERWELL GREEN via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route operated by Star
27 08 06 PH3 SWISS COTTAGE - CAMBERWELL GREEN. P Hearn operation last day this operator - withdrawn
28 08 06 PH4 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - ELEPHANT & CASTLE via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route operated by P Hearn (Atlas & Westminster Association).
?? 09 06 BB1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CHARING CROSS via Kingsway. Birch Bros (Camden Association). Last day - withdrawn
01?10 06 LG3 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - ELEPHANT & CASTLE via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route London General (Atlas & Westminster Association)
12 10 06 LG3 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - ELEPHANT & CASTLE. London General (Atlas & Westminster Association) Last day -
withdrawn
12 10 06 PH4 FINCHLEY ROAD Station - ELEPHANT & CASTLE. Last day - withdrawn
13 10 06 PH5 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route P Hearn (Waterloo & Atlas Association).
25 11 06 FN1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM F Newman (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
25 11 06 HT1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM H Turner (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
25 11 06 PH3 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - CAMBERWELL GREEN. P Hearn (Atlas & Westminster Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn
25 11 06 ST4 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - CAMBERWELL GREEN. Last day this operator - withdrawn
26 11 06 FN2 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route F Newman (Waterloo & Atlas Association).
26 11 06 HT3 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route H Turner (Waterloo & Atlas Association).
26 11 06 ST5 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route Star (Waterloo & Atlas Association).
08 12 06 AO1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CHARING CROSS Associated (Camden Town Association) Associated. Last day - withdrawn
08 12 06 LG2 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CHARING CROSS London General (Camden Town Association). Last day - withdrawn
09 12 06 PH6 CHALK FARM - WATERLOO STN via Kingsway. New route P Hearn (Camden Association)
11 02 07 AM1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM. New route Amalgamated Motor Omnibus Co Ltd
? 03 07 LG1 CHALK FARM Adelaide - WATERLOO STN. Diverted from Charing Cross..
11?04?07 HT3 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. H Turner (Waterloo & Atlas Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
18?04 07 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – ELEPHANT & CASTLE extended from Waterloo Stn. London Central (formerly known as New London & Suburban).
18 07 07 LG1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – WATERLOO STN. London General (Camden Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
08?08 07 PH6 CHALK FARM Adelaide – WATERLOO STN. P Hearn (Camden Association). Last day - withdrawn.
08?08?07 ST5 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. Star (Waterloo & Atlas Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn.
23 10 07 PH5 MARYLEBONE STN. - PECKHAM via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. P Hearn (Waterloo & Atlas Association). Last day this operator - withdrawn
10 11 07 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – ELEPHANT & CASTLE (Daily) - CAMBERWELL GREEN (Sundays). London Central route extended Sundays to Camberwell Green
08 03 08 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CAMBERWELL GREEN London Central route extended Daily to Camberwell Green (previously only on Sundays).
29 10 08 AM1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM Amalgamated Motor Omnibus Co Ltd. Last day this operator - withdrawn.
06 02 09 FN2 OXFORD CIRCUS - PECKHAM F Newman (Atlas & Waterloo Association). Last day this operator and route withdrawn. Photographic evidence shows this route may have resumed later.
06 05 09 LG2 HARRINGAY Queen’s Head – PECKHAM Rye Lane. New route 13 operated jointly London General and Tilling replacing Tilling OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM route.
06 05 09 TG1 HARRINGAY Queen’s Head – PECKHAM. New route 13 operated jointly London General and Tilling replacing Tilling OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM route
16 09 09 13 HARRINGAY Queen’s Head – PECKHAM withdrawn and former Tilling Oxford Circus - Peckham route reinstated
16 09 09 TG1 OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM Rye Lane Tilling reinstated. 13 withdrawn.
02 11 09 NS1 SHEPHERDS BUSH White Horse - WESTMINSTER BRIDGE RD Christ Church via Oxford Circus. New route National Steam Car Co (motor bus)
? 12 09 NS1 SHEPHERDS BUSH White Horse – ELEPHANT & CASTLE. Extended from Westminster Bridge Road. National Steam Car Co.
20 03 10 13 OXFORD CIRCUS - BROMLEY Market Place. Route 13 reinstated and extended from Peckham. Operated solely by Tilling
13 05 10 NS1 SHEPHERDS BUSH White Horse – PECKHAM Rye Lane. Extended from Elephant & Castle. National Steam Car Co.
12 12 10 13 Withdrawn
12 12 10 TG1 OXFORD CIRCUS (Sundays) – LEWISHAM - BROMLEY Market Place (Daily) New route. Tilling. Un-numbered replacing 13.
08 05 11 12 TURNHAM GREEN Church (Mon-Sats) – OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM Rye Lane (Daily) New route London General / Tilling jointly operated. LGOC operate daily - Tilling Mon-Sats
05 10 11 12 TURNHAM GREEN Church (Mon-Sats) – OXFORD CIRCUS – PECKHAM RYE King’s Arms (Daily) extended from Peckham Rye Lane.
03 01 12 LC1 New Central Omnibus Co Ltd acquired London Central Omnibus Co Ltd CHALK FARM - CAMBERWELL GREEN route via Kingsway
14 03 12 NS2 CHALK FARM Adelaide - PECKHAM RYE King's Arms via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge. New route National Steam Car Co (motor bus)
18 11 12 NS3 ST JOHN'S WOOD Eyre Arms - PECKHAM RYE King's Arms via Oxford Circus - London Bridge and Camberwell Green. New route National Steam Car (motor bus)
20 12 12 NS3 National Steam Car Co St John’s Wood – Peckham Rye route diverted via Westminster Bridge
01 01 13 LC1 CHALK FARM Adelaide - CAMBERWELL GREEN now numbered 68 in London General series both London General and New Central (AG Walworth garage) now operating (buses leased to LGOC).
01 01 13 68 CHALK FARM Adelaide - CAMBERWELL GREEN new route London General 68 - both London General and New Central (AG Walworth garage) now operating (buses leased to LGOC).
? 02 13 NS2 CHALK FARM Adelaide – DULWICH Plough via Oxford Circus - Westminster Bridge and Peckham
08 01 13 NS3 National Steam Car Co St Johns Wood - Peckham Rye route diverted via Blackfriars Bridge
23 02 13 68 CHALK FARM Adelaide – CAMBERWELL GREEN (Daily) – TULSE HILL (Sundays)
13 04 13 68 FINCHLEY ROAD STN (Mon-Sats) - SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage – TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel (Daily). Extended Mon-Sats to Finchley Road Stn and Daily extended to Tulse Hill (previously only on Sundays).
19 05 13 68 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage – TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel (Daily). Withdrawn Finchley Road Stn - South Hampstead Swiss Cottage.
22 10 13 68 London General acquired London Central operation on this route
20 11 13 68A SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - BRIXTON George Canning. New route London General
31 12 13 NS1 SHEPHERDS BUSH White Horse – PECKHAM Rye Lane National Steam Car routes last day - withdrawn by agreement with London General.
31 12 13 NS2
CHALK FARM Adelaide – DULWICH Plough National Steam Car routes last day - withdrawn by agreement with London General.
31 12 13 NS3 ST JOHN'S WOOD Eyre Arms - PECKHAM RYE King's Arms National Steam Car routes last day - withdrawn by agreement with London General.
? 01 14 68 London General AE and N garages
01 11 14 68A Withdrawn
13 03 16 68 Withdrawn and replaced by extension of 31
30 04 17 68 CHALK FARM STN - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel (Daily) - WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Sundays) Reinstated - replacing extension of 31. Sunday extension to West Norwood Rosendale. CF and N garages
20 02 21 68 AQ CF N garages
18 01 22 68A CHALK FARM STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer. New route replacing 72 AK CF garages
14 04 22 68 CHALK FARM STN - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel (Daily) - WEST NORWOOD Rosendale or WEST WICKHAM STN. (Sundays). Alternative buses on Sundays diverted to West Wickham Stn..
24 05 22 68A CHALK FARM STN – WEST WICKHAM Wheatsheaf. Diverted to West Wickham Wheatsheaf (previously to South Croydon Red Deer) AK garage.
28 05 22 68 CHALK FARM STN - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel (Daily) - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer AK CF N garages. Diverted on Sunday to South Croydon Red Deer (previously to West Wickham Stn).
11 10 22 68A CHALK FARM STN – SOUTH NORWOOD St Johns Road. Diverted to South Norwood St Johns Road (previously to West Wickham Wheatsheaf).
15 10 22 68 CHALK FARM STN – WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Daily). Diverted to West Norwood Rosendale Daily previously only on Mon-Sats (Sundays previously to South Croydon Red Deer). CF N garages
30 03 23 68 KILBURN PARK STN (Sundays) - CHALK FARM STN – WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Daily). Sundays extended to Kilburn Park Stn from Chalk Farm Stn.
30 03 23 68A KILBURN PARK STN (Sundays) - CHALK FARM STN – SOUTH NORWOOD St Johns Road (Mon-Sats) - WEST WICKHAM Wheatsheaf Sundays extended to Kilburn Park Stn from Chalk Farm Stn and diverted to West Wickham Wheatsheaf (previously South Norwood St Johns Road).
20 04 23 68 this day only extended to WEMBLEY PARK.
20 04 23 68A this day only extended to WEMBLEY PARK.
16 05 23 68 KILBURN PARK STN – WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Daily). Daily extended to Kilburn Park Stn from Chalk Farm Stn (previously only on Sundays)
16 05 23 68 KINGS CROSS STN - WATERLOO STN Sandell Street Mon-Sat peak special service introduced
16 05 23 68A KILBURN PARK STN – NORWOOD JUNCTION STN (Daily). Daily extended to Kilburn Park Stn (previously only on Sundays). Diverted to Norwood Junction Stn (previously to South Norwood St Johns Road; loop there abandoned).
24 10 23 68 CHALK FARM STN– WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Daily). Withdrawn Kilburn Park Stn to Chalk Farm.
24 10 23 68A AK CF N garages
19 12 23 68 CF N Q garages
18 04 24 68 CHALK FARM STN – WEST NORWOOD Rosendale (Mon-Sats) or SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer (Sundays) Diverted Sundays to SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer CF N garages
23 04 24 68A WEMBLEY EXHIBITION South West Entrance Bus Station – NORWOOD JUNCTION STN (Daily). Diverted to Wembley Exhibition South West Entrance previously Kilburn Park Stn. AK CF garages
07 05 24 68 CF Q N garages
21 05 24 68 CHALK FARM STN – SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer (Daily). Daily diverted to SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer (previously only on Sundays)
25 06 24 68 WEMBLEY EXHIBITION South West Entrance Bus Station (M-F pk & Sats) – CHALK FARM – SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer (Daily). Extended M-F peaks and Saturdays to Wembley Exhibition South West entrance.
03 11 24 68 CHALK FARM STN – SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer (Daily). Withdrawn Chalk Farm - Wembley Exhibition South West Entrance.
03 11 24 68A KILBURN PARK STN – NORWOOD JUNCTION STN (Daily). Diverted to Kilburn Park Stn (previously Wembley exhibition South West Entrance)
16 11 24 68 AH AK CF garages
16 11 24 68A AH AK CF garages
01 12 24 68 renumbered 66 - 68C - 168 - 168A 168B 168C as follows
01 12 24 66 KINGS CROSS STN - WATERLOO STN Sandell Street M-Sat Peak
01 12 24 68 KILBURN PARK STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer. Approved but not operated
01 12 24 68B CHALK FARM STN - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel Mon-Fri
01 12 24 68C CHALK FARM STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer Daily
01 12 24 68D WATERLOO STN Sandell Street - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel. Short working of 68
01 12 24 168 KINGS CROSS STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer Short working of 68. Approved but not operated
01 12 24 168A KINGS CROSS STN - NORWOOD JUNCTION STN Short working of 68. .Approved but not operated
01 12 24 168B KINGS CROSS STN - TULSE HILL Tulse Hill Hotel Short working of 68. Approved but not operated
01 12 24 168C KINGS CROSS STN - CAMBERWELL GREEN Short working of 68. Approved but not operated
18 02 25 66 renumbered 168D
18 02 25 168D KINGS CROSS STN - WATERLOO STN M-Sat Peak
08 04 25 66 68C 168 168A 168B 168C renumbered 68D
08 04 25 68 renumbered 68D 168
08 04 25 68A renumbered 169 169A 169B 169C but 68A used on cup final days
08 04 25 68D KILBURN PARK STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer. Short working of 68. Approved but not operated
08 04 25 169 WEMBLEY EXHIBITION South West Entrance - WEST WICKHAM Wheatsheaf. Approved but not operated
08 04 25 169A KILBURN PARK STN - WEST WICKHAM Wheatsheaf Summer Sunday working of 169 AH CF Ngarages .
08 04 25 169B KILBURN PARK STN - NORWOOD JUNCTION STN Daily Short working of 169 not Summer Sundays
08 04 25 169C WEMBLEY EXHIBITION South West Entrance - NORWOOD JUNCTION STN. Short working of 169. Approved but not operated apart from cup final day
31 12 25 169C WEMBLEY EXHIBITION South West Entrance now termed WEMBLEY Hill Road Omnibus Station - after 31 10 25.
31 07 26 68 WEMBLEY Wembley Hill Omnibus Station - UPPER CATERHAM Asylum Tavern. Extended from South Croydon Red Deer - Approved but not operated.
31 07 27 68E CHALK FARM STN - UPPER CATERHAM Asylum Tavern introduced as Short working of 68. Approved but not operated
09 04 28 68 group diverted via Adelaide Road Swiss Cottage
09 04 28 169 group diverted via Adelaide Road Swiss Cottage
29 03 29 169 WEMBLEY Hill Road Omnibus Station – WEST WICKHAM Station. Extended from West Wickham Wheatsheaf - Approved but not operated
29 03 29 169A KILBURN PARK STN – WEST WICKHAM Station. Extended from West Wickham Wheatsheaf
31 03 29 169 reintroduced on Sundays
31 03 29 169B withdrawn Sundays
03 02 30 168C became operational Short working of 168 AH CF garages
03 02 30 168D Mon-Fri except evg and Sats to midday peak AH CF garages
05 11 30 169 AH CF ED N garages
05 11 30 169A CHALK FARM STN - NORWOOD JUNCTION STN. Withdrawn Kilburn Park Stn – Chalk Farm.
05 11 30 169B renumbered 169
05 11 30 169C withdrawn
05 11 30 169D withdrawn
15 01 31 168D M-Sat am peak AH garage
03 04 31 169B SOUTH HAMPSTEAD Swiss Cottage - NORWOOD JUNCTION STN. New short working
31 10 32 169C CHALK FARM STN - WATERLOO STN New short working
03 10 34 68 CHALK FARM STN - SOUTH CROYDON Red Deer Daily AH CF N garages LT STL LT respectively
03 10 34 68 KINGS CROSS STN - WATERLOO STN M-F exc evg plus peaks on Sats
03 10 34 68B renumbered 68
03 10 34 68C renumbered 68
