Hired Vehicles

Royal Blue Bristol MW6G 

 

Because of the vehicle shortage, London Country found it necessary to hire in vehicles from other operators.  Those destined for Dunton Green were a number of Bristol MW6G coaches redundant from the express services of Royal Blue.  Still in National Express white livery, these buses worked over all Dunton Green country routes.  They were not scheduled to work any trips on 493, 704 or 705, although at least one made a trip to Tunbridge Wells as a subsitute on 704. During their time in service, 1976-1977, these buses atracted a wide interest from the bus enthusiast fraternity, and were well photographed.  Most passengers liked them.  Of all our vehicle types, this was the one that aroused the widest range of opinions from staff; some, myself included, liked them immensely.  Others disliked their slow ponderous crash gear box and heavy clutch and brake. Staff changed duties to get either on or off them, which is why I managed more than my fair share of trips.

Because of their manual door, these buses needed to be crew operated.  That is why Dunton Green was their chosen location. We had a number of otherwise redundant conductors whose jobs were guaranteed under the one man conversion agreements.  With the right mate, a duty on these buses could be a joy.  I was sorry to see them go.

 

 The professional bus photographer, JGS Smith, took this picture of me driving 1433 away from Pratts Bottom Post Office on a typical working for these buses.

  Another typical haunt was route 471. The schedule and traffic was light enough for me to leave the cab to take this photo of 1437 on yet another run down Cudham Lane.

On what looks like a warm summer's morning, 1438 is on a short working of route 483 at Westerham Station bound for Sevenoaks. I can only presume the correct blind was not available; I would never have avoidably displayed a blank.

1435 Departs Sevenoaks on the sole journey of route 421a bound for Noah's Ark via Sevenoaks Station. 10-3-77

1439 at Bromley North Station on route 402. September 1977

1437 at Cudham Lane North. Another mid-journey photo opportunity. 9-8-77

1437 at Pratts Bottom (Rushmore Hill) 9-8-77

Another view of 1437, this time at Cudham Church 9-8-77

1437 at Hitchen Hatch Lane, Sevenoaks 9-8-77. This road was only served by short workings of route 454a between Sevenoaks Bus Station and Sevenoaks Railway Station. Other journeys on 454a followed the usual route via St. Botolph's Road.

Much photographed 1437, at Cudham Lane South 9-8-77

1437 again, at Rushmore Hill, Knockholt Pound, later in the same trip. 9-8-77

School traffic on route 404 was heavy enough to need a duplicate bus on the morning journey from Shoreham Village. 1423 and SNB105 are the two buses on 11-3-77