London Transport Central Area Routes 80

	← Between 1983 and 1988 route 80 and 93 provided a joint service from Morden to Putney. DMS 2368 [OJD368R] is seen at Putney Bridge Station on the 30th of September 1984. D 2621 [THX621S] has just passed the old trollybus turning circle at Sutton Green and will soon travel past Sutton garage on its way to Morden. It is in full SuttonBus livery with a yellow band, and mushroom skirt and fleet names. (Some buses also had the garage phone number on the towing panel but this didn’t last long). This view was taken on the 8th of June 1991; within a year it will have been broken up at P.V.S. → Photos courtesy the DMS Bus Page
In 1949 route 80 ran daily from Tooting Broadway to Lower Kingswood (Mint Arms) via Mitcham, St. Helier, Rose Hill, Sutton, Belmont, Banstead, Burgh Heath and Kingswood. For 20 years there were no changes until it was converted to one-person-operation and diverted at Sutton from Tooting to Morden via Sutton Common Road, and extended in Lower Kingswood from Mint Arms to Rookery Way. In 1976 the Monday to Saturday service was withdrawn between Belmont and Lower Kingswood (replaced by an extended route 280), and in 1980 it was further withdrawn between Sutton and Belmont. In April 1982 the Sunday service was withdrawn between Belmont and Lower Kingswood, but in September the Monday to Friday journeys (except evenings) were extended from Sutton to Belmont. The next year daily service was extended from Morden to Putney Bridge Station via Wimbledon and Putney Heath over route 93. In 1988 the route was withdrawn between Morden and Putney but extended Monday to Saturday except evenings from Belmont to Banstead Village. In 1991 journeys were diverted via Highdown Prison. In 1996 it was once again withdrawn beyond Belmont, but extended from Morden to Hackbridge (Reynolds Close) via St. Helier, Wrythe Lane, and Green Wrythe Lane.

This “E” plate is from before 23rd October 1976, when the 80A changed from a daily to Sunday-only service.
Route 80A ran daily from Tooting Broadway to Walton-on-the-Hill via Mitcham, St. Helier, Rose Hill, Sutton, Belmont, Burgh Heath and Tadworth. Originally using D-type Daimlers, it was converted to the RTL-type in 1953 and then RTs in 1954. In 1969 it was diverted at Sutton to Morden Station via Sutton Common Road, and converted to one-man-operated single-deck RFs. In June 1976 the RFs were replaced by the BL-type, and four months later Monday to Saturday service was withdrawn and replaced by new route 280A. In 1979 the 80A was rerouted between Belmont and Banstead via Bolters Lane, Banstead High Street, Sutton Lane and Cotswold Road; and between Banstead and Tadworth via Merland Rise, Tattenham Corner Station, Great Tattenhams and Tattenham Way to replace withdrawn route 164A. In 1979 the BLs were replaced by the double-deck DMS-type. The route was withdrawn in 1982.

This 1926 poster for the London General’s route 81 was designed by D. Paton. © LondonTransport Museum	London Buslines DM 1078 [GHV 78N] at Houslow West Station in 1987. J.J. Eadon-Clarke photo; DMSHB
Route 81 ran daily between Hounslow Garage and Slough Station via Hounslow West, Cranford, Harlington Corner, Harmondsworth, Longford, Bath Road, Colnbrook and Langley. It was extended on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to Windsor Castle. In 1963 it was withdrawn between Slough and Windsor Castle. In 1966 it was extended on Sundays from Hounslow to Shepherd’s Bush Green via Isleworth, Brentford, Turnham Green and Goldhawk Road. The extension to Shepherd’s Bush was withdrawn in 1969. In 1985 it became the very first route to be operated under tender for London Transport, and was worked by Len Wright Travel doing business as London Buslines using yellow and brown DMS buses.

Route 81B was introduced in 1954 running on summer Saturdays and Sundays between London Airport Central and Hounslow Garage via the airport tunnel, Harlington Corner, Cranford and Hounslow West. It was withdrawn for the winter but reintroduced daily the following year. In 1962 it was extended on Sundays from Hounslow to Shepherd’s Bush Green via Isleworth, Brentford and Chiswick, but the Sunday extension was withdrawn in 1969. The route was withdrawn completely in 1970 and replaced by new route 82.

This “E” plate would have come from bus stops along the Sunday extension between Hounslow and Shepherd’s Bush during the years 1962 to 1969.

Route 82 was introduced in September 1970 running daily between Hounslow Bus Station and Heathrow Central via Hounslow West, Cranford and Harlington Corner. It was extended on Mondays to Saturdays to Hatton Cross via the Cargo Tunnel and Cargo Terminal, and further extended on Mondays to Fridays to Hounslow West Station. It replaced route 81B and provided the first regular bus service through the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. Because the route ran as a loop, buses travelling clockwise had yellow destination blinds. On the opening of the Piccadilly Line extension to Heathrow Airport in July 1975, the 82 was withdrawn between Hatton Cross and Hounslow West via the direct routeing, and became a daily route between Hounslow and Hatton cross via Heathrow Airport. The route was withdrawn in September 1982 and replaced by route 202. The current route 82 runs between North Finchley and Victoria.
The top half of a special bus stop timetable display for route 82 to Heathrow Airport Central from the westbound stop in Bath Road at Hounslow West Station, with the coloured destination blind details for different routings, dated 17 June 1972. Black destination blinds denoted the service via Bath Road returning via Great South West Road, while yellow designated via Great South West Road and returning via Bath Road.
This “E” plate would have come from a stop between Hatton Cross and Hounslow West Station prior to 1975.	This “E” plate is especially rare and would have only only come from a couple of stops.	This plate is an unusual size—approximately 5 inches × 8 inches—because at the time the bus stops at Heathrow Airport were provided by the British Airports Authority and were non-standard. Therefore, a number of the plates at Heathrow were this size. This is a rare example of a painted “E” plate which was produced because of the non-standard size. It was sign-written by specially-trained staff at London Transport’s Works & Buildings Department.
This “E” plate would have come from a stop—possibly at Hounslow West where the route ran in three directions—where the message was too complex to incorporate onto the plate.	This “E” plate is especially interesting not only because of the informative wording, but also because of the error where terminal is spelt as TEMINAL. (It was extremely rare to get errors on “E” plates.) It would most likely have come from a stop at Heathrow Central, where buses ran both ways through the bus station.

		This plate was probably used on the Monday to Saturday service to Hanwell in the 1960s and ’70s. By this time most offices no longer worked on Saturdays, so London Transport decreed that day to be a non-working one such that references to it on “E” plates were in red, as with Sundays.
This plate it rather older, as evidenced the the SAT element being in red. The discolouration and ghosted 83 was caused by an vinyl sticker being affied to the plate when the service at the stop it came from was changed from Monday to Saturday to daily.
Bus route 83 was featured prominently in G.R. Morris’ poster for the 1937 Cup final at Wembley Stadium. © LondonTransport Museum	Route 83 ran daily between Golders Green Station and Ealing Broadway via Hendon, West Hendon, Kingsbury, Wembley Park, Wembley, Alperton and Hanger Lane, extended on Mondays to Saturdays to Hayes Station via West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall. From 1950 until 1953 the Sunday service was suspended in the summer and replaced by route 83A. In 1954 the Monday to Saturday service was extended from Hayes Station to Hayes North. In 1958 the 83 was withdrawn between Ealing Broadway and Hayes North. From 1960 until 1964 it was extended on summer Sundays to London Airport Central via South Ealing, Osterley, Lampton, Hounslow West, Cranford and Harlington Corner. In 1965 it was extended daily from Ealing Broadway to Brentford (Half Acre) via Hanwell Broadway and Boston Manor. In 1968 it was withdrawn between Hanwell Broadway and Brentford on Mondays to Saturdays, and between Ealing Broadway and Brentford on Sundays, and replaced by route E1. In 1969 it was withdrawn on Sundays between Alperton and Ealing and replaced by new route 83A. In 1971 the 83 was converted to one-man-operation on Sundays and extended from Alperton to Ealing Broadway, replacing route 83A. In 1970 it was extended from Hanwell and Ealing Broadway to Ealing Hospital.

Route 84 operated between St. Albans Garage and Arnos Grove Station via St. Peter’s Street, Chequer Street, London Colney, South Mimms, Bignalls Corner, St. Albans Road, Barnet Church, Barnet High Street, Whetstone High Road, Whetstone, and Oakleigh Road North and South, with Monday-to-Saturday peak hours and Sunday journeys extended to Walthamstow (Crooked Billet) via Bowes Road, North Circular Road, Palmers Green, Edmonton, Lea Valley Viaduct and Walthamstow Avenue. In 1969 the route was withdrawn beyond Barnet and terminated at New Barnet Station, the withdrawn section being replaced by route 34. At the same time it was converted to single deck one-person-operation, but in 1975 it reverted to double deck buses. In 1980 Monday to Saturday service was extended from New Barnet to Arnos Grove station via East Barnet Road, Church Hill Road, Hampden Square, Waterfall Road and Bowes Road, replacing withdrawn route 261, with some additional peak hour journeys running between Barnet (Chesterfield Road) and Arnos Grove. In 1982 operations were transferred to London Country, and service was withdrawn between New Barnet and Arnos Grove, replaced by new route 84A. In 1986 the 84 was diverted at South Mimms via Cecil Road, Potters Bar Station, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar and Hadley Highstone instead of the direct route via St. Albans Road, although two peak hour journeys (one in each direction) continued to run direct via St. Albans Road. In February 1989 service was extended from St. Albans Garage to New Greens Estate (High Oaks) via St. Peter Street, Harpended Road and Green Lane in the down direction only. Eight months later the route was diverted in St. Albans to City Station via Hatfield Road. In 1992 Sunday service was diverted via the London Colney Savacentre during shopping hours. In 1998 the St. Albans terminal was changed once again, this time to St. Peters Street instead of City Station. In 1993 the journeys via Bignalls Corner and St. Albans Road direct were restricted to single direction only, and were eliminated altogether in 2002.
Ten different geographical punch tickets from Central Area route 84, from St. Albans to Walthamstow, all with the large (older style) fare overprint. The 1d, 1½d and 2d values are “long” tickets with eight or twelve WHEN WORKING stage numbers, while the remaining higher values are without. They were issued in the 1940s.

		During the summers of 1921 and 1922, the London General Omnibus Company extended the 85 all the way to Guildford. (This service became route 408 in 1924.) For the summer of ’23 (and possibly ’24) route 85 was diverted at Leatherhead and ran instead to Dorking. This 3" × 6" guide shows all the sights along the way to Leatherhead on the 85 and 105A.
Route 85 ran daily between Putney Bridge Station and Kingston via Putney Heath, Roehampton, Kingston Vale and Norbiton. In 1958 the Sunday sevice was withdrawn and replaced by an extension of route 14. In 1970 some journeys were diverted to serve the Telegraph Inn. In 1971 it was converted to single-deck one-man-operation, and the Sunday service was reintroduced. The Telegraph Inn journeys were switched to route 85A in 1979, although they returned in 1981, and were withdrawn again in 1990 when the route was tendered and passed to London & Country. It has since been operated by London United and now London General.

Route 85A was introduced in 1961 and ran on Mondays to Saturdays between Putney Bridge Station and Roehampton (Danebury Avenue) via Putney Heath and Roehampton. In 1973 it was converted to double-deck one-man operation. Journeys to Telegraph Inn were introduced to replace those on route 85 in 1979. The route was withdrawn in 1981 and replaced by route 170.

	← Surprisingly, “E” plates for route 86 are not easy to find, and this being a FARE STAGE version will be even more unusual. Bus stop timetable for route 86. The biro notation in the corner says 31.12.66, which is at odds with the UPMINSTER PARK ESTATE destination and the lack of a SUNDAYS ONLY restriction. →
Route 86 originally ran daily between Limehouse and Brentwood (Yorkshire Grey) via Devons Road, Bow Church, Stratford, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Ilford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Romford and Gidea Park. In 1952 it was withdrawn between Stratford and Limehouse on Sundays, and between Chadwell Heath and Limehouse on Mondays to Saturdays, and the main service along Romford Road was left to the 86A. In 1956 the 86 was withdrawn west of Chadwell Heath, while becoming a daily route between Chadwell Heath (Wangey Road) and Brentwood. It was withdrawn completely in August 1958 and replaced by changes to route 87. However, the plain number was soon to return a year later when the 86A was renumbered 86, running daily between Limehouse (Eastern Hotel) and Upminster Station along its original routeing to Romford, then via Hornchurch. On Mondays to Saturdays it was extended to Upminster Park Estate, but this extension became daily in 1960. However, it was cut back daily to Upminster Station in 1963, but re-extended there again on Sundays only in 1966. In 1968 it was rerouted via Bromley-by-Bow Station instead of Bow Church. In 1970 it was withdrawn east of Romford Station at all times, running daily between Limehouse and Romford. In 1982 it was withdrawn west of Stratford at all times except during Monday to Friday peak hours when it was extended to Bow Church. In 1983 the Bow Church extension was withdrawn, and the daily service was extended from Stratford to Limehouse once again. In 1984 the extension to Limehouse became Sundays only, and during Monday to Friday peak hours it was extended to Bromley-by-Bow Station, but at all other times it terminated at Stratford. It was converted to one-man operation in 1985, and later that year the peak hour extension to Bromley-by-Bow was rerouted to Mile End Station. In 1991 the route was again withdrawn east of Stratford to run daily between Stratford and Romford.

← Surprisingly, “E” plates for route 86 are not easy to find, and this being a FARE STAGE version will be even more unusual.

Bus stop timetable for route 86. The biro notation in the corner says 31.12.66, which is at odds with the UPMINSTER PARK ESTATE destination and the lack of a SUNDAYS ONLY restriction. →

Route 86 originally ran daily between Limehouse and Brentwood (Yorkshire Grey) via Devons Road, Bow Church, Stratford, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Ilford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Romford and Gidea Park. In 1952 it was withdrawn between Stratford and Limehouse on Sundays, and between Chadwell Heath and Limehouse on Mondays to Saturdays, and the main service along Romford Road was left to the 86A. In 1956 the 86 was withdrawn west of Chadwell Heath, while becoming a daily route between Chadwell Heath (Wangey Road) and Brentwood. It was withdrawn completely in August 1958 and replaced by changes to route 87.

However, the plain number was soon to return a year later when the 86A was renumbered 86, running daily between Limehouse (Eastern Hotel) and Upminster Station along its original routeing to Romford, then via Hornchurch. On Mondays to Saturdays it was extended to Upminster Park Estate, but this extension became daily in 1960. However, it was cut back daily to Upminster Station in 1963, but re-extended there again on Sundays only in 1966. In 1968 it was rerouted via Bromley-by-Bow Station instead of Bow Church. In 1970 it was withdrawn east of Romford Station at all times, running daily between Limehouse and Romford. In 1982 it was withdrawn west of Stratford at all times except during Monday to Friday peak hours when it was extended to Bow Church. In 1983 the Bow Church extension was withdrawn, and the daily service was extended from Stratford to Limehouse once again. In 1984 the extension to Limehouse became Sundays only, and during Monday to Friday peak hours it was extended to Bromley-by-Bow Station, but at all other times it terminated at Stratford. It was converted to one-man operation in 1985, and later that year the peak hour extension to Bromley-by-Bow was rerouted to Mile End Station. In 1991 the route was again withdrawn east of Stratford to run daily between Stratford and Romford.

Route 87 ran from Gidea Park (Bob’s Café) to Rainham (White Post Corner) via Main Road, Romford, Becontree Heath, Longbridge Road, Barking, Ripple Road and New Road. Some journeys divert at Dagenham to Church Elm via Heahway, or to Fords Main Works via Kent Avenue. In 1958 it was extended from Gidea Park to Brentwood (Yorkshire Grey) via Harold Wood Station and Brook Street, replacing withdrawn route 86. In 1962 Monday to Friday journeys were withdrawn between Becontree Heath and Brentwood, replaced by new route 287. In 1966 it was diverted at Gidea Park to Harold Hill (Gooshays Drive) via Straight Road and Hilldene Avenue. In April 1969 a new service was introduced to Rainham (Abbey Wood Lane) in addition to White Post Corner. Four months later Sunday journeys were extended in Harold Hill via Leamington Road and Petersfield Avenue to Dagnam Park Drive. In 1971 Sunday service to Rainham (White Post Corner) was withdrawn, and in 1974 Rainham (Abbey Wood Lane) became the terminal for all service. In 1977 the route was extended daily from Gooshays Drive to Dagnam Park Drive. On 6 April 1979 the 87 operated the last regular service RT bus in London. In 1982 it was withdrawn between Barking (Town Centre) and Rainham, but some Monday to Friday journeys were introduced to Creekmouth (Power Station) and some service diverted via Remploy Factory. In 1991 the Creekmouth journeys were withdrawn, and in 1993 it was withdrawn between Romford (Market Place) and Harold Hill. In 1993 the 87 was extended via the North Circular Road to Beckton (Savacentre) except during evenings, but in 1995 this extension was withdrawn, with the route now running between Barking (London Road) and Romford (St. Edwards Way). In March 2006 the route was withdrawn, replaced by a revised route 5. In June 2006 the number 87 was reused for the renumbering of the 77A between Aldwych and Wandsworth Plain via Strand, Trafalgar Square, Millbank, Vauxhall Bridge, Vauxhall Bus Station, Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction.
This London General Omnibus Company bus stop timetable panel is dated January 20th, 1926. At that time route 87 ran from Streatham (Greyhound) to Purley (Railway Hotel). The opposite side shows times etc. for Sundays and public holiday service.		This “E” plate would probably have come from a bus stop at Dagenham (Fords), where some journeys ran towards Rainham and some towards Barking.

Route 87 ran from Gidea Park (Bob’s Café) to Rainham (White Post Corner) via Main Road, Romford, Becontree Heath, Longbridge Road, Barking, Ripple Road and New Road. Some journeys divert at Dagenham to Church Elm via Heahway, or to Fords Main Works via Kent Avenue. In 1958 it was extended from Gidea Park to Brentwood (Yorkshire Grey) via Harold Wood Station and Brook Street, replacing withdrawn route 86. In 1962 Monday to Friday journeys were withdrawn between Becontree Heath and Brentwood, replaced by new route 287. In 1966 it was diverted at Gidea Park to Harold Hill (Gooshays Drive) via Straight Road and Hilldene Avenue. In April 1969 a new service was introduced to Rainham (Abbey Wood Lane) in addition to White Post Corner. Four months later Sunday journeys were extended in Harold Hill via Leamington Road and Petersfield Avenue to Dagnam Park Drive. In 1971 Sunday service to Rainham (White Post Corner) was withdrawn, and in 1974 Rainham (Abbey Wood Lane) became the terminal for all service. In 1977 the route was extended daily from Gooshays Drive to Dagnam Park Drive. On 6 April 1979 the 87 operated the last regular service RT bus in London. In 1982 it was withdrawn between Barking (Town Centre) and Rainham, but some Monday to Friday journeys were introduced to Creekmouth (Power Station) and some service diverted via Remploy Factory. In 1991 the Creekmouth journeys were withdrawn, and in 1993 it was withdrawn between Romford (Market Place) and Harold Hill. In 1993 the 87 was extended via the North Circular Road to Beckton (Savacentre) except during evenings, but in 1995 this extension was withdrawn, with the route now running between Barking (London Road) and Romford (St. Edwards Way). In March 2006 the route was withdrawn, replaced by a revised route 5.

In June 2006 the number 87 was reused for the renumbering of the 77A between Aldwych and Wandsworth Plain via Strand, Trafalgar Square, Millbank, Vauxhall Bridge, Vauxhall Bus Station, Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction.

This London General Omnibus Company bus stop timetable panel is dated January 20th, 1926. At that time route 87 ran from Streatham (Greyhound) to Purley (Railway Hotel). The opposite side shows times etc. for Sundays and public holiday service.

This “E” plate would probably have come from a bus stop at Dagenham (Fords), where some journeys ran towards Rainham and some towards Barking.

	A third line of text (probably FARE STAGE ) has been officially removed from the surface of this “E” plate. This was sometimes done to avoid the cost or delay in making new plates. →
Route 88 ran between Acton Green and Mitcham (Cricketers) via Shepherd’s Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Vauxhall, Stockwell, Clapham, Balham and Tooting Broadway. During Monday to Friday peak hours and on Saturdays it was extended to St. Helier, running on to Belmont on Sundays. In 1961 the service was extended to Banstead Hospital on Sunday afternoons. The Saturday service was withdrawn between Mitcham and St. Helier in 1964, with the peak hour service being similarly withdrawn in 1970. It was withdrawn between Tooting and Mitcham in 1987 on Mondays to Saturdays. In 1988 it was extended beyond Acton Green to Turnham Green. The route was further cut back from Tooting to Clapham Common on Mondays to Saturdays in 1990, and soon after was cut back from Turnham Green to Marble Arch on Sundays, and Oxford Circus on Mondays to Saturdays. The Sunday service was cut back to Clapham Common the same year. In 1992 the Sunday service to Marble Arch was cut back to Oxford Circus, and in 1990 the whole service was extended from Oxford Circus to Camden Town via Warren Street Station and Hampstead Road.

Route 89 ran daily between Lewisham and Welling (Guy, Earl of Warwick) via Blackheath, Shooters Hill and Bellegrove Road. In 1963 it was extended from Welling to Eltham (Well Hall Station) via Bexleyheath, Bexley, Blendon and Blackfen. In 1971 the Sunday service was withdrawn between Bexleyheath and Eltham. In 1978 it was diverted daily at Bexleyheath to run to Slade Green Station via Colyers Lane, with some Monday to Friday peak hour journeys running to Bexley Station, but these were withdrawn in 2000.

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Central Area Routes 80–89

Last updated 15-06-08.