London Transport Central Area Routes 290

Route 290 was introduced in 1968 replacing route 90C, running daily between Hammersmith (Metropolitan) Station and Richmond (Bus Station) via Youngs Corner, Chiswick Lane and Chiswick Bridge. It was operated by RFs from Twickenham Garage [AB]. The allocation changed to Riverside Garage [R] in 1970 when Twickenham closed, and was the only one-man-operated service to run from Riverside owing to the size of the building. In 1982 Riverside Garage closed and the 290 was transferred to Fulwell Garage [FW], and was extended from Richmond to Staines via Twickenham, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford Common, Ashford and Fordbridge Road, replacing most of route 90. In 1989 it was diverted at Twickenham via Hampton Road and Sixth Cross Road instead of Staines Road. From 1990 until 1995 it was extended on summer Sundays to Thorpe Park. In 1991 it was withdrawn between Richmond and Hammersmith—apart from a few Monday to Friday peak hour journeys to Chiswick (Edensor Road)—and was replaced by new route 190. In 1992 it was extended during shopping hours on Mondays to Saturdays in Staines to Sainsbury’s. In 1995 the Sunday extension to Hammesmith was withdrawn, but it was extended to Staines (Sainsbury’s) at all times. In 1997 the Monday to Friday peak hour journeys to Chiswick were withdrawn. In 1999 it was withdrawn between Staines (Bus Station) and Sainsbury’s. In 2001 it was withdrawn between Twickenham and Richmond.

Route 291 was introduced in October 1965, running on Mondays to Saturdays between Ilford Broadway and Barking (Blakes Corner) via Green Lane and South Park Drive using single-deck RF buses. In December 1966 the Saturday service was withdrawn, but was reinstated in March 1967. In July 1969 the 291 was extended to Barking (Oban Road) to serve Gascoigne Estate, but was cut back again in 1973 when the 169 took over the extension. In April 1978 the route was withdrawn and replaced by an extension of route 199.

The number 291 was subsequently reused for a daily route between Lewisham and Woodlands Estate.

This is not an easy route to obtain “E” plates for as it was very short in length and also rather short-lived, lasting only 13 years.

Route 292 was introduced on 3rd January 1962 on Mondays to Saturdays between Borehamwood (Rossington Avenue) and Willesden Garage via Theobald Street, Elstreet Way, Manor Way, Stirling Corner, Burnt Oak, Colindale, West Hendon and Cricklewood, replacing the northern end of route 52. An express service was also introduced during Monday to Friday rush hours between Borehamwood and Colindale. In June 1962, the Saturday service was withdrawn and replaced by new route 292A running on to Watford Junction. It seems that the express service was withdrawn at the beginning of 1965, and thus lasted for just three years. Also that year the 292 was withdrawn between Colindale (Annesley Avenue) and Willesden. In 1973 it was converted from RT to one-man operation and revised to run daily except Monday to Friday peak hours between Borehamwood and Edgware Station via Burnt Oak, and during peak hours was diverted instead at Burnt Oak to Colindale, with some journeys running on to Grahame Park (Quaker’s Course). In 1983 the peak hour service to Colindale (Annesley Avenue) was extended to Colindale Station. The journeys to Grahame Park were withdrawn in 1989. In 1993 it was diverted at Mill Hill to run direct to Edgware, and then on to Burnt Oak and Colindale (Asda). The route has been operated by a number of operators since tendering including London Country North East, Borehamwood Transport Services, Metroline, Sovereign and London United.
This “E” plate would have only been used during the first five months of the route in 1962 when it ran on Mondays to Saturdays, thus would have been very short-lived.	The plate was used after June 1962, when the 292’s Saturday service was withdrawn.	This plate appears to have been recycled, for on the reverse, the white face has had green vinyl numerals affixed for use on Green Line route 739. This was a short-lived special service introduced upon the demise of route 719, running from Victoria to Brands Hatch for motor race meetings only.
This “E” plate would have come from a stop on the section of route in Edgware from 1973. It is an interesting plate owing to the complexity of the message spread over four lines.	I believe that this “E” plate was for the journeys to Grahame Park, which operated 1973–1989.	Express route plates are not common at the best of times, but one for a conventional route such as this is astonishingly unusual, particularly as it appears to have had such a relatively short life.

	This is an interesting pair of “E” plates. The (slightly) more common usage was SAT - SUN, except when the days were spelled out in full. However, the 292A is the only route for which I have discovered both variations.
Route 292A was introduced in June 1962 and ran on Saturdays between Borehamwood (Rossington Avenue) and Edgware Station via Theobald Street, Elstreet Way, Manor Way, Stirling Corner and Burnt Oak. In 1963 it was extended from Edgware to Watford Junction via Edgwarebury Lane, Stanmore, Bushey Heath and Bushey. In 1966 it was withdrawn between Edgware and Watford except during shopping hours, and was also introduced on Sundays between Borehamwood and Burnt Oak Broadway. In 1967 it was extended on Sundays from Burnt Oak to Edgware Station. In 1970 it was withdrawn on Saturdays between Edgware and Watford Junction. In 1973 it was completely withdrawn and replaced by the introduction of route 292 at weekends.

Route 293 was introduced in 1962, running during Monday to Friday rush hours between Paddington Green and Acton (High Street) via Harrow Road, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Old Oak Lane, North Acton and Horn Lane. It was renumbered 18A in 1967 after just five years operation.

As this is a particularly heavy plate—in fact the heaviest I have discovered—I presume it came from the earlier route which was rush hours only.

This “E” plate still bears traces of a vinyl sticker for route 55, which was applied over the original number. Years of exposeure to the weather have left baked-on adhesive under white portions o f the label.

Route 293 was subsequently reintroduced in 1970 for the one-man-operation conversion of the southern end of longstanding route 93 between Epsom and Cheam via Morden. The route still runs today from Epsom to Morden, and is operated by Epsom Buses.

Route 55 was introduced in 1969, running daily between Walthamstow Garage and Hackney (Well Street) via Leyton and Clapton. It was extended on Mondays to Saturdays, with some early Sunday journeys, via Cambridge Heath, Hackney Road, Old Street, Clerkenwell Green to Bloomsbury, and further extended on Mondays to Fridays via Oxford Circus and Baker Street to Marylebone Station. In 1971 the Monday to Friday extension was diverted at Holborn Station to run to Aldwych instead of Marylebone. In 1978 it was extended daily to Aldwych, and the Monday to Friday peak hour service was extended to Waterloo Station. In 1981 it was withdrawn between Walthamstow Central Station and Walthamstow Garage, and also diverted at Holborn to run via Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park Corner to Victoria Station. In 1983 it was diverted at Leyton to run to Whipps Cross instead of Walthamstow Central. In 1987 the 55 was withdrawn between Tottenham Court Road Station and Victoria. In 1990 the route was withdrawn between Clapton Pond and Whipps Cross, and in 1992 was extended to Oxford Circus. In 1998 it was further extended from Clapton Pond to Leyton Green.

Route 294 was introduced in July 1970, running on Mondays to Saturdays between Collier Row (Turpin Avenue) and Hornchurch (St. George’s Hospital) via Lodge Lane, Collier Row Lane, Romford, Victoria Road, Gidea Park and Slewins Lane, replacing parts of routes 66 and 66A. Less than a year later in March 1971 it was converted to one-man-operation. In 1974 it was extended from Collier Row to Havering Park (Firbank Road). A Sunday service was introduced in 1982. In 1986 it was diverted at Romford to run to Noak Hill (Tees Drive) via Harold Wood and Harold Hill, with some journeys extended during peak hours to Gidea Park Station via Noak Hill Road, Straight Road and Gallows Corner. In 1988 the peak journeys to Gidea Park Station were withdrawn. In 2001 the Noak Hill terminus was changed to North Hill Drive.This was the first use of the number 294 for a day route, only previously having been used for the night service between Cricklewood Garage and Liverpool Street until 1960 when it was renumbered N94 (now part of today’s N16). This number is quite rare to find on “E” plates for some reason, possibly because they only tended to appear on stops in Romford town centre.

			Timetable leaflet for the one-person-operation conversion of route 295 starting 17 June 1972, with print code 172/1232S/43,000. This fold-out leaflet has brief details of the changes and a fare table on the front. Inside are bus stop timetables for the service and on the back are diagrams showing how to use split entrance buses.
Route 295 ran between East Acton and Hammersmith via Sheppherds Bush. On Saturday and Sunday days, service was extended to Wandsworth Bridge via Wandsworth Road. In 1973 it was converted to one-man-operation and rerouted to run from Ladbroke Grove to Hammersmith Broadway via Latimer Road Station and Shepherds Bush, with an extension to Wandsworth Garage via Fulham Broadway Monday to Friday days, and for a short time to Fulham (Edgarley Terrace) on Saturdays. In 1975 Sunday service was withdrawn, and the 295 was extended via Plough Road to Clapham Junction at all times.

Route 295A was a Saturday-only route introduced in 1973, running between Ladbroke Grove (Eagle) and Putney Bridge Station via Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith, Fulham Palace Road and Munster Road. It was the first service along Munster Road. The route was withdrawn in 1975, making it a very short-lived route, and particularly interesting as very few Central Area routes ran on Saturdays only.
	← In later years this “E” plate was recycled and, with the application of self-stick vinyl letters, reused for Green Line route 729, a Monday to Friday rush hour service between London (Victoria) and Borough Green that replaced the southern leg of the 719.

The original route 296 was a night service that was renumbered N96 in 1960. It ran from Waterloo to Leyton Green.

The next 296 was a short-lived service introduced in 1975, partly replacing Alton Road “shorts” on route 85, running Monday to Saturday between Wandsworth Garage and Roehampton (Alton Road) via Upper Richmond Road, Putney and Doverhouse Road. It was not successful and lasted less than eight months, from January 25th until 13 September.

This “E” plate likely came from the 1975 296. Because of its extremely short life, this plate is likely quite rare.

The 296 was reintroduced again on 31 March 1979 at the request of Barnet Council as an express route. Running from Copthall Stadium to Hendon Central Station via Page Street, Pursley Road, Engel Park, Bittacy Hill, Frith Lane, Lullingon Garth, Argyle Road, Alexandra Grove, Ballards Lane to Tally Ho Corner returning via Ballards Lane, Regents Park Road, Hendon Lane, Finchley Lane, Church Road, The Burroughs and Watford Way, returning via Queens Road and Brent Street, it stopped en route only at Mill Hill East Station, North Finchley and Finchley Central Station. Evidently the expected patronge never materialised, as the last day of operation was 28 September 1979, giving it an even shorter life than the previous (Richmond) 296. Since it was a limited-stop service, “E” plates would have been displayed only at those stops served.

Today’s 296 runs in the Romford area.

Express route plates are not common at the best of times, but one for a conventional route such as this is astonishingly unusual, particularly as it appears to have had such a short life.

Route 297 began operating in September 1968 as a Monday to Friday service between Willesden Garage and Perivale (Bideford Avenue) via Neasden Lane, Neasden, Wembley Park, Wembley Park Drive, Wembley High Road, Ealing Road, Alperton and Manor Farm Road, then via Aintree Road, Bideford Avenue and Dawlish Avenue, or Bilton Road, Horsenden Lane South and Dawlish Avenue, replacing the withdrawn section of route 46. In 1969 the Perivale loop was revised to operate in the clockwise direction only. In 1982 additional Monday to Friday peak service was added between Willesden Garage and Wembley Trading Estate, replacing withdrawn route 8 journeys. In June 1984 the route was extended from Perivale to Ealing Broadway via Teignmouth Gardens, Argyle Road, Cleveland Road, Castlebar Hill, Castlebar Road, Montpelier Avenue, Eaton Rise, Castlebar Road and Haven Green, and rerouted westbound in Perivale via the entire length of Dawlish Avenue instead of along Rockford Avenue and Tavistock Avenue. Three months later Sunday service was introduced between Ealing and Wembley Arena to cater for the Sunday Market trade. The following year the Sunday service was extended from Wembley to Willesden. In 1990 the Monday to Friday journeys diverted to Wembley Trading Estate were withdrawn, and the weekday morning journeys were rerouted southbound via Perivale Station instead of Bideford Avenue and Dawlish Avenue. In 1991 the Sunday routeing via Empire Way was withdrawn in favour of the weekday routeing. In 1992 the 297 was rerouted in Ealing to operate direct via Castlebar Road instead of along Eaton rise and Montpelier Avenue, and also rerouted in Alperton via Athlon Road and Manor Farm Road (south) instead of Manor Farm Road (north) this section becoming “hail and ride”. However, the Alperton section was converted to fixed stops in 1997.

Route 298 began operating in September 1968, replacing part of route 29 and all of route 29B. It ran from Turnpike Lane Station to Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate via Wood Green, Palmers Green, Southgate, Cockfosters, Potters Bar and Cranbourne Road during Monday to Friday peak hours, and to South Mimms (Blanche Lane) via Wood Green, Potters Bar and Cecil Road on Saturdays, with some journeys extended to Clare Hall Hospital, and some Monday to Friday peak hour trips to Borehamwood (Chester Road) via Barnet Way and Elstree Way. In 1970 it was withdrawn north of Cockfosters Station, but extended south to Finsbury Park Station via Manor House at all times. In 1973 it was withdrawn between Finsbury Park and Turnpike Lane, but this cut was restored in 1975. In 1977 it was again withdrawn between Finsbury Park and Turnpike Lane, but Sunday service was introduced between Turnpike Lane Station and Southgate Station, replacing the withdrawn section of route 29. In 1980 the 298 was converted to one-person-operation and replaced route 299. Monday to Friday peak journeys were extended to Potters Bar (Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate), and service was provided to South Mimms (Clare Hall Hospital). In 1986 operation passed to London Country, then Grey Green in 1988. In 1990 the 298 was converted to Mercedes midibus operation and withdrawn between Southgate and Turnpike Lane, now running from Southgate Station to Clare Hall Hospital via Chase Side, Cockfosters, Potters Bar, Cecil Road, South Mimms and Blanche Lane. In 1997 service was diverted to double run through Potters Bar Station, and operation was transferred to Arriva North. In 2002 the route was withdrawn between Potters Bar (Cranbourne Road Industrial Estate) and South Mimms—the section replaced by new route 398—and extended from Southgate to Arnos Grove Station via High Street, Waterfall Road and Bowes Road.

		This plate may have come from Turnpike Lane Bus Station, where there were a number of destinated bus stops.
Route 298A was introduced in September 1968, replacing route 29A on Mondays to Fridays between Turnpike Lane Station and Oakwood Station via Wood Green, Palmers Green and Southgate. Saturday service was introduced in 1971 to replace the withdrawn Southgate-to-Oakwood section of route 125A. The 298A was withdrawn in 1980 when it was replaced by changes to route 121.

The original route 299 was a night owl and was renumbered N99 when the night services were removed from the 2×× series to release those numbers for the trolleybus replacement routes. It was the only night route to run from West Ham Garage [WH] and served the Victoria & Albert docks.

This plate must be from the night route, as I have had it since the early 1960s, well before the Southgate service was allocated that number. The less-pronounced “hook” on the 2 also suggests that this “E” plate dates from earlier times.

		← The 299 was a very interesting route with so many odd journeys running to different places, and this “E” plate is exceptionally rare as it combines MON-FRI. (note the lack of a full-stop after MON!), PEAK HOURS, SPECIAL JOURNEYS and FARE STAGE all on one route, something I don’t recall seeing on any other plate. It would have most likely come from the section to Borehamwood, and there might have been just a single stop on which a pair of these plates would have appeared.
A new route 299 was introduced in January 1970, running daily between Southgate Station and South Mimms via Cockfosters and Potters Bar. Some peak hour journeys were diverted to Cranborne Road Industrial Estate, and a single journey in each peak was extended beyond South Mimms to Borehamwood (Chester Road). Some journeys throughout the week ran on from South Mimms to Clare Hall Hospital. It was converted to one-man-operation in July 1971. From 1977 one morning school journey was extended beyond Southgate to Palmers Green. The route was withdrawn in September 1980 and replaced by changes to route 298.

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Central Area Routes 290–299

Last updated 12-05-08.