London Transport
Green Line Coach Route 719

Last updated 29-03-08.

Route 719 was unusual in a number of ways: firstly, it was not part of the original, post-war Green Line network. The number instead lay vacant until 1956 when a new daily service was introduced using RF coaches between Hemel Hempstead and Victoria via Leverstock Green, Bedmond, Garston, Watford, Bushey, Stanmore, Kingsbury, Neasden, Willesden, Kilburn, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, which was also unusual in that the route did not cross central London. Converted to double-deck operation with RMC Routemaster coaches in 1962 and back to RFs in 1967, the route finally became a cross-town service in 1968 with a southern extension to Wrotham via Millbank, Elephant & Castle, Old Kent Road, New Cross, Lewisham, Eltham, New Eltham, Sidcup, Swanley, Farningham and West Kingsdown to replace the withdrawn 717. As most of the coach network died away in the 1970s, the 719 saw a brief diversion to East Grinstead to replace the 708 before breathing its last.

719
719
719 SWANLEY VICTORIA HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
This “E” plate is likely to be from the terminal coach stand in Wrotham.
719 WILLESEDEN WATFORD HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
This plate is from a northbound stop, possibly in the vicinty of Marble Arch or Baker Street.
719 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
719 STANMORE VICTORIA WROTHAM
This “E” plate was possibly in Hemel Hempstead or Watford.
719 STANMORE VICTORIA WROTHAM
Although this “E” plate has the same place names as the previous one, they are spaced differently. The white characters suggests that it is newer, and the poor centring is characteristic of the malaise that affected London Transport in 1980s.
719 STANMORE VICTORIA WROTHAM 719 SIDCUM SWANLEY WROTHAM
This “E” plate was obviously from somewhere beyond central London.
The bottom row of route 719 “E” plates came from southbound stops.
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