Hemel - Watford bus history

[A0]

I think the take over of Jubilee and their TL11 engined Lynxes arrived first before Sovereign purchased any, I certainly remember F358JVS (The last TL11 engined Lynx ever built) being the first I ever rode on and remember being told about the differences when the new G201-7URO arrived (eg having a stepped floor to the rear rather than ramped). Later around 1993 they also aquired F203-8MBT and G384MWX from Harrogate/Keighley & District. More arrived in later years from the KWY and MWU batches.

The long second hand Nationals were aquired around 1992 and the last of them left in 1996 from North Mymms when Volvo B10B's N106-8GVS arrived along with N109GVS and M310KHP at Stevenage. St Albans had 3 B series National's that lasted a few years longer but these were ex-West Yorkshire examples rather than ex-LCNE.

Double Decker wise Stevenage had LR32, 33, 37 and 38 whilst North Mymms had the 4 Bristol VR's. When LR's started to come back down from Keighley Stevenage had LR34 and North Mymms had LR's 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39 and 40 as well as 3 Titan's borrowed from BTS until LR66, LR68 and LR69 also arrived back down south.

The ex-Jubilee Metroriders left before the National's in approx 1995, all being replaced by either Mercedes 709D's or 811D's.

I think you're right - Jubilee's takeover was Jan '89, the URO Lynxes arrived in Aug '89.

I'm sure at least one ex Jubliee Lynx spent time with County Bus before returning to Sovereign. County took the ex Jubilee Tiger buses, Sovereign took the Volvo B57.

'96 was later than I thought for the Nationals, but if they were tucked away on certain routes I wouldn't have seen them.

 

[RT4038]

Thanks, I certainly didn't know that. What was the routing between Biggly and Royston? I'm going to guess at Wrestlingworth - Mordens - Bassingbourn, but that's probably completely wrong!

In the modern era, does this imply that there was no six day a week service between Royston and Buntingford before the 798 and then 331 came along?

Biggleswade-Hinxworth-Ashwell-Mordens-Bassingbourn-Royston-Buntingford. In 1966 on Wednesdays it was a one bus operation, leaving Biggleswade just after 09h00 to Buntingford, a swinger back to Steeple Morden, another to Bassingbourn and then a last through journey to Biggleswade, arriving back at 17h25. On Saturdays a more substantial service was operated, with 4 through journeys between Biggleswade and Buntingford, plus a swinger Buntingford-Royston and a Buntingford-Guilden Morden. There was also an additional short Biggleswade-Hinxworth in the late afternoon, and a 21h30 Biggleswade-Ashwell. Service cuts by 1974 had reduced the Saturday service to a similar, but different, operation to Wednesdays. I guess that the service was withdrawn completely in the mid 80s? The intermediate village of Reed was served 6 days per week, albeit infrequently, by Premier Travel Service 43 ( Chrishall-Great Chishill-Barley-Barkway-Royston)

I do not know when the 164 was replaced by the 188, but certainly by 1956 ! In 1938 the 164 provided 7 day a week operation between Buntingford and Royston - however the Monday to Friday service was one journey at 2.49pm from Buntingford, returning from Royston at 4.30pm, with an extra on Wednesdays [Royston market day] at 11.49am returning at 12.30pm. On Saturdays there were 3 journeys and on Sundays 2. The intermediate village of Reed was served 6 days per week, albeit infrequently, by Premier Travel Service 38

There was another United Counties route from Biggleswade to Royston, Service 195 via Potton-Gamlingay-Hatley East-Croydon-Wendy-Shingay-Kneesworth. One journey in each direction on Wednesdays (also operated between Biggleswade and Hatley East on Thursdays and Saturdays). Withdrawn by 1966.

United Counties Hitchin Depot worked a Service 91 (formerly 41) Hitchin-Letchworth-Ashwell-The Mordens-Bassingbourn-Royston. On Schooldays one morning and afternoon journey was projected to Cambridge via Melbourn-Foxton-Harston.

Eastern Counties had 2 routes to Royston - 108 (joint with Premier Travel) Daily from Cambridge via Harston-Foxton-Melbourn, and 119 which operated Daily between Royston and Bassingbourn RAF thence projected Daily except Thursdays and Sundays to Cambridge via Whaddon-Orwell-Haslingfield-Barton-Cambridge (3-5 journeys). On Wednesdays 2 journeys were extended from Bassingbourn to Meldreth and 2 on Saturdays to Longstowe. Eastern Counties had a small outstation at Royston.
Premier Travel ran to Royston on the aforementioned joint 108 service, plus they had some odd day services such as Service 26 from Bishops Stortford on Thursday and Saturday via Stocking Pelham-Anstey-Barkway (also Wednesdays from Anstey only) Service 16 on Wednesdays from Sawston-Duxford-Fowlmere and service 12 on Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Saturdays from Saffron Walden-Littlebury Green-Chrishall-Barley.

 

[spuddie]

I think you're right - Jubilee's takeover was Jan '89, the URO Lynxes arrived in Aug '89.

I'm sure at least one ex Jubliee Lynx spent time with County Bus before returning to Sovereign. County took the ex Jubilee Tiger buses, Sovereign took the Volvo B57.

'96 was later than I thought for the Nationals, but if they were tucked away on certain routes I wouldn't have seen them.

Yes your right, I believe E420EBH, E840EUT and F359JVS went to County to help with new services around Lakeside before returning a year or so later. Some of the G-UPP Mercedes were also borrowed by County when new for the same period.

 

[MedwayValiant]

RT4038, thanks for that detailed information. I had no idea there were so many journey possibilities, albeit none of them frequent, in days gone by.

Coming back to the original subject of routes between Watford and Hemel, I see that the Mullanys 318 service has been curtailed to operate between Watford and Abbots Langley only. This means that there is now no regular service past Kings Langley station, but there are still three routes between Watford and Hemel in the 320, 352, and 500/501.