Red RF routes

RFs at Clapton PondRoute 208A

A new route introduced in 1941, serving Carpenters Road, Stratford, for the first time.  The route was replaced by the RLH-operated 178 in 1959.  Carpenters Road has now disappeared under the preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games.
 
Dates of RF operation
9 Oct 52 to 12 May 59
(total 6 years 7 months, all crew operation).
 
Destinations
Clapton Pond to Stratford Maryland Station (Mon-Sat except evenings)
 
A fine 1950s scene at Clapton Pond (compare with the Hackney gallery photos 50 years later), with RF 315 on the 208A leading RF359 and another on the 208.
Photo Peter Gomm collection

 

Route history

Introduced on 30 April 1941 as the first route serving the factories along Carpenters Road, the 208A was operated from Dalston Garage by LT 'Scooters' for the first year and again from Oct 46 to Oct 52, with 5Q5s between 1942 and 1946 (and a couple helping out in the winter of 1948).  A busy route, in 1957 there were up to 22 buses per hour between Hackney Wick (where about half of them turned in the peaks) and Stratford.
 
RF303 passes LT1093In the period between conversion of the 208A and the 208, the first RF on the route and on its fifth day in service, RF303 (later renumbered as RF522) passes Scooter LT1093 at Clapton Pond on 13 October 1952.  In three months time, there would be no more Scooters operating in London.  The RF driver has however made an start on the incorrect blind displays that were a feature of the Dalston RFs.
Photo © Alan Cross, Peter Gomm collection
 
The heavy loadings and the worn-out LTs meant this was the second route (after the 210) to become RF operated, converting from 9 October 1952.  This was some months earlier than its compatriot, the 208, on which the last Scooters were to run three months later, although spare RFs from the 208A helped on the 208 at weekends.  The first 13 RFs were in service by 17 October, spare bus RF324 not being licensed until 1 November.
 
The route required single-deckers due to low bridges in Kenworthy Road and Carpenters Road.  The latter was navigable by RLHs (although subject to a speed limit of 5 mph), but on conversion to double-deck on 13 May 59, the route had to be revised between Hackney Wick and Homerton, first running via Ponsford Street and Morning Lane, then after six months via Marsh Hill and Lee Conservancy Road, the present route of the 276.
 
RF route in detail, with timing points
CLAPTON POND,  Lower Clapton Road,  Urswick Road,  Homerton High Street,  Kenworthy Road,  Wick Road,  Berkshire Road,  Hackney Wick, Wallis Road,  Hepscott Road,  White Post Lane, Carpenters Road, Lett Road (towards Stratford), High Street Stratford, Stratford Broadway, The Grove, Windmill Lane, Waddington Road, Waddington Street, Well Street, MARYLAND STATION.  (Returns direct to The Grove)
 
1955 bus map © London Transport
 
Garages
D     Dalston
 
Garage journeys: to/from Lower Clapton Rd Urswick Rd via Hackney Central Stn, Mare St, Westgate St
 
RF allocation
New RFs delivered Oct-Nov 52: 303-314, 324, 330 (13 + 1 spare)
 
PVR 1952 (Oct): Mon-Fri 13, Sat 6
PVR 1957 (May): Mon-Fri 14, Sat 6

 

Memories

Route 208A was recreated at our Hackney Marshes running day in 2006.