Brand new RF502 in WellingRed RF routes

Route 241

 
The last route to receive brand new RFs, the 241 was one of those busy routes targeted to receive double-deckers as soon as physical restrictions were removed.
 
Dates of RF operation
1 Mar 53 to 25 Nov 58
(total 5 years 9 months, all crew operation).
 
In this well known photo, brand new RF502 running SP7 picks up passengers in Hook Lane, Welling.  The trolleybus in the background is on the 696 from Woolwich.
Photo © Geoff Morant, Mike Morant collection
 
Destinations
WELLING STN to SIDCUP GARAGE
 
RF466 in Sidcup Hill
About five years later, RF466 shows an intermediate style of blind - still capital letters for the intermediates, but a 5" high route number rather than the early 7" number.  Indicator 'ears' were fitted in 1956 and the wheel nut rings and 'dustbin lids' have been painted over.  Thank you to Peter Kennedy who identifies the location as Sidcup Hill, north-west of the Knoll Road junction.  He adds that virtually none of the original buildings remain, although the large tree behind the RF survives.
Photo Peter Gomm collection
 
Route history
Introduced on 12 Oct 38, the new 241 was originally one-man operated with 18-seat DA-class Dennis Darts.  The route's success soon led to the need for larger buses, so they were replaced by elderly 29-seat crew-operated 1T1s at the start of 1939, and these in turn by 37-seat 5Q5s in March 1940.
 
RF operation arrived in March 1953 (the first 9 started on 1 March), using the last red RFs to be delivered (the very last, RF513, started work on 25 March), and the Qs were withdrawn.  The level of passenger demand can be seen from the peak allocation of 29 buses to a route that took 23 minutes from end to end.  When the road was lowered under the bridge at Sidcup in 1958, allowing the route to be double-decked, the Monday to Friday allocation dropped to 15 RTs.  The weekend workings were covered by adjustments to RT route 51.
 
Extended from Welling to Woolwich in May 1963, the 241 replaced the 126 between Welling and Plumstead Common and 54 from there to Woolwich.  The route was renumbered 51B in July 1964.
 
RF route in detail, with timing points
SIDCUP GARAGE, Foots Cray High St, Foots Cray Barley Mow, Sidcup Hill, Sidcup High St, Station Rd, Sidcup Station, Halfway St, Willersley Avenue, The Oval, Wellington Ave, Blackfen Woodman, Westwood Lane, Hook Lane, Belle Grove Road, Central Ave, Vaughan Rd, WELLING STATION (return via Cleveland Rd, Tidford Rd, Central Ave)
 
Garages
SP    Sidcup
 
Vehicle allocation

New RFs delivered Mar 53: 464 (ex WG trainer), 479, 488-498, 500-513 plus 3 second-hand (total 29 + 1 spare)

 

PVR 1953 (Mar): Mon-Fri 29, Sat 22, Sun 12
PVR 1953 (Oct): Mon-Fri 28, Sat 22, Sun 12
PVR 1954 (May): Mon-Fri 28, Sat 20, Sun 11
PVR 1955 (May): Mon-Fri 26, Sat 18, Sun 10
PVR 1957 (Oct): Mon-Fri 26, Sat 18, Sun 9
PVR 1958 (Apr): Mon-Fri 25, Sat 15, Sun 9
 
On conversion to RT in 1958, Sidcup's RFs were sent to HW for 211, UX for 222, AR/T for 236 and P for 202.