please empty your brain below
I believe 'The Buff' is named for the Buff Orpington a famous breed of chicken. Which would give the drinkers "I'm in The Buff" jokes a whole different slant

Pavlov's Cat | Homepage | 08.01.14 - 7:36 a.m. | #

Kingston has the K (K1, K2, etc) network, which sounds similar (mid-sized buses which travel around far more residential routes than their 2 and 3 numbered counterparts).

Matt Smith | 08.01.14 - 7:47 a.m. | #

...i wonder if any other London bus routes operate with just one bus (and one in reserve)?

Ed | 08.01.14 - 7:47 a.m. | #

Ah, snowballs. Surely a pleasant throwback to a more innocent age...

Sarah | Homepage | 08.01.14 - 8:27 a.m. | #

Downe: home of the Farage. Best move on, nothing to see here...

Waterhouse | 08.01.14 - 9:02 a.m. | #

I take it that absolutely tiny bus that was on the R8 doesn't run any more then?

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 08.01.14 - 9:18 a.m. | #

This one that is :) http://londonbusroutesbylawrenceliving.zenfolio.com/p754408032/h48955b0c#h48955b0c

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 08.01.14 - 9:19 a.m. | #

During a time briefly living in Green St Green I sometimes caught these buses to escape to the proper countryside. I particularly remember one day when I caught a crowded (most seats taken) from some rural village. Most passengers were chattering away (yes, really) and my primary concern was that I would get disapproving looks because I had taken someone's seat who would be getting on shortly.

Pedantic of Purley | 08.01.14 - 9:31 a.m. | #

I once tried visiting Down House (after reading about it on this blog), and was thrown by the then-quite-new iBus display showing its name about three miles before the stop. We insisted the driver let us off early, and then had a rather circuitous walk to the village, arriving at the house not very long before closing time.

I really need to go back sometime...

teflon | 08.01.14 - 9:59 a.m. | #

"we've just turned left down a single track country lane. London buses really don't tend to do this, because there might be something coming the other way"
Such as another bus? Not likely on this route of course, as it's operated with only one vehicle.

The K-series routes have proved very succesful, and most of them now use ordinary full-size singke deckers: the K5 is an exception though

| 08.01.14 - 10:30 a.m. | #

I'm interested to see where this goes past New Addington. Croydon sucks all available routes in like a vortex, which makes it hard to keep to the edge of the city without doubling back constantly (or taking a non-TfL route).

Chz | 08.01.14 - 11:08 a.m. | #

A lot of short hops would be needed to stay out of Croydon. I think the next route is a foregone conclusion unless DG plans to double back, but I think the next four route numbers could all be permutations of just four digits.
(but I guessed wrong for today - I expected the 353)

timbo | 08.01.14 - 11:56 a.m. | #

@d
"...I wonder if any other London bus routes operate with just one bus (and one in reserve)? "

Better even than that: the combined PVR (peak vehicle requirement) for routes R5 and R10 is 1.

This site reveals all
http://londonbusesbyadam.zenfolio.com/f239564662

timbo | 08.01.14 - 12:03 p.m. | #

I love these kind of blog posts, keep them coming DG. Can't wait for the 464 account! The first time I travelled on the R8, the mirror was taken by the roadside vegetation. The bus was already 15 minutes delayed, which was added to by having to stop at Green Street Green bus garage for a engineer to repair the damage. The R5/R10 goes one better - you'll find that the floors of these buses are often covered with dirt and bits of foliage as the buses often hit the bushes at high speeds when oncoming vehicles approach.

As for PVRs, some bus routes have a PVR of 0. These are routes which run off peak only, using a bus from another route which would otherwise sit in the depot unused until the evening peak. An example would be the W10, and another would be the 389/399 which uses a bus from the 299 in the interpeak period. The 389/399 share one bus just like the R5/R10.

The Urbanite | 08.01.14 - 4:09 p.m. | #

I too was expecting the 353 today but should have known that would be too much of a short-cut for DG. Am guessing he'll use a non-TFL route to avoid Croydon.

I've also never understood by why all these rural villages are in London; the suburban sprawl comes to a fairly abrupt end south of Coney Hall and New Addington and this would seem to be the natural boundary.

dg writes: It's because in 1965 the newly formed London borough of Bromley absorbed the whole of Orpington Urban District, including its outer villages. Knockholt later escaped back to Kent.

And for those of us who grew up nearby Downe is associated, not with Darwin, but with memories of happy nights spent at the Scout campsite there.

Whiff | 08.01.14 - 5:22 p.m. | #

@Whiff There were a series of boundary reviews in the 1980s that hoped to correct some of these anomalies. However, there was very little appetite for communities to transfer either way. I'm guessing a preference for the status quo rather than particular loyalties either way. It appears those areas that wanted to had already transferred in the late 1960s.

Steve | 08.01.14 - 7:56 p.m. | #

You came past my house! That's something I thought would never happen. Brilliant write-up, accurate in every detail. Maybe I'd add the horses - people are big on horses round here.

We moved out here because of the surprise of being in London but not in London.

In the comments - yes the R8 goes past Farage's house. He lives in Berry's Green not Downe. (According to the newspapers, he drinks in a pub in Downe rather than the more local Old Jail pub.)

Tom | 08.01.14 - 9:05 p.m. | #

@ Andrew Bowden - those Mercedes Sprinters didn't last long in London service. First had a couple for the old 395 through the Rotherhithe Tunnel but they were bundled off to Manchester when TfL killed the route. I think they're now bundled off to a scrap heap!

The Optare Solos that DG used on the R8 are unique - 7.1m long and narrow body width.

I did the R8 and part of the 464 earlier this year. Both great fun if you like hair raising, hedge hugging bus rides down country lanes. I'm guessing DG may be heading off into double deck territory via Selsdon once he steps off the 464 (already shown on his Google Map).

PC | 08.01.14 - 9:11 p.m. | #

Ok, looking at the map my guess is 464, 64, 409, 466, 166, S1

Martin | 08.01.14 - 9:18 p.m. | #

I was guessing the 412 rather than the 409, and the 467 after the 166, but DG always has the capacity to surprise us.

| 09.01.14 - 11:17 a.m. | #

@The Urbanite

Yes, I once planned a route to take the 399 followed by the 389 and knew that I would not miss the next bus.

I was quite surprised when about 5 passengers stayed on the bus after it arrived at Barnet, and I therefore did the same (without paying again :p)

My Oyster was later checked on board the W10 of all buses... it was more of a not bothering to get up and walk to the front rather since I would have capped out on the next bus anyway.

John | 11.01.14 - 2:00 a.m. | #

I once arranged transport for a large youth event in London, with young people from all over the country kipping on various church halls. I gather those I billeted in Woodford were a little bemused by driving over cattle-grids in the minibus on the way; not quite what they expected of their capital city!
...and I too have fond memories of Downe Scout Camp. I remember when I had to leave before everyone else - to accept my place at Poly, not for bad behaviour! - being surprised to be able to come home by LT bus, a little BL or some such, I seem to recall. Camping another time near New Addington was quite an eye-opener too!

Andrew S | 11.01.14 - 7:46 p.m. | #











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