please empty your brain below
My sixth form used to be on this bus route, so I have taken this bus quite a few times. Though I feel sad that the bus no longer goes to Euston or King's Cross like it used to.

Sophie | 10.03.24 - 3:24 a.m. | #

"do join me this time next year as I make a break for Purley and the deep south" - which, if you were just that bit older, you'd have been able to do this year (if your birthday was on a Sunday, anyway).

Betterbee | 10.03.24 - 7:57 a.m. | #

This is the third incarnation of the 59, all three of them being variants of the 109. (This is unusual - recycled numbers usually pop up a long way from their previous area)

Sophie - The extension to Kings Cross was introduced in 2007, to provide a direct link between Waterloo and St Pancras to make up for the transfer of Eurostar services. (This was the first direct service between the two rail termini by any mode of public transport since the withdrawal of the 239 in 1982). It lasted until 2019.

Timbo | 10.03.24 - 8:08 a.m. | #

Timbo - The 59 and its historical group of routes (58/59/159) is much older than the 109, having been introduced on 16/06.1912 as a Sunday only service between Camden Town & South Croydon (Red Deer). It was running daily by December 1912 and served Camden Town until 1947, when the northern end of the route was swapped with 53 to West Hampstead for scheduling reasons.

The 109 is a tram replacement route and commenced on 8 April 1951 (with a Monday to Friday allocation of 88 buses, Sats 65, Suns 28) replacing tram routes 16/18.

Steve | Homepage | 10.03.24 - 8:47 a.m. | #

Indeed there is now no direct bus from Waterloo to Kings Cross. But in the opposite direction, and for the next few weeks pending completion of works in Eversholt Street, you can get diverted buses on route 1 from Stop S in Midland Road (west side of St Pancras International) which isn't far from Kings Cross.

Ian | 10.03.24 - 8:49 a.m. | #

"Bart's Hospital" has become the new normal destination on the 56. I love the comfy upstairs seating on that route.

felix | 10.03.24 - 9:02 a.m. | #

If anyone has any comments about the 59, rather than the 1, 53, 56, 58, 60, 109, 159 or 239, that'd be nice.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.03.24 - 9:05 a.m. | #

I remember when the 59 route changed its southern terminus from Chipstead Valley to Old Coulsdon on the splendidly long route from West Hampstead.

Petras409 | 10.03.24 - 9:23 a.m. | #

I should have added the words '..on Sundays'.

Petras409 | 10.03.24 - 9:28 a.m. | #

If anyone has any comments about the current route 59, rather than an old one, that'd be even nicer.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.03.24 - 9:29 a.m. | #

One of the routes introduced for the opening of the Jubilee Line extension.

Baylis Road is the only section of road served by the 59 in BOTH directions, at the current time the 76 serves it towards Tottenham - this has varied over the years depending on terminating arrangement's for the likes of the 171A and 341 as well as the 76.

The Bassom numbering system was introduced on 1st December 1924, the 59 group were broken up into the 58 group, 59 group and 159 group.

The previous version of the 59 terminated at Farringdon Street, so not far from the current one at Smithfield.

Still Anon | 10.03.24 - 9:47 a.m. | #

Today's route is just a continuation of the long tradition of the route number 59 along the Kennington, Brixton, Streatham, Croydon radial. Amputated but still alive, after periods of 'hibernation', during which other numbers covered the routeing.

Steve | Homepage | 10.03.24 - 9:51 a.m. | #

If anyone has any comments about my journey on the 59, that'd be even nicer.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.03.24 - 9:51 a.m. | #

The bus I use most frequently - indeed the Tennessee Peri Peri Chicken shop you mention is on the corner of the road where I live. Without harping on changes to the route, it was a lot more useful when it went to Euston. Since you don’t mention it, you and other readers might want to investigate the mystery of Kennington Road’s astronaut trees, all of which the bus passes.

Baldassaro | 10.03.24 - 9:52 a.m. | #

Well I for one enjoyed today's post about a journey on the current route 59.

Will that do?

Happy Birthday for yesterday.

Andrew S | 10.03.24 - 10:32 a.m. | #

I also enjoyed the comments about the current 59 route as it passes through some of my old manors.
But I also enjoyed the additional info in the comments. So don't be disheartened, it's part of what makes this blog unique and a daily must-visit!

Chris | 10.03.24 - 10:56 a.m. | #

I've never seen a very full bus on the new section via the old 521, even during peak hours. I suspect the former passengers have found another way to work.

Smithfield is probably the best name so far for that stretch of road that acts as a terminus given how it's two steps away (though not noticeable!). The market was previously 'unserved' in name by any buses (and it still surprises me how close it is to Farringdon/the Barbican and St. Bart's despite appearing to be in a rather large void on the bus map).

You might be back there sooner than later for the 100 which will be likely moving there when they un-gyratory the St. Paul's gyratory next door in the coming years.

matthieu1221 | 10.03.24 - 1:34 p.m. | #

Being a Sunday-only service in 1965, the 59 did not operate on the day you were born.

The 59 is not the only prime-numbered route to cross Waterloo Bridge.

The 59 was operated with hybrid buses for four months at the end of 2016.

If you lived in Glasgow your birthday journey would be between the city centre and Mosspark.

TDS Busperson | 10.03.24 - 3:05 p.m. | #

The 59 is still operated by hybrids - the Borismaster is a hybrid.

Timbo | 10.03.24 - 4:12 p.m. | #

The final sentence of your penultimate paragraph made me laugh out loud. I wonder whether the missionaries regularly, er, position themselves to accost drivers hoping for a few minutes’ peace.

Chris L | 10.03.24 - 5:33 p.m. | #

From 1982 to 1987 Telford Avenue was my local stop. At some point during that period, one iteration of the 59 was introduced; very much a truncated version of another route. I had never come across this route number before, so not sure of the history before that. It certainly didn't serve Streatham Hill or Brixton immediately before that.

My "Getting about by Bus" book dated February 1986 gives the 59 as a service primarily between Purley and central Brixton; though with extensions at either end at obscure portions of the week.

I felt slightly annoyed at its introduction as the number of buses going beyond Brixton was curtailed mightily. I seem to remember it was driver-only operation, unlike other buses down Brixton Hill at the time. This slowed down journey times quite a bit.

cau1khead | 10.03.24 - 5:57 p.m. | #

Let's hope that TfL reuse the 82 number in time for that birthday.

Mikey C | 10.03.24 - 11:14 p.m. | #

My encounters with wiggly rear-end lycra frequently happen on roving country lanes where there's no chance of passing, and made worse by those riding 2 abreast. Can't help feeling there must be an element of 'up yours' going on here, though.

I'm trying to decide whether the winning smile is on the Pensioner or the bucket.

Had a couple of drinks in the Duke of Sussex a year or so ago and it was very pleasant sitting outside in the sun. We weren't eating so no comment available on the food.

rogergh | 10.03.24 - 11:49 p.m. | #

I had to look up "minneolas" and now want to know when they will be available in my local Tesco

Jon W | 11.03.24 - 6:03 p.m. | #











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