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Grey Green - Stamford Hill (SH - but don’t know if this was official)
Located in Stamford Hill (opposite the junction with Lampard Grove).
One building survives, the rest of the site is now housing accessed via Reizel Close.
There was a long established coach business operating from here but as far as we’re concerned things kicked off with Stamford Hill operating the Sunday service on the 379 from 18th October 1987 - Grey Green had started running the 179 and 379 the previous day from Dagenham, all the other routes from here only ran Mon-Sat, but the 379 had a Sunday service - and that required just a single bus.
Stamford Hill took over the 125 from 14th November using ex-GMPTE Fleetlines, this ran daily.
I’m not sure what the arrangements were to operate the 379 on the 4 Sundays prior to taking over the 125, was it a Stamford Hill driver with a Stamford Hill bus, a Dagenham driver with a Stamford Hill bus, or was a Dagenham bus outstationed at Stamford Hill on Sundays.
Six Scania N112 with East Lancs bodywork were on order - 109-114.
In 1988 a strike by London Country North East resulted in Grey Green being awarded emergency contracts to operate the 298 and 313 - initially with coaches, they then took over full control from 22nd February whilst the routes were re-tendered - they were retained from November.
The 298 ran from Stamford Hill and the 313 from Dagenham, ten MCW Metrobuses were acquired from SYT which entered service during March, the Scania had started to arrive during February releasing Fleetlines for the 298 and 313.
The 24 was taken over from 5th November, Stamford Hill received 30 x Volvo B10M-50 Citybus with Alexander bodies - 115-144.
Prior to this Grey Green helped out Frontrunner Southeast on the 252.
In 1989 the 379 was taken over by Eastern National from Sunday 5th March.
In 1990 another 10 Volvos arrived, 145-148 were dual doored and came to Stamford Hill, 149-154 were single doored and went to Dagenham for the 173 as part of a new contract starting in February, this saw the first Fleetline withdrawals.
The 168 and 210 were taken over from 22nd September, double deck Volvo 155-158 arrived for the 168 and single deck 912-923, 925 for the 210.
In 1991 the 103 was taken over from 6th January, it was operated from Dagenham, to make room the 313 moved to Stamford Hill who also covered the 103 on Sundays so that Dagenham could remain closed.
In 1992 from 1st February the 298 was transferred to Capital Citybus but they were awarded the 141.
A new garage opened in Barking on 7th March replacing Dagenham, this was open Sundays the 313 and Sunday operation of the 103 moved to Barking.
From this point there was a period of stability with amendments to routes and the vehicle allocation.
In 1994 the 168 was extended to Waterloo and introduced Sundays from 12th March.
Three Northern Counties bodied Scania N113 arrived for the 24 in May - 159-161, Volvo 115-117 were transferred to Barking and Lynx 885/6 went to Strood.
In 1995 another three Scania entered service in February - 178-180, ultimately this led to the first Metrobus withdrawals in September.
In 1996 the 473 at Barking was lost to Stagecoach on 2nd March, all remaining Metrobuses at Stamford Hill were withdrawn, Barking still had 466, 467 and 472.
Cowie Group purchased British Bus on 18th June 1996.
The loss of the 179 at Dagenham to Capital Citybus from 19th October and the transfer of the 313 to sister company Leaside resulted in a switch around of vehicle allocations, the remain Lynx left and Stamford Hill received Volvo 109 and all the early Scania - 109-114, this relieved Volvo 115-119, 123/5 for Bakerloo Line rail replacement services BL1 and BL2, they were repainted in all-over red for this and transferred to Barking.
Arriva corporate identity launched 14th October 1997.
In 1998 the 78 moved into Stamford Hill from Cambridge Heath on 31st January, the 125 moved to Palmers Green.
The Sunday operation of the 19 moved to Stamford Hill and Wood Green took over the Sunday operation of the 141.
Stamford Hill closed at the end of traffic on 27th March, the ex-London Transport Stamford Hill (SF) bus garage in Rockwood Road reopened on 28th March, all operations (19 Sun, 24, 78, 141 weekdays, 168, 210) were relocated to the new site without any changes.
Source - various LOTS newsletters.
Elmers enD.
Link to Flickr image by Paul A. Bateson
www.flickr.com...
16 окт 2024
