A busy Saturday
Feb. 23rd, 2009 09:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suzyscottdotcomEarlier in the week, I mentioned to Caroline that I was thinking of another trip to London. She mentioned that she wanted to spend Saturday at a Confraternity of Saint James "Practical Pilgrim Day", with an early start – so, worked around that, and various tube and train closures that day!
So, we left Royston in time for the 0843 train to London (that arrived 28 mins late because of a lack of a driver!) from Royston by First Capital Connect train to London Kings Cross, then London General PVL303 on Service 45 bus to Blackfriars Road (no FCC Thameslink cross-London for most weekends in the next few months).
From there, I continued via the First London Mercedes Citaro (non-bendi!) ESQ64006 on Service RV1 to Waterloo…
… after a visit to Waterloo Station, Ian Allan bookstore, as well as the other one on the corner of Waterloo Road and Lower Marsh, ended up getting Metroline Trident/ALX400 TA39 on the 139 as far as Trafalgar Square…
… shortly before stopping at the loo, I got this chance snap of one of the First London Heritage RM’s on the 9 – this one is more unusual in being in a silver based livery. This was an original Silver RM from the Silver Jubilee, became a Gold RM for the queen’s golden jubilee, and is still used by First. The limited use of Routemasters means this one gets out now and then, but has been painted into the original Silver Jubilee livery, with the addition of panels promoting Heathrow Express, who’s corporate garb happens to be all silver.
From here, Arriva London Mercedes Citaro artic MA121 on the 29 to the foot of Tottenham Court Road, to get Caroline a couple of Mac Mini designed USB hubs from Morgan’s (and also stopping for lunch).
At the same time, I was able to snap a Gemini of East Thames Buses (see previous posts about their future) on the 1…
… and a Mercedes Citaro artic from the 38… which will be the first route to convert back to double deck (see previous posts).
It was from here that the plan gets a little less touristy, and a little more freestyle, or even Suzy style. Originally, I envisaged the Central line would be off between Liverpool St and Leytonstone, but that turned out to be just the Sunday. So, Central line to Bank for DLR, but no DLR all weekend from Poplar to Bank, so jumped back on the same train to Stratford! From there, Jubilee Line to Canning Town, and the latest DLR extension (opened earlier this month) beyond London City Airport and King George V to Woolwich Arsenal.
Having bashed the latest part of the DLR, I had a brief look around Woolwich (including stopping for an Apple Danish at an adjacent Greggs, which was accompanied by what they dubbed a healthy choice – a bottle of plain water), before nabbing some pictures. This Selkent Scania OmniDekka double deck is a recent purchase for Service 51.
After this, I returned for a SouthEastern train to Gravesend in Kent. Now, I’ve not been further out than Dartford & Bluewater by bus or train. Having looked into fares and tickets, I asked for a combination of boundary fare extensions at the time of C buying the travelcards that morning.
A train going the other way towards Charing Cross (the station!) or Cannon St – I can’t recall, and the display hasn’t picked up.
However, see in the background of this wall, the lettering has been removed. The old lettering shows Kent Link Networker – showing the remnants of pre-privatisation branding.
So, after an attractive journey to Gravesend, a brief look around the town. Very bright light, hence the sun wasn’t quite as good as I would have liked for pictures!
I bought a few items from the TIC, and neighbouring shops, before returning via the Arriva travel shop (closed first time I passed, for lunch), before returning on the train. At this point, I had a return from the boundary of London Travelcard Zone 6 to Gravesend, and I could “break” the journey at either Dartford (for a 96 to Bluewater), or get off at Greenhithe, for the Fastrack A/B services to Bluewater and beyond. The ticket machine system seemed a little confusing, and the first driver drove off while myself and two others were using it (not till later I found you could also pay the driver!) Anyway, the bus priority/guided busway site was under construction for further expansion, and shall warrant a visit of it’s own at some stage in the future. 3813 on the B was the bus that took me into Bluewater, where I stopped for more refreshment. Warm day in February???
Anyway, the bus took a moment or two longer than expected to arrive, meaning I was able to sneak a picture of London General PDL17, on loan to Arriva Kent Thameside as iBus cover.
From here, it was EnsignBus Service X80 to Chafford Hundred, in Thurrock/Essex. Dart 704 arrived a few minutes down, and was out quick enough to try and pick up time. The Dartford Crossing can be notorious for snarling up traffic. After everyone else alighted at Lakeside, I was the single passenger onto Chafford Hundred Station. We clipped the corner of the kerb on the entrance to the station, but the driver did shout back to apologise!
From here, it was a c2c train to Barking. Couldn’t find any timetables, so I asked at Barking for one. He had to go and find one, but when he did, it was added to the bag of items I’d bough from the Gravesend TIC. Out onto the road, I could see lots of extra 5’s running around, presumably with the lack of District line tube trains for a fair stretch. The lazy displays were a giveaway!
From here, it was East London bus 366 (Dart 34314) to Triangle Retail Park, the stop before Beckton Savacentre/Sainsbury’s in the timetable. I’d been here many times before, over the years. When everyone moved to Galleon’s Reach, the Boots store here closed. Subsequently, my sister tipped me off about a clearance store that’s opened up here, a Boots store selling their excess stock at discounted prices. Their website mentions the store in Store Locator, but does not mention the unique “clearance” aspect. So, looked around… spent and saved a fair bit! Most stuff was a quarter of the price, mostly old packing etc. with some stock being opened and sold from pallets. Naturally, it was very busy, word seems to have got around! I found several new bottles of conditioner, 50p each. Two new bottles of shampoo for red hair, £1 each. Most expensive item I picked up was £4, reduced from £16! So, a little something for Ruth too, thanks for the tip off!
Gave up buying for the day, and went back to Sainsbury’s for a 366 to East Beckton District Centre (Asda), which has a new bus station extension to it. The 366 has had many extensions of late, and this is the most recent bit. Dart 34287 took me to the last stop, and I could see a DLR train due off in four minutes from Beckton Station. Just enough time to go for it, and take this to Canning Town. From there, Jubilee Line to Southwark, where Caroline was waiting for me at 1800. Well, in the end, about 1815, but I made it back, after a boundary-crossing figure of eight encompassing south east and east London, Essex/Thurrock, and new mileage in Kent Thameside.
From here, we took a London General 63 (PVL279) towards Farringdon and Kings Cross, getting off for a few hours for dinner at The Sir John Oldcastle (a JD Wetherspoons pub I found via their website). It was once I sat down I realised that I’d lost a bag. And it’s somewhere between Gravesend and here!!! It was also realising my shoulder was red, it was a partial suntan in February, just nine days after the snow!
The way home saw an ALX400 bodied Volvo (as opposed to the President PVL’s elsewhere) AVL27 on the 63. I’d narrowed it down to one of four possibilities (as to where the bag could be) on the way home.
Sunday came, and I’d remembered – I put the c2c Southend – Fenchurch St timetable in the bag that I’d lost – I was looking to refer to it – and then I realised, I didn’t have the white bag when I arrived at Boots at The Triangle. So, it would probably be the 366… and today, I rang East London Barking garage. They’ve got it safe.
So, I’m going back tomorrow (Tuesday) for what is essentially part two of this trip, but for more than just picking up the bag. Keep watching! In the meantime, see all the Saturday pics (that I took – some better than others) here.
So, we left Royston in time for the 0843 train to London (that arrived 28 mins late because of a lack of a driver!) from Royston by First Capital Connect train to London Kings Cross, then London General PVL303 on Service 45 bus to Blackfriars Road (no FCC Thameslink cross-London for most weekends in the next few months).
From there, I continued via the First London Mercedes Citaro (non-bendi!) ESQ64006 on Service RV1 to Waterloo…
… after a visit to Waterloo Station, Ian Allan bookstore, as well as the other one on the corner of Waterloo Road and Lower Marsh, ended up getting Metroline Trident/ALX400 TA39 on the 139 as far as Trafalgar Square…
… shortly before stopping at the loo, I got this chance snap of one of the First London Heritage RM’s on the 9 – this one is more unusual in being in a silver based livery. This was an original Silver RM from the Silver Jubilee, became a Gold RM for the queen’s golden jubilee, and is still used by First. The limited use of Routemasters means this one gets out now and then, but has been painted into the original Silver Jubilee livery, with the addition of panels promoting Heathrow Express, who’s corporate garb happens to be all silver.
From here, Arriva London Mercedes Citaro artic MA121 on the 29 to the foot of Tottenham Court Road, to get Caroline a couple of Mac Mini designed USB hubs from Morgan’s (and also stopping for lunch).
At the same time, I was able to snap a Gemini of East Thames Buses (see previous posts about their future) on the 1…
… and a Mercedes Citaro artic from the 38… which will be the first route to convert back to double deck (see previous posts).
It was from here that the plan gets a little less touristy, and a little more freestyle, or even Suzy style. Originally, I envisaged the Central line would be off between Liverpool St and Leytonstone, but that turned out to be just the Sunday. So, Central line to Bank for DLR, but no DLR all weekend from Poplar to Bank, so jumped back on the same train to Stratford! From there, Jubilee Line to Canning Town, and the latest DLR extension (opened earlier this month) beyond London City Airport and King George V to Woolwich Arsenal.
Having bashed the latest part of the DLR, I had a brief look around Woolwich (including stopping for an Apple Danish at an adjacent Greggs, which was accompanied by what they dubbed a healthy choice – a bottle of plain water), before nabbing some pictures. This Selkent Scania OmniDekka double deck is a recent purchase for Service 51.
After this, I returned for a SouthEastern train to Gravesend in Kent. Now, I’ve not been further out than Dartford & Bluewater by bus or train. Having looked into fares and tickets, I asked for a combination of boundary fare extensions at the time of C buying the travelcards that morning.
A train going the other way towards Charing Cross (the station!) or Cannon St – I can’t recall, and the display hasn’t picked up.
However, see in the background of this wall, the lettering has been removed. The old lettering shows Kent Link Networker – showing the remnants of pre-privatisation branding.
So, after an attractive journey to Gravesend, a brief look around the town. Very bright light, hence the sun wasn’t quite as good as I would have liked for pictures!
I bought a few items from the TIC, and neighbouring shops, before returning via the Arriva travel shop (closed first time I passed, for lunch), before returning on the train. At this point, I had a return from the boundary of London Travelcard Zone 6 to Gravesend, and I could “break” the journey at either Dartford (for a 96 to Bluewater), or get off at Greenhithe, for the Fastrack A/B services to Bluewater and beyond. The ticket machine system seemed a little confusing, and the first driver drove off while myself and two others were using it (not till later I found you could also pay the driver!) Anyway, the bus priority/guided busway site was under construction for further expansion, and shall warrant a visit of it’s own at some stage in the future. 3813 on the B was the bus that took me into Bluewater, where I stopped for more refreshment. Warm day in February???
Anyway, the bus took a moment or two longer than expected to arrive, meaning I was able to sneak a picture of London General PDL17, on loan to Arriva Kent Thameside as iBus cover.
From here, it was EnsignBus Service X80 to Chafford Hundred, in Thurrock/Essex. Dart 704 arrived a few minutes down, and was out quick enough to try and pick up time. The Dartford Crossing can be notorious for snarling up traffic. After everyone else alighted at Lakeside, I was the single passenger onto Chafford Hundred Station. We clipped the corner of the kerb on the entrance to the station, but the driver did shout back to apologise!
From here, it was a c2c train to Barking. Couldn’t find any timetables, so I asked at Barking for one. He had to go and find one, but when he did, it was added to the bag of items I’d bough from the Gravesend TIC. Out onto the road, I could see lots of extra 5’s running around, presumably with the lack of District line tube trains for a fair stretch. The lazy displays were a giveaway!
From here, it was East London bus 366 (Dart 34314) to Triangle Retail Park, the stop before Beckton Savacentre/Sainsbury’s in the timetable. I’d been here many times before, over the years. When everyone moved to Galleon’s Reach, the Boots store here closed. Subsequently, my sister tipped me off about a clearance store that’s opened up here, a Boots store selling their excess stock at discounted prices. Their website mentions the store in Store Locator, but does not mention the unique “clearance” aspect. So, looked around… spent and saved a fair bit! Most stuff was a quarter of the price, mostly old packing etc. with some stock being opened and sold from pallets. Naturally, it was very busy, word seems to have got around! I found several new bottles of conditioner, 50p each. Two new bottles of shampoo for red hair, £1 each. Most expensive item I picked up was £4, reduced from £16! So, a little something for Ruth too, thanks for the tip off!
Gave up buying for the day, and went back to Sainsbury’s for a 366 to East Beckton District Centre (Asda), which has a new bus station extension to it. The 366 has had many extensions of late, and this is the most recent bit. Dart 34287 took me to the last stop, and I could see a DLR train due off in four minutes from Beckton Station. Just enough time to go for it, and take this to Canning Town. From there, Jubilee Line to Southwark, where Caroline was waiting for me at 1800. Well, in the end, about 1815, but I made it back, after a boundary-crossing figure of eight encompassing south east and east London, Essex/Thurrock, and new mileage in Kent Thameside.
From here, we took a London General 63 (PVL279) towards Farringdon and Kings Cross, getting off for a few hours for dinner at The Sir John Oldcastle (a JD Wetherspoons pub I found via their website). It was once I sat down I realised that I’d lost a bag. And it’s somewhere between Gravesend and here!!! It was also realising my shoulder was red, it was a partial suntan in February, just nine days after the snow!
The way home saw an ALX400 bodied Volvo (as opposed to the President PVL’s elsewhere) AVL27 on the 63. I’d narrowed it down to one of four possibilities (as to where the bag could be) on the way home.
Sunday came, and I’d remembered – I put the c2c Southend – Fenchurch St timetable in the bag that I’d lost – I was looking to refer to it – and then I realised, I didn’t have the white bag when I arrived at Boots at The Triangle. So, it would probably be the 366… and today, I rang East London Barking garage. They’ve got it safe.
So, I’m going back tomorrow (Tuesday) for what is essentially part two of this trip, but for more than just picking up the bag. Keep watching! In the meantime, see all the Saturday pics (that I took – some better than others) here.
