We’re used to centenary celebrations at company level (and even 110 years of operations, this year in Warrington) but rarely do we get an opportunity to commemorate an individual route. The histories of most routes are lost. Not all, though. One such is TfL’s 24 (Hampstead Heath to Pimlico), 100 years old today (or, the oldest unchanged route since its 19th August 1912 extension from Victoria to Pimlico).
We covered this iconic route in 2006 (because of the
vehicles thereon, when we asked if they could be the new RM which, it turned out, they were definitely not) so we won’t reinvent matters here other than to wish today’s 24 a happy birthday.
10 comments:
Wasn't the 24 one of the first privatised London routes, back in the days when Grey Green ran it in their own livery?
And the contract to operate the 24 has just been lost by Go-Ahead (London General) in favour of Metroline, who pick up the ball in November. So I wouldn't expect anything special from the operating company, unlike Arriva who recently marked route 38's centenary.
Diamond Geezer has an excellent article out today on this, where he takes an end to end ride on it. Diamondgeezer.blogspot.com
It was significant as being the first tendered route to bring non-red buses into Central London.... if that's what you're asking!
Grey Green did indeed run it. Some of their vehicles were double decks rebuilt from single decks, identified by zero rear overhang to meet the length regs at the time
@ Tim Burns - those Volvo B10M rebuilds ended up on several Grey Green routes but I can't recall seeing them on the 24. Volvo Citybuses plus some later Scania N113s were the Grey Green mainstay on the 24.
Here is one of my photos from the first day of GG operation on the 24 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/24759744@N02/3766134565/
Happy Birthday route 24 - a route I've used loads of times.
Full history of the 24 at:-
http://www.londonbuses.co.uk/routes/024.html
It's unique in never having changed but it's a bastard to run, the 24 - every local operator's had it, and once they've got it, they can't wait to get rid of it. I bet after Metroline's next contract, Abellio'll have a punt - they;ve not had it yet!
@plcd1 Perhaps I am having a senior moment and stand corrected if so
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