Tuesday 22nd January ~ Single Please

Just the one to report today. Gemini WVL486 on the 19 from Highbury Corner to Finsbury Park at around 16.40.

Saturday 19th January ~ Chilly Saturday

Started with the boarding of 172 001 at Harringay Green Lanes with the 09.57 to Gospel Oak, which I took to Upper Holloway. After finding my appointment was postponed, yippee! I decided to go for a bus run round town, on this cold, grey but cosy half-awake day. I boarded Enviro400  TE926 on the 4 at it's starting stop in Archway for the run all the way down to Angel, running via Tufnell Park and Finsbury Park.

A President heads south down Archway Road with a Northern Line rail replacement service

From Angel I boarded Hybrid Gemini HV50 on the 73 to it's terminus at Victoria. At Victoria I caught New Routemaster LT2 on the 38 as far as Cambridge Circus. Then a walk down to Trafalgar Square for Enviro400 TEH1233 on the 139 to Waterloo.

Routemaster RML2735 outside St. Martin-in-the-Fields church on wedding duty

From Waterloo it was Enviro400 no.2430 on the 211 to Victoria, then Gemini DW432 on the 73 to Angel via Oxford Street and Euston. Finally at around 15.00  it was Enviro400 T162 on the 341 from the south side of Angel junction to Harringay Green Lanes.

Friday 18th January 2013 ~ Listen, the Snow is Falling

Snowfall in North London today.

An Enviro400 with a southbound 341 turns by St. Ann's Hospital

Gemini DW481 with a northbound 29 at Harringay Green Lanes

Thursday 17th January 2013 ~ Frozen Ground

Another walk across Finsbury Park for a 19, doing the honours this time was Gemini WVL488, which I took to Cambridge Circus. A walk then to Oxford Circus for Enviro400 no.9539 on the C2 to Green Park via Berkeley Square. Thence a walk to Trafalgar Square for Gemini DW486 on the 29 up to Harringay Green Lanes.

Wednesday 16th January 2013 ~ Camden Up and Down

Another cold winter's day, started with Gemini WVL481 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Piccadilly (Waterstone's), my next move was Enviro400 no.9545 on the C2, which I took from Piccadilly (Down Street) to Camden Gardens, this running up to Camden via Albany Street. At Camden Gardens I boarded President PVL235 at the start of it's journey on the 88, for a run back down to Oxford Circus via Hampstead Road and Great Portland Street. Walked across to Cavendish Square then to board ALX400 no.17796 at the start of it's journey on the 55, this I took to New Oxford Street. Later I found myself by Charing Cross station, and to get back home I decided to go with Enviro400 TE905 on the 91 to Parkhurst Road, running via Russell Square and Caledonian Road, there changing for Gemini VLW159 at the start of it's journey on the 254, which I took back to Manor House.

Tuesday 15th January ~ Return to Caledonian Road

Todays rides on a cold January day were Gemini WVN4 on the 259 at around 09.30 from Manor House to Caledonian Road. Returning at around 16.30 on Gemini WVN42 on the 259 from Caledonian Road tube to Manor House.

Monday 14th January 2013 ~ A Special Day

Our ride into town today was courtesy of Gemini DW494 on the 29 from Harringay Green Lanes to Trafalgar Square, from where we caught Gemini VW1270 on the 24 to Victoria Street via Whitehall. After a Chinese buffet we boarded Gemini DW234 at Victoria on the 38 for the ride to Charing Cross Road (Foyle's). Finally it was Gemini DW481 on the 29 from Charing Cross Road to HGL.

Sunday 13th January ~ New Shoes

Walked across Finsbury Park and caught Gemini WHV31 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Piccadilly Circus. After buying myself some new jeans and a pair of boots and something to eat in Pizza Express, we returned on  Gemini DW469 on the 29 from Charing Cross Road to Harringay Green Lanes.

Saturday 12th January 2013 ~ Pizza in Great Portland Street

Caught Gemini VLW182 on the 253 from Manor House to it's Euston terminus. Then after a nice lunch at Pizza Express on Great Portland Street we headed back courtesy of Enviro400 T264 on the 29 from Warren Street to Harringay Green Lanes.

Thursday 10th January 2013 ~ Gardening in Gospel Oak

My travels today started with 172 008 from Harringay Green Lanes with the 10.42 to Gospel Oak which I took to Gospel Oak. After a spot of gardening I felt like heading into town. Boarded Enviro400 no.9530 on the C2 at Gospel Oak (Highgate Road) for the run down to Green Park, running via Kentish Town, Camden , Albany Street and Mayfair. After a coffee it was deja-vu from yesterday with Routemaster RM1204 on the Heritage 9 which I took to Trafalgar Square, running via Pall Mall. Finally it was Enviro400 T267 on the 29 from Trafalgar Square back up to Harringay Green Lanes.

This curiosity is Routemaster RML2457, now something called 'The Rosebery', seen on 

Carlton House Terrace

Wednesday 9th January ~ New Tricks and Thurston Moore

Started on Hybrid Gemini WHV30 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Cambridge Circus, to my excitement I saw Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman outside the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church at the top of Shaftesbury Avenue - presumably something to do with the TV series 'New Tricks'. Shortly afterwards, whilst walking back up Shaftesbury Avenue, I passed Thurston Moore out of Sonic Youth! After all that excitement my next move was Gemini DW453 on the 73 from Oxford Street (Poland Street) to Oxford Street (John Lewis). From there it was OmniCity SP141 on the 10 to Hyde Park Corner. After a coffee I boarded Routemaster RM1204 on the Heritage 9 from Green Park to Trafalgar Square via Pall Mall. Finally it was Gemini DW470 on the 29 from Trafalgar Square to Harringay Green Lanes.

Monday 7th January 2013 ~ Back to London

It was all aboard 142 093 at Blackpool North on the 18.20 to Manchester Victoria which we took to Preston. Then at Preston my ride to London was provided by Pendolino 390 126 Virgin Enterprise on the 19.58 to Euston. Unlike previous occasions when this train started from Preston, it now starts back at Glasgow, being the 17.30 departure from there. Along the way I spotted 57308 as the Preston Thunderbird and DRS liveried 57302 Chad Varah in the bay at Rugby. While at Euston, 90020 Collingwood was at the head of the Lowland Caledonian Sleeper, the 23.50 to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Saturday 5th January 2013 ~ A ride to Poulton

Started off with a ride on Flexity Tram 016, from Starr Gate (departing 13.50) to the Tower.

Flexity Tram 003 passes the Tower with a southbound service

Market Street in the early afternoon. ALX400 no.18158 with the 68 to Preston, while behind is Trident 309 with the Fleetwood-Mereside no.14.

From the Town Centre we took a trip to Poulton aboard Volve 532 on the 2C, this running via Grange Park (The 2C continues on to Knott End, while the 2 terminates at Poulton). After a brief stop in Poulton and some very bad coffee we returned to Blackpool Town Centre on the top deck front seat of Trident 340 on the 2. This running a more rural route via Staining, it being dark by the time we passed through there. Finally it was Volvo 527 on the 7 from Town Centre (Market Street) to the St Annes Road/Highfield Road junction.

Thursday 3rd January 2013 ~ A bus day out to Liverpool

Started with ALX400 no.18152 on the 68 from Lytham Road (Medical Centre) to Preston Bus Station, running via St Annes, Lytham and Warton. All buses we rode on today were operated by Stagecoach.

Enviro400 no. 15576 reverses out of it's stand at Preston bus station at the start of it's journey on the 125 to Bolton

At Preston we boarded Enviro400 no. 15474 on the 2X from Preston to Liverpool, via Southport. At Southport the bus's route number changes from 2X to X2. The journey from Preston to Liverpool takes around 2 hours.

Enviro400 no. 15474 after arrival in Liverpool City Centre

An early evening shot of Arriva Pulsar 2904 departing Liverpool's Queen's Square bus station

After a few hours of culture, including a sighting of Brookside creator Phil Redmond, we headed to Liverpool's Queens Square bus station and boarded Enviro400 no.15823 the X2 to Preston, it's route number changing back to 2X at Southport.

A couple of shots from inside Preston's soon to be demolished 'brutalist' bus station. A bit gloomy to tell the truth, like stepping back in to the 1980s.

Finally, at around 20.00 it was ALX400 no. 18154 on the 68 from Preston bus station to Blackpool Airport.

Tuesday 1st January 2013 ~ Happy New Year

As usual, New Year's Day saw an hourly service on the 5, operated by a couple of double-deckers. Here is Trident 331 heading south down Lindale Gardens at around 14.00

Monday 31st December 2012 ~ A Trip to Cleveleys

New Year's Eve's rides started with Solo 246 on the 16 from Highfield Road (Acre Gate) to the Town Centre, running a circuitous route via Harrowside, Waterloo Road and Whitegate Drive.

Solo 246 on arrives at the Highfield Road stop with the 16

Then it was a steamy Trident 346 on the 7, from Town Centre to Cleveleys via Devonshire Road

Trident 339 departs Clifton Street with a Fleetwood bound 14

Passengers board Trident 346 on the 7 on Clifton Street in Blackpool Town Centre

Stagecoach Solo 47487 in Cleveleys on the 84, which runs from Poulton to Fleetwood

After some fish and chips in Cleveleys and a dusk walk to the promenade, it was the same Volvo single decker from two days previously - Volvo 528 - on the 9 from Cleveleys back to Blackpool Town Centre. Finally it was recently introduced double-decker (ex Isle of Man) DAF 365 on the 7 from Town Centre to St Annes Road (Stadium Avenue).

Saturday 29th December 2012 ~ A Trip Up Town

Today's rides were Volvo 528 on the 7 from Halfway House to the Town Centre, returning on Trident 318 on the 11 from Town Centre to Farmers Arms.