London in August 1986

20th August 1986 to 26th August 1986

117 photos

August 1986 saw my first solo trip to the U.K., and given the then ever increasing variety of buses around London, this seemed as good a place as any to explore.

So, having travelled "economy" on the coach and overnight ferry from Dublin to London via Holyhead (no cheap RyanAir flights back then), I disembarked from a Crosville Bova Futura into the early morning at Victoria Coach Station, and made my way along Buckingham Palace Road. From here on, all I had to go on was a series of one day travelcards, a London bus map and some basic info gleaned from reading BUSES magazines.

First off was a route 39 Metrobus to Clapham, followed by a DMS on the 156 to Raynes Park and my accomodation for the next few nights. During this trip I tended to concentrate on the area around Morden, Victoria, Marylebone, Oxford Street and Clapham, with a visit to the London Transport Museum and Heathrow Central as well.

Non bus interest involved a visit to a rail display in Cannon Street on the Sunday of that week, with a shuttle service of vintage EMUs of Southern Railway origin operating from London Bridge station.

On Monday 25th August 1986, I left Raynes Park (a bit overcast) and headed for Victoria to catch the 18.00 coach to Dublin. Emerging into the open air at Victoria it seemed to be getting darker (at 16.30 on an August afternoon!!), and by the time we pulled out of the coach station it was chucking it down. The rain got more and more heavy as we headed north and west towards Anglesey, and once there the full horrors of the storm became apparent. The ship (due to sail at 02.45) didn't arrive in until 04.00, and stayed in the port until 19.00 on Tuesday.

So, while stranded there, I managed to get a few shots of Crosville vehicles in the local garage, and two B.R. shots, including a Mk. 1 buffet car!! And so those seven views remind me of one of the longest nights (and days) of my life!!!`

After arrival in Dun Laoghaire at around 23.00, CIE had thoughtfully laid on special buses to bring the passengers to their homes. Leopard MG105 was the one allotted to go as far as Dundalk, and it took the "scenic" route via Skerries on the way.

A horrendous end to an interesting week, but the chance of photographing more London buses in different areas still beckoned, so a return trip was planned for early the following year......