| The
390 was introduced on 1st February 2003 as the last new
route to use Routemasters. Operating from Archway to
Marble Arch, it was technically the renumbering of the
remaining term of the existing route 10 contract, amended
to include a withdrawal between Marble Arch and
Hammersmith. The high number was a result of the numbers
being switched at the last moment with the result that
the Hammersmith to Kings Cross route was awarded to First
under the number 10. But tonight it saw out its last
Routemasters, with VPL-class Volvo B7TLs with President
bodywork being phased in over the last couple of weeks.
Still, ten of the seventeen scheduled workings from Kings
Cross garage were Routemasters (RM 1971 and RMLs 2263,
2348, 2367, 2389, 2511, 2561, 2634, 2659 and 2731) plus
RML 903 at the close, and they were joined today by five
special guests. |
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After the OPO
conversions of the 6 and 98 on 27th March, the
best of Willesden garage's RMLs (and some of its
conductors) were transferred to Kings Cross for
five more months' service on the 390. One of
those to have stayed put as a 10, and later a
390, is RML 2731 (SMK 731F), seen
crossing Oxford Circus at 1:40 pm. This bus, as
running number KX8, ended up being the scheduled
last 390 in service. Although RML 903, the only
AEC-engined RML left in service, did join it at
Marble Arch to duplicate the last run, the crowd
numbers on the last 73 passing by the last four
assembled 390s at 1:15 am precluded any of us
from getting off to take photos. Since RML 903
never did end up receiving a repaint as might
have been hoped, perhaps it's just as well
judging from the state of it - so this serves as
the 'last 390' photo. |
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Metroline
proper (as opposed to Metroline London Northern,
the operators of the 390) still have a
Routemaster coach for use on special occasions. RMC 1513 (513 CLT) commemorated
the last day of the 6 and 98, and so it did with
the 390, but with a twist. A number of the buses
became 10s and operated through to Hammersmith.
The timetable for these workings was drawn up
specifically so that each bus would be in the
Oxford Street area during the lunch hour and
therefore available for viewing by those of us
who couldn't get off work for the occasion! |
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A few
Metrobuses persisted long enough at Holloway to
operate the Sunday OPO element of the 390, but
when the route was transferred to Kings Cross on
29th March 2003, any Ms seen were only loans.
Today the first Metrobus, M 1 (THX 101S) was sent by Metroline
to work on the 390. It is also planned to operate
it from Potters Bar next Saturday when the last
Metrobuses in regular service bow out. |
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One former 390
bus came back to serve the route for its last day
as a crew service. This is RML 2310 (CUV 310C), now owned
by Timebus and maintained in splendid condition.
As dusk falls it is seen having arrived at
Archway, the always rather incongruous terminus
of this route. Even after the transfer of
operation from Holloway garage to Kings Cross,
the swift dash up and down York Way and Brecknock
Road was retained, as under Routemaster operation
it had become more popular and convenient for
commuters than the previous route to serve this
area, minibus-operated C12, had. |
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Once again,
Blue Triangle's RT 3871 (LLU 670) went into
action as a last day special, and today outdid
all its previous exertions put together. After an
afternoon spent on the 390, it then switched to
the 10 to perform the through function to
Hammersmith. At 9:55 it is seen passing through
New Oxford Street on its way west. And when it
got to Hammersmith, it promptly transformed into
a 9 to accompany the last London United
Routemaster out of Hammersmith Bus Station. Still
not done, it then dashed to Marble Arch to shadow
the last 390! There's no stopping this bus! |
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It's not just
bus enthusiasts who had to juggle work
commitments with the last day commemorations -
sometimes it's the buses too! It was touch and go
as to whether Imperial Buses' contribution, RT 786 (JXC 149) would be able
to complete the private hire it had been doing
and rush to take up service on the 390, but it
did, and those who stayed till the end, like me,
managed to capture it. This bus is a fairly
recent entrant to the preservation arena and was
first seen on its firm's Essex County Council
contracts last Christmas. It is seen setting off
from Marble Arch at 9:15 pm. |
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| While
large numbers of people concentrated on the 73 (or at
least tried to capture the last 9 as well, as I managed
to do), the 390 still reached the end of Metroline's
Routemaster era with a four-bus mini-convoy that
assembled at Marble Arch for the scheduled last departure
at 00:50. Consisting of RML 2263 as KX4, Blue Triangle's
RT 3871, scheduled Kings Cross RML 2731 as KX8 and its
duplicate, RML 903, all four were thoughtful enough to
hang back until the last three 73s came round Tyburn Way,
somewhat later than planned, and let the crowd cheer them
through. With RM 5 full to bursting, the still sizeable
number of photographers at Marble Arch couldn't hope to
ride and photograph both the last 390 and 73, so had to
make at least one sacrifice - and the 390 was the one I
had to make. Such were the logistical problems of
Routemasters finishing on three major routes in one
night! The
roll of thanks for the 390 and 10 extravaganza goes to
Metroline and Metroline London Northern, Imperial Buses,
Blue Triangle and Timebus.
Now to the biggest and
most well attended mini-rally of Black Friday, that of route
73. You can
also return to the 9, or return to the Table
of Contents
and begin again.
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