The Lengthy One, The 321 – Three

Well, not quite. fbb will follow the above timetable and attempt to “visit” (in technological unreality) each timing point to see what has changed and what remains the same.

The current bus station is ideal for multi modal interachange as it is right next to the railway station. It is not quite so good for the town centre. In the 1970s there was a bus station which was more centrally placed.

… and before that it was a gloomy and unpopular bus station.

But before that the interchange was …

This was mainly populated by United Counties services.

London Transport had a depot in Park Street West …

… a back street off the more recogniseable  Park Street whence buses repaired for staff layover and facilities. There is no sign of a bus depot on today’s Park Street West.

But our 321 left from Bute Street in 1977.

The next time point was:-

fbb can find no external reference to “Lantern Fields” and Slip End is not signposted at its turn. But that is the only turn to Slip End off the 321 route. (See map below, bottom right)

Traveline now calls it Luton Hoo Hotel …

…which looks a bit posh!

And it is VERY posh …

… far too posh for fbb and too posh to welcome many passengers from the 321!

It isn’t Kinsbourne Green Harrow, but is actually Kinsboutne Green Harrow. It is Kinsbourne that is green not the harrow!

Harrows can be green, of course, but this was a very old pub … 

… at Kinsbourne Green.

It survived for quite a long time …

… then became the unphotograhed Peppercord and finally …

… Charlies Bar and Restaurant.

But finally, finally it is now  small housing estate …

… with the stop now renamed as Luton Road opp The Common.

And so to …

The pub in the centre of town, just round the corner from the railway station, looks quite imposing as a stand-alone picture; but actually it is quite “petite” …

… and completely hidden from its eponymous bus stop today. Perhaps it was more obvious in 1977. It dates from 1890.

Next we come to another time point almost in the middle of nowhere.

We are nearly at St Albans and in tomorrow’s thrilling episode we should make it from St Albans to Watford. 

Memwhile here are today’s time points c/o Herfordshire Council.

A bit different, eh?

Regular blog readers will be concerned that there has been no blog content about the fbbs’ break in Llandudno. The man reason is that this was definitely a “chillax” break, with relief from the diurnal blog stress-fest. 

Much time is spent sitting around being old!

The fbbs are getting good at that!

There are also the limitations provided by Daish’s Somerset Hotel with no Wifi in the bedooms. OK in the lounge but tables can be occupied by inconsiderate other guests enjoying themselves. Shameful!

But yesterday a short trip to Colwyn Bay by bus was abandoned due to inclemet meteorological manifestations. 

It was raining. 

And in the afternnon some chums were motoring up from Mid-Wales to join the old crocks.

But a nip round the corner to Cafe Nero …

… (streetview pictures – it wasn’t sunny!) for a coffee gave fbb the chance to sit on a wall and snap a few buses.

Astoundingly, Arriva has a map! (click on the graphic for an enlargement) so along came a route 12 (PINK) to Rhyl, every 12 minutes.

Aiming for the coast every hour, route 13 (LIGHT BLUE) runs via Llandudno Junction.

fbb snapped a 15 (ORANGE) to Llysfaen striking inland from the coast which with its chum route 14 runs every 30 minutes. In the other direction these run to Conwy.

On Monday, the fbbs took a ride on Arriva 26 (RED) which will have its own blog in due course and, weather permitting, today a trip is planned with Llew Jones on their route 19.

The other trunk route …

… is route 5 (PURPLE) to Bangor and Caernarfon.

Also Purple fronted was this!

Route branding?

Alas no, ’twas a driver training vehicle.

If you are thinking of looking these services up, don’t try Arriva’s web site as it was delivering no PDF timetables when fbb tried to enquire. Traveline was working, however.

For the record, Conwy Council, responsible (don’t laugh!), for Llandudno, used to produce an excellent timetable book. And you can find a PDF copy on-line.

Hooray!

Sadly it is the 2019 edition!

Boo, hiss!

The fbb’s hotel did have bus infromation, attributed to Conwy Council …

… but clearly the noble councillors do not really want people to travel by bus. Not a good idea at all, far better to clog up the roads with cars!

Byddai hynny’n syniad drwg!

 Next 321 blog : Thursday 12th Sept