Route 210 RF anniversary

11 September 2012

Photo gallery

11 September 1952 was the day the first red RFs entered service on route 210 across

north London. To mark the 60th anniversary, route 210 had six RFs in operation again

on 11 September 2012, and they were very well used - most buses ran full and over

1,300 passenger journeys were taken.

Thanks to the photographers for providing images for this gallery.

The original event page is here.

In earlier days, trolleybus route 611 ran alongside the 210 up and down Highgate Hill. Replacement

route 271 still operates between the turning circle on Highgate High Street and Finsbury Square,

represented by Metroline's TE907 passing RF395, with RF491 in the distance.

Photo © Ian Herman

Heavily-laden RF395 has just completed the climb of Highgate Hill. All the RFs could still pass

this test, even pulling away from traffic lights with full loads. The operation attracted much

interest from local people.

Photo © Geoff Ragg

MH 1 was operated by RF491. Here it stands at Finsbury Park, next to the roadside ticket machine

installed for route W7 (the former 212) and now something of a collector's item, as they are being

withdrawn as too expensive to maintain.

Photo © Keith Valla

MH 3 was operated by RF433, an original doorless RF featuring roof advertisements as carried by

red RFs in the 1950s. It is seen at Finsbury Park accompanied by TE1095 of today's Metroline

fleet at Cricklewood.

Photo © Daniel Sullivan

MH 5 was operated by RF395, an original doorless RF. Here in a timewarp, it passes through the

narrow gap at The Spaniards Inn on Hampstead Heath.

Photo © Daniel Sullivan

London Bus Museum's TD95 did not operate in service but did run over the route. It is seen here

at Golders Green, showing off the fine architecture down Golders Green Road.

Photo © Peter Zabek

Although it doesn't look like it here in Highgate High Street, the day was remarkably free of

traffic congestion for a weekday.

Photo © Peter Larkham

RF433 pulls round from HT onto the Archway stop to commence service.

Photo © Ian Smith

Old and new. Two-year-old Enviro400 TE1103 passes 64-year-old TD95 at The Spaniards

stop. TDs were always a minority allocation on the 210.

Photo © Richard Thomas

RF491 sails along Stroud Green Road towards Finsbury Park.

Photo © James Balchin

Early red RFs had no doors. RFs 433 and 395 still retain this arrangement. The blind styles

used in the 1960s, 1950s and 1940s are contrasted here; the RFs were joined in the former

Holloway tram depot by London Bus Museum's TD95.

Photo © Peter Zabek

RF433 displays the 'when-working' blind from Muswell Hill for its afternoon journey to Golders

Green.

MH 2 was operated by RF486. RF486 was delivered new to Muswell Hill for the 210's sister

route 212. Here it leaves Archway Station to climb Highgate Hill, against an uncompromisingly

modern background.

MH 4 was operated by RF368, converted back to doorless configuration. It is seen here from

the Gatehouse heading down Highgate High Street.

MH 6 was operated by green RF600, a reminder that Muswell Hill operated a batch of green RFs

on the 210 in 1969. Here crossing Hampstead Heath, the country bus looks entirely at home.

The Golders Green station building is recognisable, but much else has changed in 60 years.

RF486 sits where the 210 stand once was.

RF395 pulls up past Bishops Avenue and perhaps some of the residents who did not wish

double-deck buses to run past their homes. Double-deckers arrived 87 years into the route's

90-year history.

The extra RF service operated every half-hour, with some journeys fitted in between.

Occasionally therefore, the traditional sight of two doorless RFs together was to be seen.