Hounslow event page

The 237 was the route operated by RFs for the longest period of time, nearly 25 years from 1952 to 1977. In later years, after conversion to one man operation in 1965, RF operation at Hounslow was extended first to Sunday working of the 203, then the 211 and finally the 202, although none concurrent with each other. In Hounslow Bus Station (then with roof), RF432 on the 202 waits alongside RF523 on the 237.

The winter of 2017-18 marks the 65th anniversary of all 225 of London's red RFs entering service between September 1952 and March 1953. Towards the end of deliveries, RF486 arrived at Muswell Hill garage on 11 February 1953, for the conversion of route 212 from TD to RF operation. After 4 months, it was transferred to Sutton for the 213, and a month later settled at Hounslow (AV) until September 1956, working on route 237.

For its 60th birthday, RF486 ran over the 212 again. In January 2018, it ran over the 213 again, this time on the occasion of RF406's 65th birthday.

On 11 February, RF486 will return to Hounslow, running over the old route 237 (which overlaps the current route only between Hounslow Heath and Hounslow). It will then run over OMO RF routes 202 and 211, with the approximate timetable as shown below - all times subject to the usual caveats. These days, the 211 road is covered by the 111 and the 202 is numbered H22. The bus will provide a free service over the sections of route which do not duplicate a TfL route with the same number.

237	Chertsey Station	1030
237	Sunbury Three Fishes	1100
	Hounslow Bus Station, arr	1145
211	Hounslow Bus Station, dep	1200
	Hampton Station, arr	1230
211	Hampton Station, dep	1235
	Hounslow Bus Station, arr	1300
	break
202	Hounslow Bus Station, dep	1400
71	Richmond Dee Road	1445
71	Kingston Cromwell Road	1530
	Leatherhead Garage	1615

In the days of crew operation on the 237 and RTLs on the 37, RF465 stands next to Putney's RTL932 about to depart in the opposite direction. The date is between late 1961 and mid-1963, and the bus station has yet to receive a roof.

Photo Peter Osborn collection

The final run over the full route of the old 71 will use the present 371 route through Ham Estate (the former weekday route of the 71) rather than either of the former Sunday RF routings, due to likely parked cars. Like the 202 and 211, RF486's time at Kingston was before the Sunday OMO operation of the 71.

Hounslow road run