|
|
 Red RF routes
Route 224C
Page last updated 27 December 2018
A short-lived replacement for the 222 between Uxbridge and West Drayton,
extended to Heathrow Airport Central at peak hours.
RF538 is seen laying
over at the undeveloped central area of Heathrow, when it
was still known as London Airport; the picture was taken before 23
Jan 62 when the RF went for overhaul. A Vickers
Viscount, apparently not BEA, graces the background and the cargo
sheds then located on the north side are also visible. The
Duple Vega-bodied KLM coach was probably one of those built with
full-height rear luggage accommodation for the Knightsbridge to
London Airport service and operated for KLM by the United Service
group.
Photo Peter Gomm
collection
Dates of RF
operation
15 Mar 61 to 8 May 62
(total 1 year 2 months, all crew
operation).
Destinations
UXBRIDGE STATION and WEST DRAYTON STATION (Mon-Fri)
UXBRIDGE STATION and LONDON AIRPORT CENTRAL (Mon-Fri peak
hours)
Reason for single-deck operation
The low bridges at Yiewsley and West Drayton Station
restricted routes through Cowley to single-deck. In
1961, the road at West Drayton was lowered (allowing the
double-deck 223 to be extended southward,
replacing the 222. Soon afterwards,
the layout at Yiewsley was changed (we don't know how, but the
railway didn't close until 1964). The 224 was not double-decked until 1963, but
224A 224B and 224 C
were converted a year earlier.
Route history
London Airport North was served from Uxbridge
for many years by the 222 (en route
to Hounslow), with additional peak hour journeys introduced in
1952.
 Before 1961, one barrier to double-deck operation
of the Uxbridge route southwards from West Drayton was the
bridge at West Drayton. This was rebuilt from 1959 to 1960,
and while the road was closed, RFs on the 222 provided the service
through Cowley as well as a separate service over the southern
section. In March 1961, the bridge now open, the 222 was
discontinued and the double-deck operated 223 extended from West Drayton to Hounslow
serving London Airport North. The route through Cowley was
connected to London Airport at peak hours by new route
224C, which continued to Heathrow Airport Central
(as it is now called). Off-peak journeys ran on Monday to
Friday only to West Drayton, supporting the main 224/A/B services. These off-peak
journeys ran only during the day plus (curiously) one
evening journey.
The road under the low bridge at Yiewsley was altered
shortly after, following which the 224C was
double-decked with RTs on 9 May 62. A year later on 8
May 63, the route was replaced by a horseshoe-shaped extension
of the Hayes to Uxbridge RT route 204.
RF route in detail, with timing points
UXBRIDGE STATION, Belmont Road, High Street Uxbridge, Vine
Street (return via Windsor Street), Cowley Road, High Street
Cowley, Cowley Station
Road, High Street Cowley, High Road Cowley, High
Street Yiewsley, Station Approach, West Drayton Station, extended peak
hours via Station Approach, Station Road, Sipson Road,
London Airport North Sipson
Road, East Ramp, Tunnel, LONDON AIRPORT CENTRAL
(Mon-Fri)
Terminal working at LONDON AIRPORT CENTRAL: tunnel to Inner
Ring East to stand, depart via Inner Ring West. At this
period there was no bus station.
Frequency
| Year |
Mon-Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
| 1961 |
30 mins * |
- |
- |
* more frequent Uxbridge - West Drayton
From Uxbridge, the route took 15 minutes to West Drayton, 30
minutes to Heathrow Airport.
RF allocation
PVR 1961: Mon-Fri 5, Sat -, Sun -
|
|
