Erith Transport History
More Photographs


London Country 480
This Photograph is of an RML on service 480 at Erith Wheatley Arms. (Queens Road) The railway is in a cutting on the other side of the advertising hoarding. The RML Routemaster Long has an extra small window in the centre of the bus, giving it eight more seats. The Wheatley Arms pub has since been demolished.
RML 2328. CUV 328C. Service 480 Erith - Gravesend, Denton. 
August 1967.

This area has changed also, a large roundabout is a few yards to the right, and a new road to Woolwich has been built, called Bronze Age Way. It is built over what was once called Belvedere Marshes, but is now called Thamesmead.
The 480 is now run by Arriva, Kent Thameside from Gravesend. However it now only goes as far as Dartford.
Photograph.  John King.


 
Another photograph of a 480 RML in London Transport Country Bus days, seen at Erith Wheatley Arms stand in Queens Road. Queens Road is now dual carriageway. 

RML 2328. CUV 328C. Service 480 Erith - Gravesend, Denton. 

The 480 was a main trunk route running through the industrial corridor of North West Kent, going via Erith, Crayford, Dartford, Greenhithe, Northfleet, Gravesend, Denton.

The 99 came along this road from the Prince of Wales going to Woolwich. On the way to Erith the 99 tuned into Pier Road, the turning seen on the left of the picture.

August 1967.
Photograph.  John King.

Margo's bus (Bexleheath Transport Co)
Margo's Bexleheath Transport Co, MUF459. It is an ex Southdown Leyland Titan PD2/12 with Northern Counties bodywork built in 1955 and acquired by Margo's in 1969.  There were also three similar vehicles in Margo's fleet from the same batch - MUF460/2/3 and were mainly used on school contracts. 
This is in Erith High Street near the Odeon cinema on a Sunday afternoon in July 1968. Everything in this photograph has since been demolished, a case of planners blight. Shops gone to be replaced by concrete blocks at rents that local businesses could not afford. Most of them stayed empty for many years.
Photograph John King

An RT on Service 99 Woolwich Earl of Chatham - Erith Prince of Wales. Seen here at Alford Road, Erith. (The Pom-pom) On its way to Woolwich, Earl of Chatham. The Road on the left is Riverdale Road. At the end of the road the bus turns left up the hill, Erith Road. 
Photograph John King.

RT 4237. KYY 840. 
AEC Regent Mark Three 
Engine: 9.6 litre rated at 115 bhp at 1,800 rpm. 
Transmission: Fluid flywheel and pre-selective gearbox. 

April 1959.. 

Photo John King

RT Prince of Wales at night

An RT on the Prince of Wales bus stand, Erith after dark. This quite back street is now a busy road, with a drive in MacDonalds. 
RT 3775. NLE 882. 
June 1969. 
Photograph John King


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