Initially operated with Mercedes-Benz midibuses, in 1986 two austere-looking Leyland Cubs with HTI-Maxeta B33F bodywork were acquired registered C923/4DKR.
Over the intervening years the route has stayed out of 'red' company hands until one of the latest contract changes.
Crystals Leyland Cub at Bromley North in August 1986 (upper) and a Metrobus Dennis Dart down in Downe during August 1991 (lower).
But this all changed again from first bus on Saturday 20th August, when Stagecoach Selkent commenced a new 5-year contract to operate the route from their Bromley (TB) Garage, using new short ADL E20D Enviro 200 MMC single-decks.
Stagecoach Selkent's fleet number 36611 is one of thirteen 9.0metre long ADL E20D/Enviro200 (MMC) single-decks now used to operate the route, and is shown on the stand at the Downe terminal point on the 26th August.
And now the latest contracts to be awarded.
2 (Marylebone Station & West Norwood) Retained by Arriva London with new Euro-VI hybrid double-decks (1st April 2017)
N2 (Trafalgar Square & West Norwood) Retained by Arriva London with new Euro-VI hybrid double-decks (1st April 2017)
19 (Battersea Bridge & Finsbury Park Station) Awarded to Arriva London with new Euro-VI hybrid double-decks. Currently operated by Go-Ahead London General with a mixture of Volvo diesel and hybrid double-decks (1st April 2017)
N19 (Clapham Junction & Finsbury Park Station) Awarded to Arriva London with new Euro-VI hybrid double-decks. Currently operated by Go-Ahead London General with Volvo hybrid double-decks (1st April 2017)
249 (Anerley Station & Clapham Common Station) Awarded to Arriva London with new Euro-VI hybrid double-decks. Currently operated by Go-Ahead London General with Volvo diesel double-decks (1st April 2017)
298 (Arnos Grove Station & Potters Bar) Retained by Sullivan Buses using existing fleet Euro-V diesel single-decks (4th February 2017)
455 (Wallington Station & Old Lodge Lane) Awarded to Go-Ahead Metrobus using existing fleet Euro-V diesel single-decks. Currently operated by Abellio with Dennis Dart diesel single-decks (4th March 2017)
624 (Grove Park Station & Avery Hill or Welling Corner, schooldays only) Retained by Go-Ahead London Central using existing fleet diesel ADL and Volvo diesel double-decks (31st December 2016)
625 (Plumstead Common & Chislehurst, schooldays only) Retained by Go-Ahead London Central using existing fleet diesel ADL and Volvo diesel double-decks (31st December 2016)
658 (Woolwich & Avery Hill, schooldays only) Retained by Go-Ahead London Central using existing fleet diesel ADL and Volvo diesel double-decks (31st December 2016)
W9 (Chase Farm Hospital & Southgate Station) Awarded to Sullivan Buses with new Euro-VI diesel single-decks. Currently operated by Metroline Travel with ADL diesel single-decks (4th February 2017)
Further useful information can be obtained from the London Omnibus Traction Society's website and various associated publications at http://www.lots.org.uk/
