Red Bus Rover (Video Film)
Super 8mm film Colour Sound c.1982 21:25
Summary: A compilation of films showing various buses and routes including routes 144, 148, 251
Title number: 20383
LSA ID: LSA/26883
Description: The compilation of films starts with views of buses at Gants Hill Roundabout on route 144 which ran from Muswell Hill to Ilford. The route was shortened in 1982 and did not run as far as Ilford from this time. Also seen is the 148 to Leytonstone, which is another route now no longer serving this area. Other buses on routes 66, 150, 123, a single-decker bus on route 167, Eastern National route 251, which ran from Walthamstow to Southend, and Grey Green coaches, probably going to Clacton, all go around the roundabout.
The scenes that follow include a 275 in Barkingside, then a 25 Routemaster on Ilford Hill. A man is seen hanging off the platform of the bus. A driver on the 86 bus waves as it goes along Ilford Hill, then a 225 passes along Ilford Broadway. There is a shot of the 169 passing the Bodgers store in Ilford. A 147 turns into Ilford Hill. The 167 and 123 are seen in York Road, the old bus terminus, and there are views of Fairheads and Beales stores, which are now closed. Burtons men's clothing shop, Woolwich Building Society, C&A and Dunn & Co can also be seen.
There are glimpses of Routemasters on routes 76 and 133 in Moorgate. Then there are scenes of sightseeing buses. There are views of the Bank of England and routes 6 and 9 and a bus on route 8 which didn't serve Queen Victoria Street at this time due to a possible diversion. Interestingly, a bus on route 9 completes a U-turn by St Paul's Cathedral and there are more general views of buses by the Cathedral.
Further scenes include views at the Bank of England with a man hanging onto a route 21 Routemaster. The scenes move onto Hammersmith Broadway with buses on routes 33 and 295 - the Routemaster on the 33 route was being replaced. A 71 going to Richmond turns near Richmond. There are views of a Routemaster in East Sheen on the 33 route and a Metrobus replacement bus. There is a training bus on Hammersmith Bridge and at the Aldwych there are buses on routes 9 and 15.
An 86 bus is seen arriving at Stratford Bus Station. Routemasters on the 60 and 118 routes are seen on Streatham High Road and then there is a glimpse of a Routemaster on route 1919 advertising Harrods This bus was later sold to the department store.
Views of Bishopsgate and the old Liverpool Street Station frontage which was demolished during the mid-1980s are seen and then buses on route 149 ( former Green Line buses). At Ilford High Road a red 145 is seen passing the Town Hall. Next there is a view of Cranbrook Road with a green 167 and a red 150. Another route 150 comes along stating its destination is Ilford when it is actually going in the direction of Gants Hill.
At Barkingside there is a quick glimpse of a 129 bus on Cranbrook Road prior to the Tesco store being built. There are blue and silver buses on the 145 route in The Drive. Back to Cranbrook Road there is a 247, a 129 and a 139.
Credits: Hamilton, David (Filmmaker)
Further information: David Hamilton’s films form part of a collection which documents his enthusiasm for public transport (and especially buses) in the Borough of Redbridge and across London, capturing special days and everyday travel.
Whilst not all of these films show the London Borough of Redbridge, they are kept together as an archive of his filmmaking.
This was the first cine film the filmmaker took, one of the compilation films was taken in one summer evening, judging by the shadows.
The routes at Cranbrook Road have now ceased. Route 247 no longer serves the road, the 129 became a withdrawn route and the 139 has also gone from the area. The buses at Cranbrook Road are also seen before the traffic lights were installed and Tesco was built.
Also shown is the bus route X99 which ran to Basildon via Brentwood and Romford, the buses had a rather garish colour scheme and the route only lasted a year or two.
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