Double takes for double-deckers as the No 29 turns 100
Route from Wood Green to the West End passes through Holloway
Friday, 11th April — By Richard Osley
The historic No 29s head down Camden Road to celebrate the route’s century
THE clocks went back a century as historic buses trundled through Holloway to mark the 100th birthday of the No 29 bus route.
There were double takes from passers-by as the – and let’s get the model number correct for enthusiasts – XX9591 Dennis 4-tonner went down Camden Road on Saturday afternoon.
The celebration of these fantastic vehicles and the window into London’s past was organised by the London Bus Museum, which is based in Weybridge.
Conductor Peter Larkham explained that the much-used route, which uses a red double-decker again after a chaotic period as a bendy-bus, had once run all the way from Victoria to Potters Bar and Borehamwood.
Now, of course, the trip is from Wood Green to the West End, passing through Holloway.
Conductor Peter Larkham with a vintage No 29 bus
Of the XX9591, Mr Larkham said: “It has largely wooden bodywork and a very slow crash gear-change.
“It was recently fully restored by London Bus Museum in the colours of the Dominion Omnibus Co. which was one of the ‘pirate’ operators competing with the forerunner of London Transport.”
People who know the capital’s bus history will know the AMM693 came along later, and became recognised as London’s bus in 1934. Its roof, windscreen and enclosed staircase had been permitted 10 years earlier.
“You may have seen four of our buses amongst the 30 or so running a free service by arrangement with TfL on Route 19 a week ago,” Mr Larkham said.
“The 29 commemoration was for invited guests only, and we were able to visit Wood Green and Palmers Green bus garages, courtesy of Arriva, and the site of the former West Green garage which closed in January 1962 and is now a housing development.”
He added: “The London Bus Museum is based at Brooklands, near Weybridge, and its rotating collection of some 50 buses rivals our friends at London Transport Museum Covent Garden. Our buses can be seen at our museum and on the road, and visitors are able to experience bus rides on certain days and at our three major events during the year.”
