London – single-deck night buses?

[Be3G]

Hi all,

At Loughton station yesterday I saw what seemed to me to be a bit of an oddity: a 397 (a single-deck service) with its side blind set to ‘N26 Chingford Mount’. Obviously this was just a mistake, but what intrigued me was the existence of a blind that includes night services on a single-deck bus.

I rarely use London's night buses but I always assumed that they were all double deckers? (For the avoidance of doubt I'm only referring to actual night N-prefixed routes.) Or is it the case that the blinds for the side of the 397's new single-deck buses are exactly the same as blinds used in the N26's double deckers and the wrong blind was installed in the wrong bus?

 

[Deerfold]

Hi all,

At Loughton station yesterday I saw what seemed to me to be a bit of an oddity: a 397 (a single-deck service) with its side blind set to ‘N26 Chingford Mount’. Obviously this was just a mistake, but what intrigued me was the existence of a blind that includes night services on a single-deck bus.

I rarely use London's night buses but I always assumed that they were all double deckers? (For the avoidance of doubt I'm only referring to actual night N-prefixed routes.) Or is it the case that the blinds for the side of the 397's new single-deck buses are exactly the same as blinds used in the N26's double deckers and the wrong blind was installed in the wrong bus?

The 24 hour 108 is operated with single deckers - though that's because of height issues on the route.

 

[Be3G]

Indeed I know, which is why I said I'm wondering specifically about N-prefixed night-only routes.

 

[Deerfold]

Indeed I know, which is why I said I'm wondering specifically about N-prefixed night-only routes.

Oops.

I don't know of any current single decker N-prefixed routes. The N28 and N31 used to be, though.

 

[Ianno87]

The N29 used to be run with single deck articulated Citaros.

 

[J-2739]

The N29 used to be run with single deck articulated Citaros.

So did the 24 Hour 12 and 25.

I've never used a night bus route though.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

The 24 hour 108 is operated with single deckers - though that's because of height issues on the route.

I know it's not an N route but the 214 doesn't have height issues and is operated with single deckers.

 

[CatfordCat]

Some garages have a single blind set for all types of bus, some garages have a few double deck routes included on single deck blind sets in case of emergency, and some garages have a few single deck routes included in double deck blind sets (where it's safe and practical to put double deckers out even if the contract doesn't require it - Merton for example occasionally put double deckers out on the 152 and 219, as well as there being a few scheduled double deck workings on route 200.)

Historically, there haven't been many single deck night buses.

The night 108 was officially N 108 (although think it followed exactly the same route as the 108) from 2001 to 2003 (I can't remember if there were different rules on fares on night buses at that time, which may have been the justification)

Peckham's N 85 and N 86 were briefly LS operated in the early 80s (the only OPO route at PM was the 78, which briefly got allocated LSs), and Leyton's N 96 was LS operated for much of the 80s, as Leyton had an allocation of LS but no OPO double deckers. I can't immediately think of any others.

Ian Armstrong's London Bus Routes website has more.

 

[Busaholic]

Some garages have a single blind set for all types of bus, some garages have a few double deck routes included on single deck blind sets in case of emergency, and some garages have a few single deck routes included in double deck blind sets (where it's safe and practical to put double deckers out even if the contract doesn't require it - Merton for example occasionally put double deckers out on the 152 and 219, as well as there being a few scheduled double deck workings on route 200.)

Historically, there haven't been many single deck night buses.

The night 108 was officially N 108 (although think it followed exactly the same route as the 108) from 2001 to 2003 (I can't remember if there were different rules on fares on night buses at that time, which may have been the justification)

Peckham's N 85 and N 86 were briefly LS operated in the early 80s (the only OPO route at PM was the 78, which briefly got allocated LSs), and Leyton's N 96 was LS operated for much of the 80s, as Leyton had an allocation of LS but no OPO double deckers. I can't immediately think of any others.

Ian Armstrong's London Bus Routes website has more.

As you say, Leyton had no OPO deckers but had the LSs for the 236, which of course needed single deckers. I believe I once saw a photo of a single decker on the N84 as well: the N84, as the 284, being the first ever Routemaster-operated night route.

 

[CatfordCat]

As you say, Leyton had no OPO deckers but had the LSs for the 236, which of course needed single deckers. I believe I once saw a photo of a single decker on the N84 as well: the N84, as the 284, being the first ever Routemaster-operated night route.

Fairly sure this was never the allocation - PR had DMSs then Ts from the mid 70s until closure for (at least) the 277.

Could have been a very hastily arranged substitution (although not sure if the LS blinds had destinations for the N 84) or possibly a one-off overnight road closure that required a diversion under a low bridge?

 

[Busaholic]

Fairly sure this was never the allocation - PR had DMSs then Ts from the mid 70s until closure for (at least) the 277.

Could have been a very hastily arranged substitution (although not sure if the LS blinds had destinations for the N 84) or possibly a one-off overnight road closure that required a diversion under a low bridge?

You're right, never allocated. Can't remember the circumstances, so can't be 100% sure I've got it right. Suspect only blind in operation would just have shown '84' but, given its remoteness from Arnos Grove, no confusion for the public there!

 

[daikilo]

Hi all,

At Loughton station yesterday I saw what seemed to me to be a bit of an oddity: a 397 (a single-deck service) with its side blind set to ‘N26 Chingford Mount’. Obviously this was just a mistake, but what intrigued me was the existence of a blind that includes night services on a single-deck bus.

I rarely use London's night buses but I always assumed that they were all double deckers? (For the avoidance of doubt I'm only referring to actual night N-prefixed routes.) Or is it the case that the blinds for the side of the 397's new single-deck buses are exactly the same as blinds used in the N26's double deckers and the wrong blind was installed in the wrong bus?

Destinations blind dimensions are specifed by London Buses (or TfL) in terms of visible area, as such it is quite possible (even probable) that the blinds are interchangeable between different bus types. In addition, blinds are standardised as much as feasible and contain a significant number of routes/destinations thus it is quite possible that both the routes you cite are on the same blind anyway. I cannot help further as I don't have access to the relevant information for the bus you saw.

 

[Be3G]

Thanks CatfordCat and daikilo for the detailed explanations; sounds like it wasn't too surprising an occurrence to have the night bus blinds on a little hail-and-ride single-decker bus!

 

[route101]

Used to be case that Glasgows night buses were mostly singles .

 

[Lrd]

Used to be case that Glasgows night buses were mostly singles .

As were Southampton's when they had Night buses on a Friday and Saturday night.

 

[mugam4]

Brighton & Hove's night buses are all double deckers. Single deckers are swapped out late in the evening for doubles.