Route 161/A
I have always had a soft spot for route 161. For most of the time I lived en-route in Eltham it was operated by my favourite buses - RTs. It was (and is) a busy and frequent service starting in leafy Chislehurst (the 161a went even further to Petts Wood) it went up and down several hills, served historic Eltham, swooped down alongside Woolwich Common past the magnificent RA barracks and terminated in the grim riverside town of Woolwich with its Ferry and mighty Arsenal. The RTs hurried effortlessly and gracefully about their work. The 161 was operated by Sidcup garage and the 161a by Abbey Wood.
Here a 161a approaches the stop at the north side of what London Transport insisted on calling 'Well Hall Circus' in Eltham - but what everyone else called Well Hall Roundabout. By now it is operating as a tram replacement service - the services between Eltham and Woolwich surviving until the last day of London trams in 1952. RTs took over from the trams and ran until the mid-70s On the left can be seen some houses on the truly wonderful 'Progress' estate, a very attractive private estate that I think is the best in London. Unbelievably it was put up hurriedly during the first world war to house munitions workers. Behind the bus is the Odeon. After a period of private ownership it is now sadly closed. The stop the bus is about to call at is one I used frequently. Later it gained notoriety as the place where Stephen Lawrence was murdered by racist thugs. Ever since Eltham has carried this stain on its reputation that makes me sad.
Zeiss Werra, 50mm lens, Kodak Tri-X
Route 161/A
I have always had a soft spot for route 161. For most of the time I lived en-route in Eltham it was operated by my favourite buses - RTs. It was (and is) a busy and frequent service starting in leafy Chislehurst (the 161a went even further to Petts Wood) it went up and down several hills, served historic Eltham, swooped down alongside Woolwich Common past the magnificent RA barracks and terminated in the grim riverside town of Woolwich with its Ferry and mighty Arsenal. The RTs hurried effortlessly and gracefully about their work. The 161 was operated by Sidcup garage and the 161a by Abbey Wood.
Here a 161a approaches the stop at the north side of what London Transport insisted on calling 'Well Hall Circus' in Eltham - but what everyone else called Well Hall Roundabout. By now it is operating as a tram replacement service - the services between Eltham and Woolwich surviving until the last day of London trams in 1952. RTs took over from the trams and ran until the mid-70s On the left can be seen some houses on the truly wonderful 'Progress' estate, a very attractive private estate that I think is the best in London. Unbelievably it was put up hurriedly during the first world war to house munitions workers. Behind the bus is the Odeon. After a period of private ownership it is now sadly closed. The stop the bus is about to call at is one I used frequently. Later it gained notoriety as the place where Stephen Lawrence was murdered by racist thugs. Ever since Eltham has carried this stain on its reputation that makes me sad.
Zeiss Werra, 50mm lens, Kodak Tri-X