SW11simon
297. The history of route 297
In 1968 route 297 was introduced to replace route 46 between Alperton and Willesden. This route 46 was unrelated to the current route of that number and ran from Waterloo to Alperton – it was in its final moments by the time the 297 was introduced and was withdrawn entirely a year later in 1969.
On introduction route 297 ran from Willesden to Perivale via Neasden, Wembley and Alperton. It did not make it to Ealing Broadway until 1984 when it was extended to there. Bar a couple of minor re-routings the route is the same today.
Vehicle wise, the route started up using RT’s from Alperton Garage, but received an early OPO conversion in 1969 – it was one of the routes that gained MB class AEC Merlin single decks designed to carry a higher proportion of standing passengers. That did not last too long and it was converted to double decks again in 1972, this time DMS class Daimler Fleetlines. M class MCW Metrobuses took over from 1980 but in 1990 it became part of a craze to convert to midibuses and gained DW class Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Darts. It was 2003, when the policy was favouring double decks again, that TP class Dennis Tridents came to the route.
Metroline have operated the route since 1998 when it was won on tender from Centrewest. It was initially run from Willesden Garage (AC) but since 2003 has been run from Perivale (PV until 2009 and then PA once one of those garages was closed. The remaining garage is Perivale West). The route now using a mix of East Lancs Olympus bodied Scania N230UD’s and Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL’s. Of the former type, SEL740 is seen arriving in Ealing.
297. The history of route 297
In 1968 route 297 was introduced to replace route 46 between Alperton and Willesden. This route 46 was unrelated to the current route of that number and ran from Waterloo to Alperton – it was in its final moments by the time the 297 was introduced and was withdrawn entirely a year later in 1969.
On introduction route 297 ran from Willesden to Perivale via Neasden, Wembley and Alperton. It did not make it to Ealing Broadway until 1984 when it was extended to there. Bar a couple of minor re-routings the route is the same today.
Vehicle wise, the route started up using RT’s from Alperton Garage, but received an early OPO conversion in 1969 – it was one of the routes that gained MB class AEC Merlin single decks designed to carry a higher proportion of standing passengers. That did not last too long and it was converted to double decks again in 1972, this time DMS class Daimler Fleetlines. M class MCW Metrobuses took over from 1980 but in 1990 it became part of a craze to convert to midibuses and gained DW class Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Darts. It was 2003, when the policy was favouring double decks again, that TP class Dennis Tridents came to the route.
Metroline have operated the route since 1998 when it was won on tender from Centrewest. It was initially run from Willesden Garage (AC) but since 2003 has been run from Perivale (PV until 2009 and then PA once one of those garages was closed. The remaining garage is Perivale West). The route now using a mix of East Lancs Olympus bodied Scania N230UD’s and Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL’s. Of the former type, SEL740 is seen arriving in Ealing.