Route History

04.05.38
SP
6LT
6LT
5LT

CHISLEHURST War Memorial - Mottingham - Eltham Church - ELTHAM Southend Crescent
New route - replacing withdrawn Chislehurst to Eltham section of Route 227

04.01.39
SP
7LT
6LT
5LT

ORPINGTON Maxwell Arms ( Mon-Sat am journey )  -   CHISLEHURST War Memorial -  ELTHAM Southend Crescent
One Mon-Sat am journey extended from Chislehurst to Orpington ( see below )

March 1940 first and last times
Map extracted from 1939 historical map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk

19.03.41
SP
9LT
9LT
5LT

ORPINGTON Maxwell Arms ( Mon-Sat am journey  -  CHISLEHURST War Memorial  - ELTHAM Southend Crescent or non-stop to WOOLWICH Parsons Hill ( Mon-Sat peak hours )
Mon-Sat peaks extended from Eltham to Woolwich running non-stop between Eltham Church and Woolwich

14.01.42
SP
10LT
8LT
5LT

CHISLEHURST War Memorial - Mottingham - Eltham Church - ELTHAM Southend Crescent or non-stop to WOOLWICH Parsons Hill ( Mon-Sat peak hours )
Mon-Sat am journey to Orpington withdrawn

0912.42
SP
12LT
12LT
5LT

 SIDCUP GARAGE ( Mon-Sat peaks ) - CHISLEHURST War Memorial  - ELTHAM Southend Crescent or non-stop to WOOLWICH Parsons Hill ( Mon-Sat peak hours )
Mon-Sat peaks extended from Chislehurst to Sidcup Garage

Map extracted from 1943 historical map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk

13.02.46
SP
15LT
13LT
5LT

 SIDCUP GARAGE ( Mon-Sat peaks ) - CHISLEHURST War Memorial  - ELTHAM Southend Crescent or non-stop to WOOLWICH Parsons Hill ( Mon-Sat peak hours )
Times below


13.04.49
SP
15RTL
13RTL
7RTL

 SIDCUP GARAGE ( Mon-Sat peaks ) - CHISLEHURST War Memorial  - ELTHAM Southend Crescent or non-stop to WOOLWICH Parsons Hill ( Mon-Sat peak hours )
LT type replaced by RTL

06.07.52
AM
15RTL
8RTL
4RTL
 
SP
13RTL
8RTL
6RTL

GREENWICH CHURCH (Mon-Fri peaks) - Woolwich Road - WOOLWICH Parsons Hill - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Sat peaks)
Mon-Fri peaks extended from Woolwich to Greenwich and service between Eltham and Woolwich revised to stopping service to compensate for Tram #44 withdrawal.
New daily Plumstead (AM) allocation introduced.
These changes were part of the last stage of tram replacement.

Taken from August 1952 Red Book

07.09.52
AM
15RTL
8RTL
--
 
AW
--
--
4RTL
 
SP
13RTL
8RTL
6RTL

GREENWICH CHURCH (Mon-Fri peaks) - Woolwich Road - WOOLWICH Parsons Hill - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Sat peaks)
Sunday Plumstead allocation transferred to Abbey Wood (AW).

06.05.53
AW
--
--
4RTL
 
SP
14RTL
8RTL
6RTL

GREENWICH CHURCH (Mon-Fri peaks) - Woolwich Road - WOOLWICH Parsons Hill - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Sat peaks)
Plumstead (AW) allocation transferred to new 161A

04.05.55
AW
--
--
5RT
 
SP
14RT
8RT
4RT

GREENWICH CHURCH (Mon-Fri peaks) - Woolwich Road - WOOLWICH Parsons Hill - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Sat peaks)
RTL type replaced by RT

30.04.58
AW
--
--
5RT
 
SP
14RT
8RT
4RT


26.11.58
AW
--
--
5RT
 
SP
14RT
8RT
4RT

GREENWICH CHURCH (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks)
Saturday service from Chislehurst to Sidcup withdrawn except for garage journeys.

12.10.60
AW
--
--
5RT
 
SP
14RT
8RT
4RT

WOOLWICH ROAD Victoria Way (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks)
Withdrawn between Woolwich Road and Greenwich.

06.11.71
AW
--
--
5RT
 
SP
9RT
9RT
3RT

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks)
Withdrawn between Charlton Station and Victoria Way.

Taken from1973 Red Book

01.03.75
AW
--
--
5RM
 
SP
9RT
9RT
3RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks)
Routemasters introduced on Sundays.

RT4051

RT4051 seen at Chislehurst shortly before the RT type was withdrawn

© John Parkin


21.05.77
AW
--
--
6RM
 
SP
7RM
7RM
3RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks)
Mon-Sat Routemasters introduced.

RM51 Beresford Square, Christmas Eve 1980

© John Parkin


27.09.80
AW1+
13RM
10RM
4RM
 
SP121+
7RM
8RM
4RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) → WOOLWICH →  CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks) or PETTS WOOD STATION (Mon-Sat)
Mon-Sat Abbey Wood (AW) introduced due to 161A number being discontinued.

31.10.81
PD101+
13MD
9MD
4MD
 
SP121+
7RM
8RM
5RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) → WOOLWICH →  CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks) or PETTS WOOD STATION (Mon-Sat)
Abbey Wood (AW) garage closes and allocation transferred to new Plumstead (PD). MD type introduced.

04.09.82
PD101+
10MD
9MD
3MD
 
SP121+
6RM
5RM
3RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks) or PETTS WOOD STN (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Journeys to Petts Wood restricted  as above.

22.11.82
PD101+
10Tc
9Tc
3Tc
 
SP121+
6RM
5RM
3RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST - SIDCUP GARAGE (Mon-Fri peaks) or PETTS WOOD STN (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
MD type replaced by Leyland Titan.

MD127 seen inside Plumstead Garage (PD) complete with Conductor Only board beneath the windscreen

June 1983

© John Parkin


04.02.84
PD101+
10Tc
9Tc
3Tc
 
SP121+
6RM
5RM
2RM

CHARLTON STN (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - SIDCUP GARAGE or PETTS WOOD STATION (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Extended from Chislehurst to Sidcup Garage at all times.

02.02.85
PD101+
10T
--
--
 
SP121+
11T
16T
5T

Converted to One Person Operation
Saturday and Sunday Plumstead (PD) allocation withdrawn.

02.11.85
PD101+
6T
--
--
 
SP121+
12T
15T
5T

CHARLTON STATION (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - SIDCUP GARAGE (MS except evgs/Suns) or PETTS WOOD STATION (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Mon-Sat evenings withdrawn between Chislehurst and Sidcup Garage except for garage journeys.

16.08.86
SP121+
18L
13L
5L

 

Plumstead (PD) allocation withdrawn.

16.01.88
PD41+
17L
12L
3L

CHARLTON STATION (Mon-Fri peaks) - WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST (Suns) - SIDCUP STATION (Mon-Fri peaks) or PETTS WOOD STATION (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Extension from Chislehurst to Sidcup restricted to Mon-Fri peaks and diverted to Sidcup Station
Sidcup (SP) allocation transferred to Plumstead (PD)

 

 

L70 waits at Eltham Station for a peak hour journey to Charlton

 


16.11.89
PD41+
15L
12L
3L

WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST War Memorial (Suns) - SIDCUP STATION (SDO jnys) or PETTS WOOD STATION (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Extension from Chislehurst to Sidcup Station restricted to Mon-Fri schoolday journeys and withdrawn between Woolwich and Charlton

L142 Chislehurst shortly before the route was transferred to Bromley

@ John Parkin


19.01.91
PD41+
13L/T
12L/T
4MRL

WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST War Memorial (Suns) - SIDCUP STATION (SDO jnys) or PETTS WOOD STATION (MS except evgs/Sat except early am)
Sunday converted to midibus

SR71 Monk Street Woolwich

 


27.04.91
TB51+
12T
6T
4MRL

BROMLEY NORTH STATION - Bickley - Bickley - Chislehurst - Mottingham - Eltham - WOOLWICH
Diverted at Chislehurst via 227 to Bromley North. Petts Wood section renumbered 161A
PD allocation transferred to Bromley (TB).

 

 

T978 is at Chislehurst War Memorial - soon to turn right towards Bromley

 

 


12.03.94
LM
8ON
8ON
6midi

WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Withdrawn between Chislehurst and Bromley ( partly replaced by new 162) and contract transferred to Kentish Bus (Deptford base)

 

A  smart Leyland Olympian Northern Counties Paladin ii ( 559 ) waits in Monk Street

 


02.12.95
MB21+
9dd
9dd
4sd
Contract reassigned

WOOLWICH - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Transferred from Kentish Bus to Metrobus

 

 

Seen on a Sunday duty at Eltham Dart 215

 


07.08.99
MB21+
13Trident
13Trident
7dart

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Extended from Woolwich to North Greenwich Station via Woolwich Road - Horn Lane - Bugsby's Way - Dreadnought Street and converted to low floor Dennis Trident operation.

 

 

Trident 411 at Eltham Station

 


24.02.01
MB21+
13dd
13dd
6 dd

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Diverted to run via new Queen Elizabeth Hospital


10.05.03
MB171+
14Trident
14Trident
6Trident

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Rerouted at North Greenwich via West Parkside Busway.

18.03.06
MB171+
14sc
14sc
9sc

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Contract renewal with new Scania dd.

 

 

465 is in Well Hall Road - with Eltham Station immediately ahead.

 


01.09.07
MB171+
14sc
14sc
10sc

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Sunday frequencies increased

522

Strange visitor to the 161 in the form of Metrobus 522
East Lancs Esteem seen at Eltham Church

© John King



19.03.11
MB171+
14sc
14sc
10sc

NORTH GREENWICH STN - CHISLEHURST War Memorial
Contract extended for two years

Metrobus 467

Scania Omnicity 467 at North Greenwich

© Jack Marian


16.03.13
MB171+
14SC
14SC
10SC

NORTH GREENWICH  -  CHISLEHURST
Contract renewed for 5 years

E208

E208 seen in Woolwich Town Centre

© Robert Mighton


01.05.14
MB171+
14SC
14SC
10SC

Taken from 2014 map drawn by Mike Harris
busmap.co.uk
WVL212 at North Greenwich

17.03.18
PD51+
16EH
15EH
14EH
Contract reassigned

NORTH GREENWICH  -  CHISLEHURST
Contract reassigned to Stagecoach (PD)

Enviro MMC 12144 is seen with the familiar backdrop of the O2 at North Greenwich

© Jamie Geen


30.01.21
PD51+
17EH
16EH
12EH

NORTH GREENWICH  -  CHISLEHURST
Rerouted northbound in Woolwich via Vincent Road, Burrage Road and Plumstead Road instead of direct via Woolwich New Road

16434

12434 Woolwich Barracks

© Edward S


 

Current Blind



161

Operating Garages

AM Plumstead
Changeover point Woolwich

AW Abbey Wood
Changeover point Woolwich or Well Hall Station.

PD Plumstead
Changeover point
Woolwich Arsenal Stn

SP Sidcup
Changeover point at garage or Well Hall Station.

TB Bromley
Changeover point at ?

LM Deptford ( Kentish Bus )
Changeover point at ?

MB Green Street Green
Changeover point - a number of finishing afternoon journeys changeover at Chislehurst War Memorial - all others are at Eltham Station where the route controller is based.

Live visual

 

 

© Ian Armstrong 2024
Date of edit   Sunday, 25.02.24

 

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