Route 690 and former 189 & 689
Today's route 690 origins comes from a daily route 189, which dates all the way to the 1950s. However I will first start on the former 689 and today's 690.
So route 189 was replaced by route 689 (or rather, renumber) which ran between Burntwood School and Tulse Hil. Two morning journeys and three afternoon journeys with one of them ending at Clapham Common Station. Then one of the journeys were rerouted via Herne Hill instead of Tulse Hill and extended from Tulse Hill to West Norwood. Numbered 690. The 4th September 2000 timetable can be seen in link.
By 26 January 2004, the 689 was gradually extended to Arriva's West Norwood bus garage where 690 ended. Detailed journeys introduced by 19th May the same year. Change of West Norwood terminus by 04/09/06. Rerouted in Clapham Common (01/09/08).
Then on 17 April 2010, routes serving the fore-front of Herne Hill station were routed away to serve direct on Dulwich Road due to new layout. A temporary diversion via King's Avenue, Atkins Road, Poynders Road and Cavendish Road marking a temporary timetable dated 21 March 2011, months before 689's withdrawal.
05 September 2011 marked 689's withdrawal and 690 receieved an extra journey to compensate. Then from 02 July 2013 to 14 November 2013 and from 13 October 2014 to 18 December 2018, route 690's West Norwood first/last stops changed temporarily to West Norwood Station. The current timetable for route 690 can be seen here.
So route 189 was replaced by route 689 (or rather, renumber) which ran between Burntwood School and Tulse Hil. Two morning journeys and three afternoon journeys with one of them ending at Clapham Common Station. Then one of the journeys were rerouted via Herne Hill instead of Tulse Hill and extended from Tulse Hill to West Norwood. Numbered 690. The 4th September 2000 timetable can be seen in link.
By 26 January 2004, the 689 was gradually extended to Arriva's West Norwood bus garage where 690 ended. Detailed journeys introduced by 19th May the same year. Change of West Norwood terminus by 04/09/06. Rerouted in Clapham Common (01/09/08).
Then on 17 April 2010, routes serving the fore-front of Herne Hill station were routed away to serve direct on Dulwich Road due to new layout. A temporary diversion via King's Avenue, Atkins Road, Poynders Road and Cavendish Road marking a temporary timetable dated 21 March 2011, months before 689's withdrawal.
05 September 2011 marked 689's withdrawal and 690 receieved an extra journey to compensate. Then from 02 July 2013 to 14 November 2013 and from 13 October 2014 to 18 December 2018, route 690's West Norwood first/last stops changed temporarily to West Norwood Station. The current timetable for route 690 can be seen here.
now for 189's past..
Route 189 started as a partial replacement for Tram route 6 and full replacement for bus route 5, with a weekend service 189A to aid it. This occured on the 7th January 1951.
Route 189: CANNON STREET (Mon-Fri except evgs) Southwark Bridge - Elephant & Castle - Kennington - Stockwell - CLAPHAM COMMON Old Town (Mon-Fri evgs) - Nightingale Lane - Burntwood Lane - Plough Lane - Haydons Road - SOUTH WIMBLEDON STN (Mon-Fri) Morden - Stonecot Hill - NORTH CHEAM Queen Victoria (Mon-Fri peaks). PVR of 17. Operated from Clapham (CA) using AEC Regent III Leyland Titan (RTL) buses. Monday-Friday only service.
Route 189A: RAYNES PARK, South Wimbledon, Earlsfield, Nightingale Lane, CLAPHAM COMMON (Suns) Kennington, Elephant, Borough, Southwark Bridge, CANNON STREET (Sats). PVR of 12 (Saturday)/5 (Sunday). Operated from Clapham (CA) using AEC Regent III Leyland Titan (RTL) buses. Weekend only service.
By 7 October 1953, route 189A's Saturday journeys were cut to Clapham Common in line with Sunday service. Saturday PVR reduced to 7.
The next victim to be cut off from Canon Street was route 189, excluding peak hour services has seen a cut to Clapham Common Old Town with a new PVR of 10, date of change on 17 October 1956. Then an overhaul happened.
On 20 August 1958, route 189 was merged with 189A, thus a daily service under the 189A number, and peak hours extended from Rayners Park to Worcester Park Station, however no remains of the Canon Street journeys. PVR has then been: Weekdays 7, weekends 4. However, the Saturday operations were run from Merton (AL) instead of Clapham (CA) and used RTs instead of RTLs. Later on the 26th November, the upgraded 189A has renumbered 189.
Route 189: CANNON STREET (Mon-Fri except evgs) Southwark Bridge - Elephant & Castle - Kennington - Stockwell - CLAPHAM COMMON Old Town (Mon-Fri evgs) - Nightingale Lane - Burntwood Lane - Plough Lane - Haydons Road - SOUTH WIMBLEDON STN (Mon-Fri) Morden - Stonecot Hill - NORTH CHEAM Queen Victoria (Mon-Fri peaks). PVR of 17. Operated from Clapham (CA) using AEC Regent III Leyland Titan (RTL) buses. Monday-Friday only service.
Route 189A: RAYNES PARK, South Wimbledon, Earlsfield, Nightingale Lane, CLAPHAM COMMON (Suns) Kennington, Elephant, Borough, Southwark Bridge, CANNON STREET (Sats). PVR of 12 (Saturday)/5 (Sunday). Operated from Clapham (CA) using AEC Regent III Leyland Titan (RTL) buses. Weekend only service.
By 7 October 1953, route 189A's Saturday journeys were cut to Clapham Common in line with Sunday service. Saturday PVR reduced to 7.
The next victim to be cut off from Canon Street was route 189, excluding peak hour services has seen a cut to Clapham Common Old Town with a new PVR of 10, date of change on 17 October 1956. Then an overhaul happened.
On 20 August 1958, route 189 was merged with 189A, thus a daily service under the 189A number, and peak hours extended from Rayners Park to Worcester Park Station, however no remains of the Canon Street journeys. PVR has then been: Weekdays 7, weekends 4. However, the Saturday operations were run from Merton (AL) instead of Clapham (CA) and used RTs instead of RTLs. Later on the 26th November, the upgraded 189A has renumbered 189.
A new leaf has turned for 189. (Continuing from 26/11/58)
CLAPHAM COMMON Old Town - Nightingale Lane - Burntwood Lane - Earlsfield - Plough Lane - Haydons Road - SOUTH WIMBLEDON STN (Suns ) - RAYNES PARK ( Mon-Sat ) - Malden - WORCESTER PARK STN (Mon-Fri peaks). Operated from Merton (AL). PVR: Weekday 7, Saturday 4, Sunday 3. Allocated RT type buses.
The route has been cut on Saturdays from Rayners Park to South Wimbledon, thus only Clapham Common to South Wimbledon with a PVR decrease of 1, meanwhile the weekday PVR sees an increase from 7 to 9, including a Sunday service withdrawal on the 10/10/1962.
Only a year later on the 9th, the Saturday service has been restored back to Raynes Park with four journeys running further to New Malden Fountain. However Saturday evening journeys remain to work as far as South Wimbledon. Saturday PVR reinstated to 4.
CLAPHAM COMMON Old Town - Nightingale Lane - Burntwood Lane - Earlsfield - Plough Lane - Haydons Road - SOUTH WIMBLEDON STN (Suns ) - RAYNES PARK ( Mon-Sat ) - Malden - WORCESTER PARK STN (Mon-Fri peaks). Operated from Merton (AL). PVR: Weekday 7, Saturday 4, Sunday 3. Allocated RT type buses.
The route has been cut on Saturdays from Rayners Park to South Wimbledon, thus only Clapham Common to South Wimbledon with a PVR decrease of 1, meanwhile the weekday PVR sees an increase from 7 to 9, including a Sunday service withdrawal on the 10/10/1962.
Only a year later on the 9th, the Saturday service has been restored back to Raynes Park with four journeys running further to New Malden Fountain. However Saturday evening journeys remain to work as far as South Wimbledon. Saturday PVR reinstated to 4.
18 November 1964 marked the Saturday service withdrawal, weekday service unaffected however.
Next cut to the route was the evening service, last bus returning to garage by 8PM. A New Year's foreshadowing! (Change on 31/12/66).
Also, PVR was reduced from 9 to 6. On the 30th January 1971, the weekday peak hour journeys to Worcester Park were replaced by 77A, thus only running Clapham Common to Raynes Park. Allocation changed to DMS type buses with a PVR change to 4. A big step up on the 20th October 1973 was, that, route 189 went all the way down to Esher from Raynes Park replacing withdrawn sectio of route 152 with a PVR increase of +3. Three years later on the 10th April the service was cut to Hook Ace of Spades with a PVR of 6. Then returned to it's old Raynes Park terminus on the 4th September 1982 with a conversion to single deck LS type (Leyland National) buses.
The 189 has taken another new leaf.
As the route has been diverted at Earlsfield (Burntwood School I believe) to Tooting Mitre via St George's Hospital and extended to Brixton from the Clapham Common end, thus pretty much similar to the previous 689 now, as there is little to cover until 189's end.
Excluding this new 'leaf' took it's toll.
Bar SDO (School-day-operation) journeys, the route has been cut to Clapham Common from Brixton. And has welcomed a new PVR of 1. This happened on the 2nd November 1985. December the 18th later the same year the Tooting terminus changed to Tooting Broadway Station. Two years later on the 11th of July, the allocation has moved to Stockwell (SW) and converted to double deck operation once again. The route then saw a suspension during the summer holidays in 1988, commencing on 6th August.
A new term has begun and on the 6th September the same year, the route has jumped garages again to this time Brixton (BN) with a M-type (MCW Metrobus) vehicle. And the route only ran in school times for school journeys. Then three years later at the end of August 1991 on the 30th, the route went back to Stockwell (SW), cut to Earlsfield Burntwood School using VC-type Volvo Citybus from route 133 at the time. New allocation seen on the 30th November 1992 but only on Mondays, because route 189 used 2 M-type MCW Metrobus vehicles from route 157 from Sutton (A) garage. Whereas 189 used 3 VC-type Volvo Citybus from route 133 from Stockwell (SW).
From 3rd of March 1993, the route was 'lost' from London General to London Country from Walworth (WL) garage and extended via route 35 into the garage.
22.07.1994
Renumbered 689 for new term.
Also, PVR was reduced from 9 to 6. On the 30th January 1971, the weekday peak hour journeys to Worcester Park were replaced by 77A, thus only running Clapham Common to Raynes Park. Allocation changed to DMS type buses with a PVR change to 4. A big step up on the 20th October 1973 was, that, route 189 went all the way down to Esher from Raynes Park replacing withdrawn sectio of route 152 with a PVR increase of +3. Three years later on the 10th April the service was cut to Hook Ace of Spades with a PVR of 6. Then returned to it's old Raynes Park terminus on the 4th September 1982 with a conversion to single deck LS type (Leyland National) buses.
The 189 has taken another new leaf.
As the route has been diverted at Earlsfield (Burntwood School I believe) to Tooting Mitre via St George's Hospital and extended to Brixton from the Clapham Common end, thus pretty much similar to the previous 689 now, as there is little to cover until 189's end.
Excluding this new 'leaf' took it's toll.
Bar SDO (School-day-operation) journeys, the route has been cut to Clapham Common from Brixton. And has welcomed a new PVR of 1. This happened on the 2nd November 1985. December the 18th later the same year the Tooting terminus changed to Tooting Broadway Station. Two years later on the 11th of July, the allocation has moved to Stockwell (SW) and converted to double deck operation once again. The route then saw a suspension during the summer holidays in 1988, commencing on 6th August.
A new term has begun and on the 6th September the same year, the route has jumped garages again to this time Brixton (BN) with a M-type (MCW Metrobus) vehicle. And the route only ran in school times for school journeys. Then three years later at the end of August 1991 on the 30th, the route went back to Stockwell (SW), cut to Earlsfield Burntwood School using VC-type Volvo Citybus from route 133 at the time. New allocation seen on the 30th November 1992 but only on Mondays, because route 189 used 2 M-type MCW Metrobus vehicles from route 157 from Sutton (A) garage. Whereas 189 used 3 VC-type Volvo Citybus from route 133 from Stockwell (SW).
From 3rd of March 1993, the route was 'lost' from London General to London Country from Walworth (WL) garage and extended via route 35 into the garage.
22.07.1994
Renumbered 689 for new term.
Minor facts
- Clapham (CA) changeovers at garage (Clapham Common Old Town)
- Merton (AL) changeovers at Haydons Road/Merton High Street
- Stockwell (SW), Brixton (BN), Sutton (A) changeovers at garage (dead run?)