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The 89 is one of those routes that has changed beyond recognition in its lifetime. My earliest record has it running from Plumstead Common (The Slade) to Bromley Common (Chatterton Arms) via Woolwich, Blackheath and Lewisham Operation was from Bromley (TB) garage. There was actually then a break in operation between 1936 and 1937, the route being replaced south of Catford by a short-lived extension of the 137 and north of Catford by new route 154 (quickly absorbed into the 54).

However the 89 was re-started from September 1937 again running from Bromley Common to Lewisham and Blackheath, but this time heading off to Welling (Guy, Earl of Warwick) replacing part of route 21A. The section south of Lewisham was deemed superflous and, with wartime fuel pressures, was withdrawn without replacement in 1940.

In 1963 the route gained a lengthy extension from Welling to Bexleyheath, Bexley, and Blackfen to Eltham (Well Hall), replacing the short-lived 195 routeBexley leg of route 132, which had previously operated as a circular service. This gave the route a very odd shape, doubling back on itself and running parallel in the opposite direction for several miles! This arrangement lasted until April 1978, when the route was converted to one-person operation using new Daimler Fleetlines and generally diverted to Slade Green replacing routes 122 and 132 (a few journeys still ran to Bexley until quite recently). At the sime time, the route was revised to terminate in Lewisham Bus Station instead of Rennell Street.

Other than changes to vehicle types there is no more to report. These days the route is operated by Bexleyheath garage using Volvo B7TLs, and PVL367 (PJ53 SPX) passes its home garage on Saturday 13 June 2009.

Photo © Stephen Gillett.

Bexleyheath was the first garage to receive the now substantial PVL class of Go-Ahead in London. Fifty-five examples were allocated for various routes, including the 89. Many of those original buses are still present, and PVL13 (V313 LGC) represents the batch at Lewisham "Bus Station" on 12 February 2009. Note the central staircase position that quickly fell out of favour.

Photo © William Turvill.

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See also routes N89

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