The route replacing the section of the 69 to North Woolwich is the 474, and this has the distinction of being Blue Triangle’s first mainstream LT route. Blue Triangle is well established in the fields of rail replacement work, private hires, and emergency coverage (including route 60, staffing on T32, and currently 367), and also has several AEC Regent IIIs and an RCL for nostalgia-related duties. Now the company is taking on more LT work, and a second route has been awarded in the shape of the 368, from next March.

The 474 is a short route there doesn’t really go anywhere much. From the Asda at Beckton, where the picture was taken, buses operate via Cyprus to North Woolwich, where the former 69 route is picked up via the industrial estates of Silvertown to Canning Town. And that’s it! The route doesn’t seem to have much point and doesn’t seem to carry very many passengers, although it may be busier at peak times. But use of double deckers running every 10 minutes certainly seems extravagant.

The number 474 itself probably derives from the 473, which runs parallel between North Woolwich and Silvertown along Albert Road, and maintains a direct link to Stratford.

Photo by Andrew Gronneberg.

Seen at Beckton Asda is DL909 (V909 FEC), a Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne of Blue Triangle. Buses bodied by East Lancs (of Blackburn) are often registered in nearby Preston, but why these received plates from Kendal, 40 miles further north, is a mystery! Before the delivery of the Tridents, which as is rather normal these days arrived after the contract started, Metrobuses from BT’s large fleet of such were employed.

The three main bodywork types on low floor double deckers all feature large areas of black panelling either side of the blind display, and several operators have chosen to brighten these up by adding their logos. First Capital were probably the first to capitalise on the space, and so far one Stagecoach Trident has received the treatment; now Blue Triangle’s blue triangle logo has joined them!

East Lancs bodies tend to have a rather square finish, in contrast to the designs from Plaxton, Alexander and Optare which are covered in curves and funny shaped bits. An unusual feature of the Lolyne is the very deep windows. These are a mixed blessing; the idea is probably to give a better view and a lighter interior, which it certainly does, but it also lets the heat in (or out)! Lolynes have been described as “goldfish bowls on wheels” with a certain amount of justification.

The only other operator of Lolynes in London at the moment is Metrobus, which uses them on route 161. Compare the bonded glazing specified by Blue Triangle vehicles with the slightly messy gasket finish on the Metrobus ones.

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See also routes 69, 60, T32, 367, 368, 473, 161