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Having uniquely escaped low floor conversion in the 2000 round of Walthamstow area tenders, the W16 finally succumbed in time for a further contract renewal in March 2005. 8.8m Mini Pointer Darts were drafted across from busy route W15, which gained slightly larger buses, and so we have PDL 1 (V421 DGT), loading up at the first stop at Chingford Mount on Monday 12 September 2005.

Photo © John Nicholas Bennett.

The route itself was formed in March 1989 when route 235 was cut in half at Leytonstone station. The former eastern arm to Woodford became the W14, the remainder of the route between Leytonstone and Chingford Mount ‘round the back’ via Wood Street and Highams Park becoming the W16. Although the W11, W12 and W15 serve Walthamstow and the W12, W13 and W14 serve Woodford or South Woodford, the W16 is a bit of an anomaly, not serving either!

At the same time, Leyland Nationals on the 235 were replaced by MCW Metroriders of London Forest on the W16. However, late in 1991, London Forest collapsed, so the route was re-tendered and awarded to County with the new Darts. County, and the buses, were subsequently taken over by Cowie who then became Arriva and transferred the operation to Arriva London North, the former Leaside division of London Buses, but still based out of County's Edmonton garage.

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See also routes 444, W14, W11, W15, W12, W13

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