Eastern National route 151/251 on RM1993

3rd February 2008

This long established route began in 1927 running from Wood Green - Southend.
This collection features RM1993 covering part of the original route from Brentwood - Billericay.
In its heyday in 1974 there were 25 vehicles diagrammed for the Weekday 151/251 which had a 15-minute frequency over the Wood Green to Billericay section. The earliest buses out were at 05.47 simultaneously from Southend on the 251 and Wood Green on the 151; even on Sundays there was a 23.38 into Wood Green (251) and an 00.25 into Canvey (151). Very few of the vehicle workings returned the buses to their home depot the same day, most being part of a pool. One man operated vehicles first appeared in 1977, with one VRT working, and from then until 1981 it was not unheard of to see both crew-operated and omo VRT’s, RE’s and Leyland Nationals.
The 351 was cut back to Romford in April 1971 but continued to work through to Wood Green on Sundays until February 1973, whilst the 151 was withdrawn beyond Romford in June 1976 and by 1981 was operating only from Basildon to Canvey; the 251, though, survived another 10 years operating from Walthamstow to Southend via Brentwood.

RM1993 pauses in Brentwood	RM1993 at Shenfield	Rear view at Shenfield station	RM1993 toward Billericay
RM1993 approaches Billericay from the south	RM1993 approaching Billericay station	RM1993 arrives at Billericay station	RM1993 heading to brentwood
RM1993 in the outer reaches of Essex	Traditional road sign in Hutton	RM1993 in Hutton Village	RM 1993 pauses at the old shelter in Hutton Village