Free heritage buses will run on routes 106 and D6 on Saturday as Stagecoach opens Ash Grove garage to the public for its 45th anniversary.
Thirty-one heritage buses will take to London’s streets this Saturday as Ash Grove bus garage celebrates its 45th anniversary.
Londoners will be able to ride preserved buses on routes 106 and D6, with free journeys operating alongside normal services throughout the day.
The London Bus Museum is running heritage services on route 106 between Finsbury Park and Ash Grove from 10am to 5pm, with passengers able to board at normal route 106 stops without booking.
Routemasters and earlier RT-type buses are among the vehicles expected to appear, with open-platform buses operating with conductors.
Special workings will also run on route D6, including journeys between Hackney and Crossharbour via Ash Grove, Cambridge Heath, Bethnal Green, Mile End and Limehouse.
The running day coincides with an open day at Ash Grove bus garage, where Stagecoach will welcome visitors from 11am to 4pm.
Credit: Stagecoach
The Mare Street depot will offer behind-the-scenes access, vehicle displays and merchandise, with admission priced at £5 for adults, £3 for under-16s and £13 for families.
Proceeds from the open day will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Visitors will also be able to buy a range of bus moquette merchandise, including cushions, bags, pencil cases and handmade teddy bears produced using genuine bus seat fabric.
A silent auction will be held for the LTZ 1265 registration mark, previously carried by New Routemaster LT265. Bids will be taken at the Stagecoach merchandise stall, with proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Credit: Stagecoach
Ash Grove opened in April 1981 and quickly became closely associated with route 106. Routemasters from the depot began operating the service later that month.
The 106 was converted to one-person operation the following year and eventually moved away from Ash Grove. It is now operated by Go-Ahead London from Northumberland Park.
Stagecoach currently operates route D6 from Ash Grove.
The London Bus Museum has warned that most of the preserved buses pre-date modern low-floor accessibility standards. Most cannot accommodate wheelchairs, while some larger buggies may also not fit on board.
