Into the New Millennium

As good as the MCW may be it is not immortal and, like many classics before them the buses reached the end of their working lives. The length of those working lives and the fact that they were achieved without the facilities of Chiswick or Aldenham enjoyed by their grandfathers is yet another testimony to the strength and suitability for London conditions of the last true London Transport class

Unlike the mass withdrawals of the London Transport era the end of the M-class was gradual with many examples growling along the Uxbridge Road alongside their replacement Plaxton President bodied Dennis Tridents for many months.

TNL902 passing TNL900 at The King's Head Acton		TNL902 westbound at Ealing Broadway 18th May 2002
©www.showbus.co.uk		©Matthew Wharmby

In addition to buying new double deckers First London, as the are now known, seconded bendy buses from other First Group companies for use on the Shepherd’s Bush to Hayes By-Pass section of 207. Tight turns in The High Street and Bakers Court prevent bendies entering Uxbridge.

The bendy buses include:-

• Y151ROT a Volvo B7LA with Wright AB56D body from First Manchester, now numbered AV1 and painted into First Group 's "London" red livery
• V606GGB a Volvo B10LA with Wright AB55D body from First Bristol now numbered AV6 bringing the Barbie colours to London's suburbs.

Volvo bendy bus AV1 opposite Acton Tram Depôt, westbound to Shepherd's Bush		Volvo bendy bus AV6 eastbound at Ealing Common
These 2 images ©Ian Armstrong

The development of the limited stop variation of the Shepherd's Bush to Uxbridge service reviving the Trolleybus route number 607 is detailed in Express or visit the West London Transit Scheme to see plans for the future.