Bus spotter at heart

I like to think I've put my bus spotting days behind me, but have to admit I am feeling slightly emotional about Metrobus losing the T33s. Their "Croydon" routes have always been kind of special to me. Back in the days when the buses were blue and yellow, it was considered a priviledge to be chosen for the Croydon rota. Driving one of the commercial routes put us a cut above the London Transport mob; we were away from the inspector's beady eyes, even out of range of the early radio system for parts of the routes. But we worked hard, provided a good service and had lots of laughs along the way. What's more, it was driving the T33s predecessor, the 354 that introduced me to Forestdale and Selsdon, the place I now call home.

Of course the buses they had all those years ago were far better - Long Live the Leyland Lynx!