London Country (North East) SNB490 (BPL 490T) in Welwyn Garden City – 18 Jan 1989 (80-21)

Wednesday 18 January 1989 – London Country (North East) SNB490 (BPL 490T), a Leyland National I new in July 1979, seen in Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City loading for St. Albans on service 333. The bus was allocated to St. Albans garage. Standing behind is LP40 (A140 DPE), a Roe bodied Leyland Olympian new in September 1983.

London Country (North East) was created in 1986 when London Country Bus Services Limited, owned by the National Bus Company, was split into four smaller companies in preparation for privatisation. In April 1988 LC (NE) was purchased by the AJS Group and later the new owners spilt the business to create Sovereign Bus and Coach (operating from Hatfield, Stevenage and St. Albans garages) and County Bus and Coach (operating from Harlow, Grays and Hertford garages).

The photograph was taken in the area used as a temporary bus station during the construction of the Howard Shopping Centre. The buses are standing outside 60 Howardsgate (now a branch of Santander) and 62 Howardsgate (Jeremy Soloman Opticians).