Location of the Sampson's garage in Hoddesden, subsequently acquired by County Bus & Coach as HD.

Sampson’s, Hoddesden.
Took over the 217B from 24th May 1986.
Located in Pindar Road.
Sampson’s was an existing coach operator who were awarded operation of the 217B by London Regional Transport starting 24th May 1986, they were also awarded routes 250 and 250A (renumbered 251), these were operated under contract to Essex County Council and although they ceased to be ‘London Transport’ routes from this date, LRT bus passes, Travelcards and Capitalcards continued to be accepted until 15th August 1987.
Ex-London Transport Daimler Fleetlines were acquired for the 217B, DM 1030, 1119, 1120, 1122, 1762, 1794 and DMS 1881; DM 930 joined later in the year - this had an allover advert for the ‘Cheshunt & Waltham Telegraph & Gazette’.
Leyland Nationals for the 250/251 - OVO 558 L - new to East Midland, HHA 145L - new to Midland Red, NWN 721/8 M and TWN 738 N all new to South Wales.
All were obtained via Ensignbus and all Fleetlines had the one piece display for via points and route number fitted.
Sampson’s were successful when deregulation came into effect on 26th October, London Country North East had decided not to register a fair amount of its operations, they were awarded the contracts for all the ‘G’ routes in Hatfield & Welwyn Garden City, the Sunday operation of the ‘T’ routes in Harlow along with the renumbered T7 and T8 on Mon-Fri.
This led to a further influx of second hand buses and staff requirements at short notice which overwhelmed them.
In 1987 the first reports of loaned buses appearing on the 217B started to appear in LOTS newsletters from February.
The Sunday operation of the T routes were reassigned to other operators from 3rd May.
The 217B was renumbered 317 on 16th August 1987 when a new contract commenced, they also retained the 250 and 251. Cullinans were awarded new route 249 (Loughton - South Woodford) - the basis of TfL route 549.
Meanwhile a new operator called Welwyn Hatfield Line started operations on 3rd August resulting in Sampsons surrendering their operations on the ‘G’ routes after 4th September but they started new route G4 from 5th September and retained the G11/12 along with school route G22.
Mon-Fri routes T7 and T8 were lost to Golden Boy Coaches from 1st November.
In 1988 three ex-GMPTE Fleetlines were added - YNA 318 M, YNA 321 M and YNA 336 M, all ran in orange/brown, later they were joined by WWH 44 L and WWH 54 L - these formed the main allocation on the 317.
Sampsons started to acquire new buses, Volvo B10M + Plaxton Derwent bodies, white with ‘Sambus’ fleet names.
Iveco minibus E 701 EHJ for local routes 211/2/3 in Waltham Cross.
The contract for the 317 was surrendered, the last day 1st July with London Buses taking over from 2nd July using M from Enfield.
The 250 and 251 were surrendered early from 14th August to East Midland who had already been awarded a 3 year contract by Essex County Council.
The G4 and G22 were retained in September but HCC decided not to continue with the G11/12.
Late in the year the ‘Sambus’ fleetname reverted to Sampson’s.
In 1989 the operation was acquired by LCNE (County Bus & Coach) on 1st March, Hoddesden was coded HD, this allowed Hertford to be closed, some operations moved to Hoddesden on 8th April with Hertford closing at the end of traffic on 29th April with remaining operations spread around Harlow, Hoddesden, the Caxton Hill outstation and the yard of Reg’s Coaches.
Source - various LOTS newsletters.
Elmers enD.
Links to flickr
125 Nightrider
www.flickr.com/photos/7984276...
John Carter
www.flickr.com/photos/jncarte...
www.flickr.com/photos/jncarte...
www.flickr.com/photos/jncarte...
Google Streetview
www.google.com/maps/place/Hod...

[@ChilternTransportProductions]

Thank you SO MUCH for this! You have no idea how impossible it’s been for me to find the Sampson’s base!
I’m only trying to map every single bus depot that’s ever existed in Britain 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ElmersEnd]

Thank you - but as I've said before, I rely on the work of others, the LOTS newsletters and their contributors, those who put photos on flickr and went to photograph the location in the first place and other existing sites like Ian's Bus Stop or Robert Armstrong.
I wish you well with your task, that's a big Everest.

[@ChilternTransportProductions]

@@ElmersEnd I’ve generally searched on Flickr and just hoped for the best. I can’t use LOTS newsletters of course for anything outside London like Birmingham, Scotland or something
How did you access the LOTS publications before they started making the first pieces public?