Location of Victoria (VE) 'bus garage' (London Country South East/Kentish Bus)

Victoria (VE)
Located in Eccleston Place and Elizabeth Street.
Victoria was the name given to the Samuelson garage, it was used in partnership with Victoria Coach Station, coaches would drop off in the Samuelson (Sammy’s) garage and be refuelled and cleaned, then cross Elizabeth Street to Victoria Coach Station to pick up passengers or be parked up until needed.
The ability to wash and refuel was the reason why London Country South East transferred the 42 and P4 along with the Leyland Nationals (SNB) here from Catford (National London) on 28th February 1987 following its closure, although when not required the buses were parked at Battersea Coach Park - this was on the south side of Chelsea Bridge between Queenstown Road and the railway viaduct.
London Country South East was rebranded Kentish Bus from 27th April.
In 1988 new route P14 was introduced on 19th November, this was awarded to Kentish Bus who operated it from a new site in Leyton, but this was treated as an outstation of Victoria so the MCW Metrorider used were technically allocated here.
In 1989 from 31st December, the 42 and P4 were transferred to a new site at Newington Butts which they called Southwark and retained the ‘VE’ code, this was near to the junction of Balfour Street and Victory Place, the site was owned by BRS and Kentish Bus was one of the tenants.
Source - various newsletters from the London Omnibus Traction Society (LOTS).
Elmers enD.
flickr
oldbusman
www.flickr.com/photos/2843135...
Robert Mitchell
www.flickr.com/photos/1488344...
Historic England
1937
historicengland.org.uk/images...
1952
historicengland.org.uk/images...
Google - Elizabeth Street
www.google.com/maps/@51.49284...
Battersea Bridge
www.google.com/maps/@51.48419...

[@mpol701]

We would get dropped off there and then coach from Edinburgh and other locations woukd get cleaned

[@paulwithers3658]

Hi again Ed. I worked as an Apprentice then fully qualified HGV Mechanic at National Carriers Ltd Rucholt Road Leyton London. Which later became BRS and part of site was TM Temple Mills and maintenence done by the BRS Staff .... Not sure. Now LI Stagecoach Depot. Although toaly different to my old bigger shed. Ive visited VE Victoria a few times and photod over years. Maybe a quick item on Newington Butts (they ran the John Menzies Newspaper Contract out of here and so did our Depot, but I never went there) and also Nine Elms New Covent Garden site used by the 19 Route in early Kentish Days Please. When your not to busy lol, thanks.

[@ElmersEnd]

One of the LOTS newsletters has confirmed that LI was on the site of Leyton, this means that this can go ahead. I might break things up a bit otherwise they'll be a run of Kentish Bus sites - Victoria, Newington Butts, Leyton, 'Lewisham', there's probably around another 20-30 post 1933 locations to go, a few of these are in the 'not sure' category.

[@mpol701]

Is that extra site still used for dropping off some coach routes

[@mpol701]

Yes looks like it's still Victoria coach arrivals, so it's very much in use last time I was dropped off food and drink availability as well

[@ElmersEnd]

Clarification that everything is still very active coach wise, Kentish Bus were sort of lodgers and that's the part I'm covering - a bit like Harris Bus, Pan Atlas, Scan Coaches and Sampson's. Staines (ST) continued to be used for Speedlink operations after LCSW moved their bus operations out, but then the 116 and 117 were allocated there for a short time.