Carshalton Running Day

Sunday April 15th 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 6th May 2007.

Part Four: 213: Belmont to Carshalton Garage

I crossed the road at Belmont just as RML2278 came up the slope from Sutton on a 88 bound for Banstead Hospital. It had been to Mitcham (Cricketers) and back while BL49 had travelled out to Walton and back. It turned left past the California terminal point, then right, before disappearing towards its southern terminus.

RF486 suddenly arrived from the east, and pulled in to the turning circle.

The Belmont bus stand is still a busy terminus. London General's Volvo/President PVL138 was resting before a 280 journey to Tooting, then departed towards Sutton.

RF486 manoeuvred round the stand. RML2286 arrived back from Banstead Hospital, heading north for Mitcham again. There was an exchange of passengers, then the RML pulled away, pursued by one of Epsom Buses' substantial fleet of Optare Solos, OP9, on the S1.

The blinds were reset on RF486. On this journey the bus was going just as far as Carshalton Garage, so had the Carshalton (Ringstead Road) blinds displayed. We climbed aboard, and headed off for the relatively short run north-east through Carshalton Beeches to meet Carshalton Road, then west, briefly, towards Sutton, before turning north up narrow Ringstead Road to reach Carshalton Garage.

We alighted at the stop opposite the old garage, which had kindly been made available for the day's event by Access Self Storage. I crossed the road at the crossing, as DM1052 passed on a 154 for Wallington.

Clair drove the emptied RF into the old trolleybus depot for a short break, parking alongside Catford's RT1702 and Cobham's RT593.

Part Five: 154: Carshalton Garage to Wallington

Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Three Part Five: 154 to Wallington