Dorking Running Day

Sunday 2nd September 2001

Prepared by Ian Smith, 12th September 2001

Part 2: Greenline turns

712 to Epsom and back

We set the blinds on RF255 for the 11.15 712 run to Epsom, the first of the day. We couldn't find Epsom on the blinds, so we put up St.Albans - of which more anon. Out at the bus stop there was a massive queue - but not for us apparently. A handful of passengers joined us, but we weren't a GS or a double-decker... It began to rain as we headed north through the Mole Gap under the flank of Box Hill. We pulled off the main road at Burford Bridge, to take the traditional quiet route to Mickleham. Very pleasant. Trees all round, lovely scenery, a quiet road. GreenLine time-warp. But soon we were back on the main road for a stretch towards Leatherhead. We turned off into the town, and began to experience the joys of the Leatherhead traffic system.

RF255 turns near Leatherhead, on diversion

Then in Leatherhead a lady flagged us down. She had seen the St Albans on the front. Was this a new service? She had a sister in St Albans. It seems that the RF still looks like ordinary bus to the person in the street! We told her what was happening - to her disappointment - and wended our way through the narrow main street.

But at the roundabout where we should have turned to skirt alongside the railway the quarter-mile to the station we found barriers and diversion signs. Aaargh! We went straight on, briefly, while we thought about it. But the Guildford road was not going to get us to Epsom. Shortly we found somewhere to turn, and headed back into Leatherhead. A roundabout before the blockage had diversion signs, so we followed them, unsure whether we could get back through the town. The diversion took us along the 462 route towards Stoke d'Abernon. Hmmm, I thought, 462 was single-deck for a reason. Sure enough, after a mile there was a 12ft 6in railway bridge. O.K. for us, but we hoped no double-deckers followed us! Three miles along we met the A245. RF213 was coming the other way round the diversion. The official diversion signs pointed us back towards Leatherhead station, nearly three miles along. Well late, we passed Leatherhead station, with its rail replacement buses, and headed for Ashtead and Epsom.

time for wipers, Box Hill

We found the terminus near Epsom Clock, but did not have to wait time before the return. With few passengers, none of whom wanted Leatherhead, we decided to skip round the by-pass, so that we could inform control at Dorking. We did take the old road through Mickleham to Burford Bridge. I shaln't tell you the comments when we told the controller at Dorking about the low bridge!

Tea-break

In between turns we had a few minutes to see what was going on. RT 604 had arrived safely back from a trip to Epsom and back as a 470. RF633 had returned from a 439 excursion to Newdigate and back.

Over in the bus park things had changed. Leyland National SNB312 had arrived, having REALLY worked through from Luton and St Albans as a 712, an almost 3 hour journey. Next to RMC1476 now stood RM9, which had worked in as a fare-paying service trip for its operator London General, reviving the old 70D service. Today it had worked across South London from New Cross to Morden before heading down the traditional route. Also there was visiting RTW185.

GS13 was standing alone. The other Guy Specials were out and about. Always very popular on days like this, they were worked very hard. That GS13 was idle briefly was probably due to the shortage of qualified GS drivers: as manual gearbox buses there are not very many of today's drivers who can take them out in service. GS13 was dressed for the 433, a long-standing local Dorking route working out both ways to local estates by narrow roads. It survived into the leisure age as a ramblers' and day-trippers' Sunday leisure service to Polesden Lacey.
Also there, but not in service today was Bristol LH BL95, in vivid Hillingdon colours.

We needed a meal break, and dashed up the High Street for some convenience food, avoiding being mown down by red RF486, setting off on the circular 439 to Newdigate. On the way back we noted that it was now GS32 in the bus park, setting off on the long rural 449 to Ewhurst.

RF633 was now ready for a turn on the 414 (Reigate-Dorking-Capel today, West Croydon-Horham on the full journey). The steps used for changing the blind rollers had now moved elsewhere along the line. Mike had gone to fetch RF255, and posed her alongside RF4, which had been on a 714 journey to Chessington and Hook and back. I hopped on, and we went up to the stop.

Another 712 to Epsom and back.

As we went up the slope to the main road we followed RF633, going off on its 414 working. We squeezed past RT2083, arriving from Epsom on a 470. Again the load was light, but we enjoyed the trip back up through the Mole Gap. At Burford Bridge we saw one of Northdown Motor Service's Metrobuses, M502, replacing a train on the Leatherhead - Dorking service. At Leatherhead we avoided the town centre loop and railway station, and turned towards Epsom. Red RT2043 came the other way on a 93 service. This is the first of the Country Bus Rallies to use a red bus route, (although red RTs have been used frequently on green routes). The 93 was one ofthe weekend red services extended far into the countryside in the days before mass car ownership.

Going into Epsom we passed RT604 heading for Dorking once again, then met up with RF213, also on a 712. No wonder that we were lightly loaded. There were other buses there too. London United was present with Volvo Alexander VA15 on the 406, while London General operated low-floor Dart/Plaxton LDP43 on the 293 to Morden Station.

Going back, with RF213 in front to cater for the Leatherhead traffic, we took the by-pass again. We met RT2083 again, then paused at the LRT bullseye bus-stop at Boxhill to wait for time (and RF213).

Presently RF213 arrived and drew up behind, steaming gently. Eventually we persuaded him to go round, and precede us into Dorking.

We arrived back to urgent requests to replace a GS on the 412. The GS had disappeared into the wide green yonder, and there was a good crowd assembling. As we wanted to do the 412 anyway, for nostalgia reasons, we went off to park, take a PNB and change the blinds.

Part 3: 412 to Holmbury St Mary

All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 2 Part 3