Dorking Running Day

Sunday 4th September 2005

Prepared by Ian Smith, 20th September 2005

Part Seven: Homegoings

Back at Dorking the bus-park was emptying, as buses headed home. Cobham's GS34 departed for its short run home, followed shortly by their RTL139.

RF486 came back in after a late short-working to Four Wents Pond and back on the 449. I walked down into the bus park, where GS62 was wearing yet another 449 blind, for the short-working to Chart Downs Estate. GS13 rested alongside, with 433 Ranmore blinds.

Suddenly there was a flurry of red double-deckers: RML2364 came in from a 414 run from Capel, just as RM9 surged up the bank to head home for London on the 70D. Then RTW75 came in on the last 93 run from Epsom.

Then GS76 came in from a 449 working from Capel. It was time for me to find RF679 for my ride back to Kent.

414 to Redhill (and Sevenoaks)(RF679)

I found RF679 half-way down the bus park. The folk that we had brought in the morning were already aboard, so as soon as I joined them we were away, up the ramp and out to the dolly stop, where we picked up another passenger. We set off, only to be stuck in a jam for the A26 roundabout for a few minutes. But then we were away properly, and rumbled steadily eastwards. Reigate, Redhill, Bletchingley... all disappeared behind us. WE had no 410 blinds today, so beyond Reigate we resorted to a 414 Dorking blind again.

We had a request for a stop at Godstone Green (for photos, not the fair), and duly obliged.

We headed on along the 410 route towards Oxted. Yes - we went via Old Oxted again. Going up the hill on the far side we spotted Metrobus Dart SLF No.380, the Kent County Council sponsored bus that came to Metrobus from Southlands in May 2004. Still in Southlands yellow/blue skirt, it was on its way home to Godstone garage after its day's work on the 401 (Tunbridge Wells - Westerham).

We rolled on down into Westerham, where another of our passengers departed to make a connection for Bromley on the 246. Brasted, Riverhead, Sevenoaks Station. The last of our passengers alighted, and we turned up the hill and climbed up to the War Memorial, then back down through St John's to rejoin the A25. We trundled on into Kent as the dusk settled around us. It had been another good day.

Thanks to all those who organised; gave permissions; drove; conducted; directed; loaned buses; time-tabled; sold programmes etc; came; rode; enjoyed the event.

Buses (not all operating):

971J
RT604, RT2494**, RT3148
RTL139*, RTW75*
RF48, RF213, RF269, RF281
RF366*, RF406*, RF486*
RF679
GS2, GS13, GS15, GS34, GS42, GS60, GS62, GS76
RM9*
RML2364*, RML2414*, RML2440
RP21
SNC168, SNB257, SNB340
Southdown DUF179

Routes:

93 Epsom - Dorking
410 Westerham - Redhill
412 Dorking - Holmbury St.Mary
414 Redhill - Reigate - Dorking - Capel - Horsham
416 Leatherhead - Boxhill
422 Boxhill - Leatherhead
424 East Grinstead - Reigate
425 Reigate - Dorking - Shere - Guildford
433 Dorking - Ranmore
439 Dorking - Newdigate - Dorking - Reigate
449 Dorking - Four Wents Pond - Holmwood Common - Capel - Ewhurst
470 West Croydon - Epsom - Dorking
712 Stockwell - Epsom - Dorking
714 Oxford Circus - Hook - Dorking
727 St Albans - Epsom

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

Next CBR Event: Sunday 16th October: Gravesend Classic Coaches

celebrating 75 years of Greenline, plus M&D and East Kent

Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6