The RM cleared most of the queue, and it was quite a select crowd that climbed aboard at the stop for the two-hour trip. We set off eastwards towards Reigate, along the main road, and roared along at a decent Country Area RT speed. We were allowed twenty minutes to reach Reigate Red Cross, and made it comfortably within the allotted time.
We pulled up at the Red Cross behind a Metrobus Dart, and Peter Larkham wasted no time at all in swapping the blinds to a 439 set.
While we were busy taking pictures SNB340 arrived, working in from Dorking on the 439 via Leigh, and working back on the 414 to Capel. It pulled up behind the RT.
We made our way round the one-way system, passing the Red Cross again but heading west, and out to Reigate Heath, where we pulled off the main road and paused for photos.
We continued on our way, down the winding lane to Flanchford Farm, and on to Lower Flanchford Bridge. There the photographers were allowed off before the bus gingerly crossed the narrow bridge.
We went on to Leigh, where Peter delighted the photographers by pulling up next to the traditional 'phone box.
Once they were sated at that spot, Peter pulled up to the crossroads, and pulled round to the bus-stop for another round of pictures.
We loaded up again, and went on, out onto the Strood Green Road, and down into Brockham Green. A couple of us alighted there and hastened down to Brockham Bridge, to watch the RT come over.
We scrambled back aboard the bus, and headed for Dorking. We stopped at the dolly-stop at Dorking Halls just as RF600 was loading on the other side of the road on the reverse trip, having already come round the loop via Parkgate and Newdigate. This made us ten minutes late. Some of our passengers alighted, and a few joined.
We set off again, up through Dorking and over the flank of Tower Hill. Across the roundabout and we were into North Holmwood. We didn't stop: we were still late! Soon we were out on the A24 dual carriageway and roaring southwards. We passed the South Holmwood terminus of the 429, and took a right turn off the dual carriageway to reach South Holmwood Station.
We didn't stop there either, although we did pass RM835. It was back onto the dual carriageway, briefly, then off it to Beare Green and the sharp turn left into the village. Somewhere else that double-deckers had not been for many years, although I gather that our driver, Peter, had been out with his measuring pole. Beyond the village our progress slowed to walking pace, when we met the trees. Peter Larkham - our conductor - and myself got off and walked ahead to spot for the driver, to make sure that nothing solid clonked the top of the bus.
This was somewhere else that double-deckers had not been for many years, although I gather that our driver, Peter Aves, had been out with his measuring pole. Beyond the village our progress slowed to walking pace, when we met the trees. Peter Larkham - our conductor - and myself got off and walked ahead to spot for the driver, to make sure that nothing solid clonked the top of the bus. Then the trees eased and we reboarded for the drive along to Newdigate.
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part 1
Part 4
Part 6: Newdigate to Dorking: RT3148