Dorking Classic Bus Running Day

Sunday 3rd September 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 20th September 2006

Part Seven: 403B: Dorking to Sevenoaks, RF679.

Back at Dorking we arrived just as RFW14 was nosing a way out to go home. The RT was parked next to RF633, which had been out on the 416/422 to/from Box Hill.

SNB449 was parking after a foray on the 414, prior to departiing on the return 462 to Staines. RTW75 was enjoying a ray of sunshine. (Is this bus a sun-magnet? Everytime I saw it today it was in sunshine, while mostly everything else was in shadow.) RF366 was taking a break before its departure for Guildford on the 425. RF679 came in from its trip up Box Hill.

The yellow RTW also returned from another trip to Epsom on the 93.

RML2364 had also been active during the day, working mainly on the 414. RF626 was also back in business, lurking now behind RTW75.

But it was now departure time. I found RF679, still with its 470 blind for its return journey from Leatherhead. I wound up the 403B blinds for the return journey to Sevenoaks. Our passengers for Oxted, Westerham and Sevenoaks all gathered at the bus, but we called at the stop anyway, picking up a passenger for Redhill.

We set off eastwards, but didn't get beyond Reigate Heath when a frantic phone call reached us. We found somewhere to turn and went back for a visitor who had discoivered that there were no trains to Horsham. We set off again, and soon found ourselves being followed by RTW75 and RTW178.

The detour had made us rather late, so we pressed on, dropping people off at Redhill. We motored on in the gloaming to Oxted, making a stop at Limpsfield Common. Would we get to Westerham in time for a connection onto the 246? Yes! We waited to make sure it came for our connectee, then rumbled down the hill and on along the A25 to Riverhead. We dropped off Dan, Martine and family at Sevenoaks Station and swapped drivers for the long garage run into Kent.

It was well dark by the time we arrived at the garage. Nevertheless the RF still had to be put away and checked over. While we were busy we heard the sound of a GS approaching. It was GS2, with one dodgy headlight developed on the way.

Photos by Ian Smith and Peter Larkham. Click on them for a larger picture.

Many thanks to the organisers, in particular the CBR team and event organisers Peter Aves and John Huxford. Thanks to for all those who contributed in whatever way: the dedicated team of drivers, conductors, inspectors, programme sellers who made it happen on the day. Thanks to all those who brought their buses, and usually themselves too. Thanks to to those who gave the necessary permissions: the police, the council, the bus companies. ..and thanks to the public who came and enjoyed it.

system map

Buses included:
RT604, RT3148, RTL139*, RTW75*, RTW178*
RF19, RF48, RF269, RF366, RF486, RF600, RF626, RF633, RF679, RFW14
GS2,GS15
RM835*, RM1397*, RMC1469, RML2364*, RML2440, RML2700*
RP21
SNB312, SNB340, SNB449
DUF179,
NV176*

Ians Bus-stop Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6