RF679 and RT3148 in East Grinstead

East Grinstead Running Day

Sunday April 24th 2005

Prepared by Ian Smith, 19th May 2005


Part Seven: return by RF

The bus stops in King Street were by now occupied with buses coming from last journeys, returning home or setting off on loaded journeys towards London. RMC1469 passed through, and RML2330 loaded up for a trip to town as a 709.

RT1702 RML2330 loads for 709 RML2330 loads for 709

RP21 came in off a last 428 trip, prior to loading up for the 485/705 journey to Edenbridge, Westerham and New Cross, followed by RMC1476 on the last 424. RF28 arrived on a last (direct) trip from Kingscote.

RP21 on 428 RF28 on 708

GS1 scurried in with the last 494 from Oxted, and RT2043 reappeared after its last 409 duty. I went over to talk to the drivers, both of whom I would have liked to travel with during the day. But one cannot fit everything in, unfortunately.

GS21 on 494 RT2043 off 409

494: East Grinstead to Oxted (RF679)

Now the time was rapidly approaching for my departure on RF679 to Oxted. I made sure that the boarding passengers knew that we were not returning to East Grinstead, and we were away, with Colin Rivers driving. We called at East Grinstead Station to drop off a few travellers, then headed out into the country via Baldwins Hill and Felcourt. We wiggled through Lingfield, and headed north for Crowhurst. We acquired an appropriate "tail" in the shape of a "sit-up-and-beg" Ford car roughly contemporary with the RF. At Crowhurst North I went off through the bridge to watch the RF come through the low arch.

RF679 at East Grinstead Station RF679 at Crowhurst North

We trundled on northwards, up over Tandridge to reach the A25. Colin enquired whether the passengers wished him to go via Old Oxted, and they all said yes. So we turned off the by-pass to creep down the narrow steep street of the old village, crossing the main road again at the bottom to reach Oxted and the Station, where we lost most of our passengers.

Old Oxted RF679 at Oxted Station

RF679 at Wrotham

Oxted to Sevenoaks (RF679)

Our two survivors were travelling through to Sevenoaks, and although we were wearing 464 blinds we headed down the main road from Oxted to Westerham. From there we continued east through Brasted to Riverhead, where we turned towards Sevenoaks Station. There we dropped our last passengers before heading off up St Botolph's Drive, climbing round the flank of Sevenoaks to rejoin the A25 for the journey into Kent. We found a suitable blind on the roll, and headed east as the day faded.
system map

My thanks to the Country Bus Rallies Team for organising the day, making timetables, organising bus schedules, working with the councils and police, inviting people and buses, arranging for refreshments, preparing, printing and selling programmes, controlling the bus workings, arranging bus parking, as well as to all those who drove, conducted, cleaned, maintained, preserved and loaned vehicles. Thanks also to the patient, curious, good-tempered public who turned out to ride on the vehicles and make it a special day.

Especial thanks to Colin Rivers for the long rides to and fro on RF679.

LT/LC Buses:

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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 6