GS62 in East Grinstead

East Grinstead Running Day

Sunday April 22nd 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 16th May 2007.


Departures

East Grinstead

I went to look down the side-street where the visiting buses and some service buses were parked. RF269 came along, presumably heading home now. Outside the East Grinstead Museum I found Maidstone & District Bristol SO43, which had also been working during the day.

RF269 at East Grinstead. SO43 at East Grinstead.

Further along the street were two more vehicles that had been busy during the day, but which I hadn't found time time to ride on: London Transport Museum's London Country BN61, and London Country liveried RP21.

BN61 at East Grinstead. RP21 at East Grinstead.

RM1955 and RT1702 were visitors. The latter appears to have had a repaint, and was still wearing blinds from the previous weekend's event at Carshalton.

I returned to the main street. RF633 was parked by the War Memorial, and RF489 was nosing in to the stop with a good load of passengers from the last run on the 473 from Dormansland.

RT1702 at East Grinstead. RF489 at War Memorial.

Another red RF followed: RF486 arriving from Edenbridge with the last 434, and snuggling in behind sister RF489.

RF486 at East Grinstead. RF489 and RF486 at War Memorial.

Maidstone and District Reliance 3448 joined the queue, back from Edenbridge by the 135 route. RT3148 arrived too, ready to continue down to the Station, while RF48 took up position on the north side of the street prior to working back to Oxford Circus on the 708.

3448 at East Grinstead. RT3148 at War Memorial.

RT1700 stopped behind RF48 before departing. Now owned by Blue Triangle, the bus shows just how good a green RT could look in ex-works condition in the sunshine.

I made a final round of the stalls and linked up with the crew of BL49, my ride to Bromley.

RT1700. BL49.

East Grinstead to Bromley North (BL49)

BL49 had been rattling backwards and forwards on the 494 between East Grinstead and Oxted Station all day, and now took on the duty of the 1730 bus to Oxted and Westerham, before turning north to Bromley, Lewisham and Bromley by Bow. The crew had found a 208 to Bromley-by-Bow blind for the start of the journey.

We climbed Westerham Hill, the little Bristol making much lighter of the climb than an RT did on my last foray up it on a bus. It occurred to Claire that they couldn't go through Bromley wearing a 208 blind, lest it was noticed and reported, so the blind was changed to something innocuous.

We passed Biggin Hill and Leaves Green, and at Keston Church joined the 146 route. I persuaded Claire to take the left fork at Keston Ponds along the 146 route, down past Keston Mill, to pause at Keston (Fox) for a photo. Then it was on across Hayes Common, with the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf clearly visible straight ahead. We dropped down into Hayes, and on along to Bromley South. A wiggle or few took us up to Bromley North Station (NOT via the Market Square), where they pulled in to let me off.

BL49 at Keston Fox. BL49 at Bromley North Stn.

Many thanks to the organisers, especially Allan Charman and the CBR team. Also to the owners, drivers, conductors, mechanics, cleaners, programme sellers, timetablers, controllers and passengers, who combined to make it a memorable day. Many thanks too to those who gave all the necessary permissions to operate the event including the police and local councillors.

Buses: London Transport

Maidstone & District: system map.

Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four