Horsham Classic Bus Running Day

Sunday March 19th 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 7th April 2006

Part Five: Horsham

Down at Horsham Bus Station I saw Dart 3036 (ex DSL36) from Cranleigh. This had arrived on the two-hourly route 63 from Cranleigh, its usual run to judge by the route-dedication panels. I pondered that the Dennis Dart has probably done more than other design to keep British bus manufacturing afloat since its introduction in 1990. I wonder how long it will be before these start going into preservation. A few minutes later it was pausing in the Carfax on Horsham local route 98 to Roffey (Lambs Farm Road), a filler duty between its longer runs on the 63.

GS62 set off for the last run to Ewhurst, and RT3148 for a late run on the 414.

I went off to find something to eat, and came back about half an hour later.

One hole in the programme now was the advertised 414 service to Dorking Station, which should have been operated by RP21. RT3148 was going to do an extra run to cover this, but then it was suggested that perhaps Roger Wright would do it with RT3871 on his way back to base. When he arrived back with RT3871 this was suggested to him and he readily agreed. Good. Another problem solved.

GS2 had come in from its afternoon trip to Ewhurst, and I went over to say hello to the Huxfords.

GS76 too came back from its last advertised journey, from Crawley, and parked over on the other side of the Carfax.

Time was pressing on. Soon it would be time to board RF679 for the return journey to Three Bridges. It was still dressed as a 434 on the front, (for East Grinstead Garage), and as a 473 (for East Grinstead) on the back.

434: Horsham to Three Bridges (RF679)

GS62 arrived back from Ewhurst, and RT3148 from a late trip to Warnham. The other buses departed in various directions. The pergola had been taken down and stowed aboard GS62. Tables and chairs had been put away. It was time to go.

I climbed aboard RF679 and we headed east, out of Horsham and along the main road to Crawley. We avoided the town centre and bus station, using the southern ring road and coming up past the town on the east side, before turning right for Three Bridges. There I alighted, and watched the RF disappear under the railway towards East Grinstead. I crossed the road, and caught a train to Horley.

Buses: GS2, GS62, GS76, RF626, RF679, RT3148, RT3871, RP21.

Routes:
414: Capel - Horsham
434: (East Grinstead) - Three Bridges - Crawley - Horsham
473: Rowfant - Crawley - Horsham
852: Ewhurst - Horsham - Crawley - Three Bridges

Many thanks to the Country Bus Rallies team for organising the day, and to those who drove, conducted, inspected, organised, ran the stall, provided the programmes, provided buses and coped with the unexpected. Good luck to Paul Brophy in getting RP21 repaired, too.

Next CBR event: East Grinstead, Sunday 23rd April 2006

Postscript

The following day, on my way home, I passed through Grove Park, which has some interesting new buses on the 181 and 284: all-red Scania OmniTowns. I think this is 604. I also saw my first red Arriva Dart on the 126, which has not seen red buses since before Kentish Bus took over. This is 3303 passing Grove Park Station.

Also, for train buffs, I was greeted at Darlington by my first sighting - and hearing - of one of First's new Trans-Pennine Express Class 185. Perhaps it will soon take me less time to reach Manchester than London!

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

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