Loughton Classic Bus Running Day

Sunday 11th September 2011

Prepared by Ian Smith, 22nd September 2011

167: Loughton Stn to Barkingside: RT3062

I took my seat, and we were away, round in front of the station, up to Loughton High Road, and this time left. The High Road lived up to its name, as we climbed up south-west out of Loughton back into the fringes of the Forest, up onto Buckhurst Hill. We turned left into Palmerston Road, and rolled down towards the Roding Valley, turning in to serve Buckhurst Hill Station.

We completed a turn round the little station forecourt, and returned to Palmerston Road. We crossed over Loughton Way into Roding Lane, and descended into the valley. Today, fortunately, it was not clogged with parked cars of Sunday footballers. We climbed the eastern slope, up under the M11 motorway and into Chigwell. We turned right along Chigwell High Road, past the shops then sharp left to reach the Chigwell Station bus-stop.

After a pause at Chigwell Station we went on - or tried to. Getting out through the constant stream of traffic on Hainault Road was not easy. We climbed up the hill. At the top there was a surprise view: right across the Thames Valley to the North Downs, and right down the valley to the curling Thames Estuary. We dropped down the other side past Hainault and Fairlop, making a photo stop at The Old Maypole - now known as Stop W: New North Road.

While we were there Plaxton-bodied Dart SLF PDL57, of Arriva, came up in service on the 462 to Ilford, then went past. We returned the favour two stops further on, on the approach to Fulwell Cross.

Just beyond the roundabout we pulled up at a bus lay-by in Barkingside High Street, outside the library, and stood while photos were taken. Stagecoach Trident 17977, also terminating at Barkingside, off the 247 from Ilford, pulled past us.

With a few minutes to go before the return journey, our knowledgeable driver took us round via Baron Gardens into Tanner Lane, onto the official stance, near Barkingside Station. We were joined there by 17977.

167: Barkingside to Loughton Stn: RT3062

We passed Fulwell Cross and began the long climb up past Fairlop and Hainault. Go-Ahead's MCV Evolution EnviroDart ED23 went past us on the hill, on the service 167 to Debden. Another PDL, 60, came down the hill on the 462 from Hainault to Ilford.

We followed ED23 up and over the hill, and down to Chigwell Station. It was still ahead on the way down Chigwell Rise, then stopped at the last stop in Chigwell, before the countryside of the Roding Valley really began. We whooshed past. It caught up again, of course, and squeezed past when RT3062 paused for photos at Buckhurst Hill Station.

RT3062 climbed up Buckhurst Hill, to turn north along Loughton High Road, down into Loughton. On the way down we met DLA339 heading for Walthamstow Central on the 20.

Back at Loughton Station we found BL49. Could I fit in a trip on it to Epping and back. From the list of extras it appeared that it would fit in after a trip on an RF to South Woodford and back...

Part 4: 254: Loughton Stn to South Woodford Stn: RF503

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

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