RF429 had just been acquired by some members of the Country Bus Rallies team, and I climbed aboard for a short test drive, south to an industrial estate and back to the garage. The bus was booked to go to Siodcup Station and back, but a quick calculation showed that there was time to go all the way to Welling and back before the final departures.
Back at the garage the place we had left on the forecourt had been filled by RT1700, while RT1702 was still there. RT3148 came panting up, having been to Orpington on the 477.
RF429 loaded up opposite Swanley Garage and set off north-westwards, down into the dip and up to Swanley, then right round the perturbation. There we caught up with Metrobus Dart 288 on the 233, which had paused at the Asda stop. A little further on we passed T1030, buzzing southwards on a 21 in a previous incarnation of all-red livery.
We forked right along the old road into Sidcup, meeting RM1063 on the way as it headed for Swanley on another 21. We came down into Sidcup, and pulled up at the stop by the site of Sidcup Garage.
RF486 came trundling past on the other side of the road. A little further up the hill we met Sidcup Garage's own RM8 rolling down on yet another 21 to Swanley.
We climbed up Sidcup Hill, and pulled up at the traffic lights alongside DMS41461, and exchanged greetings with its driver. The Dart turned left into Elm Road on the R11 as we turned right for Sidcup Station.
We passed under the Station Bridge (in its earlier days the reason for saloons rather than double-deckers on the 241, until it was dug out). We took the second right turn into Willersley Avenue and followed today's 51 route through Blackfen to Welling High Street, where a left turn took us towards Shooters Hill Water Tower. We passed London Central's President PVL8 on an 89 from Slade Green then a right turn took us under the railway bridge past Welling Station and into the terminal loop.
We pulled up at the terminal stance, and Colin Rivers switched off the engine as instructed by the flag. The arrival of the RF occasioned some local interest, the once commonplace now being distinctly out of the ordinary.
Restarting again, we pulled round to the first official stop on the route, under the railway bridge at Welling Station. This bridge too now admits double-deckers - just - with a 14ft 6in claimed clearance.
We wended our way back towards Blackfen and Sidcup, where we passed under the Station Bridge - still only just tall enough for standard double-deckers - and turned towards Swanley. On the way we met RML2699 on the 21 this time.
By the time we reached Swanley Garage it was going-home time, and I looked for a start for my long journey..
Part Six: Greenline to Sidcup Station
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part Four
Part Six: Greenline to Sidcup