RF518, RF486 in Sutton Garage

Sixty Years of RFs: 200, 213

Sunday 2nd December 2012

Prepared by Ian Smith, 8th December 2012.


213: Kingston to Sutton Garage: RF486

As we set off again we followed DPS584, which was starting a 371 journey down the Thames to Richmond. We called at Cromwell Road Bus Station, then headed east out of Kingston. Climbing up out of the town we met RF326, which ran into a brilliant burst of sunshine just as it passed us.

DPS584 on 371 in Kingston RF326 on 213 in Kingston

The afternoon was fading, making photography of one moving bus from another moving bus almost impossible. But we did come up behind DOE26 at Malden Fountain. A little further on we passed RF395. We continued on to Sutton, and ran round into the garage. RF468 was tucked in, out of the way.

DOE26 on 213, Malden Fountain RF395 on 213

Sutton Garage

RF368 and RF518 were in the garage. One of them had a starter motor problem, which was speedliy resolved with a bit of professional knowledge and a smart application of appropriate technology.

RF368 in A RF518 in A

RF368 went off for another trip to Kingston.

RF486 in A RF518 in A

Then RF518 went off, its place in the shed taken by RF326. RF486 set off soon afterwards.

RF518, RF486, SOE31 in A RF326, RF486 in A

213: Sutton Garage to Kingston, RF486

We passed various RFs along the way as we ran through the dusk, again with a good complement of passengers. One lady waiting with a pushchair, having seen two RFs go by, complained about the lack of normal low-floor buses. We assured her that the full normal sercvice was running, and one was right behind us.

We passed RF395, once again in a photographable location (Odd, isn't it: I never did manage a photo of RF366 today, despite passing it as often as anything else..

The Go-Ahead bus, DOE3, did catch us up, and went past. After all, we were continually stopping to set down passengers.

RF395 on 213 DOE3, Kingston Hill

Running down Kingston Hill towards the railway bridge DOE3 was in front of us, with RF518 ahead again, when another DOE came the other way. Four 213s at once!

DOE3, RF518, Kingston Railway Bridge

We pulled up at the Fairfield Bus Station stop, RF486 first, then RF518. I gave my thanks to Peter and Steve on RF486 and alighted, and watched the RFs set off round the loop.

RF486, Kingston Fairfield RF518, Kingston Fairfield

I passed RF518 again as it waited for traffic lights, and crossed the road before it, so could watch it come round with lights ablaze, heading back to Sutton. I headed for the station, and the train to London.

RF518, Kingston RF518, Kingston

Many thanks to Peter Osborn and Steve Whitelegg for organising the event, and to all the owners, drivers and conductors who made the day such a pleasure. Also to London General at Sutton.

Buses: RF319, 326, 354, 366, 368, 395, 486, 518.

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

Ian's Bus-stop 1 2 3 4