RCL2260 at Cobham

Cobham Hibernation Day

Sunday October 26th 2008

Prepared by Ian Smith, 21st November 2008.


Heading Home

I walked up Redhill Road in the semi-darkness. A pair of STLs were waiting for their turn on the Tungsten Twilight Tour, STL441 and STL2377. I didn't know if I could take pictures in these conditions, but it seems that you can, if you are prepared for a bit of camera shake and can stop breathing.

STL441 in Redhill Road. STL2377 in Redhill Road.

RF667 was standing empty, but RF600 had some of the Purley Preservation Group aboard. I went to let them know I was not travelling back with them, and to thank them again for the morning trip.

RF667 in Redhill Road. RF600 in Redhill Road.

725: Cobham to West Croydon (RF28)

RF28 was standing behind RML2330. I established that they had room for me on the return trip to Croydon. I was impressed by the specially made blinds for the 725 journey, and especially the massive roof-boards, set up for the 725/725A between Gravesend and Cobham. It turns out that the yellow boards are steel-faced, onto which black magnetic numbers and letters can be stuck as required. Ingenious!

RF28 in Redhill Road. RF28 in Redhill Road.

Departure time arrived, and we collected our eastbound passengers. An accident somewhere east of us on Redhill Road made a right exit injudicious, so we went left, and round to Weybridge Station, before heading east for Esher and Worcester Park. It brought back memories of many many years ago, of a family return from Staines to Bromley on a 725 after we had been drenched by a cloudburst at Runnymede while on a Green Rover Day Out. The Green Line return was an unusual luxury, not being covered by Dad's staff pass at that time. But back to the present. We were soon through Sutton, and working our way past Carshalton Ponds and Wallington to Waddon, and through the intricate tangle of back-streets to reach West Croydon. There I alighted, to go to find a meal, while the RF pulled away, with more miles to go to Bromley and Gravesend. Thanks, folks.

RF28 at West Croydon. RF28 at West Croydon.

Many thanks to Cobham Bus Museum for organising the day, and to all the other owners and crews who made us so welcome in difficult conditions. Especial thanks for the long feeder journeys on RF600 and RF28.

Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture. Picture quality is poor in some instances due to either poor light plus attendant camera shake, or to rain on the bus windows, which does make life difficult!

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