We returned to Pippbrook, and after a very short break headed out onto the stop. We were relieved to find that GS42 was coming too, and it pulled up behind. Just as well, as there were nearly two full loads for this special trip. The first part was a "garage run" to get to Leatherhead. The two Guys roared north up the main road through the Mole Gap, then sedately wound their way through the traffic maze of Leatherhead to the dank cutting alongside the railway near Leatherhead Station.
John Huxford, whose father used to drive GSs on this run, told me that the 422 stop used to be on the other side of the road, but the traffic management scheme prevented us doing that.
The two little buses pulled away, and began a slow climb out of Leatherhead, following the B2033 and forking right up the long run of speed bumps and other motor-bike deterents to reach the by-pass at the roundabout. We crossed over, and continued up the B2033 - a decent minor road - up through a dry valley to cross the ridge of Mickleham Downs. We wound round the bends on the south side of Headley, and turned right over Headley Heath to Pebblecombe. A sharp right there took us onto the Box Hill road. The bus route does not go right along to the western extremity, but goes as far as Greenacres, on the western edge of the village.
On arrival, most passengers alighted to watch the buses make their reverse turns round into a side-road, before pulling out onto the stop. The return was to be on the slightly different 416 route, so the blinds were changed, photographs taken, and the buses reloaded for the return trip.
The two buses returned to Pebblecombe, and turned left for Headley. But instead of turning down on the direct B2033 to Leatherhead, the buses continued along through Headley village, easing their way along the narrow road past Headley Park and Headley Court before dropping down the hill to meet the Leatherhead by-pass. This on a sunny Sunday afternoon, took some time to cross with the two buses, but after a little while progress was resumed down through suburban Leatherhead. We descende to the church, and forewent a return to the station via the one-way system. We turned left, and high-tailed it for Dorking.
There I was just in time to witness a small-bus exodus. GS76 and GS62 pulled out to take a pair of turns on the 449, GS76 doing a short to Capel and GS62 going all the way to Ewhurst.
They were followed by BN61 and GS64, heading home for London's Transport Museum.
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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Part 3
Part 5: RF679, 439 to Beare Green; RMC1476, 414 to Capel and back