Also there was a pair of Leyland Nationals, two of the three in attendance today. SNB257, an erstwhile Dunton Green bus (and just before preservation in Northumbria red/grey/white) was in unrelieved London Country green, its original livery, while SNC168, the Greenline coach version was in dual-purpose green/white. SNC168 had already worked long and hard this morning, running in as a 727 between St.Albans and Epsom (via Watford, Uxbridge, Hatton Cross and Kingston). At Epsom it had changed routes to the 713 for the final leg of its two and a half hour run to Dorking.
Off in one of the side parking bays was a visitor: ex-STL tree-lopper 971J. I wondered whether its owners could be be persuaded to do a little lopping along the 439 route near Parkgate, but there was no-one visibly in attendance! I walked up to the refreshment van and bought a cup of tea. I wondered whether Cobham would ever get its semi-trailer staff canteen operational for events like this? I headed back down the hill past a line of GSs (60, 13, 42), as RT2494 rolled down the entrance ramp. A few minutes later it repppeared from the loop looking for a parking space. But this is an RT with a difference. It is almost a tree-lopper! Open-topped for its role as Guernseybus No14, it was repatriated several years ago. It retains its Guernseybus livery and number, but now sports its LT number on the cabside - and on a red bonnet number-plate.
Also looking for a parking spot was preserved London United-liveried RML2414. It nuzzled up close behind the row of GSs, then gingerly eased back into the far corner of the bus park, against the wall.
Down at the bottom wall RT3148 was preparing to go out again, this time with Peter Aves at the wheel, on the 1145 service 414 to Capel. It was parked in a row with RML2414 in the far corner and a visiting Southdown Tiger, with preserved green RML2440 and London Central's RM9, which had arrived as a 70D, on the other side. The RT set off, and the other crews took care of their buses.
But in the right-hand corner was my next date: Blue Triangle's RTW75, being prepared for a day's work on the 93. It still sported blinds for its last foray, on the last crew-day on route 22, and these needed to be changed for today's operation. I had been introduced to the crew by Peter Aves, and recruited as a navigator for their first trip to Epsom and back.
With most of the blinds changed over to the 93 version of the day we set off up to the stand, to be the 1155 service to Epsom...
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part 2: Reigate Staff-bus
Part 4: Summer Sunday 93