XF3 at Dorking

Dorking Classic Bus Running Day

Sunday 2nd September 2007

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th September 2007


Part Six: London Country green

412: Dorking to Sutton via Parkhurst Corner: BN61

Yes, I had just been out to Holmbury St Mary on RF486, but for several years I have wanted to get out there on a BN - and with the advent of the London Emissions Zone next year I might not get another opportunity. (Post 1972 vehicles do not get the Historic Vehicles exemption). So when BN61 appeared behind RF486 at the Pippbrook stand I did not hesitate, but swapped buses.

We filled up, and headed west. We passed yet another of the new Enviro Darts at the White Horse: 3978. I had expected this to be 3977, which we had just seen heading for the terminus: had they changed over? Incidentally, the photo isn't wonky - the street is, as you can see by the bus stop and shop fronts, which ARE vertical.

BN61 at Dorking 3978 in Dorking on 465

We wound round the Dorking one-way system. and up the hill through Westcott, and more steeply up to Wotton Hatch. Laurie gave us a potted history of the route. We climbed the narrow lane through the rock cutting up to Abinger Common, then tturned right at Parkhurst Corner to plunge into the valley. (Which reminds me of the first bus site I found on the internet ten years ago - I think it was www.bus-plunge.com, or something very similar, gathering news about buses going off the road in mountainous areas around the world. It takes all sorts...)

The A25 Abinger Common

Anyway, we were soon safely down the hill, passing the farm where a BN was outstationed at nights. We stopped at the top of the village, near the Kings Head, then rolled on down past the Royal Oak to Sutton, where we turned in to terminate at The Volunteer. This short little bus would have turned right round in the junction, but that would have taken the bus through the muddy puddle, so the crew desisted, and did a driver-assisted reversing turn.

BN61 near the Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary BN61 at The Volunteer

BN61 at The Volunteer BN61 at The Volunteer

412: Sutton to Dorking via Parkhurst Corner: BN61

After the photos we all reboarded, and we set off on the return to Dorking. The crew chose to return up the hill to Parkhurst Corner, so we turned left from Sutton and wiggled our way back up the twisting valley, then turned left, not into the outstation but up the twisting hill through the woods onto Abinger Common. I asked for a photostop at Parkhurst Corner, having noted previously that the stop is right on the junction.

Up onto Abinger Common BN61 at Parkhurst Corner

Strangely, it was RTL139 again that had arrived at Dorking just before us: another rear view! (not shown). I thanked the crew from London's Transport Museum and alighted, hot-footing it across the road to use the facilities there, which included a cup of tea (thanks, Colin). I emerged to find DEL1 on the stop outside the door. I just had time to visit the book stalls before I saw RT604 coming up the ramp for its homeward run to Croydon..

BN61 at Dorking DEL1 at Dorking

414: Dorking to Croydon: RT604

I was quite tired, and glad to just sit on a rear seat of RT604 as we headed east from Dorking along the A25, under the North Downs to Reigate. We called at the Red Cross stop, then wiggled our way through to Redhill Bus Station, arriving just ahead of a 405 from Croydon.

RT604 at Dorking RT604 at Reigate Red Cross RT604 at Redhill

As we paused in the bus station to set down we were approached by a lady who had alighted from the 405. She was a 414 enbthusiast, having used it for many years to get to work, and despite having just arrived on the 405 she was determined to head north towards Croydon with us. She climbed aboard, and as we climbed over the North Downs and down to Coulsdon, Purley and Croydon she regaled us with anecdotes of her life with the 414 (and other things). I presume she went the whole way, as she was still aboard when I alighted opposite the Fairfield Halls to make my way to East Croydon.

RT604 at Croydon RT604 at Croydon

Many thanks to all those who had any hand at all in this event. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know many others did. Even the professional moaners, who grumble incessantly at everything seemed to enjoy their grumbling. So thanks especially to Peter Aves for organising, plus the others of the Country Bus Rallies team, and all the drivers, conductors, owners, mechanics, printers, compilers and all the others who did their bit to make it a memorable day. My apologies to those whose buses I missed photographing - and those I snapped but lost the film of.

System map

Buses that I can remember seeing (or missed):
971J
RT604, RT1206*, RT3148, RT3871*, RTL139*
RF48, RF213, RF269, RF406*, RF486*, RF489*, RF600, RF679
GS2, GS15, GS42, GS62
RMC4, RM158, RM835*, RM1063*, RM2116*, RML2463*, RML2699*
XF3
BL49*, BL95*, BN61
SNB312, SNB340, SNB449
DEL1


All photos by Ian Smith (unless otherwise indicated). Click on most of them for a larger picture.

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