East Grinstead Running Day

Sunday April 23rd 2006

Prepared by Ian Smith, 6th May 2006


Part 4: 494: East Grinstead to Oxted (GS76)

I alighted from FRM1 at the War Memorial in East Grinstead. Buses were still appearing in all directions. RF600 headed down towards East Grinstead Station on a 473 working, and RF4 popped out from the King Street direction with a terminating 708 from Godstone. It was good to see the touring RF being exercised on Green Line duties this time. RF4 pulled up near the corner of the High Street, and a mid-length Alexander bodied Dart SLF, Metrobus No.311 pulled up behind it on a 473 working to Kingscote, a reminder that Metrobus still operates Sunday services here. The Country Bus Rallies' 473 buses, incidentally, are timetabled in conjunction with the Metrobus services to Kingscote on this special day, in case you were wondering!

RF600, War Memorial RF4, War Memorial Metrobus 311, War Memorial

RT604 came round the corner on a southbound 409, and red RF406 came along on another 473 working.

RT604, War Memorial RT604 and RF406 RF406, War Memorial

RF600 came past again, this time eastbound for Dormansland on the 473. Coming the other way was RF366 on a 434 working. I decided it was lunch time, so headed for the refreshment caravan, passing GS62 on the way.

RF600, War Memorial RF366, War Memorial GS62, War Memorial

Back at the War Memorial, waiting for my GS to Oxted, I watched the arrival of green RML2317 on the 409, on loan from Metrobus for the day. It looked fabulous, bringing back many memories of these buses on the 410.

Next along was GS2, but this was arriving from Oxted, not going there, but did give the unusual sight of two 494 GSs together at the War Memorial (the 494 only required one GS in London Transport days).

RML2317 and GS62, War Memorial GS2 and GS62, War Memorial

More buses came and went, as the rain intensified. Another Metrobus service arrived, with Dart number 291 on the 270 from Haywards Heath, and quickly disapperared towards the station. As I changed my film Maidstone & District SO224 returned from Edenbridge and departed to park, and GS34 eased round the corner.

RT3871 loaded up for the 409 to Godstone, FRM1 came round for another 409 trip to Forest Row, and Green Line RF48 pulled in on a 708 turn.

Metrobus 291, War Memorial RT3871 on 409, War Memorial FRM1 and RF48, War Memorial

GS76 to Oxted

Now GS76 appeared for the 494 trip. I boarded, and took a seat near the front. Not that it did me much good in terms of photography through the wind-screen. The rain was providing a very effective filter! But I enjoyed the trip, as I do any journey on a GS. We headed down to East Grinstead Station, and roared up the bank to join the London Road very briefly over the two railway bridges, before turning right through Baldwins Hill. We headed north for Felcourt and Lingfield, on the way passing RF600 and RF626, both heading for East Grinstead.

GS76 and GS62, War Memorial RF626 on 494

Lingfield was uneventful, and we went down the hill to turn left, along past the railway station and on northwards through scattered Crowhurst, before turning left to run alongside the Tonbridge-Redhill railway to Crowhurst North. There we turned right under the low bridge (single-deckers only). Heading for Tandridge we passed more of the St.George's flags that dot almost every property in the area around St.George's Day. We passed the parish church (St.George's, of course) in Tandridge, before descending gently to reach the Godstone - Oxted road. We headed down into Oxted, and headed to the station.

GS76, Oxted Station GS76, Oxted Station

Along with several others I alighted there, to change onto a 410 to Reigate...

Part 5: RT3871 on 410, 409


All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 3 Part 5: RT3871 on 410, 409