East Grinstead Running Day

Sunday April 26th 2009

Prepared by Ian Smith, 8th May 2009.

Oxted and back

RMC1476: East Grinstead to Oxted Station: 409

I grabbed something to eat from the van, and looked around to see what was going out. GS34 had arrived from Oxted on the 494, but would not be going out until 1500.

Saunders-bodied RT3062 was taking a rest between turns on the 409.

RMC1476 was slowly making its way towards the War Memorial stop, prior to taking out a 409 to Oxted. I spoke briefly to driver Mike Dawes, then hurriedly finished my bun as I walked down behind the bus, before joining it at the stop.

I took up position behind Mike as DMS1868, looking excellent in a new paint job, came round the corner on the 409 in the other direction.

We set off down the London Road, meeting RT3148 at the mini-roundabout, operating the town service 435. We turned left down to the station. As we paused there the DMS swept past, having completed the station shuttle part of its run.

We climbed the bank from the station and headed north-west through Felbridge. A London General Volvo Olympian came the other way: NV179 was on Rail Replacement duties, presumably the Three Bridges-East Grinstead shuttle.

We headed north for Godstone, turning aside at Newchapel for the run out to Lingfield. There we headed back to Bluindley Heath to rejoin the main road. At South Godstone Station we met RF28 heading south on the 708 to Kingscote Station.

There were no connections at Godstone Green. We headed on, up to the erstwhile Godstone Garage then east along the 410 route towards Oxted. We met red RML2699 coming the other way at the roundabout on the bypass.

We continued along the greensand ridge towards Oxted, past the turnoff for Tandridge. We dropped down into the valley past Old Oxted, and turned left to head up towards Oxted Station. We went round the block to reach the station, where we met GS2 waiting to depart on the 494 to East Grinstead.

GS2: Oxted Station to East Grinstead: 494

I strolled over to GS2. Did John Huxford have room for me for the trip to East Grinstead on the 494? All the seats were actually already taken, but John let me on as crew, and we set off. We crossed over the main road and climbed the steep hill through Old Oxted, which was much less crowded than sometimes. We returned to the new road above the village, and toiled up to the Tandridge roundabout to turn south. We were hailed just round the corner. Did we have room for one more? No, not really. But a family on the wide seat took a child onto their lap and budged up, making room. We continued south, passing GS34 scurrying the other way.

We trundled on south, down off the greensand ridge through Tandridge, and south to the low railway bridge at Crowhurst. We passed under, and turned left alongside the railway, past woods full of bluebells.

We reached the north end of Lingfield and turned up right towards the church. The St.Georges Day Parade was still in the churchyard, we were glad to see. We turned right, past the post office, and turned left for Felcourt. We passed through more lovely countryside. STL2377 came the other way on the 428 to Dormansland.

A little further on we met RF489 heading north through the greenery for Oxted. Then we climbed back into West Sussex, up over Baldwins Hill, where the flowering rhododendrons and azaleas showed what spring can do to suburbia.

We continued into East Grinstead. Passing King Street we came upon Metrobus Dart 376 again, heading towards the station, then followed sister Dart 368 up the hill, passing DMS1868 heading north again.

It was getting on for four o'clock, and round trip options were getting limited: what remained?...

Part Six: Forest Row and back.

Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part One Part Four Part Six: Forest Row and back