East Grinstead Running Day

Sunday April 28th 2019

Prepared by Ian Smith, 8th May 2019.

Part 4: M&D

91: East Grinstead to Hartfield and Holtye Crossroads

RLH48 was not the only low-height double-decker at East Grinstead. Ahead of it at The Crown stood DL39, a Maidstone & District low-height Regent V. Across the road was its full-height counterpart, DH478, set up for a 91 trip east to Hartfield and Holtye Common. I was welcomed aboard and sat behind the bonnet.

Ahead of us a Leyland Olympian arrived. This too had an M&D connection, starting as their 5909, of the same batch as 5901-8, the 402-dedicated red-liveried buses. 5909 itself operated on the 402 (RIP) to Bromley, albeit in turquoise and cream livery. Later it was retired by M&D, and was bought by West Kent Motors of West Kingsdown, whose maroon and cream livery it wears.Since September 2014 it has been in preservation with the Southern Counties Omnibus Collection.

Across the road was RT3148, performing as usual on the 409 between Godstone Green and Forest Row.

West Kent Motors 909 at the War Memorial stop. Opposite stands RT3148 on a Forest Row bound 409.

We followed RF315 down London Road, and down to East Grinstead Station. Going back up the bank, with RF315 romping away beside us, it became apparent that DL39 was seriously lacking in horsepower. It toiled up the bank, and again up London Road to the High Street.

RF315 ahead of us down London Road, then alongside on the climb up from the station.

But that did not matter as we headed east from East Grinstead. The town is literally on top of the world. We rolled down the A22, as usual avoiding Ashurstwood. On the way we met the East Kent Regent V toiling up the bank. Forest Row produced a struggle up past the Brambletye Inn, erstwhile terminus of the early London Transport 409 route. We descended again on the Hartfield Road, to turn in to the old station, later terminus of the 409 once the trains had stopped running. RT1798 was waiting there to return to East Grinstead.

Down towards Forest Row. RT1798 rests in the station yard.

We set off again. We met RT3148 coming in along the narrow Station Approach. At the end we turned left, heading for Hartfield. This road was not all downhill. DH478 really struggled on the up-gradients, with its paltry 7.6 litre engine - even smaller than the unsatisfactory engine first tried in RM2. First gear was required in places, on hills an RT would romp up.

Approaching Hartfield we met Metrobus Scania 6973 coming the other way on a 291 from Tunbridge Wells. This route pre-dates London transport, having been started by East Surrey in the 1920s. LT could not continue it after 1933 due to the provisions of the London Transport Act.

RT3148 on Station Approach, Forest Row. Metrobus Scania 6973 on 291, Cat Street, Harefield.

A little further along the B2110 through Upper Hartfield we met DT29, one of the Roundabout Darts, working an unscheduled 135 (from Edenbridge via Hartfield to East Grinstead?). We picked our way through Hartfield, leaving the 291 route to Tunbridge Wells for the B road towards Edenbridge. We passed Hartfield Station without me noticing it. The Station buildings are still there, now a private residence, and the road bumps ever so slightly over the old railway bridge. Not enough to worry even DH478. Likewise the bridge over the infant River Medway. But then we had to climb up out of the slight valley. The bus DID notice this. Peter Aves patiently coaxed it up the gradient. At least it gave time to appreciate the bluebells on the roadside banks.

DT29 on the 135 to East Grinstead, Upper Hartfield. Roadside bluebells on the climb up from the Medway.

We reached the direct East Grinstead - Tunbridge Wells A264 road, and turned left to trundle along to Holtye Crossroads. Here some local services from East Grinstead used to turn round, and buses from Edenbridge would make their turn. Today we were going to turn here - a reverse turn into the minor road of Holtye Hill. So we all had to alight while the bus was turned. Do you remember how it goes from your driving test? Yes, the bus drew forward acroos the junction to the offside. Then it reversed round the corner, keeping to the correct inside of the corner. Then they let us board again for the return trip.

DH478 performing the conductor-directed reverse turn at Holtye Crossroads.

91: Holtye Crossroads to Hartfield and Forest Row: DH478

We set off back the way we came, back to the Hartfield Road, and down to cross the Medway into Hartfield.

The Hay Waggon, Hartfield.

We headed on west, grinding up the hills and rolling down the other side. At Forest Row we turned in to the station, where we met two buses blinded for the 409: RT604 in its NBC livery, and Metrobus Leyland Olympian 395, Metrobus' first new double-decker.

Red RM1397 was also standing in the yard at Forest Row - and what is this on the 91? Oh yes, another preserved M&D bus, Dart SLF 3242.

91: Forest Row to East Grinstead: DL39

Also in the station yard was DL39, the other M&D Regent V, the lowbridge one. They were parked side by side for photos. It is thirty years since they have been together like this in service, although they have met at shows since their restorations. Both have been the subject of very extensive restoration work.

Both were returning to East Grinstead, so I swapped onto DL39 for the ride. It seemed a different beast from DH478. We climbed the hill up past Ashurstwood into East Grinstead, on the way passing a green Country RF with GreenLine blinds, the East Kent Regent V, RT2083 and XF3. We pulled up in the High Street, with DH478 posing alongside again.

It was going home time, with buses departing in all directions, some empty to depot (or barn), some taking passengers back as reverse feeders. Now which way should I go?

Five