GS62: a 50 year celebration!

Created 25th November 2003 by Ian Smith on behalf of Alan Charman.

After London

St George's School, Harpenden: October 1973 - 1977

GS62 with St.Georges School (Copyright: Mike Lloyd)

GS62 spent three years with St George's School, Harpenden, who repainted it in mid-green with red window-surrounds and trim.

GS62 in January 1976. (Copyright: Mike Lloyd)

Preservation storage: 1977 - 1990

During this period GS62's engine was replaced, and GS62 was kept snug and secure.

Active Preservation: 1990 - present

In 1990 a new phase of GS62's preservation began. A full restoration of the engine compartment and front end was carried out, and the interior was stripped out and relined. GS62 was restored to London Transport condition, representative of a year after overhaul, inside and out.

Reconditioning at Edgware LT garage, June 1990: exterior and interior refurbishment. (Alan Charman)

Since then GS62 has been a frequent active participant in Running Days and shows, with its justifiably proud owner Alan Charman. Alan, from the age of three when he moved to Chelsham, spent many a happy day riding on the Green Buses. His father was a driver at Dunton Green from 1950 to 1966, working on the 471, 413, 413A and 404 routes. So it was a particularly poignant day when GS62 visited Dunton Green garage on Saturday 14th February 1998, in company with GS56, for it was DG's last day of operation, and the buses were leaving for Northfleet as they came in off duty.

GS62 stands in the doorway of Dunton Green garage on the garage's last day of operation, 14th February 1998. (Alan Charman)
One of that day's projects was the recreation of a 1963 scene, photographed then by Alan Cross when GS19 came in off the short-lived 479 route. This time it was GS62 that posed in the doorway.

Among Alan's other interests is the Bluebell Railway, and a start-of-season vintage bus link has developed into a major 1950's Bus Running Day in East Grinstead in April each year. GS62 plays her part, with a Bluebell Railway advert adorning her posterior - and also carries passengers on various of the East Grinstead routes on those days.

GS62 stands at Kingscote Station with RT3775 in April 1997. (Alan Charman). In December 1998 Alan took GS62 into Central London for the RT-RF Register Christmas Lights Tour, and was seen under London Bridge Station (Ian Smith).

Amongst GS62's appearances in the last few years have been (click on underlined links for a report on each of these days):

1996
	4/96	East Grinstead Running Day
1997
	4/97	East Grinstead Running Day
1998
	2/98	Dunton Green closure
	4/98	East Grinstead Running Day
	12/98	London Lights Tour
1999
	3/99	Dunton Green Running Day
2000
	3/00	Chart Running Day
	4/00	East Grinstead Running Day
2001
	6/01	Hertford Running Day
2002
	4/02	Cobham Open Day
	4/02	East Grinstead Running Day
	4/02	HCVS London-Brighton run: third prize
	6/02	Hertford Running Day
	9/02	Dorking Running Day
2003
	4/03	Cobham Museum Open Day
	4/03	East Grinstead Running Day
	6/03	Hitchin & Hertford Running Day
	8/03	Dorking Running Day
	9/03	Westerham & Oxted Running Day
	10/03	Chesham Running Day

But to return to where it began: Dunton Green duty DG29 was Alan's School Bus. It ran from Knockholt to Orpington, then did short swingers between Orpington Station and Green Street Green (turning on the Crown forecourt) before finally running up Cudham Lane on its way back to Dunton Green Garage. It is this memory that is largely responsible for Alan's enduring interest in the GS, and he runs GS62 dressed for DG29 whenever he has the opportunity.

GS62 dressed for the DG29 duty, with Green Street Green short-working blinds. (Alan Charman)

You will pleased to know that Alan has NOT repainted GS62 gold for its Jubilee year, but the bus has been resplendent in a new coat of green.

HAPPY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY

Ian's Bus Stop Part One Part Two Part Three summary of GS62 history