GS76 at Ewhurst Green

Horsham Classic Bus Running Day

Sunday May 17th 2009

Prepared by Ian Smith, 25th May 2009



Part Two: 473: Horsham to Ewhurst and Crawley (GS76)

GS76 took as many passengers as it could for the first run of the year to Ewhurst on the 852, and set off in the rain. We skirted round Horsham and meandered out through Broadbridge Heath, then motored up the A281 to meet the A29. Just up the Ockley Road we turned left into a green tunnel leading to Rowhook. We meandered on up the wet green lane for a couple of miles, then turned right to head for Oakwoodhill. There we turned sharp left and pottered westwards. We should have turned right for Walliswood, but followed the Ewhurst pointer on the signpost which took us back onto the main lane. We paused a little way along at a red phone box, just to take pictures of the two post-war design classics together.

GS76 at Carfax GS76 at Somersbury Wood

We continued to Ewhurst Green and Ewhurst as the sun came out. We trundled up through the extended village to the turning circle opposite the Bulls Head public house. We all bailed out and enjoyed the sunshine for a while, as the bus dried out.

GS76 at Ewhurst GS76 at Ewhurst

With blinds reset for the journey to Crawley we set off again, south through Ewhurst into Ewhurst Green. We stopped again at the phone box there.

GS76 at Ewhurst Green GS76 at Ewhurst Green

This time we did turn along the narrow leafy lane to Walliswood. We promptly met the first of several horse-riders, and passed very carefully. The next pair were manoevring their steeds off the lane into a gateway, and the male rider shot us a look of pure venom. Then we saw GS34 coming along the lane the other way.

horse and rider, Walliswood GS34 passes

We squeezed past - only to meet RF633 at the next corner. Needless to say, with the skill of our drivers the passing took place with no problem at all, although car drivers would probably flinch at meeting another car there. We did wonder what reception the third bus would get from the rider down the road! Incidentally the RF was packed out - as the first RF on the 852 to Ewhurst (unless you know differently). We wiggled our way on past Oakwoodhill, and back to the main lane to Rowhook. Back through the green tunnel we were out onto the A29, and quickly turning in to suburban Broadbridge Heath. There we met GS2 heading for Ewhurst too.

RF633, Walliswood GS2 in Broadbridge Heath

Making our way in past Horsham bus station we passed RT604, and then passed visiting RF168 parked in the Carfax.

RT604, HM Bus Stn RF168, Carfax

We paused to exchange passengers in Horsham, then continued on, taking the bus route out past the station and on to Roffey Corner, then along the main road towards Crawley. We passed RF486 heading west on a 434, unfortunately just as a car overtook the RF (so no photo worth printing). At Faygate Station we turned off to take the back road, and a mile and a half up the Rusper Road turned off to wiggle through Lambs Green. We noted that the red telephone box was still there (as on the programme) and dropped off one passenger at the Lamb Inn. We eschewed the original route through Ifieldwood, as this is now legally width restricted, and instead wiggled around the edge of Crawley to reach Ifield. We passed local buses in the New Town suburbia, and made our way in to the central bus station. We had time there to make use of the facilities of the shopping centre.

GS76, Crawley GS76, Crawley

Then we were off back to Horsham, via Ifield and green lanes to Lambs Green. We made our pickup at the Lamb Inn, and continued our way west to Faygate Station and Horsham.

Ifield Lane Lamb Inn

THis time as we pulled up through the bus station it was a pair of Compass Travel buses, a Dart and a Solo, that were on the stands, plus a Metrobus Dart (320).

Compass Dart, Solo 320

As we turned the corner I caught a glimpse of the local sculpture: Rising Universe, or the Shelley Fountain, as featured on OS Maps, Intriguing! I alighted. It was going to rain again. The Compass Dart came through and paused to pick up passengers on its way to the station and points beyond.

Rising Universe SN53ETO

I headed for RT3148 and the 414...

Part 3: 414: Horsham to Capel and back (RT3148, RMC1500)



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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 3: 414, Capel