Lunchtime at Sandown Park

Sandown Park Running Day, Sunday March 22nd 2009

Prepared by Ian Smith, 2nd April 2009

Part 2: RFs to/at Kingston

218: Sandown Park to Kingston (RF534)

When I reached the RF area at Sandown Park RF534 was already pulling round to the dolly stop under the trees to take out the 218 to Kingston. Appropriately on this first journey on one of the commemmorated routes (218 and 219) it was RF534, preserved in the livery variation gained by some of the RFs recertificated to keep the services RF-operated up until March 1979, with white trim and white bulls-eyes instead of LT fleetnames.

Mike Nash gave me time to garab a front photo before boarding, and I made my way towards the back of the bus. RF457 was loading for the 219 to Weybridge immediately behind.

RF534 RF534 RF457

It was strangely nostalgic to be sitting near the back of an RF again. It was the seat behind the wheelarch, with restricted foot-room, that was my usual perch on the 227 going home from school. We rumbled towards Kingston along the Portsmouth Road, passing under the two restrictive railway bridges and running alongside the sparkling Thames. Then we were caught up in Kingston traffic, and picked our way round towards the railway station. We passed the site of the erstwhile Kingston garage, and pulled up on the alighting stop.

Inside RF534 RF534 at Kingston on 218

RF534 changed its blinds for a return run to Esher on the 219. A whirring noise and a red blur could be ascribed to Arriva's EnviroDart 3977 heading for Dorking again, with pedal hard to the floor.

RF534 at Kingston on 219 3977 leaves Kingston on 465

Another EnviroDart was Transdev's DE7, terminating on the 285. More unusual was the passing of a Leyland bus in service! OA352, very smart in The Original Tour livery, was working a rail replacement service.

DE7 at Kingston on 285 OA352 on Rail Replacement

Now another RF rolled up. RF644 was working on the 715A. The blinds were quickly rolled round to show Guildford instead of Kingston, and a good crowd climbed aboard.

RF664 at Kingston on 715A RF664 at Kingston on 715A

Now, where was that 264???

Part 3: Hersham Green and back



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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 3: Hersham Green and back