Lunchtime at Sandown Park

Sandown Park Running Day, Sunday March 22nd 2009

Prepared by Ian Smith, 17th April 2009

Part 6: Kingston & Weybridge (RF366)

NBA

It was my intention to ride MB90 on the 416 to Leatherhead and back. The Merlin was still out on its previous trip, so I visited the grub truck and then the bookstalls. MB90 arrived and went to lurk at the east end of the paddock. I wandered down to look at its era-companion, Swift SMS369.

MB90. SMS369.

Some of the longer-distance visitors began to depart for home, including RF13. I made my way up to the dolly stop to await the arrival of the MBA.

TD95 came out, starting an afternoon foray on the 215. I was tempted, but decided to wait for the MB.

MB90. SMS369.

It didn't arrive. It transpired that it had a problem on its previous trip, and was no longer available. I should have gone on the TD! (again!).

218: Sandown Park to Kingston (RF366)

I went out onto the Portsmouth Road. RF429 was on the stop opposite, just up the road, heading for Ripley. I crossed the road. It pulled away. I consulted my timetable. RF366 was due down the road from Esher in a minute or so, so I recrossed the road and climbed aboard when it arrived.

We headed north-east along the road to Kingston, under the railway bridges and along beside the Thames. TD95 roared past, heading for Church Cobham. We were soon winding our way through Kingston. This is Transdev country, with plenty of their buses still in the outstanding old London United livery. We met London General's Volvo/Wright WVL61 heading for its terminal point on the 85, and Transdev's Trident/Alexander TA344 having found its point on the 65. Another Trident, TA292, now in all-red, went ahead of us on the 57 into central Kingston.

WVL61 on 85, Kingston. TA344 on 65, Kingston. TA292 on 57, Kingston.

As we waited by the traffic lights outside the old Kingston Garage Dart/Plaxton DPS588 came round under the station bridge on the 216, followed by Volvo/Alexander VA303 on the 111.

DPS588 on 216, Kingston Stn. VA303 on 111, Kingston Stn.

219: Kingston to Weybridge Stn, and back to Sandown Park (RF366)

RF366 pulled up at the designated stop at Kingston Bus Station, and the blinds were rolled round from the 218 to the 219, for the next trip out to Weybridge Station. We were quckly away, winding our way back out of Kingston. There was WVL61, having found a resting place. At traffic lights we passed in front of one of Travel Surrey's Darts: 8085.

RF366, Kingston. WVL61 on 85, Kingston. Travel Surrey 8085, Kingston.

Bowling back along the Portsmouth Road we met Rf491 heading in on the next 219. We passed under the railway bridges (the lower having a 13ft 3in clearance only), and passed by Sandown Park to head up into Esher.

RF491, Thames Ditton. 13ft 3in bridge on Portsmouth Road.

We turned right in Esher and headed into suburban Hersham and on to Weybridge. Daffodils abounded.

Daffs. More daffs.

We negotiated Weybridge, and climbed up to the station. There we did not go down to terminate on the Station Approach, but turned round the roundabout and pulled up at the stop.

RF366 at Weybridge Stn. RF366 at Weybridge Stn.

We set off back to Esher, into Weybridge, then out across the railway and along to Hersham. We made the diversion off the main road to Hersham Green, and back out to rejoin it at the Barley Mow. Heading for Esher we dropped down to cross the River Mole, and espied RF534 ahead of us, also running back to Sandown Park. We almost caught up with it in Esher, but it slipped through the lights while we were caught.

RF534 near Esher. RF534 in Esher.

But the delay at the traffic lights yielded dividends: RF226 purred up the hill to pause at the stop, southbound for Dorking, while RF354 came round the corner on a 206 from Claygate, before passing in front of us.

RF226 in Esher. RF354 on 206 in Esher.

The lights changed and we ran down the bank to Sandown Park. There we turned in to an almost empty paddock. It was going home time. The Cobham collection were just departing, including T31.

RF366 returns to Sandown Park. T31 departs.

406: Sandown Park to Redhill (RF429)

It was time for my departure too, aboard RF429, bound for Redhill. I thyink we headed east, round the Kingston by-pass to pick up the 406 route at Tolworth and then headed south. I remember our climbing up over Epsom Downs past Tattenham Corner, and a pause at Tadworth Station to let off some folk there. But I was getting tired, and do not remember much of the trip on past Kingswood and down to Reigate. At Redhill I alighted opposite the bus station, and did not have time to switch on my camera before the RF had disappeared around the corner under the railway bridge.

RF429 at Tadworth Stn.

It had been an excellent day.

Many thanks to Peter Osbourne and Steve Whitelegg for organising it. They didn't even get to drive their bus on their own day, of course (although they had checked out all the routes with it on the route-learning day). Great show!

Please check out their web site for several galleries of photos of the day.


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


Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6