Peter Aves was taking GS62 out for the first clockwise evolution of the 471, so I climbed aboard the little Guy Special. We headed west away from the Pound, following the road just north of the crest of the North Downs - but without any views south, as the road is completely enclosed by trees and occasional houses. There used to be a London Transport bus-stop flag along here, covered up with modern bus-stop stickers, but today I couldn't spot it. Perhaps it was taken away when the current route - the R5 - went clockwise only. We paused for photos at the sharp corner at Scotts Lodge.
Peter turned the bus north and headed down narrow Cudham Lane towards Cudham. No room for double-deckers down here, with the trees barely above the roof of the single-decker. It is narrow too, and hard to believe that they ran Leyland Nationals down here. We made a stop at Cudham, where the lane briefly widens (even if the trees still encroach across the road).
We went on down through the long straggling village, passing Cudham Church, where narrow lanes dive off down into the dry valley to the left for Downe and Biggin Hill. No buses down there, but they were the ways I used to go on my bike. GS62 kept straight on down the lane, passing Hazel Wood, then droppping more steeply down into the valley before curving right into Green Street Green. No GSs parked at the pub today. We crossed the roundabout and passed the Queens Head. We went near to the Metrobus garage, the schools and the hospital, then under the railway into Orpington. Another rounabout, and a left turn took us towards the station. A right turn just before the railway took us up Railway Approach. RF633 was just leaving on the 431 service as we climbed up to Orpington Station. We circled round into the bus yard. GS1 was already there, having worked in on the more direct side of the 471 loop via Pratts Bottom.
RT3148 was on the stance awaiting a turn on the 431 alongside a Metrobus OmniCity (522)on the 358 to Crystal Palace, an Optare Solo (now Tellings-Golden Miller) on the B14, and London General's PVL37 on the 51 to Woolwich.
As GS62 manoeuvred in the yard the RT pulled out for its turn on the 431. It turned out that this was the only RT trip on the 431 route via Chelsfield all day, due to tree problems encountered on the way.
GS62 was parked in the spot vacated by the RT, next to Metrobus' enormous OmniCity. We chatted briefly with its driver, before he had to leave, driving the monster over the twisting 358 route to Crystal Palace.
When it was time, GS62 pulled out for a return on the 471, this time via Pratts Bottom, completing the loop. We paused briefly at the old 471 stop, opposite the station entrance, but couldn't stop there.
We passed various red and turquoise buses on our way back out of Oroington. The timetable said "All buses stop at the Queens Head", so we did. Not so John Huxford in GS1, who zoomed past to start the anti-clockwise loop from the roundabout.
We followed on towards the Rose and Crown roundabout, passing a couple of First's Dart/Marshalls on the way. We, however, turned left up the main Sevenoaks Road, the A21, and followed it along its pleasantly green section to Pratts Bottom. There we turned right up Rushmore Hill. We climbed steadily up the hill, through the greenery. SNB257, once a Dunton Green Bus, so familiar to this route, came the other way, heading for Orpington.
Back at Knockholt Pound there was a melee of buses. RF633 was parked by the triangle, wearing a Dorking blind on the front between turns on the 431 (advertising the next running day?), while RT604 had arrived from West Croydon via Sevenoaks.
Not being one for crowds, and definitely not one for queues, I set off westwards along Knockholt Main Road. I knew that GS1 would be coming along shortly, and wasn't full. I enjoyed the stroll, but didn't get far: I reached Knockholt Primary School (The Crown) before the familiar little green shape appeared. Out went my hand, and the trafficator began its welcome blinking. I boarded GS1 for the ride back into the Pound.
I stayed with GS1 for the ride back down to Pratts Bottom and into Green Street Green. This time there was a bus at the Rose & Crown. But not a GS. It was another of First's little DMS midibuses, parked where a GS often used to sit, outside the pub. Another (DMS465), was parked opposite, at the official alighting point. I wonder if there will be Running Days for these in fifty years time, and whether they will be held in affection in the public memory like the Guy Specials?
We made our way through to Orpington Station, and John posed the GS on the Station Approach for me, before stopping at the station entrance.
RT3148 then arrived on a 471 working. RT on a 471? Yes, there were some peak workings on the eastern side of the route, but not via Cudham Lane.
But it was still unusual. I changed buses to the RT, to enjoy the experience, and travelled back to Knockholt "inside", looking out over the bonnet- one of those RT delights! We paused at Pratts Bottom, at one of the few proper LT bus-stops on the loop, then pressed on up the green tunnel of Rushmore Hill.
Approaching Knockholt Pound we met GS34 coming down on another 471, and then met GS1 in the tangle of parked cars on the final approach. These caused us problems throughout the day, but we squeezed past, and up to the Pound.
Now RT3148 and crew were due a break, and I went with them..
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part 1: Sevenoaks to Knockholt Pound
Part 3: Break at Bowens Yard