Eventually it was departure time, and the bus pulled forward onto the station stop to load up. I managed the seat behind the bonnet again. The bus was quickly away, turning round the tight circle and climbing the approach ramp past RF308.
RML2330 came down past us, back from a 339 foray, and was quickly followed by RF281 on the 720 GreenLine service.
We turned left, up into Epping. We turned right, along the High Street, and headed north-east. We forked right off the Harlow road onto the road for North Weald, passing through the woodland of Coopersale Common. We passed the end of the road coming up from the village, which was just 300m down the lane, beyond the low railway bridge. We crossed the M11 and passed the end of one of North Weald Airfield's runways to enter the village. Progress was slowed abruptly by a couple of young ladies on horseback.
We continued north-east to Tylers Green, where we turned along the A414 for the run along to Ongar. We turned right in the village, to reach the station. We pulled in to the station yard. Apart from the railway preservation displays there were several preserved buses in the yard, including an unidentified RM and an ex-London Metrobus.
The RT steamed gently until departure time.
The bus was turned in the tight space available, and reloaded for the return journey. As we headed for North Weald we were treated to several run-pasts by a preserved Vampire jet.
We also met RML2330 heading for Ongar, and a little later Arriva The Shires Solo 2454, working the 501.
We rolled down into Epping. I alighted in the town, having worked out that I should be in time to catch a 20B to Loughton Garage. The RT continued, to turn down the hill to the station...
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on most of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4: 20B: Epping and Loughton Garage