GS2 at Gravesend

Gravesend & Northfleet Running Day

Sunday October 17th 2004

Prepared by Ian Smith, 30th October 2004



Part Two: 490: Gravesend - Hartley Court: GS2

GS2 Inside GS2

GS2 pulled round onto the stand, and took on a full load for the 1020 service to Hartley Court. It was a mixed bus-load: some enthusiasts, some families, some individuals reliving their memories. From the Parrock Street carpark we pulled out and headed down a back street to pass near Gravesend Clock, where the services used to start, then headed round past Gravesend Station and out along Perry Street towards Southfleet.

We passed RF679, coming back in on the 451 from Betsham, then left suburban Gravesend, crossing the desolation left by the construction of the Channel Tunnel Railway line and climbing up to the bridge where Southfleet Station used to be. A little further on we turned off along the country lane to Southfleet: from suburbia to construction blight to traditional North Downs countryside in a couple of minutes.

Southfleet was quiet at this hour on a Sunday morning. We paused at the crossroads in the village Centre, opposite the Ship Inn. Why there is a Ship Inn on top of the North Downs I don't know - perhaps it was another, like the Vigo Inn, bought by a sailor with prize money from the capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet at Vigo Bay. Anyway, GS2 paused for photos. One family got off, and checked what time we would be back.

RF679 passes on 451 GS2 at Southfleet

Peter turned half-left to pass round the south side of the inn, and squeezed along the lane through the village, round past the Black Bull and along to meet New Barn Lane at the pond. This journey must have been easier back when few folk had their own cars to park outside their front doors. We turned right at the pond, and followed the lane up the hill to New Barn. This estate largely hides itself behind hedges and trees. We went on, down the steep dip to Longfield Hill, and right again down into Longfield Village. We took the second turn left up to Longfield Station, to approach it from the north. The marked-out bus-stop space was packed with cars, of course, but Peter pulled in where he could, and several people got off for photos.

From Longfield Station we turned right under the railway, and climbed up through Hartley. Peter turned left onto the lane to Hartley Court, and followed it uphill as it progressively narrowed as the houses ran out. We arrived at the narrow turning triangle at Hartley Court just as cars wanted to be in, and out. But Peter accomplished the tricky reverse turn round the triangle, and pulled across to where he remembers the stop used to be, on the lane back to Hartley. Lots of people then got off to take photos.

GS2 at Longfield Station GS2 at Hartley Court, after turning

GS2 at Hartley Court GS2 and driver at Hartley Court

With everyone gathered back on board, and the blinds reset for the return journey, we returned down the hill through the suburbia of Hartley, and down to Longfield Station. There we met RF633, apparently undecided whether it was coming or going, due to blind-creep. It was actually heading to Meopham Green on the 489A. We stopped at the station, a seventies-style brick cuboid affair.

RF633 at Longfield Station GS2 at Longfield Station

Then it was on round the square, and back up Longfield Hill, turning left for the desparately steep pull up to New Barns. Then it was easy down to the duckpond, and tortuous again through Southfleet, where we found a family waiting for our return at the Ship.

GS2 at The Ship, Southfleet Reboarding at The Ship

We dropped a passenger off at the Southfleet Station corner. He wanted to catch GS1 heading for Bean. We were a few minutes late, and John Huxford in GS1 often runs a trifle early, so we were pleased when a little further on, as we entered Perry Street, we passed the GS scurrying westwards. BN61 was the next to pass us, operating out on another 450 to Bean.

GS1 on 450 BN61 on 450

Back in town the route took us round the one-way system and down to the riverside at the Tilbury Ferry landing. The little garden here was one of our family targets for Green Rover expeditions, as it gave us a spot for watching the ships coming upriver to Tilbury or London Docks as we ate our soggy cheese and tomato sandwiches, before catching the 480 on the start of our journey home. Nostalgia time. After a quick photo we pulled back up into the town, round past the Clock, and left to reach the Parrock Street scene of activity.

GS2 at Tilbury Ferry landing GS2 approaches Gravesend Clock

Part 3: RF406 to Betsham and Northfleet


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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1: Arrivals Part 3: RF406 to Betsham and Northfleet