GS2 at Gravesend

Gravesend & Northfleet Running Day

Sunday October 17th 2004

Prepared by Ian Smith, 6th November 2004



Part Four: RM8 to Greenhithe and back

Back at Gravesend, I walked over to the stops, where RM8 was busy loading. It had been in the visitors' bus park, but the gang operating it had seen the size of queues and decided to join in. So they were operating an extra, along to Greenhithe. As I knew several of them, but somehow had never travelled on RM8, I slipped into the lower saloon for the ride, to sample this aspect of the day's operations.

The AEC-engined RM was quiet, compared to the modern roarers or even the Leyland-engined RMs that used to inhabit the 36B in my early days. We worked our way out of the Gravesend traffic system, and along the Northfleet road, passing the garage. There were occasional excellent views of the Thames as we headed west along the 480 route to Swanscombe. We met SNB312 coming the other way on the 480, and at the first of the Swanscombe roundabouts met one of Arriva Kent Thameside's red Pulsar Gemini on the 492 to Bluewater.

SNB312 near Greenhithe Pulsar Gemini near Greenhithe

There too RM8 turned right, along to Greenhithe Station. Round the roundabout, and into the bus lay-by for a photo-stop.

Once the sound of clicking shutters had abated the bus was reloaded and we headed back through Northfleet, passing RT2043 on the 487 near the "Plough".

SNB312 near Greenhithe Pulsar Gemini near Greenhithe RT2043 near Northfleet

We also met RF679 on the Gravesend one-way system. We returned to the Parrock Street bus-park, and I walked across to say hello to John Hinson in RF280.

RF679 in Gravesend RF280 at Gravesend

I walked past the Volvo Ailsa to the bus stops. If there had been a chance of getting on the Southdown Titan I would have done, but the queue for the short working to Meopham on the 122 was easily two bus-loads. Likewise RT604 could have filled twice for its local journey on the 498. I walked back into the bus-park to see what I could find.

V5385 RUF186 RT604

Part 5: RT3148 to Northfleet


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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 3: RF406 to Betsham Part 5: RT3148 to Northfleet