Back at Gravesend I went for a look at buses that had arrived while I had been gone. A line of London Transport buses still stood between the trees, now augmented by coach Routemaster RCL2229 from London's Transport Museum and the rebuilt Country Area Routemaster RML2306. Arriva Kent & Sussex' Lynx 3041 (originally with Grey Green in London) was standing next to the LT Museum's London Country Bristol, BN61.
The LT Museum team were standing next to the BN, and I went over to introduce myself briefly before circulating round the line-up of buses. Maidstone & District Reliance SC390 pulled out to go on an E5 express service to Gillingham, and Southdown Guy Arab IV PUF647 roared round to the stand as well.
Greenline RF269 also pulled forward from the rank for a short journey on the 725 to Crayford and back, followed shortly by GS15 on the same errand. GSs were not normal fare for Greenline journeys, lacking such refinements as luggage racks, coach seats and quiet engines, but Northfleet is known to have put out GSs on its Greenline services when nothing else was available.
One of the more spectacular coaches available during the day was the 1929 Leyland Lioness. With Burlingham touring body typical of the period, the canvas roof rolled back for patrons to enjoy the sunshine. The normal conrol layout, with the enormous bonnet, gives it the appearance of a large luxury car. Today it was operating on the tours program. Tours were operating from the centre of operation to the Gravesend Riverside, to Cobham Hall, and to Gads Hill (home of Charles Dickens). DM6228 was just preparing to head out on tour2 to Cobham Hall.
It was time for me to join the crew on RCL2229. I walked across to where the coach Routemaster stood next to rebuilt "RML2306", a Routemaster rebuild given the number and registration of the original East Grinstead Country RML.
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: 701 to Dartford and back: RCL2229