RCL2229 at Northfleet

Gravesend Classic Coach Running Day

Sunday October 16th 2005

Prepared by Ian Smith, 4th November 2005



Part Six: 725 to Swanscombe and back: GS15 with RCL2260

I went to chat with the guys on GS15. They had been running GS15 as a Greenline duplicate all day, and showed me pictures of GS36 doing just that in its Northfleet days: running on the 725, and dressed ready for the 701. They were just preparing to go out as a duplicate to RCL2260 on another 725 trip as far as Swanscombe. So I went with the flow, and went with them.

GS15 GS15

GS15 took on its quota of passengers and set out behind RCL2260, which was also heading for Southfleet, dressed as a 702. We roared our way west through Gravesend and along the Overcliffe. Soon we descended past the Plough at Northfleet, and followed the RCL through to a supermarket, somwhere in Swanscombe (I think). There the two buses paused for a couple of minutes for photos to be taken, before starting the short return journey.

RCL2260 setting off GS15 and RCL2260 at Southfleet

GS15 and RCL2260 at Southfleet RCL2260 setting off from Southfleet

On the return journey we passed out of service Arriva Dart 3289, off the 499, and also met RF48 again, heading for Dartford this time, just below the Plough.

Arriva Dart 3289 off 499 RF48 on 701

We climbed the hill to Northfleet, and ran along to the garage, where we paused as the sun dipped behind the rooftops. One of the home team - DAF/Plaxton Prestige 3914 - pulled up at the opposite stop so that we could compare buses with a fifty year age difference.

Arriva DAF 3914 at NF GS15 at NF

We went on through the rapidly gathering dusk into Gravesend. Entering the carpark we met RB51, heading out, presumably for home, and pulled up at the dolly stop for our passengers to alight.

RB51 departs GS15 at the dolly stop

Part 7: Journeys on BN61


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


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1 Part 5 Part 7: Journeys on BN61