Swanley Running Day

Sunday March 20th 2005

Prepared by Ian Smith, 4th April 2005

Part 2: Wanders with GS60

Wrotham to Swanley Station: 478

Following RF633 came GS60, making its first public appearance after a complete restoration. It ran up the road to turn, then came back to take its place in the line-up with RT3148 and RF633. We had a chance to inspect it. Inside and out it looked as though it had come straight from Eastern Coach Works. Immaculate. Only the black bumper and trafficators marked it out as different from the completely new vehicles.

Terry had a full load of twenty passengers for the trip to Swanley (today's passengers weigh more than the 1950s variety, and Wrotham Hill had to be climbed). We wiggled back out through the village, and began the long slow climb up the face of the North Downs. Then it was a roaring rattling ride down into West Kingsdown, where we stopped opposite the Portobello Inn. Continuing on, we descended the long slope to Farningham, where we pulled off to the left to reach the old narrow main road down to the bridge over the River Darent. There we caught up with RF633 and RT3148, the former pulling away as the GS drew up behind the RT. But I was able to alight in time to watch the RT roar off across the bridge.

I returned to the GS, and in turn we wound our way up through the town to rejoin the main road at a roundabout. From there it was a straightforward run down to the junction with the M25. After negotiating the traffic light sequence (they were ALL red) Terry pulled the GS off down the slip road to reach Swanley Garage, where we found RF633 and red RT1702.

The GS was continuing to Swanley Station, so I stayed with it. But we missed the turn in to Azalea Drive, so had an impromptu experience of the 477 route, as far as Crockenhill, where Terry could turn the GS. We found Azalea Drive on the way back, and pulled into it to make our way to the stop near the south side of Swanley Station.

Swanley Station to Darenth: 479

Terry redressed GS60 for the 479 trip to Darenth: a Farningham blind was used for the first stretch of the journey, while a number-only blind graced the rear. We headed back to the garage, where the forecourt was now inhabited by RT3148 and RF633. There was some exchange of passengers, and we left with a passenger load of twenty again. So it was hard going away from Swanley, up the stiff little hill to the motorway junction, and then up over the hill before the drop down to Farningham. Because of the road layout (no right turn from the south end of Farningham) we had to bypass the village and then turn back through it. Once again we pulled up at the stop by the Darent bridge, before winding up through the town and south again along the by-pass to locate the back lane to Horton Kirby.

We eased our way through Horton Kirby towards the massive viaduct that carries the LCDR main line over the Darent valley, and turned left beside it to reach the main Darent valley road below Farningham Road Station. We passed under the railway, and along the main road through Sutton-at-Hone. Presently we turned right towards Darenth, recrossing the river before turning left onto the old back lane towards Dartford. Nowadays this doesn't go far, having been broached by the massive junction of M25 and A2, but once this was the route of the 479. Today we went as far as The Chequers: end-of-the-line. We alighted while Terry took the GS up the lane to turn round.

Darenth to Farningham: 479

We headed back along the contorted valley route, through Sutton at Hone and Horton Kirby. We paused for photos with the viaduct, then continued south to Farningham, where I alighted to await whatever came along.

Red Interlude: RT1702 on the 21A

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

Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part 1: Longfield to Wrotham Part 3: Red Interlude: RT1702 on the 21A