Immediately afterwards RF679 arrived back from Otford with the 401. I walked up the hill towards the Beechenlea Lane terminus of the 233, the temporary "garage" for the day. RF486 was parked by the slip road. RT1798 arrived on a 21. Perhaps THIS was "Sidcup Garage" for the day?
RF383 arrived and pulled round past RMC1461, ready to head back to Sidcup Station. It was followed by T1031, also doing shorts on the 21.
I walked across towards RT1702, which was set up for a double-deck journey on the 241. The preservation group have an old set of Sidcup RT blinds, with the 21, 21A and 241 on, as well as others. RM8 was standing behind, parked out of the way. I boarded the RT, and found a seat behind the bonnet.
As we pulled out RF600 arrived, having completed a trip to Chelsfield on the 477. We rolled down the hill to Swanley Garage, where the forecourt was shared by BL49 and GS15.
We headed north, down the old Roman Road towards Swanley, and round the Swanley Perturbation, then on along the old road towards Sidcup. RM1063 roared past, heading for Swanley as we climbed the long hill, then we met RF429 as we dipped down towards Sidcup Garage.
RT1702 paused for photos at the site of Sidcup Garage (now Sidcup Technology Centre). Then we climbed up into the town, meeting various buses on TfL services. These included London Central President PVL212 on the 321, and Arriva's DAF/Wright 6216 on the 492.
We turned right to head for Sidcup Station, then right and right again, to reach the Alma Street stand. We had a few minutes there, so I walked down to the main road . There I saw what is now an unusual sight in Greater London: a scheduled non-red bus on a TfL service. This was Arriva Kent Thameside's Dart 3261 on route 286. I gather this situation will not last long!
The Titan was just about to head back to Swanley as a 21, so I climbed aboard. I changed my film, then decided that I might as well go upstairs for this journey, the view forward being much better up there! I promptly watched RM8 heading north-west through Sidcup on a 21 for Eltham.
Next came two more of London Central's Presidents: PVL46 heading for Woolwich, and PVL212 coming back towards New Cross with the 321, today's equivalent of the 21.
Next came a comparison of forty years of single-decker development: RF486 dipped towards Sidcup Garage with a 241 bound for Sidcup, while Metrobus' Dart 288 - now all-red- came bowling along the A20 on a 233. Now I find it quite odd that these are NOT in blue and yellow!
Rounding the Swanley Kink we passed a stationary RF48 - lunch break? We went on to Swanley Garage, where we arrived just as RF600 headed north on a 477 for Chelsfield.
I alighted from the Titan and watched it head south towards Beechenlea Estate.
What next? It must be nearly time for a trip on the 477...
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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Part Two
Part Four: Orpington & Back