234 Routes RevisitedSunday 17th March 2013Prepared by Ian Smith, 18th March 2013.234A: Woodcote Green to Hackbridge: RF429Part of my reasoning in waiting for RF429 was apparent when it rolled up to the stop at Woodcote Green: it was going through to the Hackbridge terminus.I climbed aboard and we rolled down into Wallington, picking up and setting down local passengers, some of whom were only going a stop or two. All showed a fascination for the old bus, the conductor, and what we were doing. Some appreciated that we were going beyond Wallington to Hackbridge, unlike the 127. At Hackbridge we passed the station, then turned left, then left again into Elm Road - a quiet back-street with a bus stance.
234A: Hackbridge to Wallington : RF429Our next trip was a short one, just along the road to Wallington, where we would be taking a meal break. Nevertheless, we had some passengers along to Wallington station, where we dipped down to duck under the railway before turning right to reach Shotfield.There we found RF395 already on the stand. We pulled past, then backed onto the front of the stance that TfL had asked us to use, leaving space for the other RF to pull out. A few minutes later it did, heading for Old Lodge Lane again. We sat and ate lunch. RF486 sneaked up behind as we ate, and took the rear position on the grid.
234A: Wallington to South Croydon Garage: RF429Lunch-break over, we set off again, heading this time for South Croydon Garage via Purley. We pulled out into Wallington, and headed south along Woodcote Road, soon meeting Scania 924 on the 127.We turned down Foxley Lane, and met RF368 coming up on its way to Hackbridge. We continued down the hill to Purley Cross. Due to the vagaries of the gyratory system we would not be able to turn directly north into Brighton Road. Instead we crossed Purley Way at traffic lights into Pampisford Road, then turned right down Christchurch Road to reach Brighton Road. We didn't know whether we would be able to use the garage this time, but the obliging supervisor waved us in and we parked again inside the front door, looking out. A line of DWs stood facing us, including DW1 with an ex-Routemaster registration.
234B: South Croydon Garage to Selsdon : RF429RF429 was prepared for the trip on the Sundays-only 234B to Selsdon, involving changing the blinds, the fare chart and the running plates. During the other turns the bus had worn TC5 plates, but the 234B, a one-bus only route, only used TC1.We set off south on the 234B, down the Brighton Road to Purley, meeting other buses as we went. At Purley we turned left under the railway, and began the long climb up to Selsdon. The outside temperature dropped. Would the rain turn to snow? The windows misted up as we climbed. A DW on the 412 came down Rectory Park and passed us at the top of Mitchley Avenue. RM1397 pulled away from the Selsdon stop as we approached. We rounded the triangle (if you see what I mean) and pulled up in front of Sainsbury's as the skies opened once more.
Part Five: RF429 on 234B, 234A Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture. Red-RF Ian's Bus-stop 1 2 3 4 5
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