RLH61, RLH23 at Merton Garage

Worcester Park Running Day

Sunday 10th August 2008

Prepared by Ian Smith, 29th August 2008.



156: St.Helier to Sutton

The excellent timetable booklet suggested that one of the STLs was due up St.Helier Avenue on the 156 heading for Sutton Garage. I was about half an hour behind schedule, courtesy of the temporary traffic lights at South Wimbledon, so decided that I had probably missed it. No matter: it would be round its circuit and a half soon, and I could join it at Morden Station.

RT190 had headed back north, so I watched both ways to see what might be coming. First down the hill was London General's LDP47 on a current-day 164 to Wimbledon Station. A nice contrast in style was provided by the next bus: RM642 also on the 164, to Morden. This I couldn't find in the timetable at all - was it an extra?

LDP47 at St.Helier on 164. RM642 at St.Helier on 164.

I could see an RT following, so eschewed the RM and waited for RT1702, which was following close behind on a 156 tp Morden Station. We caught up with the RM at the next stop.

LDP47 at St.Helier on 164. RM642 at St.Helier on 164.

RT1702 took an odd route to get to Morden Station. It was heading out west on a full circuit of the 156, via North Cheam and Sutton. I jumped off at the station stop and ran to catch RT2794, which was heading for Sutton the other way on the 156, presumably substituting for the STL.

RLH23 was just pulling away on the other side of the dual carriageway, and STL441 was back in action on the 118 outside Morden Station.

RLH23 at Morden Stn on 127. STL441 at Morden Stn on 118.

I settled into my favorite seat on RT2794, and we wiggled our way out of Morden and ground up the hill past St.Helier once more. At Rose Hill we turned half right, passing an EVL on route 154, and decended Reigate Avenue. We wiggled left into Sutton, passing RF28 heading west on the 725, and ended up at Sutton Garage.

EVL on 154, Rose Hill. RF28 on 725, Sutton.

It was there, having alighted from RT2794, that I noticed that it was wearing blinds for the 164 and 118 rather than the 156, presumably as a result of substitution and unavailability of the correct set.

RT2794 at Sutton Garage. RT2794 at Sutton Garage.

The empty RT pulled forward into the garage, then manoevred round to park ahead of RTL139, which was also allocated to the 156. Alongside stood RF503, set up for the 80 shuttle, while all around stood London General's standard rolling stock.

RT2794 in Sutton Garage. RF503 in Sutton Garage.

But amongst the new buses stood something from an earlier age, yet not looking out of place. AEC Regal T31, restored to rear entrance, looked quite at home in Sutton Garage. Now it was preparing to emerge for a run on the 213.

T31 in Sutton Garage.

A glance at the bus-stop showed hat there was no hope at all of getting on the bus, so I contented myself with some pictures as it loaded up and moved off.

T31 on 213 at Sutton Garage. T31 on 213 at Sutton Garage.

The 1929-built Regal was followed on the 213 by something not too dissimilar: the 1948-built Leyland Tiger, TD95. Indicating how the war had set back bus design by fifteen years, but nevertheless an excellent design, the Tiger purred out to the stop to head for Norbiton Church. No chance of my getting on that either.

TD95 on 213 at Sutton Garage. TD95 on 213 at Sutton Garage.

Green Line RT3491 arrived, having worked a 725 Relief through from Kingston, and was captured on camera by Peter Larkham while I was changing film.

RT3491 on 725 at Sutton Garage (Peter Larkham) RT3491 off 725 in Sutton Garage (Peter Larkham).

Now it was time for me to consider my next move. Green RT3148, standing outside the garage, looked inviting...

Part Six: Sutton to Epsom


Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.


Back to Ian's Bus-stop Part Four: Malden to St.Helier Part Six: Sutton to Epsom