Chislehurst and Sidcup Running DaySunday 23rd June 2002Prepared by Ian Smith, 15th July 2002Part 5: Chislehurst and Sidcup againThe west entrance to Sidcup Station also had buses - and a turning circle! But the buses here were Rail Replacement service buses plying between Sidcup and Lewisham. I saw a pair of Imperial Buses' Metrobuses - one of them ex-London M228. But also on duty was green RTL1256. I had seen it earlier in the day too. Well done Imperial for joining in the spirit of the Running Day. Back round in the east yard I met RT1798, coming in from a 229 round-trip, and Greenline RF113, off the 725. The afternoon was drawing on. What round trips could I still do before home-time? Too late for the 467. But RF368 was leaving for Chislehurst, and this was a Sidcup RF day after all! So I climbed aboard for another round trip to Chislehurst. We passed RTL139 on the way. Chislehurst was quiet now. I returned to RF368 for the trip back to Sidcup Station. In the station yard some buses were arriving on last journeys, some were heading home and a few were setting off on last one-way workings. In the last category was LS98, heading off to Chislehurst as a 228, and from there on to Crystal Palace as a 227 through working. I wished I were going - the 227 between Bromley and Penge was my everyday journey for seven years in the sixties. RF633 was preparing to go home, and RF679, having been on 725 runs, was parked awaiting its finale. Off went the Q, back to Cobham, and RF429 went too. The RT family was passing through too, on its home. RT227 came in off its day's work shuttling on the 467. RT1702 was ready for the off, and RTL139 was having its blinds changed. RT2043 departed, but RT2083 was still parked in the same place that I had seen it all day, although with blinds restored for its northern division base. RF453 came in to turn and say farewell, squeezing between RT227 and RF269 - and then it was time for me to go. RF679 was to do a last journey to Sidcup Garage as a green 241 before heading back into Kent, and I went with them. As a day celebrating Central Area RF operation it seemed a fitting finale.
Routes51 Sidcup Garage - Sidcup Stn161 Chislehurst - Sidcup Garage 227 Chislehurst - Bromley 228 Chislehurst - Eltham 229 Sidcup Garage - Bexleyheath 241 Sidcup Garage - Welling 467 Sidcup Stn - North Cray 725 Bromley - Bexley BusesQ83RF113, RF269 RF366, RF368, RF383, RF421, RF429, RF453, RF486 RF633, RF679 RT227, RT1702, RT1798, RT2043, RT2083 RTL139 RM(L)3, RM8, RM1699 SMS369 DM1052 LS98 T1129 ThanksThanks to all those who made this such a memorable day, through efforts seen and unseen:-the owners, drivers and crews of the buses; -the organisers, inspectors, programme sellers..; -the bus companies and councils who gave permissions; -Connex South Eastern for the use of Sidcup Station carpark; -the Mayor of Bromley; -the passengers, from near and far. |