Events - 2013

A pictorial summary of where we've been this year

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Finsbury Park road run, 17 February 

Route 234^A anniversary, 17 March

Bluebell Railway - East Grinstead festival, 6 April

East Grinstead running day, 14 April

Cobham Open Day, 21 April

RT4779 proving run, 27 April

Windsor & Slough running day, 12 May

Alton Bus Rally, 21 July

Worthing Bus Rally, 28 July

Wings & Wheels, Dunsfold, 24-25 August

Traffic circular, 31 August

Epsom Fun Day, 22 September

Amersham, 20 October

Bluebell route 409, 27 October

Merton Open Day, 17 November

408 route re-creation, 24 November

Bluebell route 409

Temporarily disguised as a 410, RT4779 climbs out of Redhill on the way to Godstone.

Photo © Nigel Henty

As part of the Bluebell Railway's vintage bus day, route 409 was recreated between

Godstone and Forest Row.  RT4779 stands at the southern end, Forest Row.

Traffic circular

The Hinsons completed a circuit of north and south circular with RF433, seen here

arriving northbound off the Woolwich ferry.

Worthing

The Worthing trip included checking out the cosy 14'6" bridge at Pulborough Station.

Photo © Tony Albery

Promenade sunshine - just the ticket.

Windsor & Slough

Two former 'Billingshurst' buses in service together.  RT2177 and RT4779 both required

extensive rebuilding after being left outside for 15 years.  Here, RT2177 is driven by

George Gamblin, who drove RT4779 on its last day in LT service in 1978.  RT4779 

first entered service from Windsor Garage.

Photo © Steve Whitelegg

The bus stop has changed, but Essex Avenue still boasts an impressive line of TV aerials.

Photo © Steve Whitelegg

Windsor Castle hasn't changed much, either.

Photo © Nigel Henty

Cobham at Brooklands

RT4779's five year restoration from wreck to 1963-overhauled LH bus is finally complete.

Part of the story is illustrated here.

Bluebell Railway

On day 13 of the Bluebell's East Grinstead Festival, bell-ringers travelled the line and

three buses (two RFs and a King Alfred Leyland Leopard) provided transfers to the

village and a tour of the local area.

But the day was really about trains, and the Bluebell's remarkable feat of reaching

East Grinstead.  Here the fireman of 9F 92212 collects the token for the section north of

Horsted Keynes.  Rather newer than the RFs, but none the less imposing for that,

especially on the climb up to EG.

Turning off the Sheffield Park road at Danehill, to provide transport via the alternative

route.  The day almost felt like spring, but there were no bluebells.

Photo © Ian Legg

Period pieces at Horsted Keynes.

Photo © Ian Legg

Amersham

Classic view - RT4779 on the 359 passes the Wendover Clock Tower.

Photo © Nigel Henty

Setting out for Aylesbury from Amersham Old Town.

Epsom Fun Day

Epsom families having fun with RF146, RT4779, RTL139 and GS2.  Unfortunately there were

no 419 or 468 blinds for the RF.

Wings & Wheels

RT4779 joined the Cobham line-up at Wings & Wheels, the Dunsfold air show.

Alton Bus Rally

RT4779 arrives in Guildford on the 408 feeder service.

Photo © Steve Whitelegg

Three AEC Regent IIIs, the left two with Weymann bodies and Ipswich 24 with a Park

Royal.  The export model has been repatriated from Portugal, where it was no.255

with Carris in Lisbon.  It and 4779 were registered in 1954; the Ipswich was their last

Regent and delivered in 1956.

RT4779 proving run

Where it all started - Ashtead Farm Lane.

The Epsom connection.

Returning home.

East Grinstead

A Metrobus moment.  The last bus-bodied AEC, Duple-bodied Reliance JTM109V was

the first vehicle to operate for Metrobus, when formed in 1983, and is now preserved. 

Metrobus now operates the likes of Scania Omnicity 549, running on the remarkable

route 400, which seems to take in a large part of the southern Country Area on its way

from Stone Quarry to Caterham-on-the-Hill via Crawley and Redhill. 

En route to Godstone, RF486 negotiates the bridge at Crowhurst Lane End.

Photo © Steve Whitelegg

Finsbury Park

On its 60th birthday, RF486 ran over some of the Finsbury Park routes, including the

212 for which it was delivered new to Muswell Hill.  Here arriving as a 236 at Rock

Street.  The photo gallery for the event has more pictures.

486's birthday surprise treat was to be joined at Muswell Hill Broadway by RF459.

South Croydon

All six buses taking part in the 234^A anniversary event appear in this shot.  The event 

gallery shows the buses in service, here we remember the day real buses returned to TC.