Worcester Park 2008

At Basingstoke Festival of Transport 2002Coaches

 
In addition to the former London Transport routes being operated by ex-LT buses, there will be the opportunity to ride on short coach tours operated by preserved coaches originally serving with local operators.
 
Duple-bodied Bedford SB PPH698 was new in 1951 to HR Richmond, better known as Epsom Coaches and the proprietors today of Quality Line, an operator of TfL bus services.  The operator's former garage was in South Street, Epsom, and the event organiser remembers the traffic regularly being held as a coach manoeuvred in or out.  The Bedford is beautifully preserved by Geoff Heels, and will operate tours from North Cheam.
 
Shown regularly and frequently winning awards, Geoff Heels' ex-Richmond's Bedford rarely runs in passenger service.   Photo © Peter Jarman
 
Unmistakably HarringtonAEC Regal III PPF492 was also new in 1951, a Surrey Motors coach with a very late production half-cab Harrington 37-seat body, built to the then newly-allowable width of 8 feet.  Delivered new to Surrey Motors of Sutton, whose garage was situated between LT's Sutton and Carshalton garages, it was numbered 36 in their fleet and used for holiday tours.  It worked for them until 1963 and has been beautifully preserved for many years by David Hurley.  This coach will also operate tours from North Cheam; see below for the tours timetable.
 
PPF492 on static display at Carshalton Depot at last year's Carshalton Running Day.
Photo © Bob Steel
 
Details of coach tours
Departures from North Cheam Queen Victoria (London Road, Woolworths) at the following times:
 
ex-HR Richmond Bedford SB: 1200, 1400, 1600
ex-Surrey Motors AEC Regal: 1100, 1300, 1500
 
Each tour is circular and will last approximately 45 minutes.