Saturday, 28 June 2025

Day 273 The remainder of the No 407 to get to Caterham

 Having deposited wife and boxes of books at the Link school I returned the car and then walked down to Beddington Broadway where I waited for the next No 407 to take me the rest of the way to Caterham. 

Bus about every 12 minutes and should take 49
minutes

The Plough peeping out behind 
the bus

Reacquainted with TransportUK No 2432

I didn't have to wait very long and at about 1120 TransportUK No 2432 arrived, the same bus I had previously used to get this far. After exchanging drivers, as the No 407 often does here we were going east along the A232 towards Croydon by 1125.

The Lavington Road stop where I took all the
frontispiece pictures

Purley Way Fourways junction

Eucalyptus trees with Epsom Road below

The Victoria via Crystal Palace train awaiting its
next duty
If I had been going from here to Caterham I would not catch this  bus but take the No 289 or No 439 from Purley Way to Purley and board the No 407 there. 
Wellesley Road centre strip of wild and garden
 flowers



Remains of St George's Walk and back of
 Turtles store








We reached West Croydon bus station at 1144 and then took Wellesey Road, Park Street and Katherine Street to reach the High Street and finally heading down Southend. Here there are three other 400s buses I have yet to do, the No 412, 466 and 468.

Driving along Southend

Music shop I frequented when the twins were
 growing up








We continued into Brighton Road and then straight on towards Purley. We passed Croydon bus garage at 1159 and reached Purley Cross at 1207.

Running parallel with the Surrey Iron Railway route with statues under trees in park by Montpelier Road

Purley URC where the wife looks after loads
of books



Purley Cross with Tesco's behind







Other buses left the No 407 alone as we passed Downs Court Road and remained on Godstone Road through Kenley and Whyteleafe to the Wapses lodge Roundabout. The No 434 and No 439 also joined as time went on. At 1217 we left the GLA and entered the Surrey borough of Tandridge and at the Whyteleafe roundabout I encountered where the No 409 had carried me to Caterham on the Hill the previous week.



The Kenley Hotel with sign depicting
World War Two dogfight

Godstone Road runs along the side of the
Bourne valley-this river usually runs
 underground


Looking up to Warlingham from the valley bottom




Passing Whyteleafe South station

Near the Wapses Lodge roundabout, the Bourne
House Business centre, named after the river










We left the No 439 behind at Whyteleafe South but the No 540 route then joined for the run into Caterham. Unlike previous time the bus did not terminate heading south but went around the roundabout to terminate heading north at 1231.

Clock in centre of roundabout in Caterham
Arrival at Terminus
I caught the same bus back to Purley and after a visit to Tesco's boarded a No 289 back to Waddon station and arrived home at 1240.




Thursday, 26 June 2025

Day 272 To Kingston for the No 406 to Epsom followed by the No 407 from Sutton to Caterham.

 At 1258 I caught the No 157 to Morden and then the No 93 to Wimbledon station. There I took a train to Kingston at 1344 so as to arrive at the Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston for the No 406 at 1405.

Three buses an hour with around an hour
 journey time

RATP 45174 next to a Falcon bus

I have been here before

My bus arriving

RATP45174








 RATP 45174 now with firstbus branding stopped at 1411 to pick me up to go around the one way system past the Fairfield bus station and then left along the High Street.

A No 213 in Kingston High Street heading for Sutton
We continued past where I had boarded bother the No 65 and subsequently the No 71 and then ran past the old Surrey county hall now being turned into flats at 1418. Here I gave a presentation in the early 2000s about the practicality of pre-salting pavements to prevent ice formation. 
Old Surrey county Hall

Surrey county hall ancillary buildings a pile of
rubble







We turned left up Surbiton Hill Road deviating away from Surbiton Road with only the No 418 bus for company. However, as the road became Ewell Road at the crossroads the No 281 joined us and then we stayed together as other buses came and went to Tolworth Broadway, arriving at 1435.

Approaching Tolworth tower

Straight over the A3 here we then followed the A240 to Stoneleigh. First the No 281 left us at Tolworth station and then the No 418 at Ruxley Lane. It wasn't long though before and 'E' bus the E16 appeared on the bus stops. After passing under the railway line at Stoneleigh the bus went right at the roundabout and headed into Ewell at 1444.

Running along the A240 dual carriageway

Turning right at this roundabout we reached Ewell

The pond at the start of the Hogsmill river that runs
to meet the Thames in Kingston

This took us past the spring at the start of the Hogsmill stream near Bourne Hall. Passing directly up the High Street the bus reached the A24 and turning right at the 'T' junction we followed this to just beyond Epsom. At 1458 we arrived in Epsom town centre and although we were booked to go to Epsom hospital we didn't go direct but went around the southern side of the hospital along Woodcote Green Road. At the end of this road we turned right onto the A24 once more, but now we facing back in the direction of Epsom town centre, where we terminated at 1508. 

The Rainbow Leisure centre Epsom

Epsom Town Centre



Another Falcon route the No 479

I saw there was a No 293 down the road but couldn't cross quick enough to catch it before it left for North Cheam. No matter 'I thought' I'll walk briskly down the road and catch it in the town. Unfortunately it overtook me just too soon for me to reach the bus stop. Plan B was to get the S2 to Sutton but this also was trying to beat me to the bus stop and it almost did, but at 1522 I was aboard heading for St Helier station. However, the bus took a age to do the few miles to Sutton and I didn't arrive in Marshall Road until 1613.

The next bus after the No 407

Display already showing back to Kingston

A No 407 at Marshall Road Sutton

There was already a No 407 waiting and at 1622 Transport UK No 2432 left to climb Throwley Way with 15 other bus routes. At the top of the hill this bus goes left unlike any of the others. It is only briefly on its own as the S3 joins it just past the quarry that previously held B&Q for a short spell and later the No 154 joins it at Ringstead Road. The SL7 ex X26 does use the same road but does not stop apart from very occasional mostly main town bus stops.

5 buses an hour taking at least an hour

Transport UK No 2432



Climbing Throwly way








With the No 154 we head down hill to the Windsor Castle pub where the No 154 peals away left but we have been joined again by the S3 for a short spell. By the Greyhound pub the bus it on its own again though before the No 127 and No 157 meet it opposite All Saints church Carshalton. We stopped at Carshalton High Street at 1636.

Approaching Carshalton ponds by Greyhound hotel




Heron nests now appear to be empty







All this time we have travelling along the A232, a very familiar road which ends in Orpington as Spur road. Wallington Green is reached at 1638 and with traffic retarding progress more and more I decided it would be best if I left the bus at the Plough in Beddington and walked home leaving for there to Carshalton for another day. Thus I left the bus at 1645 and was home by 1655.



View towards the North Downs as approach Beddingtton

My point of leaving the bus

The No 407 heading on to Caterham

The point of embarkation next time







 





Friday, 20 June 2025

Day 271 Three bus routes near enough to be all done in about 5 and a half hours. The first time since Feb 5th, the route Nos 403, 404 and 405.

 So at 1123 I was aboard a No 410 bus heading for West Croydon bus station. However, approaching Purley Way the traffic was so heavy that after 4 changes of the lights the bus could no move because those in front were prevented from doing so by the box junction. The driver let myself and one other off the bus and I walked to Waddon station to see the 1135 depart. The next train would not be until 1200 so I walked to Stafford Road and at 1143 was aboard a No 157 which got me to West Croydon bus station at 1151.

Stand B2 at Croydon bus station

Service every 12 minutes and takes 32 minutes

A No 403 disgorges its last passengers on arrival

WVL488 arriving to pick me up


At 1157 London General's WVL448 arrived to convey me to Warlingham Sainsbury's on route No 403. 50 years ago this bus was the No 403A and would have gone on to Sevenoaks bus station, it then became the No 483 and finally the No 20 when operated by Kentish bus. 

Not the No 410 I boarded at 1123

A No 407 a route to be done next time

A No 405 hopefully to be done later today


The bus turned right along Wellesley Road and continued on past the Fairfield Halls and once past the Croydon Flyover the road was only served by this bus route. We continued to be alone as we crossed Coombe Lane and turned right down Aberdeen Road. Turning left we joined many other routes but then with the No 412 we bared left at the Swan and Sugarloaf. At the roundabout, by the Little bay restaurant we have used a number of times, the bus went straight on along Selsdon Road but could not follow on under a low railway bridge and so with the No 412 we turned left up Sussex Road.

Blurred image as we were on move but  shows
hopefully how low the railway bridge is

We then regained Selsdon Road briefly, before taking Carlton Road on the right just after the original location of Selsdon railway station. This put the No 405 on its own almost exclusively until Warlingham, and Carlton Road became Mayfield Road before we went left at Sanderstead Road. Along this road, the B269, we climbed up a substantial hill from near Sanderstead library, whilst at the top we briefly shared the road with the No 359. The hill flattens at the roundabout with All Saints Sanderstead church on the left and a pond which was full of water lilies. Going straight over we continued alone past Sandestead shops and stopped at Waitrose at 1218.

Climbing Sanderstead Hill

The stop at Waitrose strangely not referenced







From here we continued along the same road reaching Hamsey Green at 1222. We then left the Greater London area and entered the Surrey Borough of Tandridge reaching Warlingham Green where we joined with the bus Nos 409 and 411 and after a short while terminated at Sainsbury's at 1228.

The sign saying welcome to Croydon as we leave

The Warlingham sign

Warlingham community library

Surrey County Highways responsibility here

Journeys End

WVL488 outside what was the site of Chelsham
Country area garage 










I then crossed over to the bus stop where I could have returned to Croydon but I chose to catch a No 409 which I had to pay for to get me to Caterham on the Hill. This was an ex Southdown PSV double decker and this deposited me at Westway at Caterham on the Hill at 1308. I checked the two bus stops for the No 404 on the south side of the common but the TFL website suggested the bus started from the North side at the same bus stop as the No 466. So I waited there for the next No 404, which was about 15 minutes wait by this time. However, when it arrived it only dwelt long enough for me to take a picture and it was off.

Bus indicated on sign

Just down the road from where I had recently
boarded the No 400 to East Grinstead

Abellio 8216 before it disappeared before I
could get on board














 I ran across the common to try and catch it but I was too late. Thus I had another half hour to wait for the next one. Good job I had brought some reading matter!
Bus is half hourly at 25 and 55 past

Bus stop I should have waited at before

Abellio 8213 approaching

So finally I boarded Abellio's 8213 as the only passenger at 1357 and it took me back the way I had come on the No 409 but when we got to Banstead Road it carried straight on over Coulsdon Common like the No 466 does.

Looking across to The Fox on Coulsdon Common

Coulsdon Common







At Lacey Drive the bus struck off on its own right into an estate initially of 1930s origin, left in Homefield Road then  right into Waddington Avenue and we then descended into a dry chalk valley. This put us just west of Kenley aerodrome and the Croydon Astronomical Observatory which was above Caterham Drive, which seemed to be comprised of more recent housing. 

Caterham Drive with hill behind houses up to airfield

Turning left into The Glade we met Abellio 8214 coming the other way and subsequently took Keston Avenue back to Coulsdon Road. We went straight over the latter into The Crossways. This was the beginning of a complete loop utilising Tollers lane  and Lacey Green. First we drove down Goodenough lane at 1413 and then returned via Ellis Road which got us back to Lacey Green. The housing here was 1960s and 1970s at the earliest with some much newer.

Lacey Green

Bus stops going both ways at this stop







Most of the journey had been on roads  that only the No 404 uses and this continued as we took Marlpit Lane down past the pond. We didn't go straight down the hill to Coulsdon though, but went right at Stoneyfield Road which rejoined the No 466 route as far as Byron Avenue and then we took Rutherwick Rise around the tops of a large quarry with good views through the trees across the valley to the west. At the end of this road we joined Marlpit Avenue which took us to Marlpit Lane and then we did run towards Coulsdon.

Views through the trees of the valley beyond,
 railings are to stop people falling into quarry.

Underneath the railway bridge at Coulsdon South

Instead of running into town after the Coulsdon South railway station stop the bus took the bypass where Coulsdon North station used to be and entered Coulsdon from the north end. We reached the library at 1431. 

Coulsdon Town centre

From here we returned to the roundabout and took the entrance into Cane Hill estate the former asylum which has been replaced by modern housing.  We reached the final stop at 1435.

The Asylum Chapel

The asylum Water Tower with Abellio 8213 in front





Waiting for the next No 405

I then walked down through the trees and various footpaths to Coulsdon South station with the intention of catching a No 405 to Redhill. I was just too slow for the 1448 version and had to await the 1505 bus that arrived at 1510. I took this to Redhill bus station and walked to Sainsbury's for some lunch and over to the Wetherspoon's for a cold cider as temperatures were now getting rather hot. My maximum temperature that day was 30.2 C or 86.4 F.

No 405 every 15 minutes taking almost an hour

Arriva's HT23 has just arrived

Redhill railway station

Taking the A23

At 1626 I had boarded Arriva's HT23 which takes the A23 for the bulk of its journey and runs along the with No 411 on its way out of Redhill. There is however, a short bit prior Gatton Point where the No 411 goes its own way and the No 405 is alone. Both buses from there continue to Merstham where we paused at Quality Street, the stop being called Merstham station but is the source of the name of the chocolates.

Heading north with North Downs in distance

Sharing the route with the No 411 at Merstham

The original Quality Street

Going up the hill we passed St Katherines which was church 15 on the Surrey Churches Ride and Stride I did with Mother Berni last September. Just after this the No 411 turns off right for Chaldon and the No 405 is then on its own through Hooley until we reach Coulsdon South again where we meet up with the No 463. There is usually a hold up at the top of the hill as this where the M23 joins the A23 and we joined the queue at the Iron Railway Vineyard at 1643. 

The Iron Railway Vineyard

Queue where M23 meets A23

Bridge parapet on road next to Starbucks is original
from the Surrey Iron Railway

The queue wasn't too arduous though and we passed Hooley at 1648 and re-entered the GLA at 1651 and were back at Coulsdon South railway station at 1655. At 1701 in Coulsdon High Street we passed a No 404 coming the other way.

Approaching Coulsdon South Railway station

Route up to Cane Hill

Coulsdon High Street



A No 404 coming the other way in
Coulsdon High Street


The bus then joins the A23 again which deviates along the bypass which the No 404 took and as we moved along we gained more buses with us as we progressed towards Purley. At Purley this bus doesn't go straight on towards Croydon but goes around the library where there are 6 other routes and takes Pampisford Road at Purley Cross. This road used to have the No 455 bus, before that was stopped, and a replacement has been found in the No 166.

Continuing along the A23 towards Purley

Purley Tesco's

Outside Purley library it looked
 like some 'yarn bombing' had taken place








We followed Pampisford all the way to a roundabout where it becomes Haling Park Road and then the bus turned right into Warham Road to get us to the Swan and Sugar Loaf at 1723.

Purley URC where Charmaine has been
helping sort books for a good many years

Numbers spoonerised for the 405


The Swan and Sugar loaf

The bus then ran into Southend and turned right just after the flyover terminating opposite the Fairfield Halls at 1730.

Approaching the Croydon flyover

Arrival at the terminal stop with skyscrapers
indicating Journey's end







From here I decided to walk home rather than subject myself to another stiflingly hot bus arriving home 40 minutes later.