Riding the Routes: 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.