The No 408 when we moved to Croydon 39 years ago was an express green bus that went from West Croydon to Guildford. Now I had to get a train to Epsom but at least it started from the railway station. So having caught the 1048 from Waddon I was at Epsom at 1108 perfectly in time for the 1115 departure.
 |
| The No 408 is an hourly bus service mon-fri only |
 |
| Destination Cobham |
 |
| Falcon YX20 OCY |
 |
| Leaving Epsom station |
This bus is operated by Falcon buses which bill themselves as Surrey's premier bus company and it was clean and tidy and left on time, what more do you need? The bus headed around the back of the Ashleigh centre and made for Epsom Hospital where it arrived at 1120 and two passengers got off and one joined.
 |
| Epsom hospital has 6 bus routes |
 |
| In the Wells estate |
Heading along the A24 for a short while we turned right down Wells Road where we did a circuit of the estate which looks to be largely 30s and 50s built.
 |
| The Wells Convenience store |
We got back to the A24 at 1127 and turned right for Ashstead where we stopped in the High Street at 1130 and then went straight ahead to cross over the M25 and ran into Leatherhead. Once past Ashstead we had only Metrobuses' No 21 for company but even this left us as we turned right to run past the Swan centre. This bus doesn't stop outside Lidl like three other buses but just swept around the one way system to access the railway station.
 |
| Crossing the M25 to reach Leatherhead |
 |
| The direct way to Cobham is left |
From the station the bus went left and left again, rather than take the direct road to Cobham. This meant we reached a roundabout where we took the third exit and then went right into Copthorne Road and then left into Cressell Mead, left Levett Road and right into Cressell Mead to return the way we had come. We passed another No 408 going the other way at this point whilst doing the circuit.
 |
| Leverett Road |
 |
London buses totem in Leatherhead, but only one,
the No 465 is a TFL route |
We were back at the roundabout at 1145 and then took the route labelled Business Park 6 and 7. At the next roundabout we took a trip into Tesco's and back.
 |
| Tesco's near Leatherhead |
Returning to the roundabout we resumed our journey signposted A243/244 but after crossing the M25 went left where all other buses go right so we were now alone as we progressed to Oxshott.
 |
| The Victoria Oxshott |
 |
| Some large a pretty houses near Oxshott |
 |
| Difficult to read but the house name is Bourton |
In Oxshott we went left at Oakshade Road now with the No 513 bus for company which operates twice a day and is run by Reptons. Taking Steels Lane and then Blundells Lane we made out way to Stoke D'Abernon passing a house called Bourton on the way.
 |
| A very long station name |
On reaching the A245, the direct route from Leatherhead, we went straight over into Station road to reach the Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon railway station on the 'New line' to Guildford at 1156. Here on the bus stop I noted there were three buses numbered in a C sequence which are called Chatterbuses!
 |
| Entering Cobham at Cobham Mill |
 |
As we approach Cobham we ran parallel
with the River Mole |
We returned to the A245-Stoke Road and turned left which allowed us a straight run into Cobham where we stopped at Waitrose at 1203 and terminated at Sainsburys at 1207.
 |
| Journey's End |
After visiting the superstore I walked back to town and waited for the 1319 to take me back to Epsom with a toastee and latte in Cafe Nero. I arrived back at Epsom station with only 5 minutes to wait for a train to Sutton which allowed me the opportunity to purchase a birthday present. I then caught a No 407! home.
