403: TONBRIDGE, Sevenoaks, Westerham,
Chelsham, WEST CROYDON, Waddon, Beddington, WALLINGTON
STATION
408: WARLINGHAM, Sanderstead, WEST CROYDON,
Waddon, Beddington, Wallington Green, Carshalton Pond,
Carshalton Windsor Castle, SUTTON, Cheam, Ewell, EPSOM,
Leatherhead, GUILDFORD
470: WARLINGHAM, Sanderstead, WEST CROYDON,
Waddon, Beddington, Wallington Green, Carshalton Pond,
Carshalton Windsor Castle, SUTTON, Cheam, Ewell, EPSOM,
Leatherhead, DORKING
In the early 1970s, the
Country Area has become London Country and the livery
is subtly different - but
the RTs continue to ply the 408 for a little while longer.
20 year old RT3175 passes
Carshalton Pond.
Photo ©
John Parkin
On 15 April 2007, the free service will operate mainly between
Croydon or Waddon and Wallington (403) and Sutton/Epsom
(408/470). See the
timetable.
The service will include operation of Country Bus Rallies'
RT3148 between Chelsham and Epsom or Wallington, plus a feeder
service from and to Tonbridge. The feeder service will be
available by
pre-booking
only, due to demand, and the remaining workings by this bus are
likely to be busy.
Main boarding points
West Croydon (Tamworth Road), Wallington Green, Wallington
Station (403), Carshalton High Street
(408/470), Sutton (408/470)
Route
history
East Surrey route S3 ran from Croydon to Sevenoaks, starting
in 1921. Renumbered 403 under the new system in 1924,
Chelsham (CM) garage took over operation when it opened in
1925. Services passed to the Country Area of LPTB in
1933. The service was extended at both ends - to Tonbridge in
1935 and to Wallington in 1936, then in March 1937 to Leatherhead,
with Leatherhead to Chelsham and Wallington to Tonbridge sections
operating separately. In 1938, the 403A (formerly
running from Croydon) and 403B (new route)
started working from Wallington to Warlingham Park Hospital and
Farleigh, respectively.
RT1018 carries a rear or
side blind and a canopy route number blind along an almost
deserted Wellesley Road in Croydon, just prior to turning left into
West Croydon bus
station.
The 1935 route 408 was another of the main southern trunk
routes, linking Croydon, Epsom and Guildford. It was extended
to run to Warlingham Park Hospital or Farleigh for summer
1937. Perhaps through traffic was scarce, as this ended that
October with the route shortened to Croydon, whilst in October 1938
the Leatherhead to Chelsham section of the 403 was also
abandoned. Returning to Warlingham, the 408 was STL-operated
in the 1940s, RTs arriving in the 1950s and continuing until
replaced by
Atlanteans in the early
1970s. In London Transport days, the route was operated by
Leatherhead (LH), Guildford (GF) and CM.
The 408 continued unchanged, apart from changes at the
Chelsham end, under London Country and subsequent
privatisation, up until about 2000 when it was finally drastically
altered, becoming an Epsom local route operating between Epsom and
Cobham, with a school journey to Chipstead Valley.
Meanwhile, the 403 also became RT-operated, and was to be the
last London Country route to operate the class. So severe
were vehicle shortages in the 1970s that, in 1977, four RTs were
recertified for the 403 and the final bus, RT604, soldiered on
alone through 1978 until September. The route also saw
Swifts from CM and hired Atlanteans and RCLs running out of
Godstone (GD), and was famous for its RMCs before one-man
operation took over with ANs.
In 1971, the Tonbridge section switched to the 403A
in exchange for its terminus at Warlingham Park Hospital.
Between 1955 and 1982, an express service also operated between CM
and West Croydon.
1989 route tendering saw the 403 move to ex-Central Area
Croydon garage with an extension to Cheam, which lasted only two
years before the route shrank back to Croydon. The route is
now operated by Arriva between West Croydon and Warlingham
Sainsburys (the site of CM).
