Chelsham Garage - CELEBRITY BUSES

Some buses and coaches that have at times been a part of Chelsham Garage and that I feel are worthy of special mention. Dates shown are the date my photo was taken.

GS 1 - MXX301 - Number 1 of the class

GS1 was new to Chelsham Garage in 10/1953, and stayed at CM until 7/1962.then stored at Reigate until  sold by LT in 1963 to Tillingbourne Valley withdrawn in 1971 and preserved privately ever since. My photo of GS1 and GS4 at Tillingbourne Valley bus garage at Chilworth in 1967

RF202 - MLL589

Became the last RF in public service with London Country, now preserved, seen here at Chelsham Garage arrived from SJ Swanley Garage,ready for the 1983 Showbus rally. September 1983.

RT604 - HLX421

Became the last RT in public service with London Country, now privately preserved, seen here in the bus parking area at Chelsham Garage next to Chelsham's AN 192. July 1985

SMW1 - PWN 701H - Number 1 of the class

Arrived from CY Crawley Garage and Stored withdrawn at Chelsham, June 1981

RP1 - JPA101K - Number 1 of the class

Stored withdrawn at Chelsham arrived from GF Guildford garage October 1981

SMA1 - JPF101K - Number 1 of the class

Arrived at Chelsham from EG East Grinstead garage and stored withdrawn at Chelsham.

AF1 - JPK101K - Number 1 of the class

Arrived at Chelsham from GD Godstone Garage. Stored withdrawn at Chelsham. October 1981

BL1 - RPH101L -Number 1 of the class

Stored withdrawn at Chelsham. Seen here at Chelsham Garage bus parking area. January 1982

P1 - SPK201M - Number 1 of the class

Seen here in the bus parking area at Chelsham Garage on a murky day in October 1982

DV 1 GPH1V Number 1 of the class allocated to DG Dunton Green

Seen here at Chelsham Garage bus parking area on Private Hire. September 1982

TD1 - YPD101Y Number 1 of the class

TD1 and P2 parked at the side of Chelsham Garage,on London Crusader Excursion work June 1985

AN197 - XPG197T - AN197 has had some bashes and survived Nearside upper deck damage was noted when AN197 was seen in the bus parking area at Chelsham Garage in July 1982, this was rectified and AN197 continued in service until January 1990, see below.

AN197 was blown over on the forecourt of Chelsham Garage during the strong winds of January 1990 and suffered considerable front offside damage..AN197 also worked the final Route 196 journey on 27th April 1990 and therefore was also the very last bus to work in public service at Chelsham. AN197 is seen below 4th  the in convoy heading away from Chelsham Garage to CY Crawley along with other AN's, all still carrying their rear 196 route number boards after the ceasing of the last public bus service to operate from Chelsham Garage. April 1990.. A sad sight indeed in the life of Chelsham Garage.

SOUTHDOWN ATLANTEAN - AN302 - PUF723M

Seen here on its arrival at Chelsham from Southdown in February 1986. This bus also worked the final 403 journey operated from Chelsham Garage on 27th October 1989.

The end of an era, At West Croydon Bus Station 27th October 1989. AN302, the first of the Southdown AN's to arrive at Chelsham way back in February 1982, works the final green bus on route 403, the last bus to work a local bus service from Chelsham Garage. RT604 also followed back to Chelsham Garage. (I actually enjoyed travelling back to Chelsham Garage in the RT) on this sad but historic day

The 403 has never been quite the same since the green buses ended.

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