Random Rides: Underriver

[Chris]

One route I've been trying to both ride and photograph outside of Tonbridge for a very long time has been Autocar's 204 to Underriver. My first M&D model was the EFE version of TSJ 68S on the route, and it's obviously floated around the back of my head ever since.

Unfortunately, it proved rather more difficult than you might expect - it has a curious timetable that runs MTuThF, i.e. not on Wednesdays, and suffers from extensive road closures - it is very much the sort of road that seems to be closed about as much time of the year as it is open... usually when I want to ride the route. But something was clearly smiling on me on Friday (whilst also tipping it down with rain, notably absent here), and luck was in: behold! Underriver!

Passengers from this village, perhaps closer to Sevenoaks than it is to Tonbridge, are, according to the driver, very rare (whether because of the road closures, of the three-car-driveways is open to personal opinion!), with those travelling furthest usually coming from the upper reaches of Hildenborough. Whilst the newly purchased Streetlites are prepared for service, Farleigh Coaches' MEZ 445 was the chariot for the day, seen here performing the reversing manoeuvre at the end of the route, with a gratuitous rear view "just because"! A great shame, because some of the countryside views of the top end of the route really did brighten the day.

The journey times (and thus the departures from Underriver) have changed by a few minutes over the years, but notably, the 1986 timetable for the route has departures from Tonbridge at 1000 and 1300, exactly as they are today. Is this possibly one of the least changed timetables in Kent? (I can't remember when the Wednesday service was withdrawn.)

Chris

[NRS]

Autocar newly acquired ACZ 560 was seen arriving at Tonbridge Station on the 204 this morning.

[Chris]

The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the road was open (which it wasn't on Tuesday)... it would almost be rude not to make a return visit to Underriver on the Autocar 204. The vehicle was one of the recent arrivals, South Wales Transport-liveried YX09 FKU, and although the destination display was working, it steadfastly refused to come out in any of the five pictures I took before we had to head back to Tonbridge. 

Discounting me, we carried four passengers on the 1300 trip from Tonbridge - 3 to Brookmead, and one to Ridings Lane at the upper end of Hildenborough. 

Photographed at Underriver having completed the turning manoeuvre on Monday 3rd. 

Chris