Random Rides: 256

[Chris]

Autocar's 256 service provides five return journeys on Monday to Friday between Tunbridge Wells and Wadhurst, via Bells Yew Green (Frant Station), Lamberhurst and Sparrows Green, "the long way around" compared to the Stagecoach 1066 service. On Wednesdays and Fridays, one journey in each direction diverts via Kilndown, replacing facilities previously provided by various shopper buses lost in the "KCC Bonfire". 

Farleigh-liveried MEZ 448 was the vehicle of choice on Friday, and with thanks to the driver, was able to capture it posing in the village - firstly whilst doing the reverse, and second having pulled back out onto what passes as the main road. The destination blind on this vehicle has proven intermittent, hence the paper display - although I'm told it sprung back into life later in the day. 

It is perhaps telling that the timetable display in the bus shelter still carried the service change notification dated February 2023. 

Chris

[Bus Policy Central]

The building in the background has a sign (high up on the frontage) from its long-gone days as the Globe and Rainbow.

[Neil Gow]

And the poster to the right would suggest that Kilndown has an exceptionally large village hall!

A remember when Kilndown was served by a service 280 taking that route between Hawkhurst and Tunbridge Wells, which I believe was route 80 before the 1970s service renumberings. I caught it once when the ex Dengate Bedford YRQ 2850 (DPM 250K) was used - a vehicle not really very suitable for service work. I also have this picture of ex Dengate Ford R192 3244 on the service at Hawkhurst in December 1975 (the one they rather inexplicably painted into dual-purpose livery).

Neil G.