Country Area Routes 400–405

Route 400 was introduced on 14th May 1958 as a limited stop service running on Sundays-only between New Addington (Park Way) and Warlingham Park Hospital via Central Parade, Arnhem Drive, King Henry’s Drive, Fairchildes, Park Road (Fickleshole), Fairchildes Road, Church Lane, Common Road and Chelsham Road using one GS vehicle. The route had the misfortune to be scheduled to start operation in the midst of the 1958 bus strike. It ran on only 17 occasions before being withdrawn after Sunday 12th October.

There were very few Sunday-only Country Area routes. This “E” plate is of outstanding interest, and is in superb condiition owing to its extremely limited life. A remarkable route and a rare survivor.

The number 400 was used for the former 457B service between Slough Station and Wexham Court Farm Estate via Slough (The Crown) and Upton Lea, running both ways around the Wexham Court Farm Estate loop. It was also (but not necessarily simultaneously) diverted at The Crown and extended to Britwell (Wentworth Avenue) via Salt Hill and Farnham Road.

Plates for route 400 do not seem to appear very often, perhaps because it is a very sought-after number.

Route 401 has its origins in a Dartford to Farningham service via Wilmington, Hawley and Sutton-at-Home, operated by Farningham & District beginning on 19 July 1913, and extended to Sevenoaks via Eynsford, Shoreham Station and Otford at the beginning of 1917. It became East Surry route S1 in September 1922. It was extended from Dartford to Bexley (War Memorial) in May 1924, then to Bexleyheath (Clock Tower) in September of the same year. The service became London General route 401 under the Bassom scheme. From May 1934 through November 1935 the route was diverted at Dartford to run to Gravesend (Denton) instead of Bexleyheath. In 1946 the 401 reached its maximum length, being extended from Bexleyheath to Upper (and later also Lower) Belvedere. In 1978 the 401 was withdrawn between Dartford (Shepherds Lane) and Sevenoaks, with just a handful of journeys running to Eynsford or Swanley. The Sunday service between Sevenoaks and Dartford was provided by a new, short-lived route 456. In 1983 the route was extended from Belvedere to Thamesmead.

A more detailed history of route 401 can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

Route 401A ran between Bexleyheath and Dartford via Bexley, Joydens Wood Estate and Dartford Heath. Most journeys terminated at Joydens Wood and did not run through.

A more detailed history of route 401A can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

Route 402 must be considered something of a stalwart. In 2006 few former London Transport Country Area routes still operate over an almost identical routeing—continuously since the birth of London Transport in 1933, when East Surrey’s route S2 from Bromley North Station to Sevenoaks became LT route 402 via Bromley Common, Farnborough, Green St. Green, Knockholt Station, Polhill, Dunton Green and Riverhead. Over the years there were extensions via Hildenborough to Tonbridge and today to Tunbridge Wells. Apart from a short period when the Kentish Bus renumbering scheme rechristened the route 22, the number 402 has been carried throughout.

A more detailed history of route 402 can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

Probably one of the most well known Country Area routes, the 403 was by far one of the busiest, especially on the south side of the Thames. It is also one of the best loved and talked about, and really put its home garage of Chelsham [CM] on the map. Part of the reason is without doubt because London Country Bus Services operated their last RTs on it, some of which even received the NBC green livery. (RT 604—now preserved—springs to mind.) The route began running on 16 August 1921 as London General Country Services’ route S3 between West Croydon and Sevenoaks via South Croydon, Sanderstead, Hamsey Green, Warlingham, Chelsham, Botley Hill, Tatsfield, Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge, Bessels Green and Riverhead. The S3 was renumbered 403 on 1 December 1924 as part of the Bassom scheme. In 1935 the purchase of Redcar from Maidstone & District extended the 403 on 31 July from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge Station via Hildenborough. On 2 September 1936 it was extended westward via Waddon and Beddington to Wallington Station. During the “glory days” of London Transport the 403 ran daily between West Croydon (Bus Station) and Sevenoaks (Bus Station), and was extended on Mondays to Saturdays from West Croydon to Wallington Station via Waddon and Beddington, and also from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge Station via Hildenborough. In 1971 the 403 was withdrawn beyond Chelsham, the through service from West Croydon to Sevenoaks being renumbered 403A. Both routes were also converted to one-man-operation at the same time. In later years the Service between Croydon and Tonbridge was converted to one-man-operation and renumbered 483, leaving the 403 between Wallington and Chelsham, with an extension to Warlingham Park Hospital. The route now forms part of the main London Buses network and runs daily between West Croydon and Warlingham (Sainsburys), which was built on the site of Chelsham Bus Garage. For years the route gave Chelsham Garage its biggest allocation, and if it wasn’t for a few LRT tendered routes towards the end, Chelsham would have just ran the 403. The garage closed when Beddington Farm opened and that part of London Country fell into Arriva ownership. The sight of red 403s looked very odd at first—and still does today.

Route 483 was the new number for the old 403A service which was renumbered in 1974 to avoid the use of suffix letters on the new Leyland Nationals which had individual blinds for each of the three digits of the route number. It ran between West Croydon and Tonbridge Station via Chelsham, Tatsfield, Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge, Riverhead, Sevenoaks and Hildenborough. In the 1950s route 483 was a Crawley local service from Crawley Bus Station into Northgate. The route ran on weekdays only and was discontinued about 1958.

A more detailed history of route 403 and its branches can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

Route 403A began running on 2 September 1936 between West Croydon and the Croydon Mental Hospital via South Croydon, Sanderstead, Hamsey Green, Warlingham Green and Chelsham Garage. On the 1st of January the following year the Croydon Mental Hospital was renamed Warlingham Park Hospital. On 12 October 1938 the route was extended from West Croydon to Wallington via Waddon and Beddington. On 3 July 1971 the numbering of 403 group of routes was changed with the 403 replacing the 403A and 403B between Wallington Station and Warlingham Park Hospital and Farleigh respectively, and 403A being used for the major West Croydon to Tonbridge service via Westerham, Brasted, Riverhead, Sevenoaks and Hildenborough, replacing the section of the 403 running to Sevenoaks. Some of the Warlingham Park Hospital journeys became part of the route 410 service. On 7 July 1973 the route was renumbered 483 to eliminate the use of suffix letters on the new Leyland Nationals which had individual blinds for each of the three digits of the route number.

In the mid-sixties route 403B provided just a few Monday to Friday rush hour and Saturday early and late journeys between Farleigh and Wallington via Chelsham, Warlingham, Hamsey Green, Sanderstead, Croydon, Waddon and Beddington. The main service to Farleigh was provided by the 408 and 470 routes. The 403B was withdrawn on 2 July 1971.

Route 405 ran daily between West Croydon (Bus Station) and Crawley (Bus Station) via South Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon, Hooley, Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Povey Cross (now under Gatwick Airport), Lowfield Heath and County Oak. In the late fifties it was extended to Horsham via Faygate but this extension was withdrawn in 1968.

Route 405B is described below.

Route 414 was a major trunk route running between West Croydon Bus Station and Horsham Station via South Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon, Hooley, Merstham, Redhill, Reigate, Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham Lane, Dorking, North Holmwood, South Holmwood, Beare Green, Capel, Kingsfold and Warnham.

Route 455 was a latter-day variation of the 405—introduced in London Country days—that ran between Crawley and Gatwick Airport via the Rutherford Way Industrial Area, with some journeys running through to West Croydon.

A more detailed history of routes 405 and 414 can be found in Kenneth Warren’s book, The Motorbus in London Country (Ian Allan, 1984; ISBN 0 7110 1360 8).

Route 405A was a short local service from Horsham (Carfax) to Roffey Corner via Littlehaven. In the late ’60s it was extended to Redhill (Market Place) via Crawley, Gatwick Airport, Horley and Earlswood. However, this did not last long as the route was withdraw by 1970, the service to Littlehaven being provided by revised routes 434 and 473. London Country Bus Services reused the number in 1971 for a short-lived Crawley–Merstham (Delabole Road) route via Gatwick, Horley and Redhill.

I don’t know where this plate would have come from, as I don’t have any maps or timetables showing a Sunday-only portion of route. Also, I cannot recall any other red SUNDAY “E” plates that are also ALIGHTING POINT ONLY.

Route 405B was a variant of the main 405 Croydon–Crawley service. It was introduced in 1963 and ran daily from Redhill via Earlswood, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Manor Royal and Crawley, then circular via Furnace Green and Tilgate. It was withdrawn in 1977.