The Number 130 Route

Tuesday 30 March 2010

This was the middle bus of a journey whose primary aim was the 64.  We (that's Linda and I)  had met in rain but it was clearing up as we got off the 196 at the back of Norwood Junction Station, walked about 10 steps and climbed on the waiting 130, destination New Addington Tramlink.  

It was a single decker, between two big buses.  Off at 11.20, we passed a Polish Delicatessen, designed to look like a country cottage, before swinging right to go under the railway and towards South Norwood.

A Caribbean cafe called 'Refill' caught our attention, then South Norwood Swimming Pools  which have been recently refurbished, as well as the Croydon Arena, also part of Croydon Leisure Services.

Shirley has a new school, the Oasis Academy, which is clearly part of a chain and we also saw Trinity Boys' private school, with its spacious grounds, which is part of the John Whitgift group 

This is an area of substantial and handsome houses, up and then down Gravel Hill, with a genuine farm (Heathfield Farm)  - now council owned and leased to a local farmer  on our right and soon Addington Palace Country Club  on our left.

This brought us into the tram-served area of Croydon, and we noted how the buses paralleled  the tracks in many places.  We crossed the North Downs Way.  Linda had - conveniently - heard Steve talk the night before about the North Forest of previous centuries, which gave Norwood its name, and we admired the views of much remaining woodland from the several high points of this journey.

We turned through the Applegarth Estate, with a range of 1960s house styles, including the 'hanging tiles' design as built by Kebbel in Croxley Green.

We reached the New Addington Tramlink depot, with its wooden carvings, at 12.00, having had a pleasant suburban ride.