THE M & D AND EAST KENT BUS CLUB

The East Kent Wanderer 28th July 2007

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Tour report by Lee Crust. (first published in Invicta 661 August 2007)

Sadly for a trip around the Club’s coverage area, just 36 members took the opportunity to tour East Kent .  Those from the west of the county were treated to a typically spirited ride aboard preserved ex-M&D Ailsa 5385 to Herne Bay where they met their counterparts from the east who had travelled up from Thanet aboard Stagecoach’s preserved AEC “Regent V”, 19946. 

After a look around Herne Bay garage it was off to Canterbury Bus Station where the new layout afforded good mid-morning photo opportunities from atop the city wall. The newly-delivered “Enviro300” and “Enviro400” vehicles were much in evidence plus ex-Oxford Varios and a regular procession of Park & Ride vehicles as well as older stock. 

	Main tour bus East Kent MFN 946F outside Canterbury bus station (photo - David Burrin)

Next it was off to Ashford where Cobbs Wood garage was visited.  A brief stop at Kent Coach Tours gave members the chance to see one of its ex-Trent Barton Optare saloons while in the town centre itself vehicles in A-Line livery were spotted. 

	MFN 946F at Ashford depot (photo - David Burrin)
	MFN 946F again, this time at Kent Coach Tours yard (photo - David Burrin)

At Folkestone, members’ disappointment at being unable to visit Cheriton garage was more than forgotten by the chance to see the “Lord Nelson” locomotive haul a steam train up the harbour branch line.  In between these two locations, the bus station saw more “Enviro400” vehicles on the 16/17 routes and numerous Solos operating town services. 

	MFN 946F at Folkestone bus station in company with one of the Enviro 400s branded for The Link routes 16/17 (photo - David Burrin)

Then it was off to Dover Pencester Road where vehicles of KCC-owned Passenger Transport Services could be seen among the more usual Stagecoach East Kent fare.  What is likely to be the last official club visit to Dover garage before its closure saw a number of National Express coaches on site and the opportunity was taken to capture 19946 on film at the garage entrance. 

	MFN 946F inside Dover garage (photo - David Burrin)

An exhilarating ride up Castle Hill in first gear aboard the Regent saw us head off to Sandwich where photo stops were made at the Guildhall and the Toll Bridge before moving on to Ramsgate Harbour. 

	The toll bridge at Sandwich made an interesting setting for a photo stop (photo - David Burrin)

Final stop of the day was Thanet garage with numerous Solos and K-registered Scanias in evidence as well as an Optare trainer. The final treat of the tour was a ride to Herne Bay aboard preserved East Kent PFN 874.   

As ever, a thoroughly enjoyable day for all, made all the more memorable by the expertise of our driver, Paul, as he piloted 19946 around the east of the county.

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