THE M & D AND EAST KENT BUS CLUB
The Fensman 20th May 2000
Tour report by Rob Crouch
(first published in Club News Sheet 576 Jul '00)
Photographs by Ken
Lansdowne
The first Club tour of 2000 started from
Ashford in Poynter's Coaches LAG Panoramic 8465 LJ. Our first stop was
Huntingdon Bus Station, where vehicles from Huntingdon & District,
Whippet's and Stagecoach Viscount were seen.
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One of a
number of Huntingdon & District vehicles seen at the Bus Station. 72
(H652VVV) is an Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian |
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The other
main operator in Huntingdon is Whippet with a selection of older single and
double deck buses. REG870X is a Duple bodied Volvo B58-56 |
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Our
transport for much of the day, Grettons Scania Metropolitan GJF302N |
It was here that the party transferred to
Gretton's Scania Metropolitan GJF 302N for a trip across the bouncy fenland
road to Chatteris for the visit to C&G Coaches depot. Here were four VRs,
PIL 6950-3. Much detective work was needed to find out their origins, these
being United Counties (2), Ribble and Rhymney Valley. Also on site was rare
Volvo B58-Inzar Urko coach OSV 517. (correction - actually Irizar bodied)
Moving on to Emblings depot at Guyhirn, we
were greeted by a large number of vehicles in the yard, including ex-Maidstone
& District VR BKE 838T. Keener-eyed members searched out Trojan minicoach
MEB 626 under a sheet in one of the sheds.
Moving North East we had a short visit to
Wisbech Bus Station where vehicles from Stagecoach Viscount, Emblings, Norfolk
Green and Towler's were noted.
Moving on we followed beside the course of
the closed Wisbech and Upwell Tramway to Towler's depot. Here were six VRs plus
ex-Maidstone & District Leopard MNK 424V plus in a corner of the depot was
1952 Bedford SB/Duple EJD 510 which had been stored there for over 20 years.
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C & G Coaches Bristol VR fleet
lined up perfectly for photography. L-R are PIL6950-3 |
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Amongst
the large selection of interesting vehicles at Emblings was ex M&D
Bristol VR BKE838T, which was specially positioned for us |
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More
Bristol VRs at our next garage visit to Towlers |
On to Whittlesey next to meet up with
Whippet's open-top Scania Metropolitan WKH 426S, then to Morley's depot where
we noted a Titan, DMS and an ex-Blackpool Atlantean, plus ex-Western Scottish
Alexander-bodied Seddons and withdrawn Willowbrook 001-bodied Bedford YRQs etc.
Leaving Whittlesey we arrived at Gretton's
depot. Here we saw further Scania Metropolitans, a Titan, plus a large number
of coaches. Also on site was a Willowbrook Spacecar and a Bedford OWB, GAL 967,
under restoration. After a group photograph we took the short trip to
Peterborough Bus Station. Here we saw a large number of vehicles from the
fleets of Stagecoach Viscount, Shaw's, The Delaine, Morley's and Kimes etc.
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Our
second Metropolitan of the day, Whippet's open top WKH426S |
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A
selecton from Morley's fleet as seen from the top of our bus |
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Gretton's
GJF302N with similar GJF286N and Titan A920SYE |
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Plenty of
independent activity at Peterborough Bus Station. Delaine of Bourne 127
(R4OCT), a Volvo Olympian |
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Main
operator in Peterborough Stagecoach Viscount has a variety of vehicle types.
321 (P321EFL) is an Alexander bodied Volvo B6LE |
Our Poynter's coach and the Whippet's
open-top vehicle moved on to Fenstanton. Being brave, I opted for a trip on the
top of the Scania Metropolitan for the trip via the A1(M)/A14 which turned out
to be a windy and cold experience.
Arriving at Whippet's depot a large number
of vehicles were on view including Titans (some still in red), Volvo Citybuses,
various coaches and single-decks and the unique Leyland Atlantean/Willowbrook
D850 AAV, built for service in Baghdad, plus the recently re-acquired Bedford SB/Yeates
Fiesta, 746 FEW, tucked away in the depot.
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A pair of
recently acquired Titans plus D850AVV at Whippet's depot |
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Duple
bodied Bedford YMQ FCY293W at Whippet's depot |
All too soon we had to retrace our journey
back to Kent. May I thank David Cobb for arranging the tour, the 46 people who
came along and thanks also to the operators and the drivers.