Chenery UPV 337 (D704 NUH), RYG 684, H64 PDW (National Express livery) 29 Apr 1995

Saturday 29 April 1995 (0810) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk began operating the National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993.

There were originally four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches assigned to the work made up of three model S215HD (H62-64 PDW) and one model S215HR (D707 NUH later re-registered UPV 337) which had all been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre in 1991 and 1986/7 respectively.

A fifth coach RYG 684, which was a model S215HD, was added to the fleet when UPV 337 reached an age where it was too old for National Express work - I believe the National Express contract stipulated a maximum age of about 9 years at the time although UPV 337 was kept in reserve by Chenery as a back up and for duplication when required.

This photograph taken at the Dickleburgh yard shows (from left to right) UPV 337, RYG 684 and H64 PDW and gives a good representation of the Chenery National Express fleet. H62 PDW and H63 PDW were out on the road, one would have stayed overnight in London to work the first northbound trip on the service and the other would have been working the first trip down to London from Norwich. RYG 684 was always easily distinguishable from the other three S215HD coaches having more white paint on both the frontal area below the Setra grille and the rear bumper.

(H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH and RYG 684 was later registered as K127 OCT).