United Counties 167 (VNH 167W) near Barton Mills – 31 Mar 1985 (13-25)

Sunday 31 March 1985 – United Counties 167 (VNH 167W), a Duple Dominant IV bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1981, seen on the eastern side of Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0920 Bedford to Lowestoft National Express service 747.

Overall the National Express service 747 was a cross country service linking Bristol with Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft on the east coast of East Anglia.

Broadly speaking a frequency of approximately every two hours was offered but with a total end to end journey time of around 9 hours it was only the journeys departing before 1300 that could reach the most distant terminus by late evening. Departures thereafter terminated at one of the main towns in between.

Coaches started out from and ended up at principal points along the line of route at the start of or end of the day.
United Counties covered one trip on the eastern section of the service after it was enhanced effective 28 October 1984. Initially this was the 0920 departure from Bedford via Great Yarmouth (1335) which terminated at Lowestoft (1405). The return trip departed Lowestoft at 1510 travelling via Great Yarmouth (1540) terminating at Bedford (1955).

However, with the introduction of the summer timetable on Sunday 28 April 1985 saw their trip extended back to start from Northampton at 0835 travelling via Bedford (0920) but terminating at Great Yarmouth (1335). The return journey left Great Yarmouth at 1540 reaching Bedford at 1955 and Northampton at 2040.

A timetable for the service applicable from October 1984 may be seen by following this link:
www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/36880144/in/album/729781
The timetable effective Sunday 28 April 1985 may be seen by following this link:
www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/49709232/in/album/729781