Grey Green E893 KYW near Waterbeach and Milton on hire to Cambridge Coach Services – 5 Jan 1991 (135-04)

Saturday 5 January 1991 – Grey Green Coaches (T Cowie PLC) E893 KYW, a Duple 320 bodied Volvo B10M new in May 1988, seen on the way from the garage at Waterbeach to Cambridge city centre operating on hire to Cambridge Coach Services.

CCS had a very busy day today as Cambridge United Football Club were playing in the F A Cup round at Wolverhampton which resulted in many of their own fleet being required to take supporters to the West Midlands. (Cambridge won the game).

To cover other work on the day six Volvo B10M coaches were hired from Grey Green which were B860 XYR (Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork); C876 CYX and D879 FYL (Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodywork); and E891/893/894 KYW (Duple 320 bodywork). The coaches were driven by CCS drivers.

I drove E893 KYW on the 1045 service 79 from Cambridge to Gatwick Airport returning on the 1445 service 78. I enjoyed the change of vehicle although have to say that the luggage space was rather minimal. The rear boot was small and there was just one side locker on the nearside but this contained the cleaning equipment used by the regular Grey Green driver.

The coaches were used on a range of London commuter services during the week operated from various outposts in South Suffolk and North Essex. As a result they were not normally used over the weekends so from time to time CCS loaned them. E893 KYW had operated the 1645 service 197 from Millbank to Stanway, near Colchester, the previous evening.

The required number of CCS drivers were taken to collect the coaches at some time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning returning them on Sunday afternoon.