David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0926) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36919 (YN69 XZZ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, seen on the A47 at Guyhirn working the 0840 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. It left Peterborough at 0843 but was now running about 15 minutes late. It was on the incline approaching the bridge over the River Nene.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0926) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36919 (YN69 XZZ), seen crossing the bridge over the River Nene on the A47 at Guyhirn It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, working the 0840 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. It left Peterborough at 0843 but was now running about 15 minutes late.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0927) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36902 (YN69 XZE), seen crossing the bridge over the River Nene on the A47 at Guyhirn It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, working the 0630 ‘excel’ service A from Norwich to Peterborough. Due here at 0924 – good timing. I

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1031) – FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) BX14 LCZ, a Mercedes-Benz 513cdi mini-bus new in March 2014, parked in a layover bay in Wisbech bus station.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1046) – FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) KU68 ERV, a Trekka bodied Mercedes-Benz 514cdi new in September 2018, seen arriving at Wisbech bus station on the Tesco Supermarket service 68. The service features five trips Monday to Friday operated between 0930 and 1336. A quote taken from the Fenland District Council web-site states: ‘The Wisbech Tesco Bus service runs on a circular route between the Horsefair Bus Station and Tesco (Cromwell Road). It serves Mount Drive, Ramnoth Road, Weasenham Lane, Railway Road and Queens Road. It has been designed through the Wisbech Bus Service Project and is currently supported by Section 106 developer funding from Tesco. The aim is for it to become a permanent local bus service’.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1047) – FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) KU68 ERV, a Trekka bodied Mercedes-Benz 514cdi new in September 2018, seen arriving at Wisbech bus station on the Tesco Supermarket service 68. The service features five trips Monday to Friday operated between 0930 and 1336. A quote taken from the Fenland District Council web-site states: ‘The Wisbech Tesco Bus service runs on a circular route between the Horsefair Bus Station and Tesco (Cromwell Road). It serves Mount Drive, Ramnoth Road, Weasenham Lane, Railway Road and Queens Road. It has been designed through the Wisbech Bus Service Project and is currently supported by Section 106 developer funding from Tesco. The aim is for it to become a permanent local bus service’. In the background is Stagecoach East Midlands 15617 (OU10 BGV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2010 to Thames Transit, which carries the purple based livery initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe all the Wisbech area Stagecoach services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1040) – FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) KU68 ERV, a Trekka bodied Mercedes-Benz 514cdi new in September 2018, seen arriving at Wisbech bus station on the Tesco Supermarket service 68. The service features five trips Monday to Friday operated between 0930 and 1336. A quote taken from the Fenland District Council web-site states: ‘The Wisbech Tesco Bus service runs on a circular route between the Horsefair Bus Station and Tesco (Cromwell Road). It serves Mount Drive, Ramnoth Road, Weasenham Lane, Railway Road and Queens Road. It has been designed through the Wisbech Bus Service Project and is currently supported by Section 106 developer funding from Tesco. The aim is for it to become a permanent local bus service’. In the background is Stagecoach East Midlands 15617 (OU10 BGV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2010 to Thames Transit, which carries the purple based livery initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe all the Wisbech area Stagecoach services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1032) – Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU arriving at Wisbech bus station when working the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! The service 43/43A workings fit between a schooldays only service from Sutton St. James to Spalding earlier in the morning which has an afternoon return.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1032) – Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU had just arrived at Wisbech bus station having worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! The service 43/43A workings fit between a schooldays only service from Sutton St. James to Spalding earlier in the morning which has an afternoon return.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1033) – Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU had just arrived at Wisbech bus station having worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! The service 43/43A workings fit between a schooldays only service from Sutton St. James to Spalding earlier in the morning which has an afternoon return.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1033) – Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU had just arrived at Wisbech bus station having worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! The service 43/43A workings fit between a schooldays only service from Sutton St. James to Spalding earlier in the morning which has an afternoon return.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1033) – Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU seen in Wisbech bus station having worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! The service 43/43A workings fit between a schooldays only service from Sutton St. James to Spalding earlier in the morning which has an afternoon return.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1348) – Whenever I am passing Sutton-in-the-Isle near Ely I try to swing by the MCV Bus & Coach premises to see what new buses might be around. Likewise at the Volvo depot a few miles down the road at Witchford where there might be new vehicles or perhaps older ones in for attention. This brand new MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8R was at MCV, Sutton and wears the all-over yellow scheme for operation by one of the Transport for Great Manchester ‘Bee Network’ franchised operators. There are a number of such operators including Diamond, First, Go-Ahead and Stagecoach – so I will have to follow up the operator of this unlettered vehicle.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1357) – Whenever I am travelling by Witchford (where there is a Volvo depot) or Sutton-in-the-Isle near Ely (the works of MCV Bus & Coach) I try to swing by them both to see what new buses might be around. This brand new MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8R was at Witchford and wears the all-over yellow scheme for operation by one of the Transport for Great Manchester ‘Bee Network’ franchised operators. There are a number of such operators including Diamond, First, Go-Ahead and Stagecoach – so I will have to follow up the operator of this unlettered vehicle.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1357) – Whenever I am travelling by the Volvo depot at Witchford I try to swing by to see what new buses might be around. Sometimes brand new or sometimes older ones in for attention. This is FP 2963, a Plaxton Elite i bodied Volvo B11RT operated by Bland’s Coaches of Essendine new to City of Oxford (62) in December 2013 registered GO63 OXF.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1357) – Whenever I am travelling by the Volvo depot at Witchford I try to swing by to see what new buses might be around. This is FP 2963, a Plaxton Elite i bodied Volvo B11RT operated by Bland’s Coaches of Essendine new to City of Oxford (62) in December 2013 registered GO63 OXF. The flag is intriquing, definitely not a Union flag or the flag of St. George.

Friday 7 February 1992 – Neal’s Travel H475 HSG seen after setting down in Barton Mills when working the return trip of Suffolk County Council supported service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. The service comprised just one trip each way. This return trip departed Mildenhall Health Centre (Chestnut Close) at 1047 calling at King Street at 1050 then travelling via Barton Mills and Icklingham. Neal’s operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included such market day only runs. Mrs Chapman (in the green coat) and Mrs Brabbin had returned from Mildenhall with their market day shopping. St. Mary’s Church forms the backcloth. The Church dates from around the mid-1300s some parts possibly earlier.

Friday (11?) November 1994 - Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs. Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster H391 CFT, which was new in March 1991, setting down in Church Lane, Barton Mills as it worked the return trip of service 145 from Mildenhall to Lackford. My then near neighbours Mr (Ted) and Mrs (Pam) Gage are in the photograph.