East Dereham Bus Rally - 8 May 2022

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1120) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. A general view of the main line up of exhibits which includes both preserved and currently operational vehicles. Over the next few days I will be posting more close up views of some of them.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1053) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. This is a general view of the main line up of exhibits which includes both preserved and currently operational vehicles. Over the next few days I will be posting more close up views of some of them.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1112) – This gentlemen, Geoff Mills from Colchester, was an icon in bus photography and the bus enthusiast world. I took this photograph of him at the Vintage Bus Rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway, East Dereham. Geoff died on 21 March 2024. In the early 1960s when I was a schoolboy, my knowledge of buses was very much enhanced by the books from the famous publishing company Ian Allan Limited. Just about every one of them usually contained photographs credited to ‘G.R. Mills’ some also with written articles. With an in depth knowledge of East Anglian bus operators he has also published books on some of them. Herewith I pay tribute to him and his work. The May 2024 issue of 'Buses' magazine contained Geoff's obituary and I was most pleased that this photograph was included. The bus is preserved former Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR190 (VPW 85S), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new in September 1977. This bus was to have been supplied to Waveney District Council (Lowestoft) but was diverted to ECOC after ECOC took over the WDC operation.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1116) – The quality of some restored and preserved buses is so good that it can sometimes belie their true age. Preserved former Crosville Motor Services ERG53 (UFM 53F) is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RELL6G new in April 1968 - now 54 years old! This type of vehicle is classed as ‘dual purpose’ which is a bus body shell fitted with higher backed coach type seating so that it could be used on either bus service work (perhaps during the week) or express service work (at the weekends). Crosville had alpha-numeric fleet numbers on cast metal plates almost like mini registration plates. The ‘ERG’ class signifies Express, Rear engine, Gardner engine.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1120) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this bus was attending the gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. A little fine tweaking of the destination blind on preserved former Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Services 825 (AJN825), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol K5G dating from 1939.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1055) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. Left: In 1952 London Transport commissioned 84 GS class Eastern Coachworks bodied Guy single deckers for operation in the rural parts of their empire. Preserved GS17 (MXX 317). Right: Preserved former Eastern National Omnibus Company 2384 (WNO 479), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol KSW5G. It was new in October 1953 to Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Services with a covered top lowbridge body. Rebuilt to open top in March 1966.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1053) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Former Post Office Corporation LDV Post Bus 6750039 (P920 RSC) new circa 1996.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1054) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. A familiar face at the wheel of former Post Office Corporation LDV Post Bus 6750039 (P920 RSC) new circa 1996.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1053) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Left: Don’s Coaches of Dunmow TXI 8756, a unique Jonckheere bodied Dennis Lancet which was new to Young’s Coaches of Rampton in February 1985 registered B135 AAV. Right: Preserved former London Country Bus Services SNB312 (UPB 312S) is a Leyland National new in November 1977.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1126) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. Exhibits included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Dan Trent, once a driving colleague of mine, runs his own business Dan’s Coach Travel of Stowmarket and is a regular participant at the East Anglian bus rallies with his vehicles taking part in road runs for the visitors. R372 LGH is a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian that had been new to London General in January 1998 as their NV172. Alongside is Ipswich Buses 56 (PN52 XBK), an East Lancs bodied DAF DE02 new in October 2002.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1056) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. Exhibits included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Dan Trent, once a driving colleague of mine, runs his own business Dan’s Coach Travel of Stowmarket and is a regular participant at the East Anglian bus rallies with his vehicles taking part in road runs for the visitors. R372 LGH is a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian that had been new to London General in January 1998 as their NV172.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1126) – The bus rally season is underway for 2022 and this gathering took place at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham. Exhibits included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Konectbus, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, is locally based in East Derehem and the company had a publicity and recruitment display with two of their operational vehicles. Left is Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D 610 (SN62 AVG) which carries ‘Fab4’ branding for the Swanton Morley-East Dereham-Norwich service 4. Alongside is 9030 (LX54 GZP), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL, used for driver training. The preserved vehicles are former Eastern Counties Omnibus Company LKH133 (HPW 133), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol K new in May 1949 and former London Transport RT2150 (KGK 959), a Weymann bodied AEC Regent RT (new circa April 1949). .

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1045) – Exhibits at the Mid Norfolk Railway Bus Rally in East Dereham included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Konectbus, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, is locally based in East Dereham and two of their vehicles are seen here along with a publicity and recruitment display.. Left is Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D 610 (SN62 AVG) which carries ‘Fab4’ branding for the Swanton Morley-East Dereham-Norwich service 4. Note the round adhesive disc on the upper deck windscreen which is to mark the Platinum Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. Right is 9030 (LX54 GZP), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL, new as London Central PVL403 in January 2005. Now a training vehicle.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1047) – Konectbus publicity and recruitment display at the Mid Norfolk Railway Bus Rally in East Dereham. Konectbus is part of the Go-Ahead Group and is based locally in East Dereham. Two of the vehicles were also on display at the rally. (The buses were Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D 610 (SN62 AVG) with ‘Fab4’ branding for the Swanton Morley-East Dereham-Norwich service 4 and 9030 (LX54 GZP), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL, used for driver training).

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1141) – Exhibits at the Mid Norfolk Railway Bus Rally in East Dereham included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Konectbus, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, is locally based in East Dereham. One of their vehicles on display was Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D 610 (SN62 AVG) which carried ‘Fab4’ branding for the Swanton Morley-East Dereham-Norwich service 4. On the far right is a publicity and recruitment display.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1051) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. This preserved former London Transport Metro-Cammell bodied AEC Regal IV was RF136 (MLL 523) new in February 1952 for Green Line services. In the mid-1960s London Transport began a modernisation programme of the Green Line RF class and RF136 was the guinea pig for the project. When it emerged in 1966 it carried the livery seen here which matched the new RC class then being delivered. However, it was decided that this revised livery didn’t really suit the RF and so this particular RF remained unique. It was later repainted into the chosen two-tone green livery.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1100) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. Preserved former London Transport Metro-Cammell bodied AEC Regal IV RF136 (MLL 523), new in February 1952 for Green Line services, seen as it departed the rally car park taking visitors on a road run. In the mid-1960s London Transport began a modernisation programme of the Green Line RF class and RF136 was the guinea pig for the project. When it emerged in 1966 it carried the livery seen here which matched the new RC class then being delivered. However, it was decided that this revised livery didn’t really suit the RF and so this particular RF remained unique. It was later repainted into the chosen two-tone green livery.

Sunday 8 May 2022 (1058) – The bus rally at the Mid Norfolk Railway in East Dereham saw more than thirty vehicles on show that included preserved and currently operational vehicles. This preserved former London Transport Metro-Cammell bodied AEC Regal IV was RF136 (MLL 523) new in February 1952 for Green Line services. In the mid-1960s London Transport began a modernisation programme of the Green Line RF class and RF136 was the guinea pig for the project. When it emerged in 1966 it carried the livery seen here which matched the new RC class then being delivered. However, it was decided that this revised livery didn’t really suit the RF and so this particular RF remained unique. It was later repainted into the chosen two-tone green livery.