Mulleys Mercedes-Benz Varios

Sunday 26 January 1993 – On 9 June 2002 new Suffolk County Council sponsored Sunday services 200 and 354 began that were contracted to Mulleys Motorways Limited. S719 URT, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new to Mulleys in November 1998, was seen at King Street, Mildenhall.

Monday 11 August 2008 (1235 hrs) – Mulleys Motorways S719 URT, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, at Thetford bus station when working the 1235 service 201 to Mildenhall. This was the only Mulleys Vario painted in all over orange. This was my first day working for Mulleys Motorways Limited, together with Richard Parker and Grahame Cornwell - two more former Burtons drivers from Mildenhall outstation, I was out training with Kevin Dean also a former Burtons driver who joined Mulleys a couple or so of years previously. Kevin, visible through the windscreen, helps Richard get settled in the driving seat as Grahame waits alongside. We all shared the driving on this duty (number 13) which began with the 1015 service 356 from Bury St Edmunds through Mildenhall, West Row and Beck Row. Having arrived at Mildenhall for the second time we then became the 1135 service 201 to Thetford (on which I drove). The return to Bury is by way of the 1235 service 201 to Mildenhall and then the 1335 service 356 from Mildenhall to Bury.

St. George’s Day, Friday 23 April 2010 - Mulleys Motorways S719 URT, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new to Mulleys in November 1998, seen in Bury St. Edmunds bus station.

Friday 3 April 2009 (1914 hrs) – Mulleys Motorways S719 URT, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new to Mulleys in November 1998, seen with the springtime daffodils at Lackford. (Despite showing ‘355 Mildenhall’ on the destination, the bus was in fact running back empty to Ixworth at the end of the day having worked the 1830 hrs service 355 from Bury St Edmunds to Mildenhall via Lackford).

Thursday 17 January 2013 (0922) - Mulleys Motorways Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario AY51 EWV seen in the snow between Rougham and Hessett when working the 0904 Suffolk County Council sponsored service 386 from Blackthorpe to Stowmarket.

Saturday 22 May 2010 (0836) – Mulleys Motorways MAN tow truck (N743 URS) with Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario AY51 EWV on tow seen at the Ixworth premises. The bus had been towed home from Santon Downham the previous evening. It had been working the 1715 hrs Thetford-Mildenhall service 201 which was then covered by one of the former Nottingham East Lancs bodied Scanias (P640-2 ENN).

Wednesday 3 September 2008 (1006) Mulleys Motorways Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario AV02 KYJ paused in Lakenheath High Street when working the 0915 service 355 from Bury St Edmunds. It would then work the 1008 service back to Bury. Mulleys took over the running of Suffolk County Council sponsored service 355 from Burtons Coaches on Monday 18 August 2008.

Tuesday 6 July 2010 (0922) – Mildenhall bus station with two Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario buses of Mulleys Motorways awaiting departure. The white bus is EN53 NOF working the 0935 service 356 to Bury St Edmunds and the orange bus is S719 URT working the 0935 hrs service 201 to Thetford. EN53 NOF was new to Golden Boy of Hoddesdon as MY52 BOY with fleet number 423. It was later sold to Coach Services Limited of Thetford. In the background, behind the bus station building, the Social Club had been demolished and construction of the new Sainsbury’s supermarket was underway. Mulleys drivers Kevin Dean (in hi-vis vest) and Gary Agnew (in check shirt) are having a chat. Both good team players

Thursday 8 April 2010 (1808) – The normal route used by Mulleys Motorways service 356 service between Herringswell and Tuddenham (passing Fen Farm) was closed for repairs this week which resulted in buses being diverted via the road passing Herringswell Manor Farm. The farm features a number of houses and a former gateway tower built in a matching style. The tower had been restored in recent years following a period of deterioration. SP04 FKM, seen in the evening sunshine with the buildings in the background, was working the 1750 Mildenhall to Bury St Edmunds service 356. It is a Transbus (Plaxton) Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in Moffat and Williamson in March 2004.

Monday 11 August 2008 (1235 hrs) – Almost at the end of my first day working for Mulleys Motorways Limited. Together with Richard Parker (in blue shirt) and Grahame Cornwell - two more former Burtons drivers from Mildenhall outstation, I was out training with Kevin Dean (on left). Kevin had also been a driver at Burtons although he had joined Mulleys a couple or so of years previously. Transbus (Plaxton) Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario SP04 FKM gets a wash at the Ixworth yard. It was new in Moffat and Williamson in March 2004.

Wednesday 17 March 2010 (1510) – Mulleys Motorways Limited Plaxton Beaver (Transbus) bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario SP04 FKN seen in Lakenheath when working the 1435 Thetford to Mildenhall Suffolk County Council supported service 201. This bus was one of a pair acquired from Moffat and Williamson in Scotland in whose colour scheme they remain. New March 2004.

Saturday 3 May 2014 (1244) - Mulleys Motorways SP04 FKN, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, in Risbygate Street, Bury St. Edmunds as it arrived as the 1140 service 386 from Stowmarket via Rattlesden.

Friday 26 September 2008 (1150) - Mulleys Motorways SP04 FKN, one of a pair of Transbus (Plaxton) Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario’s acquired from Moffat and Williamson in Scotland in whose colour scheme they remained. This photograph was taken at Bury St Edmunds railway station before making the once daily westbound run of Suffolk County Council sponsored service 311 to Newmarket. The railway station building dates from the mid 1800s when the Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds Railway Company came into being. At the time this bus was the regular performer on this trip and duty.

Saturday 4 January 2014 (1153) - Mulleys Motorways SP04 FKN standing with a flag of St. Edmund at Harleston when working the 1140 Stowmarket to Bury St Edmunds service 386. One of a pair (with SP04 FKM) of Transbus (Plaxton) Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario’s acquired from Moffat and Williamson in Scotland new in March 2004.

Saturday 2 August 2014 (0702) - To mark the centenary of the start of World War 1 on 4 August 1914, an exhibition with special church services was held over the weekend of 2/3 August 2014 in the village church in Brettenham. In this shot on the floral village green, the village sign is draped with a Union flag. Alongside is Mulleys Motorways SP04 FKN which was poised to work the 0702 service 377 into Bury St. Edmunds.

Wednesday 24 October 2012 (0934) – Mulleys Motorways AY55 DGE, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, seen amidst autumn leaves in Harleston when working th 0904 Blackthorpe to Stowmarket service 386. New to Beestons Coaches of Hadleigh in September 2005.

Wednesday 31 October 2012 (1452) - Mulleys Motorways AY55 DGE, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, seen in Bury Street, Stowmarket about to depart for Bury St. Edmunds on the 1445 Suffolk County Council sponsored service 386. The bus had worked the 1345 service from Bury St Edmunds which, since Wednesday is market day in Bury, had been almost full to capacity as shoppers (with their purchases in an abundance of shopping trolleys) returned home to the villages along the route. New in September 2005 to Beestons Coaches, Hadleigh.

Saturday 3 May 2014 (1003) - Mulleys Motorways AY55 DGE, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in Sept 2005 to Beestons of Hadleigh, seen turning from Risbygate Street, Bury St. Edmunds as it arrived as the 0923 service 375 from Alpheton and Shimpling.