Wessex of Bristol

Sunday 17 March 1985 – Bristol based Wessex National 381 (BGY 581T) seen on the A11 east of Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0710 Lowestoft to Bristol National Express service 747. It is a Plaxton Supreme bodied AEC Reliance that was new to National Travel (London) in January 1979. The cross country service 747 linked East Anglia with Bristol via Norwich, Cambridge, Northampton and Oxford plus numerous other intermediate points. Schedules were integrated with certain other National Express services to, broadly speaking, offer a frequency of approximately every two hours. Whilst this was the first departure of the day from Lowestoft, England’s most easterly town, there were early morning departures from the likes of Oxford, Northampton, Cambridge and Norwich to get the service up and running. In a similar way the departures later in the day would terminate at an appropriate intermediate town. Having departed Lowestoft at 0710, this particular trip called at Norwich (0830), Cambridge (1030-1100), Northampton (1240), Oxford (1350-1425) arriving Bristol at 1615. The 1110 service also ran to Bristol arriving at 2015. The 1310 service terminated at Oxford, the 1510 terminated at Bedford (although was later extended to Northampton). The last two trips of the day commenced at Great Yarmouth and terminated at Cambridge. The 0910 departure from Lowestoft was a service 905 which upon reaching Northampton continued to Birmingham. A timetable for the service applicable from October 1984 may be seen by following this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/36880146/in/album/729781

Saturday 20 August 1988 - Wessex of Bristol 291 (SND 291X) seen setting down at the Sanara Services (formerly known as the Suffolk Punch) in Red Lodge when working the 1040 National Express service 747 from Cambridge to Great Yarmouth.

Bank Holiday Monday 27 May 1987 – Wessex of Bristol 293 (SND 293X) seen leaving Beck Row near Mildenhall when working National Express service 747 towards Bristol. A Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to National Travel (West) in November 1981.

Saturday 19 January 1985 (approx 1055) - Yelloway WDK 585T had just arrived at Cambridge when operating the day north service from Clacton-on-Sea to Blackpool. The destination blind shows ‘878 Blackpool’ although it is also working the 877 as far as Manchester from where the 877 covers the feeder service to Rochdale and Blackburn. Carrying a Plaxton Supreme body it was new in 1979 and was one of the last batch of AEC Reliances delivered to the company as a result of British Leyland phasing out this famous AEC model. The following year would see Leyland Leopards enter the fleet. Alongside is Wessex 294 (SND 294X) operating the 0710 Lowestoft to Bristol National Express service 747.

Saturday 19 January 1985 (approx 1055) - Yelloway WDK 585T had just arrived at Cambridge when operating the day north service from Clacton-on-Sea to Blackpool and was parked alongside is Wessex 294 (SND 294X) operating the 0710 Lowestoft to Bristol National Express service 747. Both coaches were homeward bound on their second day of duty and were carrying the winter dirt of their long cross country treks.

Saturday 11 February 1989 – I have no idea who the couple are in this photograph which I snapped at Drummer Street, Cambridge. The young man had just arrived on Wessex of Bristol 295 (SND 295X) and was being met by a friend both seemed very pleased to see each other. The coach is a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in November 1981 which had worked the 1440 National Express service 747 from Bristol via Oxford.

Sunday 22 October 1989 – On a rather damp morning Wessex of Bristol 206 (CIW 9721) rolls up to the departure stand in Grantham bus station when working the 0825 National Express service 351 from Sheffield to Cambridge (arrival 1240). After a two hour break in Cambridge the same driver would then work the 1440 service 747 from Cambridge to Bristol (due 2050). The previous day it worked Bristol-Cambridge/Cambridge-Sheffield on the same services. A Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R new to National Travel (West) Limited in April 1983 as 206 (CDG 206Y). I had had a ride out today travelling from Cambridge to Grantham on a Scottish Citylink coach working the Edinburgh service 377 (then joint with National Express) returning to Cambridge on this coach.

Sunday 22 October 1989 – National Express services seen in Peterborough bus station on a rather damp morning. Nearest the camera is Wessex of Bristol 206 (CIW 9721) working the 0825 service 351 from Sheffield to Cambridge (arrival 1240). After a two hour break the same driver would then work the 1440 service 747 from Cambridge to Bristol (due 2050) with this coach. The previous day it worked Bristol-Cambridge/Cambridge-Sheffield on the same services. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R new to National Travel (West) Limited in April 1983 as 206 (CDG 206Y). I had had a ride out today travelling from Cambridge to Grantham on a Scottish Citylink coach working the Edinburgh service 377 (then joint with National Express) returning to Cambridge on this coach. In the background is Yelloway-Trathen Express Limited A313 XHE taking a lunch break when working the 0815 Birmingham to Great Yarmouth National Express service 308. The service was scheduled here between 1105 and 1155.

Sunday 18 February 1990 (approx. 1610) – Fordham Road in Newmarket was the picking up and setting down point for National Express services at one time. This view shows three Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tigers vehicles working National Express services. Ambassador Travel 899 (A899 KAH) was working the 1400 service 097 from London (Victoria) to Lowestoft (due in Newmarket 1605/1610). It had been new to Eastern Counties in November 1983. Wessex of Bristol 209 (USV 804) was working the 0830 service 747 from Bristol to Cromer (due in Newmarket 1555/1610). Dack’s (Rosemary Coaches) of Terrington St. Clement G704 HPW, the later style Paramount new in August 1989, was working the 1505 service 099 from Thetford to London (Victoria) (due Newmarket 1610).

Saturday 23 September 1989 – Wessex of Bristol 217 (USV 808) was a Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new to National Travel (West) Limited in July 1983 registered DAD 217Y. Seen at Drummer Street, Cambridge prior to working the 1440 National Express service 747 to Bristol.

Wednesday 21 August 1991 – Wessex of Bristol 141 (B970 HTY) was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Scania KR112CRS that had been new to Armstrong of Ebchester in April 1985. It was seen here during a lunch beak (1350-1440) in Drummer Street, Cambridge when operating the 1010 Cromer to Bristol National Express service 747.

Wednesday 21 August 1991 – Wessex of Bristol 141 (B970 HTY) was a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Scania KR112CRS that had been new to Armstrong of Ebchester in April 1985. It was seen here during a lunch beak (1350-1440) in Drummer Street, Cambridge when operating the 1010 Cromer to Bristol National Express service 747.

Saturday 30 December 1989 – Wessex of Bristol 203 (B224 WEU) was a Duple Laser 2 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RH that was new in December 1984. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0935 Cromer to Bristol National Express service 747. (Whilst I can’t recall the source, I have a note that this coach was intended to be for the Bristol Omnibus Company as their 2224 but was exchanged with Wessex for ADD 50Y, the prototype Leyland Olympian coach).

July 1991 (1305) - Wessex of Bristol 131 (C131 CFB) was a MCW Metroliner single deck coach seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the Cromer to Bristol National Express service 747. The driver very kindly held back for me to take the photograph.

April 1991 - Wessex of Bristol Duple 340 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ 133 (C133 CFB), new in June 1986, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working towards home on the National Express 747. Wessex participated on the cross country from Bristol to East Anglia for a number of years.

October 1990 - There were a number of different National Express contractors serving Mildenhall over the years. Wessex of Bristol participated on the cross country 747 service from Bristol to the East Coast. 133 (NAT 860A but originally C133 CFB) was seen heading up High Street, Mildenhall when working the 0935 National Express service 747 from Cromer to Bristol. It is a Duple 340 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ new in June 1986. Just on the right hand edge of the photograph is Julie Bentley riding her bicycle who, like myself, worked at Kirby Pharmaceuticals (later to become Kirby-Warrick and then Schering-Plough). The man in the blue dairy overalls was called Norman and I believe he also worked at K-W/S-P at some time. The building on the left was the Trustee Savings Bank. After merging with Lloyds Bank (the Mildenhall branch of which is directly behind the coach) the TSB branch closed. In later years the TSB name was resurrected but what we see here is the original.

Saturday 8 May 1993 (1830) - Wessex of Bristol Duple 340 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ 133 (NAT 860A but originally C133 CFB), new in June 1986, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1030 Bristol to Cromer service 747. Wessex participated on the cross country National Express 747 service from Bristol to East Anglia for a number of years.

Saturday 22 May 1993 (1830) - Wessex of Bristol participated on the cross country National Express 747 service from Bristol to East Anglia for a number of years. Duple 340 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ 133 (NAT 860A but originally C133 CFB), new in June 1986, was seen leaving King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1030 Bristol to Cromer service 747. This was to be the last such run for the service because the next day when the Summer schedules began the 747 service east of Cambridge was drastically reduced and re-numbered 347. I had a quick word with the driver and he told me he had to return empty from Cromer to Bristol the next day! Buses and coaches used to travel down St. Andrew’s Street after leaving the King Street lay-by although sometimes this could be tight when they turned right into the High Street particularly if a car was wrongly parked close to the junction at end of the street or if Martins Furniture Store had a delivery van outside.