ECOC Mildenhall outstation

June 1986 - Following a number of years of parking their Mildenhall outstationed buses in car parks, first in the private car park of Kirby (later Kirby-Warrick) Pharmaceuticals Limited and then on the public car park at the corner of Chiswick Avenue and Hampstead Avenue, by 1986 Eastern Counties Omnibus Company seemed to be made ‘homeless’ and the buses were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue itself just east of the junction with Folly Road. Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR VR206 (XNG 206S) seen here sporting a creative advertisement for Eagle Star Insurance.

Wednesday 25 March 1987 - Following a number of years of parking their Mildenhall outstationed buses in car parks, first in the private car park of Kirby (later Kirby-Warrick) Pharmaceuticals Limited and then on the public car park at the corner of Chiswick Avenue and Hampstead Avenue, by 1986 Eastern Counties Omnibus Company seemed to be made ‘homeless’ and the buses were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue itself just east of the junction with Folly Road. The building ahead of the buses, with the flag poles, can be identified today alongside the boundary of JEB Engineering (Recently vacated by Cooper’s Garage - 96 Hampstead Avenue?). By now the allocation was three vehicles represented here by three Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs that nearest the camera being VR194 (TEX 404R).

Wednesday 25 March 1987 - Following a number of years of parking their Mildenhall outstationed buses in car parks, first in the private car park of Kirby (later Kirby-Warrick) Pharmaceuticals Limited and then on the public car park at the corner of Chiswick Avenue and Hampstead Avenue, by 1986 Eastern Counties Omnibus Company seemed to be made ‘homeless’ and the buses were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue itself just east of the junction with Folly Road. The building ahead of the buses can be identified today alongside the boundary of JEB Engineering (Recently vacated by Cooper’s Garage - 96 Hampstead Avenue?). By now the allocation was three vehicles represented here by three Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs that nearest the camera being VR194 (TEX 404R).

August 1987 – The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company was privatised in a management buy-out in February 1987. Two Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs are seen parked in Hampstead Avenue, Mildenhall - the Mildenhall outstation. VR225 (BVG 225T) had recently received the new ECOC livery which compares rather well with the basic National Bus Company red and white livery carried by the unidentified bus behind (possibly VR206). Following a number of years of parking their Mildenhall outstationed buses in car parks, first in the private car park of Kirby (later Kirby-Warrick) Pharmaceuticals Limited and then on the public car park at the corner of Chiswick Avenue and Hampstead Avenue, by 1986 Eastern Counties Omnibus Company seemed to be made ‘homeless’ and the buses were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue itself just east of the crossroads with Folly Road.

Sunday 1 November 1987 – Following a period where the Mildenhall outstationed buses of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue, just east of the crossroads with Folly Road, by the time of this photograph (and since August 1987) a new parking location had been found. This was on the forecourt of industrial units on the corner of Hampstead Avenue and Leyton Avenue. The photograph was taken from the roadway of Hampstead Avenue, Leyton Avenue runs across the rear of the buses. The buildings behind can be recognised today. ECOC was privatised in a management buy-out in February 1987. VR206 (XNG 206S) on the left still carries the former National Bus Company red and white livery whilst VR225 (BVG 225T) on the right had been painted into the livery introduced by the privatised management. Both are Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs.

March 1988 – Just over a year since the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company was privatised and these two Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs carry the livery introduced by the privatised management. Left is VR225 (BVG 225T) new to the National Bus Company owned ECOC in October 1978. Right is a secondhand acquisition number VR401 (OCK 101K) that had been new to Ribble Motor Services, another NBC subsidiary, in July 1972. The pair were parked on the forecourt of industrial units on the corner of Hampstead Avenue and Leyton Avenue which came into use for the parking of Mildenhall outstation buses from Autumn 1987. The photograph was taken from the roadway of Hampstead Avenue, Leyton Avenue runs across the rear of the buses. The buildings behind can be recognised today.

Sunday 23 October 1988 – On 10 October 1988 the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company began operating a town service in Mildenhall together with services between Mildenhall and nearby villages branded the ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ services. The services were covered by one mini-bus, a Robin Hood bodied Ford Transit, driven by a lady who lived in Mildenhall. TH911 (C911 BEX), new in March 1986, was the regularly assigned vehicle although this wasn’t parked with the traditional full sized Mildenhall outstation buses. It was seen here parked near the driver’s home in Pembroke Close.

Sunday 23 October 1988 – On 10 October 1988 the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company began operating a town service in Mildenhall together with services between Mildenhall and nearby villages branded the ‘Mildenhall Mini-Line’ services. The services were covered by one mini-bus, a Robin Hood bodied Ford Transit, driven by a lady who lived in Mildenhall. TH911 (C911 BEX), new in March 1986, was the regularly assigned vehicle although this wasn’t parked with the traditional full sized Mildenhall outstation buses. It was seen here parked near the driver’s home in Pembroke Close.

Sunday 13 November 1988 – Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR261 (RAH 261W) with VR196 (TEX 406R), both Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs, are seen parked on the forecourt of industrial buildings on the corner of Hampstead Avenue and Leyton Avenue on Mildenhall Industrial Estate – a public area used to park outstationed vehicles at the time. The car park still exists today. Leyton Avenue runs across the rear of the buses and Hampstead Avenue is alongside on the right.

Sunday 13 November 1988 – Following a period where the Mildenhall outstationed buses of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company were kerbside parked along Hampstead Avenue, just east of the crossroads with Folly Road, a new parking location had been found on the forecourt of the industrial units on the corner of Hampstead Avenue and Leyton Avenue. The roadway of Hampstead Avenue, runs across the photograph and Leyton Avenue is parallel to the kerb on the left. The buildings behind are Kings Boilers and Whitton Chemicals. The two buses were VR261 (RAH 261W) with VR196 (TEX 406R) beyond.

March 1992 – The site used by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company for its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation parking moved well out of the town area when Hurdle Drove Farm came into use. I think it may have been redefined as ‘West Row’. (Grid reference TL 66873 77740 if my memory of the exact location is correct). Today the farm is better kept than it was back then. To be honest it was a dump! Mud, puddles and was strewn with general clutter. The two Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs were VR307 (PRC 853X) and VR206 (XNG 206S). VR206 had been new to National Bus Company owned ECOC in March 1978 whereas VR307 was a secondhand acquisition number having been new to Trent Motor Traction, another NBC subsidiary, in October 1981.

Sunday 2 January 1994 – Eastern Counties Omnibus Company buses parked at Hurdle Drove Farm used as its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation parking at this time (It may have been defined as ‘West Row’ outstation). Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR VR281 (VAH 281X) new in September 1981 and Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard LL793 (OEX 793W). The latter was new in October 1980 as a National liveried coach which passed to Ambassador Travel in the ECOC split but returned to ECOC in its later years. A third vehicle on site was LL789 (UVO 121S), a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new as Trent Motor Traction 121 in November 1977 and was later transferred to Barton Buses, a Trent subsidiary, as their 1121. If my memory of the exact location is correct Hurdle Drove Farm is at Grid Reference TL 66873 77740). Today the farm is better kept than it was back then. To be honest it was a dump! Mud, puddles and was strewn with general clutter.

Sunday 2 January 1994 – Hurdle Drove Farm was used by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company for its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation parking at this time. Prominent in this photograph is LL789 (UVO 121S), a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new as Trent Motor Traction 121 in November 1977 and was later transferred to Barton Buses, a Trent subsidiary, as their 1121. In the background are two vehicles purchased new by ECOC in its National Bus Company days. Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR VR281 (VAH 281X) new in September 1981 and Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard LL793 (OEX 793W). The latter was new in October 1980 as a National liveried coach which passed to Ambassador Travel in the ECOC split but returned to ECOC in its later years. This location may have been redefined as ‘West Row’ outstation. (Grid reference TL 66873 77740 if my memory of the exact location is correct). Today the farm is better kept than it was back then. To be honest it was a dump! Mud, puddles and was strewn with general clutter.

Sunday 31 December 1995 – After Eastern Counties Omnibus Company ceased parking its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation vehicles at Hurdle Drove Farm between West Row and Beck Row (possibly defined as ‘West Row’ outstation?) it began using the site of P&F Safepac/Safepac International in Fred Dannatt Road (at the corner of James Carter Road) on the outer edge of Mildenhall’s Industrial Estate. The site, unchanged today with a recognisable building, was a total improvement on the muddy and wet Hurdle Drove Farm as it had a firm surface built to handle Safepac’s HGV removal vans. ECOC was privatised in a management buy-out in February 1987 but in July 1994 the company was sold to the GRT Group who in June 1995 merged with Badgerline to form FirstBus. Under this ownership the company has inherited cascaded vehicles from group affiliated companies in the urban conurbations. Sometimes these arrivals were pressed into service in their former owners livery as was KUB 552V which had arrived from Yorkshire Rider. It was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard that was new in January 1980 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company as their 2578.

Sunday 31 December 1995 – After Eastern Counties Omnibus Company ceased parking its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation vehicles at Hurdle Drove Farm between West Row and Beck Row (possibly defined as ‘West Row’ outstation?) it began using the site of P&F Safepac/Safepac International in Fred Dannatt Road (at the corner of James Carter Road) on the outer edge of Mildenhall’s Industrial Estate. The site, unchanged today with a recognisable building, was a total improvement on the muddy and wet Hurdle Drove Farm as it had a firm surface built to handle Safepac’s HGV removal vans. ECOC was privatised in a management buy-out in February 1987 but in July 1994 the company was sold to the GRT Group who in June 1995 merged with Badgerline to form FirstBus. In this view the red vehicle is Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard LL793 (OEX 793W). It was new to ECOC in October 1980 as a National liveried coach and passed to Ambassador Travel in the ECOC split only to be returned to ECOC in its later years. The livery is that adopted by the privatised owners. The cream vehicle is LG588 (WAH 588S) that was new to ECOC as LN588, a Leyland National I in September 1977. In August 1995 it given an extended life when rebuilt by East Lancs as a Greenway. The livery is the GRT inspired layout. Under FirstBus ownership the company has inherited cascaded vehicles from group affiliated companies in the urban conurbations. The green and cream Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard was KUB 552V which still carried the livery of Yorkshire Rider. It was new in January 1980 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company as their 2578.

Sunday 31 December 1995 – After Eastern Counties Omnibus Company ceased parking its ‘Mildenhall’ outstation vehicles at Hurdle Drove Farm between West Row and Beck Row (possibly defined as ‘West Row’ outstation?) it began using the site of P&F Safepac/Safepac International in Fred Dannatt Road (at the corner of James Carter Road) on the outer edge of Mildenhall’s Industrial Estate. The site, unchanged today with a recognisable building, was a total improvement on the muddy and wet Hurdle Drove Farm as it had a firm surface built to handle Safepac’s HGV removal vans. ECOC was privatised in a management buy-out in February 1987 but in July 1994 the company was sold to the GRT Group who in June 1995 merged with Badgerline to form FirstBus. In this view the red vehicle is Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard LL793 (OEX 793W). It was new to ECOC in October 1980 as a National liveried coach and passed to Ambassador Travel in the ECOC split only to be returned to ECOC in its later years. The livery is that adopted by the privatised owners. The cream vehicle is LG588 (WAH 588S) that was new to ECOC as LN588, a Leyland National I in September 1977. In August 1995 it given an extended life when rebuilt by East Lancs as a Greenway. The livery is the GRT inspired layout. Under FirstBus ownership the company has inherited cascaded vehicles from group affiliated companies in the urban conurbations. The green and cream Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard was KUB 552V which still carried the livery of Yorkshire Rider. It was new in January 1980 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company as their 2578.

Sunday 28 April 1996 – The Mildenhall outstation vehicles of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company seen parked P&F Safepac/Safepac International in Fred Dannatt Road (at the corner of James Carter Road) on the outer edge of Mildenhall’s Industrial Estate. The site is unchanged today with a recognisable building. Left is 658 (WAH 590S) new as LN590, a Leyland National I in September 1977. In August 1995 it given an extended life when rebuilt by East Lancs as a Greenway. The livery is the GRT inspired layout. Right is Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR VR281 (VAH 281X) new in September 1991. The livery is that adopted by management after privatisation.

Sunday 22 September 1996 – Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR281 (VAH 281X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new in September 1991, recently repainted into the GRT inspired mainly cream ECOC livery. Note the FirstBus logo with the fleet name. It was seen parked at the ECOC Mildenhall outstation site the P&F Safepac/Safepac International property in Fred Dannatt Road (at the corner of James Carter Road) on the outer edge of Mildenhall’s Industrial Estate. The Cane Collection building (left) was on James Carter Road.