Cumberland 109 (C109 OHH) in Mildenhall - Oct 1986 (41-11A)

October 1986 - For a time Cumberland Motor Services worked the London-Swaffham National Express service 097. On the first day the coach worked the Whitehaven to London National Express ‘Rapide’ service and then worked from London to Swaffham. On the second day of the duty it worked from Swaffham to London followed by a London to Whitehaven 'Rapide' service.

Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger 109 (C109 OHH), new in March 1986, is seen at King Street, Mildenhall on the morning London bound service 097.

National Express ‘Rapide’ services were operated by toilet equipped coaches and also offered on board refreshments. This was the case on the Whitehaven-London service but the refreshment facility was not offered between London and Swaffham.

I recall on the first evening of CMS operating the northbound service encountering the coach somewhat off route roaming through Barton Mills village with a number of drivers undertaking on the job route learning! I helped out by getting them to follow me in my car.