Neal's Travel

Saturday 19 July 1997 – Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated a small network of town services in Mildenhall and to the adjacent villages six days a week for a number of years. M373 VER was a Marshall SPV bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D which was seen in King Street, Mildenhall.

Friday 4 November 1994 – Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated a small network of town services in Mildenhall and to the adjacent villages six days a week for a number of years. It was shameful that the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company ran exactly the same pattern of services ten minutes ahead of Neal’s just on Fridays, Mildenhall’s market day and the best revenue day of the week. The two buses are seen in the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall, both are Mercedes-Benz. Neal’s M373 VER had a Marshall SPV body and ECOC MG372 (M372 XEX) has a Frank Guy body conversion. The building in the background was the Mildenhall Social Club, the site is now occupied by the Sainsbury's store. Note the position of the taxi rank/ Waiting taxis lined up around the perimeter wall of the car park.

Saturday 13 September 1997- Neal’s Travel M373 VER, a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new to Neal’s in October 1994, seen in the middle of resurfacing works as it passed Mildenhall Court House bound for West Row on the 1120 service. This was one of the group of three Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. All three of these services had to pass through what was a four way control with manually controlled ‘Stop/Go’ boards.

queuing during road resurfacing works in Queensway by Mildenhall Court House as it returned from West Row. This was one of the group of three Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. All three of these services had to pass through what was a four way control with manually controlled ‘Stop/Go’ boards.

Saturday 13 September 1997 (approx. 1140) - Neal’s Travel M373 VER, a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new to Neal’s in October 1994, seen crossing Police Station Square in Mildenhall as it returned from West Row. This was one of the group of three Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. All three of these services had to pass through what was a four way control with manually controlled ‘Stop/Go’ boards.

Thursday 10 August 1995 (0940) - Neal’s Travel M373 VER, a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new in October 1994, became the regular vehicle on the group of Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. It was seen here picking up outside Bussens and Parkin’s store in King Street during a time when the lay-by was inaccessible during work when laying a new gas pipeline.

Saturday 16 December 1995 (approx. 1125) – Neal’s Travel M373 VER became the regular vehicle on the group of Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. It was a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new to Neal’s in October 1994 which was seen travelling along the High Street in Mildenhall. A most obliging driver who travelled slowly so I could take the photograph.

Saturday 27 May 1995 - Neal’s Travel M373 VER became the regular vehicle on the group of Mildenhall services which included a town circular and runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. It was a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new to Neal’s in October 1994 which was seen travelling along the High Street in Mildenhall on what was the first day of the Air Fete at RAF Mildenhall. The ‘No Parking’ cones in New Street were to assist with traffic flows particularly as this route was used by Park and Ride buses.

Wednesday 3 September 1997 – As a result of the closure of Kingsway (near Croft Place) in Mildenhall, the College Heath Circular bus service operated by Neal’s Travel faced a lengthy diversion. The normal route was from King Street via Kingsway, clockwise (northbound) along College Heath Road, Field Road, Trinity Avenue, Scott Avue, Hanmer Avenue, Wake Avenue, Kingsway back to King Street. During the closure the buses had to first travel from King Street via North Terrace, Field Road then anti-clockwise (southbound) along College Heath Road to the Library at Chestnut Close where they turned in order to then operate back along the normal route. M373 VER was the regular bus at the time on the group of Mildenhall services which in addition to the College Heath circular also included a runs to the nearby villages of West Row and Beck Row. It was a Mercedes-Benz 709D with locally built bodywork by Cambridge based Marshall SPV new to Neal’s in October 1994. It was seen here pulling out of Chestnut Close after turning round regaining its normal service route. Note the ‘Diverted Traffic’ and ‘Road Closed’ signs in the background all part of the disruption.

Thursday 11 April 1996 – Neal’s Travel of Isleham operated quite a number of local stage services at one time that included market day only runs. Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz 814D N375 EAK, new in March 1996, was seen in the High Street in Mildenhall before working service 135 to Ely. Thursday is market day in Ely.

Tuesday 22 July 1998 – Neal’s Travel N419 WJL, an Autobus Classique ‘Nouvelle’ bodied Mercedes-Benz O 814D new in November 1995, seen at Ram Meadow, Bury St. Edmunds. The Autobus Classique business was acquired by Optare in 1996.

Saturday 7 May 2005 – Neal’s Travel R718 TRV, a UVG bodied Dennis Javelin registered in September 1997, seen at Ram Meadow, Bury St. Edmunds. Neal’s two of this type, the other being R719 TRV registered the following month.

Saturday 27 April 2002 – Neal’s Travel R281 THL, an Auwärter Neoplan Transliner bodied Dennis Javelin new in February 1998, seen near the Bull Inn at Barton Mills. (Houses of Chestnut Close on right)

Sunday 22 February 1998 – At the time this was the star of the Neal’s Travel fleet only recently place in service. R281 THL was an Auwärter Neoplan Transliner bodied Dennis Javelin that was new in February 1998.

Sunday 22 February 1998 – At the time this was the star of the Neal’s Travel fleet only recently place in service. R281 THL was an Auwärter Neoplan Transliner bodied Dennis Javelin that was new in February 1998.

Sunday 4 July 1999 (0950) – S744 RNE working for Neal’s Travel on the Suffolk County Council sponsored Sundaybus Ely to Ipswich service 156. I do not recall this being a long term Neal’s vehicle which I believe was on loan. It is a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario O 814D new in September 1998 and was first registered to Cheshire Bus and Coach, Knutsford (a dealership?). Seen in St. Andrew’s Street, Mildenhall.

Wednesday 20 July 2005 (approx. 1220) – London Road, Brandon seen from the driving seat of Burtons Coaches S102 VBJ, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, which was working the 1115 circular service 348 from Bury St. Edmunds which was due here at 1220. Directly in front is Neal’s Travel T665 WVA, also a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario (new in July 1999) which was occupying the bus stop as it worked a Brandon local service. Across the road on the right was Ambassador Travel FD54 DGU, a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B12B new in February 2005, which was working the 0955 Cromer to London National Express service 497 running a bit late it would seem. The departure time from here was supposed to be 1150.

Sunday 13 June 1999 – Neal’s Travel T631 JWB seen outside St. Mary’s Church in Barton Mills having brought a party of Dutch visitors to the Scarecrow Festival. It is a Plaxton Cheetah bodied Mercedes-Benz O 814D new in April 1999. Standing behind is a Willhire Vehicle Rentals Sherpa mini-bus being used on the ‘Scarecrow Shuttle’ that provided tours of the village. The village became well known for the Scarecrow Festivals which attracted many visitors.