Stagecoach East - Album 1

Saturday 8 April 1989 - In February 1988 Cambus Limited took delivery of three Optare bodied Leyland Olympians with higher backed seating painted in a coach style livery which were numbered 500-502 (E500-502 LFL). 501 (E501 LFL) is seen in the High Street in Newmarket.

Saturday 12 January 1991 – Congestion in St. Andrew’s Street, Cambridge. Stagecoach United Counties 650 (H650 VVV), an Alexander R type bodied Leyland Olympian new in October 1990, is squeezing through the traffic coming in from Huntingdon and St. Ives. At the kerb is Cambus 303 (PEX 619W), a Leyland National 2 that had been new to Eastern Counties as their LN619 in November 1980.

Tuesday 5 February 1991 – The Stagecoach Group acquired the United Counties Omnibus Company in 1987 in the privatisation of the National Bus Company. The Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR was the chosen double decker by UCOC for a number of years although this one seen here came from Devon General having been new to Western National as their 1221 in January 1981. Bedecked in the Stagecoach stripes livery, 733 (LFJ 868W) is seen leaving Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge.

Sunday 26 September 1993 - Stagecoach United Counties 600 (F110 NES) seen at Showbus, Duxford. It is an Alexander R type tri-axle Leyland Olympian which was similar to the buses sold to Hong Kong operators. When new it was named the Megadekka and proclaimed to be ‘Britain’s biggest bus’. The ‘110’ in the registration was very apt as that was the seating capacity of this vehicle. Somewhat out of the ordinary on British roads when it was new in March 1989 but in later times the style became very common when British operators acquired the former Hong Kong machines.

Saturday 5 March 1994 – For a time Cambus ran two mini-buses in Newmarket on town circulars branded ‘Newmarket Colts’ – a horse related name for this famous horse racing town. The two vehicles were Optare MetroRiders new in January 1993 numbered 972 and 973 (K972/3 HUB). 973 (K973 HUB) was seen at the Rookey bus station working Studlands Park service N2. Subsequently these services ceased as separate entities and alternative facilities were then provided by full sized buses operating on the out of town services. Just visible in the background is Eastern Counties VR194 (TEX 404R) working service 200 to Thetford and Wessex of Bristol 161 (K792 OTC) working the 1030 London-Lowestoft National Express service 597. (Wikipedia explains that a Colt describes a young male horse less than one year old more specific than a foal which describes a horse of either sex less than one year old).

Monday 1 August 1994 - In February 1988 Cambus Limited took delivery of three Optare bodied Leyland Olympians with higher backed seating painted in a mainly cream based coach style livery which were numbered 500-502 (E500-502 LFL). They were later painted in a mainly blue variant of the company’s fleet livery. 500 (E500 LFL) is seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge.

Saturday 24 February 1996 - In February 1988 Cambus Limited took delivery of three Optare bodied Leyland Olympians with higher backed seating painted in a mainly cream based coach style livery which were numbered 500-502 (E500-502 LFL). They were later painted in a mainly blue variant of the company’s fleet livery. 501 (E501 LFL) is seen leaving Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge on service X11 to Bury St. Edmunds.

Friday 27 December 1996 (approx. 0920) – Two Cambus vehicles seen in Market Street, Ely. The Stagecoach Group acquired Cambus on 6 December 1995 and this view shows 160 (L660 MFL), which still wore the pre-Stagecoach livery, passing 542 (P542 EFL) which was only a few weeks old and so wearing the Stagecoach corporate striped livery. 160 is a Marshall bodied Volvo B6 new in October 1993 and 542 a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new in November 1996.

Friday 27 December 1996 (approx. 0925) – Stagecoach Cambus 542 (P542 EFL), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new in November 1996, seen leaving Market Street, Ely when operating the Cambridge to Littleport service 109. The Cathedral Tower stands in the background. Cambus had been privatised on 5 December 1986 and nine years later, on 6 December 1995, was purchased by the Stagecoach Group.

Volvo Olympian new in November 1996, seen in Market Street, Ely operating the Cambridge to Littleport service 109. Cambus had been privatised on 5 December 1986 and nine years later, on 6 December 1995, was purchased by the Stagecoach Group.

Friday 27 December 1996 (approx. 0910) – Stagecoach Cambus 542 (P542 EFL), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new in November 1996, seen in Market Street, Ely operating the Cambridge to Littleport service 109. Cambus had been privatised on 5 December 1986 and nine years later, on 6 December 1995, was purchased by the Stagecoach Group.

Monday 20 January 1997 (approx. 1100) – R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW, a Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD, seen setting down at the Rookery (later named The Guineas) bus station in Newmarket when working the 0900 National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599 from London (Victoria) to Norwich. The ‘Rapide’ services featured on board refreshment service and the stewardess is standing by the coach door. At the time this trip, and the last southbound trip of the day, were the only occasions that Chenery coaches called at Newmarket. All their other workings remained on the A11 by-passing the town. Chenery began operating this service effective Sunday 23 May 1993. Four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) were added to the Chenery fleet for the contract all of which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. Alongside is Stagecoach Cambus 541 (P541 EFL), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new in 1995, which was operating the 116 service to Ely.

Monday 20 January 1997 (approx. 1100) – For a time Cambus ran two mini-buses in Newmarket on town circulars branded ‘Newmarket Colts’ – a horse related name for this famous horse racing town. The two vehicles were Optare MetroRiders new in January 1993 numbered 972 and 973 (K972/3 HUB). 972 (K972 HUB) was seen at the Rookey bus station working Studlands Park service. Subsequently these services ceased as separate entities and alternative facilities were then provided by full sized buses operating on the out of town services. (Wikipedia explains that a Colt describes a young male horse less than one year old more specific than a foal which describes a horse of either sex less than one year old).

Monday 20 January 1997 (approx. 1100) – For a time Cambus ran two mini-buses in Newmarket on town circulars branded ‘Newmarket Colts’ – a horse related name for this famous horse racing town. The two vehicles were Optare MetroRiders new in January 1993 numbered 972 and 973 (K972/3 HUB). 972 (K972 HUB) was seen at the Rookey bus station working Studlands Park service. Subsequently these services ceased as separate entities and alternative facilities were then provided by full sized buses operating on the out of town services. Just visible in the background is 541 (P541 EFL), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian. (Wikipedia explains that a Colt describes a young male horse less than one year old more specific than a foal which describes a horse of either sex less than one year old).

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Cambus Limited 205 (N613 VSS), an Alexander bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new to Stagecoach Western Scottish in January 1996, seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge.

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Cambus Limited 205 (N613 VSS), an Alexander bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new to Stagecoach Western Scottish in January 1996, seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. In the background is 352 (N352 YFL), an Alexander Dash bodied Dennis Dart new in June 1996, wearing livery for operation on the Madingley Road Park and Ride service 500.

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Stagecoach Cambus 505 (UWW 8X), a Roe bodied Leyland Olympian new to West Yorkshire PTE (5008) in March 1982, seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. During the time that Cambus was owned by its management, prior to the Stagecoach Group acquiring the business, the company made a number of secondhand acquisitions in its early days buying buses surplus to two Northern based PTEs. Few lasted long enough to received Stagecoach corporate livery as this one did.

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Stagecoach Cambus 505 (UWW 8X), a Roe bodied Leyland Olympian new to West Yorkshire PTE (5008) in March 1982, seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. During the time that Cambus was owned by its management, prior to the Stagecoach Group acquiring the business, the company made a number of secondhand acquisitions in its early days buying buses surplus to two Northern based PTEs. Few lasted long enough to received Stagecoach corporate livery as this one did.