Whippet Coaches (Go-Whippet)

Tuesday 25 October 1988 – Whippet Coaches operated this unusual Willowbrook bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68/2L registered D850 AAV in October 1987. It was originally part of an order for export to Baghdad, Iraq but suffered fire damage prior to shipment. It was bought by a dealer, refurbished and converted from left hand drive to right hand drive but retained the central exit door and window layout as built. Unfortunately, I was looking the wrong way down Drummer Street as the bus departed so missed a front shot.

Sunday 28 May 1995 (approx. 1000) – Whippet Coaches M589 SDC seen entering Mildenhall near Ship Gardens. The destination screen shows ‘Cambridge via Papworth 1’ although if it wasn’t working the Sundaybus service 200 it was working a private hire to Mildenhall Air Fete. This unusual vehicle was an Omni low floor model which was mainly sold to the welfare market built by CVE (City Vehicle Engineering) of Shildon, County Durham from 1988 under licence from the Steyr of Austria. By the early 1990s CVE was in financial difficulties and was first restructured as the Omni Bus Company and again as the Omni Coach Company. The latter was the builder of this vehicle, one of a pair new to Whippet in January 1995.

Bank Holiday Monday 29 May 1995 (1605) – A new Sunday (and Bank Holiday Monday) service 200 commenced operation on 28 May 1995 linking Cambridge with Diss and Great Yarmouth. Whippet Coaches was one of the contracted operators and their M589 SDC seen in Thetford bus station when working the 1535 service from Mildenhall to Diss. This unusual vehicle was an Omni low floor model which was mainly sold to the welfare market built by CVE (City Vehicle Engineering) of Shildon, County Durham from 1988 under licence from the Steyr of Austria. By the early 1990s CVE was in financial difficulties and was first restructured as the Omni Bus Company and again as the Omni Coach Company. The latter was the builder of this vehicle, one of a pair new to Whippet in January 1995.

Tuesday 5 February 1991 – Whippet Coaches SGM 129S, an MCW Metropolitan BR111DH new to Reading Transport (129) in March 1978, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Whippet had around 21 of this type in service all acquired secondhand.

Monday 6 August 2001 (approx. 1300) – Whippet Coaches GYE 265W, a Leyland Titan new to London Transport (T265) in June 1981, seen in St. Andrew’s Street, Cambridge.

Saturday 11 April 1998 (Easter weekend) - Whippet Coaches KYN 300X seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. It is an all Leyland Titan TNLXB2RR that was new to London Transport (T300) in 1981. In July 1993 it was purchased by the City of Oxford Motor Services (Oxford Bus Company) as their 952. The original London style destination display was replaced with that shown in this photograph. In September 1997 it passed to Whippet and was operated for some months in Oxford’s livery.

Saturday 15 February 1997 (approx. 1200 noon) – Whippet Coaches KYV 422X, a Leyland Titan new to London Transport (T422) in February 1982, seen leaving Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge.

Saturday 15 February 1997 (approx. 1200 noon) – Whippet Coaches KYV 422X, a Leyland Titan new to London Transport (T422) in February 1982, seen leaving Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge.

Sunday 5 May 1996 - Whippet Coaches G823 UMU, a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in September 1989, seen in Newmarket bus station when working a trip on the Suffolk County Council ‘Suffolk Sundaybus’ service 200. Seen G824 UMU was a second similar vehicle and both were fitted with high backed coach type seating.

Friday 6 April 1990 - Whippet Coaches G823 UMU, a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in September 1989, seen departing Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge on service 5 to Huntingdon. G824 UMU was a second similar vehicle and both were fitted with high backed coach type seating.

Sunday 3 December 1995 (1155) – Whippet Coaches H303 CAV seen in High Street, Mildenhall passing the volunteers putting up the Christmas lights when working the 1102 Cambridge-Great Yarmouth Suffolk County Council ‘Suffolk Sundaybus’ service 200. It is a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in September 1990 and was fitted with high backed coach type seating like two similar vehicles bought the previous year.

Tuesday 25 October 1988 – Whippet Coaches E176 OEW, an Alexander bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in March 1988, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Fitted with high backed coach type seating.

Tuesday 25 October 1988 – Whippet Coaches E176 OEW, an Alexander bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in March 1988, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Fitted with high backed coach type seating.

Sunday 28 May 1995 (approx. 1000) – A new Sunday bus service 200 linking Cambridge with Great Yarmouth commenced today, the start of the new Suffolk County Council Summer timetable, which was not only the Spring Bank Holiday weekend but also the weekend of the once famous Mildenhall Air Fete. Whippet Coaches of Fenstanton was the contracted operator. In this view two Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M double deckers, G824 UMU and G823 UMU, are seen plodding past the Riverside Hotel in Mill Street, Miidenhall in the slow moving traffic. They were new in 1989 and featured high backed seating. Parker's Mill occupied the site behind the houses, their buildings can be seen on the extreme right and extreme left of the photograph.

Sunday 28 May 1995 (approx. 1000) – A new Sunday bus service 200 linking Cambridge with Great Yarmouth commenced today, the start of the new Suffolk County Council Summer timetable, which was not only the Spring Bank Holiday weekend but also the weekend of the once famous Mildenhall Air Fete. Whippet Coaches of Fenstanton was the contracted operator. In this view two Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M-50 double deckers, G824 UMU and G823 UMU, are seen plodding along Mill Street, Miidenhall in the slow moving traffic. They were new in 1989 and featured high backed seating.

Sunday 29 December 1996 - Still in festive mode, Whippet Coaches H303 CAV is seen at King Street, Mildenhall when operating the 0844 Cambridge to Great Yarmouth service 200 which was a Suffolk County Council supported service. It is a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M-50 new in September 1990.

Sunday 11 June 1995 (approx. 1025) – A new Sunday (and Bank Holiday Monday) service 200 commenced on Sunday 28 May 1995, the start date of the new Suffolk County Council Sunday Bus network. Whippet Coaches was the contracted operator for the service which operated between Cambridge and Great Yarmouth via Thetford and Diss etc. H303 CAV, a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in September 1990, seen in the old Thetford bus station heading to the coast.

Sunday 11 June 1995 (approx. 1025) – A new Sunday (and Bank Holiday Monday) service 200 commenced on Sunday 28 May 1995, the start date of the new Suffolk County Council Sunday Bus network. Whippet Coaches was the contracted operator for the service which operated between Cambridge and Great Yarmouth via Thetford and Diss etc. H303 CAV, a Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10M Citybus new in September 1990, seen leaving the old Thetford bus station heading to the coast. This exit featured an uphill slope with a building on the left and a telegraph pole on the right. Immediately opposite was a tall wall and overhead tree branches of the Grammar School garden. Often a challenge with a long vehicle.