France: Delgrange, Oost Cappel - late 1990s

Monday 25 March 1996 (0815) – Cars Delgrange 8840 HO 59 was seen in the square in Rexpöede when working a school service. It was a rather elderly Saviem. The company is based in the neighbouring village of Oost Cappel about 5km/3 miles away.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0815) – Cars Delgrange 8840 HO 59 was seen in the square in Rexpöede when working a school service. It was a rather elderly Saviem. The company is based in the neighbouring village of Oost Cappel about 5km/3 miles away.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0815) – Cars Delgrange 8840 HO 59 was seen leaving the square in Rexpöede when working a school service. It was a rather elderly Saviem. The company is based in the neighbouring village of Oost Cappel about 5km/3 miles away.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0855) – Cars Delgrange 6849 NC seen at the garage in Oost Cappel. It is an elderly Saviem employed on school work. Oost Cappel is a village where most of the houses are in France although some are across the border in Belgium. The small Customs Post building of the Belgian authority remains standing in the main street outside which is a statute that represents the seated Customs Officer from days past.

Monday 28 April 1997– Cars Delgrange, based in Oost Cappel, operated a varied fleet of older vehicles on school service work together with a more modern fleet on charters, tours etc. Four of the older members of the fleet are seen in this line-up at the garage. Left to right: A Saviem (1880 TK 59); two Mercedes-Benz O 303 coaches sporting the current and former company liveries); and a Renault mini-bus.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0855) – Cars Delgrange, based in Oost Cappel, operated a varied fleet of older vehicles on school service work together with a more modern fleet on charters, tours etc. Four of the older members of the fleet are seen in this line-up at the garage. Left to right: 6917 KP 59, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo; 4068 PX 59, a Kässbohrer-Setra (S215H?); 8840 HO 59, a Saviem; and a Mercedes-Benz O 303.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0855) – Cars Delgrange, based in Oost Cappel, operated a varied fleet of older vehicles on school service work together with a more modern fleet on charters, tours etc. Four of the older members of the fleet are seen in this line-up at the garage. Left to right: 6917 KP 59, a Jonckheere Bermuda bodied Volvo; 4068 PX 59, a Kässbohrer-Setra (S215H?); 8840 HO 59, a Saviem; and a Mercedes-Benz O 303.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cars Delgrange of Oost Cappel Van Hool coach 8733 XS 59 seen parked on the street across from the garage. It was about to pull across to the forecourt to refuel.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cars Delgrange of Oost Cappel Van Hool coach 9650 TW 59 seen on the garage forecourt.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cars Delgrange of Oost Cappel Van Hool coach 9650 TW 59 seen on the garage forecourt.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cars Delgrange 8113 WK 59, a Belgian built LAG EOS, receiving attention from the cleaning staff at the garage in Oost Cappel.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Cars Delgrange 8113 WK 59, a Belgian built LAG EOS, receiving attention from the cleaning staff at the garage in Oost Cappel.

Monday 17 March 1997 – Two members of the cleaning staff working at the Cars Delgrange garage in Oost Cappel. In the midst of their work they took a moment for a photograph. They had been very adept with a hammer dealing with the water system of the toilet compartment of the LAG EOS coach standing behind (8113 WK 59). The tank valve did eventually come loose!

Monday 17 March 1997 – A line up of Cars Delgrange coaches at the garage in Oost Cappel. They are Ikarus Blue Danube 4693 VN 59; Van Hool 8736 XS 59; and Jonckheere Deauville 8197 KP 59. The latter is in the old livery style.

Monday 5 August 1996 – A line up of Cars Delgrange coaches at the garage in Oost Cappel. The variety includes a Van Hool T815, a LAG EOS, a Jonckheere Deauville, a Mercedes-Benz O 303, another Van Hool model and a Renault FR1 between two old Saviem school buses.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0900) – A Cars Delgrange Mercedes-Benz O 303 seen on the forecourt of the garage in Oost Cappel. The whole site has been vastly improved over the years and it is impossible to recognise where the buildings in my old photographs once stood. The site is totally fenced and gated and modern buildings house the workshops and offices.

Monday 25 March 1996 (0845) – The Cars Delgrange garage property remains on the same site today facing on the Route de l’Europe, the main street through the village. However, is totally different today having been modernised with new workshops and offices from the corner of Rue Verte (to the left) virtually right along to where the house with a blue advertising panel is in the distance. (Looking on Google Streetview gives an idea of what development has taken place). One of the Saviem school buses can be seen on the rear parking ground. Oost Cappel is a village where most of the houses are in France although some are across the border in Belgium. The small Customs Post building of the Belgian authority remains standing in the main street very close to the white building on the far right of the photograph (a bar named ‘Het Witte Paard’ or as we would say in Britain ‘The White Horse’). Outside the Customs Post is a statute that represents the seated Customs Officer from days past.