David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos with the keyword: Trent Motor Traction

Thursday 10 August 1995 (0950) – The laying of a new gas pipeline along King Street in Mildenhall resulted in general upheaval with the buses unable to access the bus lay-by. As a result they were picking-up wherever they could – there was no formal alternative bus stop. This one is outside the gateway of Bussens and Parkin’s site across the street from the Museum. Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR249 (GRA 847V) is doing a good trade for a Thursday. It is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to Trent Motor Traction in April 1980 (fleet number 847).

Wednesday 27 October 1993 - Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Limited LL797 (UVO 124S) seen in Mill Street, Mildenhall when working the 1030 service 200 from Newmarket to Thetford. It is a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard that was new to Trent Motor Traction Company Limited (124) in November 1977 although latterly it had been operated by Barton Buses (1124) in whose livery it carries here. The Wellglade Group, owners of Trent, acquired the Barton business in 1989 later merging the two operations to become trentbarton. The Suffolk County Council sponsored service 200 running approximately every 2 hours from Newmarket to Thetford via Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Brandon commenced operation on Monday 24 May 1993. It came about after National Express cutting back journeys and local stops on their service 747 the previous Saturday 22 May 1993. Initially service 200 was operated by Cambus (and it’s associated Millerbus) and was advertised as a trial service operating for three months. Cambus/Millerbus ceased to be the operator after Saturday 4 September 1993 with the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company taking over on Monday 6 September.

The MX4 'Derbyshire Express' service linked Alfreton and London (Victoria Coach Station) via Derby and Northampton and was jointly operated by Midland General, Trent, United Counties and Yelloway. Yelloway had picked up in both Derby and Northampton on its Lancashire to London services since the early days of coaching and by virtue of this became a joint operator on the MX4 service when it commenced operation. It was the only service upon which Yelloway was able to enter Victoria Coach Station, the terminal under the control of the Tilling and BET Groups (later National Bus Company) subsidiaries. Tickets were interavailable between the MX4 and the Yelloway services over the Derby-London section. Yelloway operated vehicles on the MX4 from time to time usually sending a vehicle away from its Rochdale base to Alfreton for about one week. The coach would do the round trip from Alfreton to Victoria and back each day and be stabled and cleaned at the Midland General garage at Alfreton each night. When the National Bus Company renumbered its express coach services the MX4 became service number 554.

November 1973 - Yelloway WDK 649K, a 1972 Plaxton Panorama bodied AEC Reliance, seen on the fuel pumps at the Rochdale garage after returning from a stint working on the Alfreton-Derby-London 'Derbyshire Express' service. Yelloway worked this service jointly with Trent, Midland General and United Counties and due to this fact was the only way Yelloway gained entry into Victoria Coach Station. When it was the time for Yelloway to cover the service a coach would be despatched for about 5 or 6 days. Each day it would work the round trip from Alfreton to London (Victoria) and back spending each overnight at the Midland General garage in Alfreton where it was fuelled and cleaned. Originally the service carried service number 'MX4' in a series applied by United Counties but the National Bus Company had by now brought their coach operations under the umbrella that became National Express. The service number was now '554' which can be seen on the yellow label in the upper part of the nearside windscreen. This label had also included the NBC double N logo and the word 'National' although these had been cut off by Yelloway on the basis that the service was also one of their own and it did not want it to be thought the label implied ‘on hire’ or such like. (This was the coach which travelled to France and Germany with the Rochdale Band in September 1972).

Friday 26 January 1973 - Yelloway TDK 689J, a 1971 Plaxton Panorama bodied AEC Reliance, seen at Victoria Coach Station in London during the turnround period between the southbound and northbound trips of the Alfreton-Derby-London 'Derbyshire Express' service MX4. Yelloway worked this service jointly with Trent, Midland General and United Counties and due to this fact was the only way Yelloway gained entry into Victoria Coach Station. When it was Yelloway's turn to cover the service a coach would be despatched from Rochdale for about 5 or 6 days. Each day it would work the round trip from Alfreton to London (Victoria) and back spending each overnight at the Midland General garage in Alfreton where it was fuelled and cleaned.

November 1972 - Yelloway TDK 689J, a 1971 Plaxton Panorama bodied AEC Reliance, back at Rochdale after returning from a stint working the Alfreton-Derby-London 'Derbyshire Express' service MX4. Yelloway worked this service jointly with Trent, Midland General and United Counties. When it was time for Yelloway to cover the service a coach would be despatched for about 5 or 6 days. Each day it would work the round trip from Alfreton to London (Victoria) and back spending each overnight at the Midland General garage in Alfreton where it was fuelled and cleaned.