Buses and coaches parked at Ram Meadow, Bury St. Edmunds – 16 February 1994 (214-20)

Wednesday 16 February 1994 – In past years on the market days in Bury St. Edmunds (Wednesdays and Saturdays) there were numerous independent coach operators that provided services to the town from the villages over a wide area. Most services arrived by mid-morning returning home in the early to mid-afternoon. In between many of the vehicles could be seen parked up at Ram Meadow coach park. As well as the service vehicles there were also other visiting coaches to be seen. Vehicles in this photograph are, from left to right:

Simonds of Botesdale 460 UEV, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YNT new to Kinch of Mountsorrel in September 1981 registered TRY 6X. It would have operated any of a number of Simond’s regular services.

The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Bury St. Edmunds garage was close by in Cotton Lane and Ram Meadow was regularly used for additional parking. Two Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs are VR147 (GNG 713N) and VR281 (VAH 281X) new in January 1975 and October 1981 respectively.

Coach Services of Thetford NLH 288, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114 that had been new to Excelsior, Bournemouth in April 1980 registered HFX 419V. It would have operated any of a number of regular market day services.

Hedingham and District Omnibuses L88 (REV 188R), a Duple Dominant bus style bodied Bedford YRQ new to the company in November 1977. I believe it had worked a service from Clare.

Richard W Chenery of Dickleburgh D411 OSJ, a Mercedes-Benz O 303 coach which had been new to Hirst Coaches of Holmfirth in June 1987 registered D351 CBC. It had also carried the registration GIL 1682 along the way.

Windmill Coaches (P A Poulsom) of Colchester G421 WFP, a Bova Futura FHD12-290 new in April 1990.

Belle Coaches (Shreeve) of Lowestoft NJI 9245, a Plaxton Paramount bodied YMT that had been new to Shreeve’s related company Classic Coaches (Lowestoft) Limited in March 1985 registered B44 LUT.

There were seventeen PSVs parked here at the time. There was also another row of vehicles parked on the left facing those in this photograph, two of these may just be seen on the extreme left. They are Rules Coaches of Boxford FBJ 713T (a Plaxton Supreme IV bodied AEC Reliance 6U3ZR new to the company in July 1979. Rule’s operated a service from Boxford) and Coach Services of Thetford E383 EUT (a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Bedford Venturer YNV new to Wainfleet Coaches of Nuneaton in October 1987. It would have operated any of a number of regular market day services).