DPC Coaches DSL 33V and Harry Brown MJU 9W rolling through Red Lodge - 20 Aug 1988 (71-3)

Saturday 20 August 1988 – From the days when the A11 travelled straight through Red Lodge we see a trio of coaches from the West Midlands working holiday services to the Norfolk coast. Leading is a Caetano Alpha bodied Bedford YMT of DPC Coaches (D P Croot) of Birmingham. It had been new to Davidson of Forfar, Scotland in March 1980. Immediately following is a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford (MJU 9W) of Harry Brown and Sons Limited also of Birmingham. The third coach is an unidentified Plaxton Supreme.

Things have changed along here in recent years since the A11 was re-routed around Red Lodge. The road width has been narrowed and wide cycle/footpaths created. Lots of residential homes now line the road. The building directly behind the leading coach, once the ‘Red Lodge Garage’, stood in an unused state for many years and was finally demolished in late 2018. Note the ‘Happy Eater’ restaurant in the distance – no longer on the route to capture passing traffic it closed after the by-pass opened and then became offices. That building also stands in 2018 but in a vacant state. I believe both these sites are owned by the Cooper family, the owners of a local haulage business. Beyond the 'Happy Eater' the white chimney stack of the Red Lodge pub can be seen. That, together with the Red Lodge Cafe which stands next to it, are the last two remaining catering establishments on this once busy section of road.