Happy Christmas

Paul Leger an old friend of mine from Halifax, Nova Scotia sent me this customised Christmas card in 2018 featuring Acadian Lines 103. Acadian was a most respected company based in Halifax, the Provincial capital of Nova Scotia, which ran long distance coach services from there to Yarmouth, Sydney and Amherst. The coach was a GMC PD4104 that was delivered along with two others (101/102) in April 1960. The PD4104 was in production from 1953 to 1960 with over 5000 built. Paul, who had been Chairman of the Bus History Association for many years, passed away on 20 May 2019 aged 90 years.

Christmas Eve, Monday 24 Dec 2007 – Burtons Coaches S550 BNV, a warm and sprightly Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, paused beneath the Christmas lights in Newmarket High Street when working the 1810 service 400 to Mildenhall. This service, sponsored by Suffolk County Council, ran the full normal schedule until the late evening (with related services 200/201, 312 and 401). My assigned duty was number 224 with a start time of 1515 ending at 2342. I worked the following trips but it wasn’t at all busy, the figures in brackets indicating the passengers carried: 1520 Mildenhall-Newmarket 400 (1) 1600 Newmarket-Barrow 312 (1) (then empty to Mildenhall via Barton Mills to refuel) 1715 Mildenhall-Newmarket 401 (1) 1810 Newmarket-Mildenhall 400 (1) 1850 Mildenhall-Lakenheath 201 (1) 1915 Lakenheath-Mildenhall 201 (0) 1940 Mildenhall-Newmarket 400 (1) 2020 Newmarket-Mildenhall 400 (0) 2140 Mildenhall-Newmarket 400 (0) 2215 Newmarket-Mildenhall 400 (1) 2250 Mildenhall-Lakenheath 201 (0) 2315 Lakenheath-Mildenhall 200 (0).

Thursday 3 January 2008 – Burtons Coaches S131 NRB, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, paused outside the Peace Memorial Hall in Lakenheath when working the 2250 Mildenhall-Lakenheath service 201 (not 400 as shown on the blind).

Friday 2 January 1987 – Cambus Limited was created in September 1984 when the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company, a National Bus Company subsidiary, was split up. ECOC itself retained the operations in Norfolk and Suffolk whilst the western part, covering Cambridgeshire became Cambus. Cambus 206 (GCL 340N), a Leyland National 1 that had been new to ECOC in December 1974 as fleet number LN556, was seen in Sidney Street, Cambridge working service 85 to Histon. Present day bus services no longer use this street.

Friday 2 January 1987 – Cambus Limited supplemented their fleet with mini-buses for a time. Ford Transit 2014 (C293 MEG) was new in September 1985 and was seen in Sidney Street under the Christmas decorations. Sidney Street was traversed by full sized buses for many years long before the mini-bus boom of the 1980s. Gates are fitted at this point today and the street closed to motor traffic. The grandiose interior of the Lloyds Bank building on the right never fails to impress and I usually take a look inside whenever I am passing.

Friday 2 January 1987 – Cambus Limited supplemented their fleet with mini-buses for a time. Ford Transit 2014 (C293 MEG) was new in September 1985 and was seen in Sidney Street under the Christmas decorations working to Oakington. In the background is a full sized bus in the form of a Leyland National. Sidney Street is gated today with limited use by permitted motor traffic.

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1219) – Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 19603 (AE10 BXR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident new in April 2010, seen under the Christmas decorations in Market Street, Ely loading for Cambridge on service 9. (We are looking from the back of the HO HO HO!)

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1222) – Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 19603 (AE10 BXR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident new in April 2010, seen under the Christmas decorations leaving Market Street, Ely bound for Cambridge on service 9. (We are looking from the back of the HO HO HO!)

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1219) – Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 19603 (AE10 BXR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident new in April 2010, seen under the Christmas decorations in Market Street, Ely.

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1217) – Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 19603 (AE10 BXR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident new in April 2010, seen under the Christmas decorations in Newnham Street, Ely. (Looking from the back of the HO HO HO!)

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1209) - Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 15458 (AE09 GYF), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2009, seen under the Christmas decorations in Market Street, Ely.

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1209) - Stagecoach East (Cambus Limited) 15458 (AE09 GYF), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2009, seen under the Christmas decorations in Newnham Street, Ely.

Saturday 8 December 2018 (1200) – With a Christmas HO HO HO overhead and a rear panel advert for a pantomime, this view hints at a seasonal flavour despite what looks like blazing summer sunshine. (Whilst the side advert also looks like a line from a panto it is actually a non-seasonal advert for a Cambridge girl’s school!) Stagecoach East (Cambus) 27854 (AE13 EEA), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new in March 2009, seen in Market Street, Ely bound for March on service 39.

Monday 16 December 2019 (1251) – Coach Services Limited of Thetford X509 EGK, a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new in February 2001 to London Central as their PVL190 working service 86 to Thetford and Brandon.

Monday 16 December 2019 (1251) – Mulleys Motorways YN54 AHA, a Scania N94UD OmniCity that had been new to Nottingham City Transport (208) in September 2004, seen in Risbygate Street, Bury St. Edmunds departing on town service M77 to Westley Estate. In the background is Coach Services of Thetford X509 EGK, a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new in February 2001 to London Central as their PVL190 working service 86 to Thetford and Brandon.

Wednesday 16 December 2020 (1623) – Mulleys Motorways LW51 ZHJ seen setting down in Mildenhall High Street when working the 1535 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Lakenheath. It is an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new to Dublin Bus in January 2002 as their AV215 (01 D 10215).

Wednesday 16 December 2020 (1549) – Christmas lights adorn the ancient Market Cross and buildings in the Market Square, Mildenhall as Mulleys Motorways YN54 AHE drives by. It is a Scania N94UD OmniCity new to Nottingham City Transport (211) in September 2004. Working service 357 it was certainly bound for Herringswell but not to Risby. This journey was bound for Newmarket via Barton Mills, Red Lodge, Herringswell, Tuddenham and Cavenham.

Wednesday 16 December 2020 (1620) – Christmas lights adorn the ancient Market Cross and buildings in the Market Square, Mildenhall as a Mil-Ken Plaxton Elite drives by.