David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos with the keyword: Bristol RE

A Saturday afternoon in August 1979 – The Eastern Counties bus station in Brentgovel Street, Bury St. Edmunds stood on the site of what are now retail premises including the MacDonalds ‘Restaurant’. This photograph shows VR194 (TEX 404R) (May 1977), RL709 (TPW 709G) (April 1969) and VR165 (MCL 941P) (February 1976) which would all leave around 1615 when a number of various services departed with homeward bound shoppers. The clock tower of Moyses Hall Museum casts a shadow in the bottom left hand corner. All are Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol chassis of the types indicated in the fleet numbers (RL = RELL).

Saturday 4 October 1980 – Two Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Bristol VR double deckers and an RE single decker seen in Brentgovel Street bus station, Bury St. Edmunds with homeward bound shoppers patiently waiting for the drivers to turn up. Left is VR240 (HAH 240V) which was working the 1500 service to Haverhill. Right is VR195 (TEX 405R) working the 1510 service to Ixworth. This was a short run of the Walsham-le-Willows group of services which followed the same route as the others as far as Pakenham (Fox) but then it ran via Pakenham Fen to Ixworth (arriving 1546). The other services ran from Pakenham (Fox) to Stowlangtoft , Hunston, Badwell Ash to Walsham-le-Willows. The bus station was on the site of what are now retail premises including the MacDonalds ‘Restaurant’.

August 1981 - The Eastern Counties bus station in Brentgovel Street, Bury St. Edmunds stood on the site of what are now retail premises including the MacDonalds ‘Restaurant’. This photograph taken during the afternoon shows RL673 (PPW 673F) (June 1968); VR225 (BVG 225T) (October 1978) and VR194 (TEX 405R) (May 1977). All are Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol chassis of the types indicated in the fleet numbers (RL = RELL). The two VRs would both being heading through Mildenhall. Service 970, to Lakenheath, travelled via Risby, Cavenham and Tuddenham whilst the 974, to Beck Row, travelled via the Fornhams, Flempton, Lackford and Icklingham. Both travelled into Mildenhall via Barton Mills village.

June 1984 - Eastern Counties Omnibus Company RL513 (EPW 513K), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RELL new in March 1972, seen picking up in Eriswell village when operating the 0925 Brandon to Bury St Edmunds service 970. The service travelled via Lakenheath to Eriswell roundabout, along Lords Walk (which was then a fully accessible public road), down the A1065 then turning right onto the B1112 to enter Eriswell village from the south. After serving the village it continued to Holywell Row and Mildenhall by turning left near Sparks Farm.

June 1984 - Eastern Counties Omnibus Company RL513 (EPW 513K), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RELL new in March 1972, seen picking up in Eriswell village when operating the 0925 Brandon to Bury St Edmunds service 970. The service travelled via Lakenheath to Eriswell roundabout, along Lords Walk (which was then a fully accessible public road), down the A1065 then turning right onto the B1112 to enter Eriswell village from the south. After serving the village it continued to Holywell Row and Mildenhall by turning left near Sparks Farm.

Monday 17 July 1972 – Eastern Counties Omnibus Company LS820 (820 BNG), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol MW6G new in December 1962, seen in Wellington Street bus station in Leeds. It was working the southbound Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Lowestoft service that was operated jointly with United Automobile Services.

Saturday evening 4 June 1983 – For a time the last Eastern Counties Omnibus Company service 974 from Bury St Edmunds to Mildenhall (approx. 1745) was covered by Barrow outstation rather than Mildenhall outstation. In this view, taken at the Barrow outstation we see VR261 (RAH 261W) which had just run empty back from Mildenhall. RL686 (DRX 630K) had worked service 945 from Bury St Edmunds and the driver had parked up and already gone home. The RL new to Thames Valley Traction (412) in July 1972 and acquired by ECOC in May 1981. The location was a farm hardstand on Brockley Lane, the back lane leading to Higham (Upper Green) still recognisable today.

Sunday 25 July 1982 - Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR195 (TEX 405R) (new May 1977) and RL504 (BVF 667J) (new in June 1971) loading for Felixstowe at King Street, Mildenhall. ECOC outstationed two buses in Mildenhall to operate services into Bury St. Edmunds six days a week. Normally the pair remained parked on Sundays when no services ran. However, for a few summers during the early 1980s the company utilised the buses on Sundays for an excursion type service operating to Felixstowe as service X12. Both are Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol, a VR double decker and an RELL single decker.

Circa 1980 - An Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the Cambridge to Great Yarmouth service 098. It carries the National coach livery. The entrance to the car park can be seen beyond the person sat on the wall. When the lay-by was remodelled this entrance was closed off and cars entered and left the car park in Recreation Way. Note the ‘Buses and coaches prohibited’ road sign. After the entrance closed this sign remained and at some stage became turned round which looked rather strange. The town map in the display case was a feature for many years.

Circa 1984? - ‘Will we all get on Mum?’ Eastern Counties Omnibus Company acquired the business of Burwell and District Motor Services in June 1979. Their Wednesday only Market Day service to Bury St Edmunds became service 977 under ECOC and the old B&D pick-up point in Kingsway, Mildenhall continued for some time after. This Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR had been new to Western SMT and was one of the buses that the Scottish Bus Group exchanged with the National Bus Company. VR333 (NAG 584G) was new as WSMT fleet number 2263 in October 1969.

Sunday 25 July 1982 - The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company outstationed two buses in Mildenhall to operate services into Bury St. Edmunds six days a week. Normally the pair remained parked on Sundays when no services ran. However, for a few summers during the early 1980s the company utilised the buses on Sundays for an excursion type service operating to Felixstowe as service X12. This view shows the two outstationed vehicles loading for the seaside at King Street, both are Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristols. The double decker a Bristol VR is VR195 (TEX 405R) (new May 1977) and the single decker a Bristol RELL, RL504 (BVF 667J) (new in June 1971). The folks sat ignoring the buses were waiting for transport elsewhere, they had been out all night. I recalled there had been some musical concert at Mildenhall Stadium the previous night and with the power of the Internet more than 30 years later I was able to establish that it was an East Anglia Rock and Blues Festival event. This view, taken from Recreation Way, shows a little more of the layout of the lay-by area at King Street. Note that the bus shelter had not yet been constructed. The entrance to the car park is at the far end of the wall close to what is now the Abbotts Estate Agents building and near the case that housed a plan of the town.

Monday 17 July 1972 - A United Automobile Services Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE (from the UHN-G batch) seen pulling out of Wellington Street Coach Station, Leeds working the 1155 hrs service X99 to Middlesbrough. Note the 'double lollipop' sign which was a prominent feature of this coach station operated by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. service X99 forms part of the 'Tyne-Tees-Mersey' Limited Stop pool.

Monday 17 July 1972 - Wellington Street Coach Station, Leeds: From left to right - Ribble 900 (ECK 900E) Leyland Leopard/Marshall (dual purpose model) (Worked in from Southport on service X17 and due to return at 1200); East Yorkshire 879 (RKH 879G) also Leyland Leopard/Marshall (dual purpose model) (Worked in on the 0730 service 46 from Hull due to return at 1205); West Yorkshire Bristol MW/Eastern Coachworks (1205 service X35 to Yeadon Airport); a United Automobile Bristol RE/Eastern Coachworks (UHN-G batch) (1155 X99 service to Middlesbrough).

Monday 17 July 1972 - (approx 1300) - Seen from the former cafe window overlooking the bus station. Going clockwise the vehicles are: North Western Leyland Leopard/Duple Commander (Westbound duplicate service X98); West Yorkshire Bristol RE/Eastern Coachworks (Service 43 to York and possibly Scarborough); West Yorkshire Bristol RE/Eastern Coachworks (dual purpose model); Northern General Leyland Leopard/Marshall (dual purpose model); Northern General 2631 (FCN 631F) Leyland Leopard/Alexander Y type (0900 Newcastle-Liverpool X98 service coach); Northern General 2633 (FCN 633F) Leyland Leopard/Alexander Y type (0910 Newcastle-Coventry 'Ten Cities Express' service coach); then a cream topped Alexander Y type that I believe was a Hebble or Yorkshire Woollen District coach running as the 1320 Leeds-Liverpool service X97); then a pair of West Yorkshire Bristol MW/Eastern Coachworks coaches. Out of shot to the left was Lancashire United 216, the service coach working the 0950 Liverpool-Newcastle X98). The station inspector can be seen in the dark suit at the rear of the NGT Marshall bodied vehicle. Note the West Yorkshire crew walking across the station towards their assigned vehicle, the male driver in short beige dust jacket and the female conductor in the longer version coat - both have the red collar and the coat a red belt.

August 1973 - West Yorkshire Road Car Company ERG4 (AWR 401B), a 1964 Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE, seen at Lower Mosley Street Bus Station, Manchester when working between Liverpool and Newcastle on a 'Tyne-Tees'Mersey' Limited Stop Poll service X98.

August 1973 - West Yorkshire Road Car Company 1001 (AWR 401B), a 1964 Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE, seen at Chorlton Street Coach Station, Manchester. It was working the 0950 service from Liverpool to Newcastle (due 1655) driven by a Lancashire United driver between Liverpool and Leeds. From Leeds a West Yorkshire driver would continue to Newcastle and then drive back as the 1800 service to Leeds (2140).

January 1972 - A West Yorkshire Road Car Company Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE heading eastbound on the M62. It was working the 0950 service from Liverpool to Newcastle (due 1655) driven by a Lancashire United driver between Liverpool and Leeds. From Leeds a West Yorkshire driver would continue to Newcastle and then drive back as the 1800 service to Leeds (2140). (Photo taken from Broad Lane road bridge (B6194) near Rochdale)