Friday Flashback ~ September 2010 (Part Two)

We continue our look back to September 2010 with a visit to Dereham on the 24th of the month.

We begin by looking in at the parking area on Rashes Green where we see celebrity Leyland National 152 UFX 852S. It was new to Hants & Dorset in November 1977 with Konectbus acquiring it from Trent in January 2001. The National is still with us today as part of the Coastal Red (Lynx) fleet at Kings Lynn

Almost opposite the site are the premises of independent Dereham Coachways where Van Hool Alizee bodied Volvo B10M-61 FAZ 3942 was viewed. The cherished plate disguises the fact that it was originally E264 OMT, first registered in April 1988 by Travellers of Hounslow.

Leaving the site and turning left we come to John Goshawk Road, the home of Konectbus. A few interesting buses were on site that day including Optare Excel L1150 X229 WRA, another former Trent vehicle which was new to them in September 2000. Konect acquired it from Loughborough based Kinchbus in August 2007 becoming 229 in the fleet

Our final photo is of R836 FNG and decker J853 TSC at the Konectbus Depot. The former is also an Excel L1150 and the Norfolk registration hides the fact that it was previously R500 BEN, then owned from new in 1998 by Bennet & Lane of Gloucester. It was subsequently cannibalised by Konect to keep others running in service. The latter is an Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian ON2R of 1991 vintage. Numbered 100 in the fleet, it was new to Lothian in October 1991. In 2016 it appeared its future was as a community youth project bus with its lady owner a vehicle preservationist. It would be interesting to know if this venture was successful

Roy