Sunday 12 May 2024 – Mid Norfolk Railway Bus and Coach Day, East Dereham

Two Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol RE vehicles seen at County School railway station having brought visitors on a 6.5 miles ride from East Dereham station of the preserved Mid Norfolk Railway where the rally was centred. The trip took us to the isolated former County School railway station which features a museum and tea room.

County School station opened in the 1880s to serve a school established about ten years earlier that provided education for the sons of farmers, tradesmen and such in the rural area.

Left is FWC 439H, a service bus model RELL (Rear Engine Long Low frame) new to the Eastern National Omnibus Company in December 1969 as their 1516.

Right is LDV 467F, a coach model RELH (Rear Engine Long High frame) new to the Southern National Omnibus Company in March 1968 as their 2375. Preserved in the Royal Blue livery of the style adopted by the coach operators of the south-western area of the National Bus Company circa 1970 prior to the formation of National Travel.

I rode both ways on LDV 467F which gave a great ride offering the sights and sounds of travel on a 56 year old coach.