Maidstone & District 3468

[Darryl Meades]

After having been gently persuaded / cajoled by our fantastic Secretary following a posting on Facebook, I've decided to share the scans of some of my photographs to this brilliant group.

The picture quality isn't great (I was young, and this was pre-digital), and I didn't record any dates at the time, but I hope these bring back some memories and spark some conversation.

To kick off, here's M&D Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer 3468 (J468 OKP) at the much-missed Hawkhurst Bus Station. This was one of the second batch of three Darts delivered new to M&D, principally for routes 295/297 from the Tenterden outstation, but also liable to turn up on any of the routes operated by the parent garage.

I have very happy memories of spending Saturday afternoons here, waiting for connections onto the 4 and 5 back to Maidstone. I'd argue that Hawkhurst had M&D's comfiest vehicles, with dual-purpose Nationals and Olympians amongst those allocated.

How's that, Chris? ;-)

[Chris]

I'd say it's a very good start! 

The conversation came about as a collection of a variety of thoughts I've had over the last year or so, and others may wish to join in with some "modern heritage" photos as and when time allows, either "randomly", or as links to "present day" pictures posted. 

As most members know, the Club has a very large collection of photos from the "pre-deregulation" era, and we have a number of photographers who we draw upon for present day images (although we'd like more to give their images a chance and submit them!), but the years between the last few years of NBC and the advent of digital photography is a little thin on the ground as far as Club stocks are concerned, both for the major operators and the independents. With an eye to the 40th anniversary of deregulation in October, and perhaps some other noteworthy anniversaries that could be marked (much as we did with B&W photos in the first few years of Invicta adopting the A5 format), there are more opportunities to share these now than when originally taken. 

I have also long been of the opinion that there is a Club publication to be written, in at least images-with-informative-captions style on the 1986-1995/7 era, albeit that colour printing remains significantly more expensive than B&W, so would inevitably come at a higher price than our usual £5 if anyone wanted to volunteer. 

I'd heartily encourage anyone else with something suitable to share a few select images from time to time... not just because it happens to be a period I'm very interested in but was too young to experience... 

Chris

[Nik Anthony]

I certainly feel that would be a good idea as the early deregulation era was when I started to seriously travel on MD/EK routes, so would certainly be interested in such a publication.

Nik

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[Neil Gow]

I was active in that era and certainly have some pictures that might contribute to such a publication if it gets off the ground. I could send you a list of those worthy of scanning offline, Chris. In the meantime, here's a teaser and quite close to the original theme - 3464 (J464 MKL) one of the first batch of Dennis Darts which operated from Sittingbourne depot on the KCC contract for routes 326/7, pictured in Sittingbourne on 22nd May 1992. I was catching the bus hence the somewhat unusual aspect taken from the bus stop with a telephoto lens, not an uncommon theme in my photos as I like to have my cake and eat it (or picture and catch it).

Neil G.

[Nik Anthony]

I remember travelling on routes 326/7 on deckers, but by that time I think that Sittingbourne had become all SD. Did Sittingbourne have a DD allocation in the immediate post deregulation era (late 80s) for those routes, or were they operated by another garage then?

Nik

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[Nicholas King]

This is quite a complex query!

The 326 and 327 remained worked by DD from Sittingbourne until 3rd July 1989, when most workings were transferred to Gillingham.  Some journeys remained worked by Sittingbourne, using minibuses, as itemised in contemporary News-Sheets.

                Since Sheerness outstation was resourced from Sittingbourne, a DD allocation remained at Sittingbourne until 3rd September 1989.  This is a nominal date, as local arrangements had to be made following the disastrous fire at the Sheerness Bus Station parking lot on 13th August 1989.  Control of Sheerness (and therefore responsibility for providing their DD) passed to Luton depot, officially on 18th September 1989, but in practice from the date of the fire.

                In turn, Sittingbourne (by now just minibuses) passed to the control of Luton on 1st January 1990.  Subsequent developments are covered in the garages section of our M&D Fleet History.

 

Nicholas King

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