M&D 5399 at Hawkhurst

[Derek Jones]

Hawkhurst Bus Station eventually closed in February 2008 (allowing the event to be covered by the Invicta Newsgroup, which had been launched about 18 months earlier), and this view of all-Leyland PD2 DH399 could be around 40 years earlier.  There's just a small possibility that this picture dates from earlier than 1968 when it was, at least theoretically, renumbered to 5399, as it appears to be still carrying its DH-prefix fleet number, but personally I'm too young to have been an active enthusiast until after the last of them were withdrawn in 1970 so can't recall from personal experience whether M&D bothered to apply the new numbers to the survivors from this batch of vehicles.

So it's a little uncertain exactly what date this picture was taken.  Allocation records show DH399 was moved from HK (Hawkhurst) to M (Maidstone) in March 1967, and stayed at the latter until withdrawal, but as the picture shows it on the 5 (on which both HK and M operated, as did Hastings) it might imply that the picture was from before the 5 went OMO in September 1968.

Derek J

[David Swan]

A wonderful evocative picture.

Many thanks Derek.

David Swan M92

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mdekbusclub...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdekbusclub/CAJ9GgXLwGSb00UM%3DNS1yYkNGV3zWJD4eWvUOcmHsJt8wOzC7-A%40mail.gmail.com.

[Richard Ratcliffe]

Fascinating piece of history Derek.  I don't recall ever seeing M&D vehicles or photos of vehicles of this era in original livery bearing the four digit fleet numbers but that may spark someone to post a shot to prove me wrong.  Memories fade re issues from 50-ish years ago.  The shot was almost certainly taken before the route "went OMO" although post that step change there may have been occasional crew-operated workings. Looking at the state of the vehicle, my guess would be 1966 or 1967.  Do the posters on the bus station wall below the windows help?  Or the County Ale side advertisement - some enthusiasts keep records of these  (Mine relate only to Maidstone Corporation which doesn't help!) - anyone help there?

You obviously have more of these priceless photos to scan - could make a nice Christmas Quiz - "Guess the year"!

Merry Christmas all

Richard Ratty

---

From: 'Derek Jones' via Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup <mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 20 December 2024 19:50
To: Invicta Newsgroup <Mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Invicta] M&D 5399 at Hawkhurst

 

Hawkhurst Bus Station eventually closed in February 2008 (allowing the event to be covered by the Invicta Newsgroup, which had been launched about 18 months earlier), and this view of all-Leyland PD2 DH399 could be around 40 years earlier.  There's just a small possibility that this picture dates from earlier than 1968 when it was, at least theoretically, renumbered to 5399, as it appears to be still carrying its DH-prefix fleet number, but personally I'm too young to have been an active enthusiast until after the last of them were withdrawn in 1970 so can't recall from personal experience whether M&D bothered to apply the new numbers to the survivors from this batch of vehicles.

So it's a little uncertain exactly what date this picture was taken.  Allocation records show DH399 was moved from HK (Hawkhurst) to M (Maidstone) in March 1967, and stayed at the latter until withdrawal, but as the picture shows it on the 5 (on which both HK and M operated, as did Hastings) it might imply that the picture was from before the 5 went OMO in September 1968.

Derek J

[Neil Gow]

There's a picture of 5398 (NKT 894) at Ashford in the David Toy/Ray Stenning M&D book, unfortunately undated but clearly displaying its four digit fleetnumber. Another candidate for "Guess the year".

Neil G.