lrbor

The Lincolnshire Road Car's first service into Norfolk was a result of taking over certain United routes 1931, amongst which was one between Spalding and King's Lynn via Holbeach. This operated for many years as the route 65 and was renumbered 505 in 1980. It was worked by Holbeach depot, itself an outstation of Boston, the closure of the latter in August 1989 resulting in the LRCC closing Holbeach depot (considered too remote from the main network to be allowed to operate on its own)and withdrawing the service which is now in the hands of Fowler's of Holbeach Drove. One very unusual route introducedin the 1980's took the Company well away from its traditional operating area and, as illustrated from thetimetable for route 506 which, together with the 508, saw them running into Wisbech and Downham Market ! Although Wisbech had a service from Holbeach (67A) up to the Second World War, Downham Market was certainly a first ! The 506 and 508 were both short lived runs.

Another service acquired from United in 1931 ran between Boston and Spalding. Between Spalding and Peterborough services were operated by Eastern Counties, thus requiring a change at Spalding.

A major revision in 1980 saw many routes in the Boston area marketed under the "Fenlander" banner and the Skegness to Boston and Boston to Spalding runs were linked together. In 1982, as illustrated by the extract from the leaftlet on the right, this was extended further so that certain journeys operated through to Peterborough, the first LRCC stage carriage to reach this city. Similarly it also resulted in some Eastern Counties vehicles reaching Skegness !

Unfortunately, it was not without its problems. Many of the advertised through runs were not and the fact that Eastern Counties network of routes had not reached the 500's and destination numbers on vehicles reflecting this, meant Eastern Counties referred to the service as XO7 !

Through tickets were available and the leaflet advertises an adult day return from Skegness to Peterborough at £1.99. Although the through service was unquestionably convenient, even the most ardent Bristol VR enthusiast would probably not enjoy a journey of 3½ with no break !

The journey was a casualty of deregulation in 1986 (when it was operated with Cambus). Currently, travelling from Skegness to Peterborough on service buses involves using three different bus companies !

With the demise of Bland of Cottesmore in 1997, the Company returned to Peterborough and continues to operate a Saturdays only service between the City and Oakham via Stamford.

The LRCC also served Leicester with its service 25 from Grantham via Melton Mowbray, established in the 1930's, runt jointly with the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co. (later Midland Red) who shortly after the War renumbered their vehicles on the route 662. From May 30th, 1997, the route was renumbered 618 / 619. The next major change took place onfrom January 15th, 1984, when the LRCC ended up operating the service on their own and extended it from Lincoln with connections at Leicester for Birmingham. Like the 507 it also involved a long run on a VR without a break and was a short lived run, reverting back to a 618 between Grantham and Leicester only from October 8th, 1984, until deregulation saw its complete withdrawal after October 25th, 1986. Since then there has ben no through service between Grantham and Leicester.

The above view shows ex Yorkshire Traction 1707 )KKY 841P) about to depart from Lincoln St. Marks bus station for Leicester (not the incorrect route number !) on the X66 in 1994. Below, in the last year of the 618's operation, 1706 (KKY 840P) is seen at Leicester St. Margaret's bus station after arrival from Grantham.

When Blands of Cottesmore ceased operating in 1997, several services passed to Road Car. One of these was a rather scenic route from Grantham via Melton Mowbray (113). At the John Street terminus in Oakham is 1957 (PFE 541V) which had just worked the 1330 run from Grantham. Eventually this was to become a joint operation with Midland Fox and Road Car opted out completely in January 1999. The Company continues to operate some services in Oakham.

Melton Mowbray, like Leicester, once enjoyed a long established LRCC service 25 as well as other rural routes from the town, but all had disappeared by 1980. From January 4th, 1994, a new service (subsidised by Leicestershire County Council) commenced. The 119 running Mondays to Saturdays to Nottingham via Long Clawson and on Saturdays and school holidays the 118 to Grantham. Grantham depot provided the vehicles - usually a double deck (VR) on schooldays and a single deck on others. Here we see 1436 (YSF 81S) standing at Melton Mowbray before departing to Grantham.

1959 (PFE 543V) approaches the Broadmarsh bus station at Nottingham on the aforementioned service 119 from Melton Mowbray. The first LRCC service to reach the city was the 33C (joint with Trent) later renumbered 609, and withdrawn in the early 1980's. The takeover of Gash by Yorkshire Traction saw the Newark to Nottingham run operated by Road Car as service 50, later withdrawn, and now operated by Pathfinder. Following the withdrawal of the 119 and some school runs in January 1999, the Company currently has no services in the city.

The Company's longest stage carriage service ever was the X67 "Lincman" between Lincoln and Manchester via Newark, Mansfield and Chesterfield. It was jointly run with East Midland/Mansfield District and Silver service. On the last day of service (in its complete form) 1455 (AVL 744X) stands at Manchester's Chorlton Street coach station after working the 1105 ex Lincoln service.

Newark is still an important location on the LRCC network and currently has the only depot outside of Lincolnshire. A number of routes such as those to Retford operate entirely within Nottinghamshire. Until January 1999 there were also schoolday services from Newark to Southwell and Mansfield. 1463 (OGM 625M) is seen departing of route 38 to Retford. At the time it was the oldest vehicle in regular service in the Road Car fleet !

Retford once even boasted a Road car depot and a direct service (25) to Lincoln and the 85 (Gainsborough to Sheffield via Retford and Worksop) which was jointly operated with East Midland and South Yorkshire PTE. The depot closed many years ago and deregulation in 1986 all but wiped out the Company's operations in the town. The demise of Chesterfield Transport owned Retford & District in 1996, several routes passed to Road Car. More recently, they have also returned to operating regular services to Gainsborough and Worksop. 2849 is seen at Retford bus station prior to working service 94B to Gainsborough.

Seen in January 1999 is Leyland National 2849 (UFG 53S) is seen at Misson, a small village in the northernmost tip of Nottinghamshire. Its journey back will briefly take it into South Yorkshire (at Bawtry) and back into Nottinghamshire via the coal mines at Harworth to Retford. A fascinating little run which encompasses small villages, market towns, and agricultural and coal mining landscapes.

The 399 (previously numbered 104/6/7) was an interesting run between Scunthorpe and Doncaster which spent much of its time on minor roads, via Haxey (where it connected with a service from Gainsborough). Leyland National 2822 (NFW 967P) is seen emerging from the gloom of Doncaster South bus station before working a 399 to Scunthorpe. The route was withdrawn after deregulation in 1986 and is now operated by Isle Coaches who, interestingly, have retained the original route number. In recent years, the LRCC has returned to Doncaster operated (jointly with Eagre) the X98 service from Lincoln and Gainsborough and the 99 from Retford via Bawtry, formerly operated by Retford & District.

Established with the opening of the Humber Bridge, the service 350 continues to provide a regular service between Hull and Scunthorpe via Barton on Humber. There was also a direct run from Grimsby to Hull which was withdrawn in 1999, passengers now having to change at Barton on Humber onto a connecting 350. The service is operated jointly with East Yorkshire. 1935 (YFE 239S) in National Trvelworld livery is seen at Hull bus station prior to its return to Scunthorpe.

Another service into East Yorkshire was the former 356 (previously numbered 155) which ran between Scunthorpe and Goole which is now operated by Sweyne, again retaining the former route number.

Finally, brief mention has to be made of service 8 (Boston - Lincoln) which called at New York and service 11 (Lincoln - Doddington) which passed through Jerusalem ! On par with this in the era when they had services in East Anglia, is United Automobile Services who had routes in Washington and California !