Ipswich Saturday

Saturday saw us in Ipswich for most of the day and we travelled into the town centre using the Park & Ride service from London Road

The first port of call was the Old Cattle Market bus station where I captured Galloway's Optare Solo 360 (MX59AWF) laying over with 119 Framlingham displayed on its destination screen.

Whilst the other half was shopping, I wandered down the end of Carr Street to view activity on St Margaret's Street. That is where I observed former First Great Yarmouth Eclipse 69009 (AU05DMX) getting its kicks on route 66!

After lunch (and yet more shopping) I went back to the Old Cattle Market bus station and saw another Ipswich P&R Enviro300 in the form of 67775 (SN62AXO) on Dogs Head Street. I saw 67775 months earlier at the rear of First Great Yarmouth's depot in a completely different livery.

Another blue liveried bus was Beestons East Lancs OmniDekka YN55NJZ about to leave the bus station on the 91 to Sudbury.

It was also interesting to see some red liveried vehicles including VA479 (AU53HJV) recently named 'James (Jim) Long' after a local enthusiast who often provided much information and photos for this blog. Others included Ipswich Buses (formerly Carters) Dennis Trident 26 (LR52KWH) and on loan East Lancs Scania N230UD OmniCity demonstrator YR61RPV. This was previously First London SN36032 and then Metroline SN1920

An interesting visit which filled some of the gaps in my photo library plus the surprise meeting with fellow enthusiast Trevor Arbon and his wife.

Roy

Jubilee Coaches ~ VJI8206

Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches is a relatively new business in the area, being incorporated in early September last year. In the following month an application was made for an operating centre at Jubilee Farm which is located off Fleggburgh Road in the village. Another month passed when the application was approved for five vehicles at the site.

Bedford YNT VJI8206 outside Stalham High School earlier this week

Other than a photo of A400NNK, supplied by David Bell, appearing on the blog earlier this year, (see Norfolk and Suffolk Tour - dated 21st April 2017) I was unaware of  the identity of any other vehicles in use by the operator other than it had subsequently acquired three Bedfords.

That was until this week, when Kevan Portas supplied a photo of their Plaxton Paramount bodied Bedford YNT registered VJI8206 (ex-B360DDW). The coach, together with A400NNK, was originally owned by Turner and Butcher of Kenninghall which subsequently passed to Norfolk Coachways of Attleborough after the former ceased operating.

My thanks to Kevan for the photo

Roy

#TBT ~ Eastern Counties FPW319C

Today we are concluding our look at Eastern Counties double deckers in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of our Throw Back Thursday feature.

The photo shows two Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol FS5G heading into Norwich city centre along Market Avenue

The nearest Eastern Counties LFS is FPW319C, which was new to the company in October 1965.

After spending much of its time allocated to Kings Lynn, it was withdrawn from service in November 1981. It was subsequently disposed of to dealers APT of Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln.

Unfortunately I am unable to identify the second bus in the shot

Roy

Yarmouth Latest

Looks like at lot of visitors in use at Caister Road today, i managed to photograph 3 Loanee's at the depot this afternoon, good timing on my part!

Norwich Volvo B7RLE 66977 KX05MHA leaving the depot to work the 2 Service

66981 KX05MHA resting after a stint on the 6's this morning

Lowestoft based 37579 AU58EDK working the 1A to Lowestoft

Former Ipswich B7RLE 66979 KX05MHF pictured yesterday by Cameron Robinson on the 1's to Martham

Along with those above, Lowestoft Volvo B7TL 30900 and Norwich Streetlite 47508 were also noted in use from Caister Road today.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 19th July 2017

There's quite a few local entries in this week's Notice and Proceedings Report by the Eastern of England Traffic Commissioner. The main points concern the the provision of school services for the coming school year plus the registration, alteration and cancellation of many of Sanders Coaches' services.

New Services Registered

Sanders Coaches has registered two new school day services both commencing on 3rd September 2017. They are the 704 between Sutton Road, Hickling and Stalham Junior School plus the 401 from Cherry Tree Road, Plumstead and Sheingham High School.

Ourhire Limited is to provide normal stopping service 33A starting and ending at North Walsham. Commencing on 3rd September 2017, the Monday to Friday service will comprise three full and five short trips each day. Our Hire is also to run a Monday to Friday hail and ride service 33, from the same date, between North Walsham and Cromer.

Variation In Services

Go West Travel is to amend the route and timetable of  its 414 school service between North Elmham and Reepham High School from 6th September 2017.

Ourhire Limited is altering the timetable of its 271 Hemsby to Bradwell service from 3rd September 2017.

Sanders Coaches is changing the timetable of the following services:-
⧫ 5 Charles Road, Holt to Post Office, North Walsham.
⧫ 6 Post Office, North Walsham to Market Gates, Great Yarmouth.
⧫ 6A Post Office, North Walsham to Cromer Bus Station.
⧫ 34 Post Office, North Walsham to Stalham former railway station site.
⧫ 27/28 Green Lane, Pudding Norton to Morrisons store, Fakenham.
⧫ 44/44S Holt and Holt and Sheringham Station Approach.
⧫ 45/45A Norwich and Holt.
⧫ 46 Holt and Fakenham.
⧫ 210 North Walsham and Norwich Bus Station.
⧫ 834 Stalham to Great Yarmouth's East Norfolk College.
⧫ X44 Reepham to Norwich High School.
⧫ X55/55 Post Office, North Walsham to Norwich City Centre.

The operator is also amending the route and timetable of the following:-
⧫ 9 Holt and Fakenham.
⧫ 43/43A/43B Reepham Market Place and Norwich Bus Station.
⧫ 204 Holt to Wells High School.
⧫ X11/10 Happisburgh Post Office and Norwich High School.

Sanders is also amending the route of the following:-
⧫ 607 Holt to Reepham.
⧫ 609 Melton Constable and Reepham High School together with a new start and finish point.

All changes to Sanders services are to take effect from 3rd September 2017.

Cancellation of Existing Services

Sanders Coaches is to cancel the following services from  the same date:-
⧫ 7 Gresham School and Park Lane, North Walsham.
⧫ 16 Cadogan Road, Cromer to Holt.
⧫ 17 Holt to Sheringham Station Approach.
⧫ 19 Cadogan Road, Cromer to Holt.
⧫ 33/33A North Walsham to Cromer.
⧫ 86 Felmingham and Aylsham High School.
⧫ 706 Sea Palling service.

Hope you have got all that! The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE.

Roy

Tuesday Observations

With this week being the last one of the school year, many schools are organising trips out to various attractions in the area. Yesterday and today I have seen at least four Reynolds Coaches each day awaiting Lynn Grove students on Beccles Road for trips out but alas no camera was present!

Three of  the Smiths Coaches were (left to right )Volvos FP51EUN, 333SXU and Denis Javelin FN02HGY

This afternoon many schools were visiting the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth with coaches from Sanders, Norse and Smith Coaches being called in to provide transport. Unable to get photos of the first two named (as I was driving) I did come across five coaches parked up near the Sea Life Centre on Marine Parade. All five were being operated for Smiths although one was on hire from Peelings Coaches in the form of Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B12M JJZ9130

Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B10M 333SXU

The Smiths' foursome included FJ53KZK, a Volvo B12M with Berkhof Axial bodywork and Volvo B12M FP51EUN. Also observed was Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B10M 333SXU (previously Y152EAY) having a rare outing to the seaside. Making up the numbers was Dennis Javelin FN02HGY

Located at Beach Coach Station was Norfolk Coachways YJZ2787. This is a 1996 Volvo registered in May of that year to Paterson & Brown of Kilbirnie on the west coast of Scotland as N94HSJ. It has also been registered YSV608 and has seven previous owners before the present keeper reports Cazana

Meanwhile, First Norwich Purple Line 33166 LR02LYD continues in use in Great Yarmouth today being employed on the 8 route between the James Paget Hospital and Caister's Second Avenue.

Roy

The Charcoal One

As luck would have it my home village was the backdrop for some photos of loanee Volvo B7RLE 66981 KX05MHK which is spending a few days at Yarmouth prior to heading to Norwich to be transformed into a Red line vehicle.

It was noted earlier in the day working the 1B service before changing to the 1 service between Lowestoft & Martham, it is seen above in Ormesby St Margaret this evening heading towards Martham.

Grahame.