Olympian Returns

34109 W436CWX passes Gorleston Recreation Ground on 27th January last

First's Volvo Olympian 34109 W436CWX has returned to active duties - the only one of the seven Alexander Royale bodied deckers currently in service

Ryan also informs me that a second Optare Solo has arrived at Caister Road for mot work. She is First Essex 53137 EO02NFX, which is currently allocated to Chelmsford

Many thanks for the update Ryan

Ensign Bus Dealership Disposal

Former Anglian Scania CN94UB YN03WRL in Gorleston High Street
on  16th October 2012 still in her red livery

Many of you will be aware that Ensign also provides a dealership in addition to its bus services in the Essex area

Ross Newman regularly provides reports to many enthusiast groups and the disposal list for February caught my attention.

Included in the report was the sale of ex Anglianbus Scania OmniCity YN03WRL to Southern Transit of Brighton

The Scania was new to Metrobus in August 2003 as their 539 and subsequently moved to Anglian in September 2012 operating as 450 in the Suffolk based fleet. 

As the photo shows, for a time WRL operated in service in London Red before being repainted in Anglian colours. It still retains its centre doors

Avon Calling!

Transbus Trident KN52NDV, now in use with Avon Cosmetics

Many of you will remember the old 'Avon Calling' adverts and this morning the cosmetics company were using a decker to promote their products in Lowestoft

Regular contributor Grahame Bessey caught site of the bus in Gordon Road car park on his way to work this morning

The decker is Transbus Trident KN52NDV and was new to Armchair as their DT13 before passing to Tellings Golden Miller as their TA161.

Thanks for the report and photo Grahame

Suffolk Made & Operated

With the spring like weather of the last few days, our thoughts turn towards this year's outside events

Neil Chilvers reminds me that the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, are holding a Suffolk Made & Operated event during May

Organised in conjunction with Ipswich Transport Museum, it celebrates the transport heritage of Suffolk and is being held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May

Buses from the extensive collection of both museums together with those made or operated in the county will offer regular free bus services to Lowestoft and Beccles

However, the star of the show will be the recently restored Ipswich Trolleybus 105 (seen above) making its public service début.

Interior of Ipswich Trolleybus 105

It will be the first time an Ipswich trolleybus has operated under the wires in its home county since the system closed

Continuing the theme will be Suffolk built Garrett trolleybus NESA No 5, resident of the museum and currently the oldest serviceable trolleybus in the world

The other museum events for 2014 are the Hop on a Bus Day on Sunday 22nd  June  and the End of Season Gala on 6/7th September

My thanks to Neil for the information and photos.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 5th March 2014

The latest Eastern Area Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was published earlier today on the Gov.UK website.

Publication No 2174 includes changes to some services operated by Anglianbus, Konectbus and Sanders Coaches. Konect is also introducing a new open top service whilst Nightingales has surrendered its 521 route

Registration of New Services

Konect Bus of Dereham have registered a new service between Weybourne and Cromer via Sheringham. Service 22 commences on 20th April 2014 and operates Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays, running hourly. Andys Bus Blog has further details including a photo of the open top bus to be used on the route

Applications to Vary Existing Services

Anglian Bus of Beccles is amending the timetables of some of its services from 20th April 2014:-
*   7 Blofield Heath and Great Yarmouth/Great Yarmouth College
*   60 Bungay to Lowestoft                                *   61   Bungay to Lowestoft
*   62 Beccles to Halesworth                             *   83   Harleston and Norwich
*   87/88 Durban Close, Halesworth to Newmarket Road, Norwich

From the same date Anglian also amends routes, stopping places and timetables of the following
*  7A Norwich Bus Station and East Norfolk Sixth Form (route and timetable changes only)
*  83A/88B/BH272 Harleston to Southwold         *   84   Broad Street, Harleston to Norwich

Konectbus of Dereham is to amend route and timetables of its Norwich to Sheringham (route 2) and Sheringham to Holt (route 2A) services from 20th April 2014. There will also be timetable changes to its 52 route from the same date

Applications to Vary Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

Sanders Coaches of Holt has altered the timetable of its 45 Norwich to Holt and the route and timetable of the 46 between Holt and Fakenham

Cancellations of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

As expected, Nightingales of Beccles  has de-registered its 521 service between Halesworth and Aldeburgh. with effect from the 29th March.The service will be taken over by Borderbus

Information source: Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area - Notices & Proceedings Report 2174 - published on 5th March 2014.

Jamie's News

Ambassador Solo MX54KYA operates the northbound 730 today

Jamie Skinner reports that 'One of the new deckers from Leicester was observed on the 1A to Lowestoft at about 4:30 at Yarmouth' (thought to be the 15:59 from Martham)

He also saw an 'unusually packed' northbound Ambassador 730 service on Southtown Road with 601 MX54KYA in use. His picture was taken from the top deck of the 15:56 number 8 from Caister to the James Paget Hospital.

My thanks to Jamie for his report and photo

In Search of the Leicesters

ALX400 W743DWX leads Gemini FJ08FYN on a Bernard Matthews contract

Today was the first opportunity I had to track down and photograph the two former First Leicester ALX400s

I thought my best bet would be at Beach Coach Station to capture a photo of either of them working Bernard Matthews contracts.

Wrong guess! The arrival of the twosome was heralded by noisy ALX400 30888 W743DWX which led

It's as if it was waiting for me, 32062 W422SRP basking in the sun

Gemini 37562 FJ08FYN along Nelson Road North

I got a photo of the two prior to departure following the boarding of passengers at the coach station

On the off chance, I headed for Caister Road depot and couldn't believe my luck as 32062 W422SRP was parked on the forecourt soaking up the sunshine!

A quick photo

Three of the Olympians in the rear yard - on the left is 34108 W435CWX, in
the centre is 34109 W436CWX and nearest the camera is 34113 W433CWX

opportunity and then, just as I was driving away, 32063 W223XBD was driven out of the garage and left northbound.

I expect both were on schools duties serving the rural area north of the town

Meanwhile, all seven CWX registered Volvo Olympians were noted located in the rear yard

Finally, Ryan tells me that he delivered Lowestoft's ADL Enviro200 45112 DK57SXF to its home depot during yesterday evening after a long stay at Caister Road undergoing repair

My thanks to Ryan for the update