#TBT ~ Lincoln City Transport C46KBE

Our time machine this week takes us back to the early 1990s with another visitor to Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station - Lincoln City Transport's C46KBE

Craig Schofield on Flickr says the decker 'is a long wheelbase East Lancs bodied Leyland Olympian which was new to them in October 1985 as fleet number 46. This was numerically the first of three identical vehicles. They were quite impressive vehicles when new as they had 6LXCT engines and high ratio diffs so had quite a decent turn of speed on a longish road! At the time, Lincoln City Transport had a few National Express contracts and these occasionally were used to replace the AEC Reliances or Leyland Tigers when they were off the road'

C46KBE later became part of the Lincolnshire Road Car fleet when they took over Lincoln City Transport in February 1993. The following year the Olympian was repainted into 'Coachlink' livery and was mainly based at Louth depot

It was subsequently acquired by Stephenson's Coaches of Rochester in Essex who, in turn, sold it on to MacPherson (?) during 2006 and it's there that the trail runs cold.

Roy

First Great Yarmouth News

Further to Roy's post in which he reported Excel liveried Gemini 37578 AU58EDJ working Town service 6 this afternoon another strange allocation saw Norwich Turquiose Line Gemini 36173 BD11CFX employed on the 1B service to Hemsby. I would guess it is due an MOT at Caister Road in the next few days.

It was later employed on the 1/1A route between Lowestoft and Martham and arrived at Ormesby Royal Oak this evening just in time for another photo opportunity with Simon at the wheel.

Today also saw the return of repainted Dart 42929 SN05EAJ from Simon Morris in Ipswich, fellow Yarmouth Dart 42919 EU05AUL has now been taken up to Ipswich for its turn in the paint booth.


Many Thanks to Simon for use of his photos.

Grahame.

BorderBus Update

After successfully completing my quest to get a photo of a First Excel decker on the 6, I thought I would hang around (after finishing the shopping!) to see what would turn up on the Borderbus 14:16 Bungay to Great Yarmouth 580 service.

I was hopeful in that it might be one of the two remaining red liveried Scania OmniCity deckers and, surprise surprise, it was! However, the registration threw me completely as it had special plate BB57BUS. Now was it LX59CNC or LX59CNJ? A prompt reply to my tweet to BorderBus confirmed it was the latter which also now has the fleet number 210.

The 'new' trio have displaced the former Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis BB03BUS, LF52ZPB/C which have gone to Scania in exchange. Incidentally the other red Scania carries the registration BB58BUS, fleet number 208 and was previously LX59CNJ.

BorderBus is currently awaiting certification for the newly painted 209 LX59CNE (see BorderBus Repaint) before the next one goes away for the same treatment at Hants & Dorset Trim.

The operator also reports that the 580 Bungay to Great Yarmouth service is doing extremely well and proving to be very popular.

Roy

First Excel On The 6

This afternoon, whilst I was heading to Gorleston High Street, a First Eastern Counties Excel liveried double decker was noted on the 1335 Great Yarmouth to Bradwell route.

I intended getting a photo of Gemini AU58EDJ's  return working, the 13:53 departure from Bradwell. The first picture, taken on Church Lane, didn't show the destination so a quick sprint to the High Street stop ensured I got the result I wanted!

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 20th September 2017

Just a couple of entries relating to local bus services feature in today's Notices & Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner.

Anglianbus has registered a normal stopping / hail and ride service 90 between Halesworth and Southwold via Beccles to replace its 60S and 60H services from 29th October 2017

North Walsham based PTS Group (Norfolk) Limited has had its application granted for a three vehicle operating centre at Tilia Business Park off Tunstead Road in Hoveton.

The complete Notice & Proceedings Report, covering all of the Eastern Traffic Commissioner's Area, can be viewed HERE

Roy

Borderbus Repaint

One of the three recently aquired ex Stagecoach London Scania Omnicities has been away at Hants & Dorset Trim for refurbishment and conversion to single door. LX59CNE (ex 15139) is now in Borderbus colours and was captured out on at test run in Eastleigh a couple of days ago.

Many thanks to Mike for the use of his photograph. You can see more of his photographs via Flickr HERE

Grahame.

Anglianbus Fleet Update

During the past few days Anglianbus has published its latest fleet list on its website with a few significant changes to report.

OmniCity YN03WRJ on Regent Road in Great Yarmouth about to work the old 81 route in April this year

Since the operator's last update, Scania OmniCitys 461 and 462 (YN05HFG and YN03WRJ) have been withdrawn; whilst its last Scania OmniDekka 554 (YN55PZC) joins former Anglian YN55PZF at Chambers.

OmniDekka YN55PZC at Market Gates during March this year on the 61 service

Regarding the thirteen Mercedes-Benz Citaros, arriving on loan from Go South Coast during the early summer, only three remain in service. They are 2416/31/3 (HF55JZR and HX06EYZ/EZA) whilst another two, in the form of  2413/5 (HF55JZN/P) are withdrawn. I am assuming the remainder have returned down south. (I have subsequently been informed by Colin Oakley that a number of them are stored at the Thamesdown Transport premises in Swindon)

Since withdrawn, Citaro HF55JZT is also seen working the 61 route at Lowestoft's Gordon Road in July this year

The listing is dated 8th September and shows no Konectbus vehicles on loan. The fleet has now slimmed down to just 23 vehicles.

Roy