Happy Harold Arrives

The latest arrival at the East Anglia Transport Museum's Carlton Colville site is a Hastings trolleybus.

Arriving yesterday, Hastings No 3 is a purpose built open top double deck trolleybus, a type which was unique to Hastings. It is the only survivor of the eight that were built.

Affectionately known as Happy Harold, it was built by Guy Motors in 1928 and is fitted with Dodson bodywork. It was restored in 1953 as No 3A and later fitted with a Commer TS3 diesel engine.

The trolleybus is on loan for the forthcoming 1950's event at the Museum on 11th and 12th May. The event will see the return to service of Hastings 34 after 52 years of inactivity following its withdrawal by Maidstone Corporation.

My thanks to Tim Major for the information and photos

Roy

First Update

Further to Monday's post (Languishing at Caister Road) there is a third saloon stored in the rear yard at Caister Road and that is Volvo B7L 61148 MV02VBU complete with Norwich Network branding.

Recent activity in the workshops at Caister Road has already seen the installation of a new engine in Excel liveried ADL Enviro400 33813 YX63LKA. It was only yesterday we reported its arrival!

Meanwhile, the two recently reactivated saloons Volvo MV02VBZ and Scania SN51UYG were both seen in Gorleston High Street yesterday on the 8s between the James Paget Hospital and Caister's Second Avenue.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information

Roy

Surprise Arrival

First's Caister Road depot received a surprising visitor yesterday

Usually resident at Kings Lynn, Excel liveried ADL Enviro400 33813 YX63LKA has arrived for repairs.

Normally found on the XL route between Peterborough and Norwich, the decker is believed to be here to receive a replacement engine.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information and photo

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 17th April 2019

The East of England Traffic Commissioner published his latest Notices and Proceedings Report earlier this morning

Whilst there was nothing of note locally the full report can be viewed on the government website

Roy

Lowestoft Highlights

With the car in for servicing I had a few hours to spare in Lowestoft yesterday. I wonder what I should do to keep myself occupied?!

After an initial half hour at the bus station I ventured to the railway station to look at activity there. Mindful that signalling systems would change very soon, I decided my first shot should be that of a train arriving with the current signalling still active.

I then returned to the Bus Station to observe workings there in the hope of seeing either of the two ex Great Yarmouth ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs. I was immediately rewarded with a photo of YJ51RRV returning on the 99 service.

One of the former Great Yarmouth pair Volvo B7TL 30948 YJ51RRV arriving on the 99 service

Immediately afterwards I managed to get a photo of two of First's heritage liveried buses arriving together. Great Yarmouth liveried Volvo B7TL 32059 W219XBD was being followed by Eastern Counties Dart 42926 SN05EAE

The final photo is of the other Great Yarmouth exile, 30961 YJ51RDV, about to stretch its legs on the X22 service to Norwich.

Roy

Languishing at Caister Road

Over the past week or so we have reported the return of two former withdrawn First Great Yarmouth saloons to active duties.

However, two other stored single deckers still reside in the rear yard of Caister Road depot, as seen from my photos taken on Sunday afternoon.

The pair are former Scania demonstrator 65678 YP02ABN, previously with First Essex, and Volvo B7L 66341 MV02VCT, originally with First Northampton.

I wonder what the future holds for them?

(Apparently there is also a third saloon stored on site in the form of Volvo B7 61148 MV02VBU, but I couldn't view it from a public area)

Roy

Beach Coach Station Today

Four coaches were observed at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station at around lunchtime today

The first twosome included National Holidays branded Mercedes Benz Tourismo 5JBT. This was new as BN17JJF in the Solus of Tamworth fleet but is now working for Johnson Bros Tours of Hodthorpe on National Holidays tour work. The other coach featured in the photo is Carter's Coaches of Litcham's Volvo B10M-62 AIG9733. New in July 2001 to a Northern Ireland operator, Carter's acquired it in February 2004

The second photo shows a pair of Mercedes Benz Tourismos - Kettering-based Lawmans Coaches  RL16RSL, on a Shearings Holidays tour, and National Holidays NH17BFH.

Roy