Open Toppers Return

Just in case you weren't aware (!) First Great Yarmouth open toppers were out on the road for the first day of the Coastal Clipper 1C services yesterday.



Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 37533 CRZ 166 was outside the Britannia Pier and Joyland in the glorious sunshine.



Continuing our walk south to the Wellington Pier, we saw 37067 CRZ 488 passing the new wheel and the SeaLife Centre. It was deputising for 37069 CRZ 622 which was taken out of service due to electrical issues.



Returning to the car we caught up with 37066 CRZ 366 on North Drive passing the bowling greens.

Roy

On The 146

On Saturday Tim Miller was a passenger on the BorderBus 146 service to Norwich and its return to Southwold and Beccles.



He took a few pictures during the trip made by Scania N230UD 211 BB06 BUS with the first featuring the decker on Northgate in Beccles.



The service ran 10 minutes late as it was being held up behind a First Eastern Counties working in Kessingland and unfortunately there was nowhere on the route where the time could be made up. The next picture shows 211 on a busy St Stephen's Street in the fine city due to the opening of a new Forbidden Planet store.



A photo of the Scania in the High Street in Southwold is next where the 146 service from Norwich terminated.

It returned to Beccles not in service and is pictured at Morrisons with its next working being the Beccles Town Service.

My thanks to Tim for the report and photos.

Roy

Norwich Yesterday

Some photos taken yesterday by Dan High on Norwich's Castle Meadow feature in this post which was delayed due to a new Wi-Fi hub being installed by yours truly.



Sanders Coaches Volvo B8RLE MCV eVoRa 529 BV72 KDD passed him on the X55 to North Walsham while his bus was going under the Magdalen Street flyover.



On Castle Meadow he sighted two Mercedes-Benz Tourismos, A17 AWE and P1 AWE, from the Eastons Coaches fleet.



My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Ready For The Off

Three of  the four open toppers pictured inside First’s Caister Road depot this morning ready to go on the 1C service.

Further news from the depot is that two Volvo B9s are currently off the road - 37566 AU58 ECE with a  gearbox problem and 36287 LX59 DBY with electrical issues.

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photo.

Late News: 37069 will not now be available due to electrical issue.

Roy

Open Toppers Start Tomorrow

Just a quick heads up to let you know that four open toppers will be out on the road for the first day of the Coastal Clipper 1C services tomorrow.

They are expected to be 37066 CRZ 366, 37068 CRZ 599, 37069 CRZ 622 and 37533 CRZ 166 which have been especially hand washed for their duties. The timetable can be found here. Let’s hope the weather keeps fine and the rain stays away.

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photos.

Roy

Evening Tour

A quick tour around the Great Yarmouth area earlier this evening which involved five coaches at Beach Coach Station and two on Marine Parade



Two Mercedes-Benz Tourismos at the former were from the Alfa Holidays fleet - A155 BV25 LZK (pictured) and 120 BV20 HND.



Also present was Shearings.com branded VDL Futura FHD2 T321 BBC operated by Bluebird Coaches of Weymouth.



Next to that was Taylor's Coach Travel's Scania K410CB6 / Irizar i6s K7 TCT based in Yeovil. A notice in the windscreen suggested it was on tour of the 'Little Trains of Norfolk and the Mississippi Paddle Steamer'



At the northern end of the site was Simonds Volvo B12B TCF 496. It is assumed it was waiting time to operate a contract working.



I continued via First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot which had nine buses at the front and another two in the layby awaiting attention. Five of the red fronted Volvo B9s appeared to have already been prepared for their next duties.



Two Caledonian Travel coaches were observed on my journey home with Mercedes-Benz Tourismo NH18 CGH and Parks of Hamilton's Volvo 9700 bodied Volvo B11R LSK 615 noted on Marine Parade.

Roy

Norwich Today

A couple of photos provided by Dan High illustrating some of the bus activity at Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today.



Konectbus ADL Enviro400 603 SN10 CFG was seen on the 10 from Wroxham to Norwich Fast service.



An interesting working was the unusual use of First Wright StreetLite 47473 SN14 EAG on the Park & Ride PR1 between Norwich Airport and Thickthorn. It is normally worked by a Wright StreetDeck Electroliner.

My thanks to Dan for the use of his photos.

Roy