Local Dart In Norwich

Another First Great Yarmouth Dart SLF appeared at Norwich Bus Station earlier today to work the 14:10 X1 service from the city.

The sighting of 42920 EU05 AUM comes less than a month after 42919 EU05 AUL was noted on an X11 duty there (X11 Dart: 18th June 2020). The Dart was commandeered as the planned decker had developed a fuel leak.

My thanks to Omar Atiallah for the report and photo.

Roy

National Holidays Brand Saved

The JG Travel Group, which includes Just Go! Holidays and Omega Breaks, has purchased the National Holidays brand and database from the administrators of the Specialist Leisure Group (SLG).

The group intends that their National Holidays programme will use coach operators from the same regions that tours were delivered from previously. It wants wants to replicate the product with it being delivered by third-party operators with some of the coaches carrying the National Holidays branding.

SLG ceased trading on 22 May after the coronavirus pandemic caused 'a significant cash shortfall.' The Shearings brand, database and customer website were subsequently acquired by Leger.

Roy

Our Bus Solo On ebay

Joe Wilson-Smith has alerted me to the availability of an Our Bus Optare Solo being advertised on ebay today

It is Optare Solo M920 X313 CBT which was acquired from Goodwins of Manchester in November 2018. The 33 seater was new to Durham County Council in October 2000

My thanks to Joe for heads up and the ebay entry can be viewed here

Roy

Last B7 Leaves

So far unreported here is the last Volvo B7L departure from First's Caister Road depot. 66341 MV02 VCT left on Thursday with its destination unknown. It had languished in the rear yard for sometime being withdrawn as long ago as January 2019.

Meanwhile at Lowestoft's Gas Works Road Depot Dart SLF 42956 WX06 OMO is in use as the drivers' canteen!

Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL 32210 LT52 WTR has been a little temperamental of late, so it found itself on the naughty step in the rear yard at Caister Road on Friday. It still has gear problems.

Finally, summer must be arriving as the Dennis Trident open topper W905 VLN was in use earlier today.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information

Roy

Ensign on Friday

Owen Philips looked in at Ensign’s Purfleet premises yesterday and found former First Eastern Counties Lowestoft Heritage Volvo 30888 W743 DWX present - so he had to get a photo of it. (See Thursday evening's post Heritage Departure)

Fortunately also at Ensign, and close by, was ex Ipswich Buses Optare Olympus bodied Scania 68 YJ60 KGX which is now off lease. It is one of three buses recently reported as leaving the Suffolk fleet - the others were Alexander Dennis Enviro300 83 SK07 DYA and VDL SB180 / MCV Evolution 156 AY60 BVD. However, on the positive side, three Enviro 200s are joining the operator from Bus Eireann via Ensign.

My thanks to Owen Penfold Philips for the photo

Roy

Friday Flashback ~ August 2007

This week's Flashback Friday sees us revisit August 2007 and the first photo is a typical seaside shot showing an open topper on Great Yarmouth's seafront



It is Awayadays' MCW Metrobus KYV 670X which was new to London Transport in November 1981. Sold to Ensign in October 2002, it was subsequently purchased by City Sightseeing, Inverness.
Awayadays acquired it in 2005 and it was later exported to Cyprus in November 2012.



Next up is a photo of Anglianbus Optare Tempo YJ06 FZK in Surrey Street, Norwich on the 11th August working the 588 to Halesworth. It was new to Optare of Crossgates in March 2006 and had just joined the Anglian fleet during August 2007. Prior to its Suffolk arrival it was used for a short period by Huntingdon & District.



Norwich is also the setting for our third photo which shows Sanders Coaches R381 GTW awaiting passengers in St Stephens Street. The Northern Counties Palantine bodied DAF DB250 was new to Harris Bus of West Thurrock in 1998. Passing is First Eastern Counties Dennis Dart 40602 M210 VWW which was new to Yorkshire Rider in May 1995.

The final picture is of First Eastern Counties 30105 K489 EUX on a Bernard Matthews contract working. The former China Motor Bus Olympian is observed on Nelson Road North in Great Yarmouth on 13th of August. It was one of ten delivered to Caister Road from Rotherham where they had been painted in Barbie 3 livery. They were previously at First Glasgow.

Roy

Heritage Departure

Late this afternoon 'Reg Vardy' messaged me to say that two more withdrawn First Volvo B7TL deckers had just departed Lowestoft's Gas Works Road depot and were heading for Ensigns at Purfleet.

The twosome make their way over Lowestoft's bascule bridge

One was Lowestoft Heritage liveried 30888 W743 DWX whilst the other was 30913 W768 DWX. It is believed that the former has found further use whilst the latter's future seems uncertain.

My thanks to 'Reg' for the information

Roy