Friday Flashback ~ December 2010 (Part Two)

The penultimate Friday Flashback today comprises photos taken in Great Yarmouth during the early part of December 2010

Our first subject is Anglian Coaches (later Anglianbus) Optare Solo M950 335 MX08 MYV, in plain white livery, observed passing the long gone BHS store on Regent Road on the 581 Beccles service. Britannia Parking of Bournemouth was its first owners in April 2008. It later moved to Thames Travel and Carousel Buses which, together with Anglian and others, became part of the Go-Ahead Group.

Next up is another Anglian Solo and this time an M780 version. 307 AU54EOA was new in September 2004 and is seen here on Howards Street North in the town on the same day. Anglian was an early operator of gas powered buses and 307 had a pod fitted to the roof containing gas cylinders as part of a clean vehicle trial project. It later had the pod removed and was transferred to Vale Travel in Spring 2014 where it was frequently employed on Star Travel's routes 11 and 11a in Milton Keynes.

A third Optare Solo (an M920) YJ51 XSM in the black hole known as Market Gates on the 15th. Whilst the picture quality is passable, it is one of the few occasions when the lighting was OK. At that time the owners were quite often very frugal with the lighting in this area of the shopping centre! The Solo was new in September 2001 with Anglian acquiring it from Horsburgh of Pumpherston, Scotland in December 2010 - the same month the picture was taken.

Our final photo of this post is that of Shearings Holidays Kassbohrer Setra 111 BN09 FXA at Beach Coach Station also taken on the 15th. It passed to Thandi Executive, Smethwick, West Midlands in August 2016 and was reregistered THA 636 the following month. However, it had reverted to BN09 FXA by the time it passed to Grindle in April 2019 and was given its current mark of J300 TRG a month later.

Next week will be the last Friday Flashback as I have now exhausted my collection of old photos not published before on the blog. It will be a special one featuring vehicles operated by local independent Swift Coaches.

Roy

Lowestoft Blues

Last week saw Great Yarmouth Transport liveried Volvo B7TL 32059 W219XBD spend a few days on loan in Suffolk, working a variety of routes around Lowestoft.

She is pictured above leaving Lowestoft Bus Station bound for Kessingland on the Coastal Clipper 99 service. Whilst at the Bus Station it was briefly joined by the latest GYT liveried vehicle in the shape of Volvo B9TL 37562 FJ08FYN which was working the Coastal Clipper 1/1A service to Martham.

Well done to Aaron who was on hand to capture both of Yarmouth's heritage deckers at the same time in Lowestoft!

Thanks for the photos Aaron.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 15th September 2021

Today's Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains a few items of local interest.

A second licence application has been made by Stephens Coach Hire Limited for an operating centre at Unit 2 Jones (G.C.) Way at Great Yarmouth. The Transport Manager is named as Carl Joseph Crysell and authorisation is being sought for one vehicle at the site..

Thompsons Coaches of Framlingham has registered a new service between Silver Lace Green Darsham and Thomas Mills High School in Framingham Numbered 557 it operates on school days on Monday to Fridays only and began on the 6th September 2021.

First Eastern Counties has amended the timetables of its X11/ 7 Great Yarmouth Market Gates to Belton Bracon Road and the X1/ X11 between Norwich Bus Station and Great Yarmouth Market Gates services from 5th September 2021. From the same date the operator changed the timetable of its X2/ X21/ X22 Lowestoft Bus Station to Norwich routes. Other timetables altering the same day include the 14 / 15/ 15A, and 15B operating between Wymondham and Wroxham/ Blofield Heath/ Lingwood and the 99A/ 99H Kings Head, Southwold to St Mary's Street, Bungay service. Additionally the route and timetable of the Norwich St Stephens Street to Bungay 40 / 40A / X41 / 41A / 41 services are also amended from the 5th September 2021

The full report can be viewed here

Roy

Decker Update

The former Arriva London open top bus and London Sightseeing Tours LJ51 DKN returned to Ensign in early September before the end of the summer timetable. The Plaxton President bodied DAF DB 250 had been loaned to First to provide additional cover during peak demands for the seasonal open top 1C service.



Also in early September, Coastal Reds Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7TL 37174 SF07 FDE transferred to First Ipswich on loan whilst two First Ipswich deckers were receiving attention at Caister Road. Both 32479 AU53HJV and 32493 AU53 HKL have since returned to the Suffolk town. Another Ipswich decker, 32654 AU05 MUW, is now at Caister Road for repair

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy

Coach Services Latest

My first conversation with Omar Atiallah since his move to Coach Services revealed that the Thetford operator has repainted former Tower Transit Volvo B9 VN37952 BN61 MWZ into its owner's colour of all over white. It arrived from dealer Ensign in June this year.

Former ex Trent Barton Alexander (Belfast) bodied Volvo B10M-60 M51PRA has been sold for preservation being one of only five in existence. New in January 1995, Coach Services acquired it from Green Triangle of Atherton, Greater Manchester in October 2008.

Optare Solo M920 MX04 VMA has left the fleet moving down the road to Salec Travel Limited also based in Thetford. It was new to Coach Services in July 2004.

My thanks to Omar for the information and photos.

Roy

City Of Colour

Last weekend myself and my partner ventured to the city of Nottingham for a concert, the first for quite a while because of the pandemic of course! Friday night was concert night followed by a wander around the city centre on Saturday morning. The other half was far more interested in shopping so she and her friends ventured off leaving me with unfortunately just my phone to grab a few shots of the very colourful bus operations of Nottingham City Transport and Trent Barton.

The main body of vehicles within the Nottingham fleet are Scania E400 Envirocity Deckers and are all colour coded for various routes around the city.

Other vehicles in the fleet include ADL Enviro 200/400's, Optare Solo SR's and newer ADL Enviro 200 MMC's.

Another trip will be made i am sure, with the correct camera next time! A very colourful and vibrant city with plenty to view for any enthusiast.

Final photo is of Trent Barton ADL Enviro 200MMC YY18TPO pictured awaiting departure to Derby on the Indigo Line.

Grahame.

Friday Flashback ~ December 2010

As we near the end of our regular Friday Flashback feature, this week we look back to the early part of December 2010 with Great Yarmouth being the location for the photos.



For our first three contributions we look in at Beach Coach Station during the early part of the month. On the 2nd National Holidays' Transbus Paragon bodied Volvo B12M YJ03 VOF was present. New to Wallace Arnold in 2003 it later transferred to the National Holidays fleet and subsequently joined Edward Thomas & Son Coaches of Epsom


Shearings Holidays Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD 215 BF10 VCG paid a visit to the Coach Station on the 8th of the month



That same day Simonds Volvo B12B Jonckheere Mistral FJ06 BSO was also on site. It was new to Loch & Glens of Aberfoyle in March 2006 with Simonds acquiring it three years later.

The final photo is of First Eastern Counties 20107 N607 APU at Market Gates Bus Station with its destination showing X1 Peterborough

Roy