#TBT Flying Banana Buses

The week's ThrowBack Thursday post features another long gone Great Yarmouth operator Flying Banana Buses

Flying Banana was the trading name for Halesworth Transit which began running bus services in the Great Yarmouth area during October 1989

Flying Banana's three minibuses are seen at the firm's operating centre at Harfreys Road on a Sunday when no
services ran. They are left to right C431BHY, C430BHY and E237VOM 

The company started its first route between Gorleston's Shrublands Estate and Great Yarmouth's Market Gates exploiting a gap in services operating in the town at the time. I seem to remember the first day of service was a Saturday when the company supplied a free banana to its customers

Initially the service was provided by two former Bristol City Line Ford Transit 190D Dormobiles. The two 16 seaters were painted in yellow and green livery and were registered C430/1BHY

Shortly after, they were joined by Carlyle Citybus bodied Freight Rover Sherpa E237VOM from Strathclyde and were able to operate the route on 20 minute frequency

Later the service was extended to the Barrack Estate and the James Paget Hospital which became the forerunner of today's First Eastern Counties service 2

Subsequently the company expanded its presence in the town and also spread its wings to operate routes in Lowestoft prior to its acquisition by First during 1998