Latest Angie's Acquisition

So far unreported here is the acquisition of a Scania Omnicity by Lowestoft-based Angie's Tours. YN65 FAM was noted in a layby on the A146 just before the Barnby Bends this morning.



It was owned by Tyrers Coaches in Lancashire and was put up for sale in 2022 by Odyssey Coach Sales having been ex Nottingham City Transport 539. It was new to Reading in October 2006

My thanks to Jon for the report and photo who said it was good to see a Scania again reminding him of the good old Anglian days.

Roy

First Norwich Buses at Caister Road

Another First Norwich double decker has appeared at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot for repair. Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 37056 YJ06 XMG has electrical issues.

Meanwhile, two former Great Yarmouth vehicles are withdrawn and parked up at Roundtree Way after having suffered accident damage. They are Volvo B7s 32201 LT52 WTF (taken out of service in early March) and 37055 YJ06 YJ06 XMF. Their 32107 LT02 ZCX is also out of use

Many thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 31st May 2023

A couple of entries of local interest appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. 

Vertas (Ipswich) Limited has registered a new operating centre for 20 vehicles at the former Servitech Group site on School Road Industrial Estate in Lowestoft

BorderBus Limited of Beccles is to amend the timetable of its 522/522A service from Beccles Old Market to Aldeburgh Fort Green from 5th June 2023.

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here shortly.

Roy

Last Tuesday Tour Of May

I am back from holiday to the cold winds and dull weather of the east coast with today's Tuesday tour.



We begin with Wheelers Travels' Volvo B11R/ MCV EvoTor BJ69 WTL reversing along Kimberley Terrace having picked up passengers from the Nelson Hotel on a Grand UK Holidays charter.



On South Beach Parade opposite the Carlton Hotel was Llew Jones Coaches of Llanrwst's Scania LJ18 LLJ with shearings.com branding.



Further north on the same road, outside the Royal Hotel, was Dunwood's Irizar i6s bodied Scania K360EB4 YN69 XUX.



At Beach Coach Station there were four incumbents. They included B R Guest Holidays' Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD N10 BRG which was new to Welsh of Upton in 2007 registered W6 HOL. Next to that was Owen's Coaches of Oswestry Mercedes Benz Tourismo BU18 YNO in Travelmaster Holidays livery. Making up the threesome was yet another Welsh coach in the form of Mainline Coaches' Scania Interlink YN72 ZYA



Parked on its own was Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo A133 BV22 WTO, new in April last year.

Roy

This Morning In Cromer

Trevon Arbon was passing the Cadogan Road coach and car park in Cromer this morning and found two coaches on site.



The first was Blands of Stamford's Volvo B11RT / Jonckheere SHV FP 6539 - a coach which paid a visit to Great Yarmouth earlier in the month.



The second was Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo A139 BF23 CFE which may have been visiting from Great Yarmouth on a tour.

My thanks to Trevor for the photos.

Roy

First Cabriolet 32905 Leaves

First Great Yarmouth partial open topper Dennis Trident W905 VLN left its Caister Road depot for the last time this morning.

It was the first Cabriolet to operate the seafront service and was replaced by former First Glasgow SF08 SNJ this year. The former, which was taken out of service due to its age rather than its condition, is destined for dealer First Ensign where a new owner may be found.

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo

Roy 

Thassos Bus & Coaches

No Tuesday or Wednesday tours this week of the Great Yarmouth holiday area but a sample of coaches appearing on the Greek Island of Thassos in the last few days.

The coaches mostly appeared to be operated by Tsaraouha Travel and they are pictured close to the Alexandra Beach complex located on the southern side of the island.

A bus service also runs from outside the complex with an example of  the bus stop sign shown in addition to the bus service itself operated by a Setra

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 24th May 2023

Just the one local entry in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report 

Philip John Overy has been given approval to accommodate 17 coaches at his Norwich Road Industrial Estate premises in Lowestoft.

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here shortly.

Roy

Norwich Pride

First Norwich unveiled their Norwich Pride bus yesterday to mark the celebrations of national Pride month in the city. Volvo B7RLE 69543 BF12KWG has been transformed with a new colourful allover wrap.

First Norwich posted yesterday across various social media platforms …

‘We're delighted to reveal the results of our ongoing partnership with local volunteer organisation, Norwich Pride in the form of a single deck bus wearing a bespoke livery to celebrate both the upcoming national Pride month and the Norwich Pride event on July 29th.

Not only will you see this bus hit the road very soon, but it will also be placed in the city centre to take part in the pride event itself!’

 

 

Some familiar faces above pictured with the bus to celebrate the launch.

Many thanks to Chris Speed & Zak Nelson for info and photographs.

Grahame.

New Sanders Decker?

Regular contributor David Slater was passing the Volvo service centre at Witchford near Ely yesterday and discovered this unregistered MCV eVoSeti bodied Volvo double decker in the yard. He speculates it may be destined for Sanders Coaches - I think he is probably right!



My thanks to David for the photo and information.

Roy

Antony Moves On

Another double deck bus has been donated by a local operator to a school for further use as a library.



Sanders Coaches' long serving VDL DB250/ East Lancs Lowlander 101 YJ07 JPV Antony will soon take up residence at Litcham Primary School. New to the operator in July 2007, it has spent almost sixteen years in use with Sanders before being taken out of service in February this year.

My thanks to LiamS for the information and photo.

Roy

Lowestoft Interlude

With the car in for its service at Lowestoft early this morning, it provided an opportunity to observe activity there and look in on Angie's Tours site in Norwich Road.



Three of the four former London United Alexander Dennis Enviro200s were noted in use with 44454 YX09 HKO seen here with the 122 Lowestoft town Rock Estate service.



Soon after Pride Flag branded Volvo B9 36187 BN12 JYK arrived to continue its 981 East Norfolk Sixth Form College route from Worlingham.



Both Coastal Clipper 99 branded Volvo B9s were parked in the bus station with 37576 AU58 EDC seen here beginning its journey south.



I then visited the Norwich Road yard of Angie's Tours where I found Scania Higer Touring Y6 PJO and Yutong KT64 TKT.



As I was leaving Van Hool bodied Volvo B12B KM07 GSM was heading for the yard. It was acquired along with Scania K230UB YN57 FZL from Coach Services in September 2022 with the former new to Maynes of Buckie. The latter was later observed in the railway station car park.



Roy

Wednesday Tour

As I had other commitments yesterday, the regular Tuesday Tour didn't take place but another has (24 hours later) this morning with eleven coaches being observed.



As usual we begin on Marine Parade with Mercedes-Benz Tourismo E20 OLY on National Holidays duty. The vehicle is operated by Olympia Travel of Wigan.



Another National Holidays branded coach was on the opposite side of the road in the form of VDL YD17 WXW owned by M & D Travel of Stockton-on-Tees



Nearby was Wolverhampton-based Coach & Travel Tours Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BL16 GAX



Outside the New Beach Hotel was Bland's of Essendine Volvo B11RT / Jonckheere SHV FP 6539



At Beach Coach Station there were seven coaches with Shearings.com branded VDL Futura T321 BBC leaving as I arrived. The driver, from Bluebird of Weymouth, kindly slowed to enable me to get a photo.



Next up is Ross Travel of Pontefract's VDL RT17 BUS



Side by side were Caledonian Travel's Tourismo NH15 RDH, ex National Holidays, and Welsh's Tours VDL W25 HOL



Former Eclipse of Cambridge Tourismo BN17JBY was also present and is now owned by Rel Davian Limited of Edmonton



The final photo is of Bill's Minibus & Coach Hire's Scania YT19 EFO. Alfa Travel's BV20NHK was also making yet anther appearance.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 17th May 2023

Only one entry in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report affecting bus services in our local area.

Sanders Coaches is to amend the timetable of the 210 service between North Walsham and Norwich Bus Station from 27th May 2023

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here shortly.

Roy

Norwich B9 Engine Replacement

First Norwich Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL 36202 BN12 WOC has turned up at Great Yarmouth’s Caister Road depot. The decker is in need of a new engine and the work is to be carried out at the latter. 36202 was last used towards the end of April when it was employed on Turquoise Line services between Spixworth and Attleborough.



My thanks to Will Drake for the photo.

Roy

Oceanus Visits Gorleston

I had a 'heads up' yesterday to say that a decker would be working a Cromer to Gorleston East Norfolk Sixth Form College (ENSFC) 6A/X6 service. Normally the preserve of a saloon, it is unusual to see a decker on the route at lunchtime, although a year or so ago a decker would rarely appear at the beginning and end of the of the college day



The first photo shows 115 YN53 CFF Oceanus with the 10:30 from Cromer arriving on Church Lane in Gorleston with the Parish Church featuring in background. Sanders acquired the East Lancs bodied Scania N94UD from Nottingham City Transport in June 2017. The second shows it after arrival outside the College

My thanks to LiamS for his help.

Roy

MNR Bus & Coach Day

I attended the Mid-Norfolk Railway Bus & Coach Day at Dereham earlier today and a successful event it turned out to be.



The Park and Ride service from Cherry Tree Car Park to the Station site was operated by a Konectbus providing an aptly branded Park & Ride Alexander Dennis Enviro 200MMC 200 YX69 NPE.



Sanders Coaches chose the event to publish the arrival of its brand new MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo BV23 NNZ. Numbered 530 in the fleet, it will mainly confined to Fakenham services. Apparently the North Norfolk operator is also expected to take delivery of some triaxle double deckers during the coming week.



An interesting visitor was Towlers of Emneth's EJD 510. A Duple Vega bodied Bedford SB which was new to Essex County Coaches in May 1952.



Next up is Chambers of Bures' Leyland Olympian/ Alexander RL double decker G864 XDX. The 1989 bus was at its first show in its newly restored original livery.



A local operator making an appearance at the event was Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches who sent along 1984 built Bedford YNT/ Plaxton Paramount TIG 1295. It was acquired from Birchnall & Campbell of Besthorpe as A838 PPP in September 2017.



An unexpected visitor was the Wells Beach Bus Leyland Tiger PS1 open-top single-deck 840 XUJ. It very much reminded me of the Flying Banana buggies operating on Great Yarmouth seafront. Apparently the one acquired by the Eastern Counties Preservation Group is scheduled to appear at the Stoneham Barns Big Bus Show in August.



SALEC Travel's Van Hool bodied Volvo B10M OKZ 6144 also attended from Shipdham. Previously with Carters Coaches, it was new to Shearings as P827 GBA in March 1997.



Hiding in a corner was former Hackney CT Plus Dennis Dart / Caetano Nimbus KV03 ZFE



Our final photo features G E Sykes 1976 Bristol LH/ Plaxton Supreme III RGF 231P. One of its original operators was Epsom Coaches.

I took a large number of photos so I had much difficulty in deciding what to include in the post and what not to!  All of the photos taken on the day now appear on our Flickr site

Finally thanks to the event organisers and supporters who made the event so successful. It also gave me the opportunity to catch up with some old friends and it was good to see you all again.

Roy

Sheringham Twin Axles

Observed yesterday in the car park next to Sheringham Station by Tony Wilson was a couple of tri-axle coaches.



They were from DJ Thomas of Neath in South Wales BT17 DJT, a Volvo B11RT with 9700 bodywork, and JFS Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BF68 ZGY of Blandford Forum in Dorset

Alongside the latter was a smaller twin axle Scania Irizar KC17 ABC from Kings Coaches of Colchester, already illustrated on the blog back in July 2017.

My thanks to Tony for the information and photos (Apologies for the error in an earlier version of this post in which I stated the location as Cromer. Prepared in a bit of a rush!)

Roy

ENSFC Fencers

Our last report on bus activity at Gorleston's East Norfolk Sixth Form College (ENSFC) was in late January and that was before the recent arrival of Ambassador Travel's new Scania Fencers.



Today provided an ideal opportunity to catch them both in action this afternoon following the end of the college day. The first to arrive was 616 YT23 BDE and was prepared for its 16:00 68 service to Upton.



Just as it was leaving similar 617 YT23 BDF turned up to work the 16:15 879 route to Ditchingham. The operator's Wright Eclipse Urban 614 GN07 AVF was employed on the 878 route to Alpington.



First Lowestoft sent along ADL Enviro 200 44452 YX09 HKM for the 982 to Oulton Broad and Volvo B9 37577 AU58 EDF for the 981 to Worlingham.



Sanders Coaches provided Volvo B7RLE/ Wright Eclipse Urban 509 HF54 HGX for the 6 to North Walsham and Van Hool 800 WH11 CHR for the 834 to Stalham

Roy