Saturday 30 March 2024
Terror Tram Returns
Previous owner Andy Ashton, and his daughters Bekki and Jess, were responsible the restoration of 634 with the blind acknowledging the fact. It will regularly appear at the EATM during its five year loan period from the Fylde Transport Trust. Each passenger on the day was given Terror Tram commemorative ticket.
Also on view was as another Blackpool Transport tram, Balloon car 726, in a poor state of repair. Carrying a faded HM Coastguard livery, the English Electric tram is currently undergoing restoration.
Hiding in the back of the depot was Lowestoft tram No 14. Purchased in 1961, minus trucks, platforms, staircases and upper deck, this was essentially the vehicle around which the museum was formed. Much work still needs to be done.
After riding all the trams and trolleybuses in service it was time for a well earned cuppa before our departure on the park and ride. This was worked by Lowestoft Corporation AEC Swift No 4 YRT 898H looking very smart.
Roy
Friday 29 March 2024
Lowestoft Visit
He first looked in at the bus station on Gordon Road and found it full - presumably due to the traffic chaos!
Jon observed Ipswich Reds liveried Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400 32651 AU05 MUO still earning its keep. Also noted were two recent transfers Norwich Red Line branded Volvo B9s 36191 BN12 JYR and 36194 BN12 JYU in use.
Another recent transfer in is Alexander Dennis Enviro200 44599 YX08 HJF seen departing the bus station on the 105 service.
Visiting the Gasworks Road depot, all six SPS StreetLites were viewed and it was noticeable that they have been fitted front and back with orange lights on the roof.
My thanks to Jon for his report and photos.
Roy
Wednesday 27 March 2024
Sanders' Departures
107 PM03 EHR DAF DB250 ELC Lowlander
112 YN53 CFD Scania N94 OmniDekka
403 YJ10 DJU VDL SB200
503 HF54 HFO Volvo B7RLE
510 HF54 HGE Volvo B7RLE
Service Alterations Registered ~ 27th March 2024
More 'local' entries appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.
Sanders Coaches has registered two new services. The 15, 16,17, 19 and 20 from Cadogan Road bus stop in Cromer to Holt Market Place (via Felbrigg Hall and Aylmerton) plus schools service 44A from New Road bus stop in Catfield to the Old Rail Station site in Stalham (via: Hickling and Stalham Academy and High School). The Monday to Friday services commence from 31st March 2024.
First Eastern Counties is amending the timetable of its 73 route between Turban Centre in Woodbridge and Felixstowe from 14th April 2024
The latest Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.
Roy
Tuesday Tour
Some eight coaches were observed and I have not included photos of coaches featuring in previous posts. However, the one of Gee-Vee Travel's Yutong GT17 GVT, with the wheel as a backdrop, was difficult to exclude!
Outside the New Beach Hotel was Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV22 WTR and Fussell's Travel Service Irizar i6 bodied Scania YT19 DXP. As I was taking the photos I was passed by a Caledonian Travel vehicle which I caught up with later.
On North Drive, next to The Arc Cinema, were Blakes Coaches' Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410EB6 BC16 HJB and Gibbons Coach Holidays' Irizar i6 C23 GCH.
At Beach Coach Station were Roselyn Coaches' VDL 2804 RC and Chandler Coach Travel's Irizar i6s CH73 CCT.
Returning along the same route I caught up with the errant Caledonian Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV22 WUW on Marine Parade.
Roy
Tuesday 26 March 2024
Ex First Eastern Counties Bus In York
The photo shows MX58 DXP passing Cliffords Tower in York. My thanks to Paul for the report and photo.
Roy
Simonds In France
GB Kite Electroliners In Service
Roy
Monday 25 March 2024
Heritage Bus Engine Replacement
First Great Yarmouth Latest
The withdrawal is Volvo B7 37060 YJ06 XMM which is pictured in the rear yard at Caister Road by Will Drake in March last year. It appears that similar 37043 YJ06XLT is the next to visited by the grim reaper!
My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the update.
Roy
Saturday 23 March 2024
Lowestoft StreetLites
47802 SK17 HGX
47803 SK17 HGY (not affixed to the vehicle at present)
47804 SK17 HGZ
47805 SK17 HHA
47806 SK17 HHB
Also noted in service there by Steve was Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37532 MXZ 3342. This is now confirmed by Daniel as being reallocated to Lowestoft and is pictured by him waiting at the stand at Lowestoft Bus Station.
Friday 22 March 2024
First 37150 Withdrawn
My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information.
Belle Coaches' Minibus Arrival
Roy
Thursday 21 March 2024
Sanders' Arrival
Wednesday 20 March 2024
First Great Yarmouth Latest
The invasion of Red Line liveried Volvo B9TL's continues with both 36194 BN12JYU and 36198 BN12WNY both noted in use in the town today.
Another Coastal Red Gemini withdrawl to report is 37174 SF07FDE, i noted it now parked in the rear yard at Caister Road minus ticket machine in a line of other withdrawn vehicles today.
Thanks to First for the continued updates.
Grahame.
Market Gates Miscellany
My first sighting was that of National Express (Ambassador Travel 301) Caetano Levantee BV22 VSX awaiting time before the 9:20 727 departure to London's Heathrow Airport
I then thought I would try a few shots inside the bus station and got a couple of reasonable photos - this is of First Eastern Counties Coastal Clipper on the 09:20 service 1 to Lowestoft Bus Station. In charge of the service was Volvo B9 37566 AU58 ECE.
Appearing on the X1 was another B9, in Coastal Red livery, on the 9:30 to Lowestoft in the form of 37564 AU58 ECC
Arriving on the 08:06 580 service from Bungay was BorderBus Scania 208 BB58 BUS which works back as the 09:30 from Great Yarmouth.
Later in the day, Dan High got a photo of the recent transfer Volvo B9 36196 BN12 JYW complete with its First Norwich Red Line 23/24 branding. Thanks for the photo Dan.
Roy
Service Alterations Registered ~ 20th March 2024
Sanders Coaches is to amend the route, stopping places and timetable of its service 34 between North Walsham Post Office and Stalham Old Rail Station Road from 31st March 2024 The operator is also to amend the route, start and finish point and timetable of its 834 route from Bacton Priory to Gorleston's East Norfolk Sixth Form College from the same date
First Eastern Counties is to amend the timetable of its 975 Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe to Kesgrave High School service from 14th April 2024. First is also cancelling two of its services - namely the 71 Orford to Woodbridge service and the 79 Ipswich to Woodbridge services also from the 14th April 2024.
The latest Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.
Roy
Wednesday Octet
I started my trip from the south end of the seafront, via the recently reopened Herring Bridge, and the first vehicle observed was M & D Travel's Irizar i6s MD24 BUS on a National Holidays charter.
Next in line along Marine Parade was Bakers Dolphin Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV19 YMC.
On the opposite side of the road, outside the SeaLife Centre, was Leons Holidays' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo LE20 EON.
Continuing northwards, Vision Coach Services' VS10 ONS VDL had travelled all the way up from Taunton and was parked outside the New Beach Hotel.
Found next to the Arc Cinema were two members of the KM Travel fleet - Yutung YD19 HHM and VDL M100 KMT - an unusual sighting of both of them together in the town.
Tucked away on Princes Road was J & B Travel's Scania JT70 JBT branded for National Holidays' work.
The final coach of the octet was Albert Wilde & Son Coaches' Van Hool TU07 SOU resting at Beach Coach Station.
Roy
Tuesday 19 March 2024
First Norwich GB Kite Registrations Confirmed
Registrations for the incoming fleet of Single Deck Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliners have been kindly supplied to us by First today and they are as follows,
63635 BK24AAE
63636 BK24AAF
63637 BK24AAJ
63638 BK24AAO
63639 BK24AAU
63640 BK24AAV
63641 BK24AAX
63642 BK24AAY
63643 BK24AAZ
63644 BK24ABF
63645 BK24ABN
Delivery is due to commence shortly.
Many Thanks to First for the info as always.
Grahame.
More Electroliner Photos
With the official launch of First Norwich electric vehicles into service last week, all 59 Electroliners have now arrived in the 'fine city'.
My thanks to Toby for the photos.
Monday 18 March 2024
Feline Executive Travel To Cease Trading
Iveco ET07 FET at Feline Travel's Catfield premises |
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter FY03 WZR formed part of the fleet in an October 2017 visit |
Friday 15 March 2024
Another Withdrawal
37022 in use in Gorleston High Street in March last year |