EATM Surprise Visitor

Great Yarmouth wasn't the only place to have a surprise visitor today as the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville also had one!



Tim Major sent a couple of photos of former West Yorkshire Bristol MW5G (registration TWT 123), fleet number EUG71. It was built at Lowestoft's Eastern Coach Works in 1959 and is operated by Cotswold Vintage Bus Hire trading as Troopers Lodge Motor Services of Gloucestershire.



I am grateful to Tim for the photos.

Roy

Sunday Surprise

While traveling north along Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth earlier this afternoon, I was surprised to see a 1950s Duple-bodied Bedford SBG. Named Katie, it was the preserved MJB 481 belonging to Lodge's of High Easter, and it was fully loaded.



After taking a few photos, I proceeded to Beach Coach Station, where I spotted two additional coaches. One was Kearney Group's YT24 BTY, adorned with Grand UK branding, and the other was Maynes Coaches of Buckie's Neoplan Tourliner R80 GSM.



Roy

Future of Ex Lowestoft Bus Looks Bleak

It has been reported on social media that former First Lowestoft ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL 30913 W768 DWX has been extensively cannibalised at Seaford & District. It is currently in a poor state, engineless, at Black Rock in West Brighton.



The first photo shows it crossing Lowestoft's Bascule Bridge in March 2019 whilst the second features it in its newly applied Seaford & District livery in September 2020. Later that month it was re-registered SFZ 696.

Photos are curtesy of Simon Bartram for the Lowestoft photo and David Mulpeter for the Seaford picture. My thanks also to LiamS for the heads up

Roy

Friday In Norwich

Some unusual vehicles passed our regular Norwich correspondent Dan High in Castle Meadow earlier today.

His first observation is that of Lowestoft-based Angie's Tours' Scania Omnicity NUI 2424 on driver training duty.



The second offering is of an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on Simonds' 82 route earlier today. SN12 EHC was previously with the London Borough of Redbridge and is now with Central Conect. It was new to the then CentreWest in August 2012.



Our final photo shows former London Transport Routemaster RM1058 204 UXJ employed on a Wedding Special. Behind is First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 36587 BK73 AMO

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Transfers From West Yorkshire

Today, two First West Yorkshire Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Geminis are being relocated to First Eastern Counties.



The buses, 37711 YJ09 OBF and 37725 YJ09 OBW, departed from Huddersfield this morning for Great Yarmouth. As of 19:00, when I last checked with one of the drivers, they had not yet reached their final destination of the Caister Road depot.



The photographs were taken by Alfie Clarkey before the decker's departures from Huddersfield. My thanks to him for the use of his photos.

Roy

Engine Replacement

The withdrawn First Eastern Counties ADL Enviro200 44516 YX09 ACV from Ipswich, is currently at the Caister Road depot in Great Yarmouth. Its engine will be removed and installed into Lowestoft's similar 44454 YX09 HKO.



Meanwhile, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 33818 YX63 LKG is at Full Circle for damage repairs whilst heritage liveried Volvo B9 37562 FJ08 FYN is awaiting parts before it can re-enter service.

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 2nd October 2024

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report includes one entry of 'local' interest

It concerns the retrospective cancellation of a service operated by Simonds of Botesdale; the 581 route between Diss Bus Station and Beccles Old Market Place from 12th September 2024.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to be viewed here soon.

Roy

Coach Services New Livery

New to Coach Services of Thetford during September was ADL Enviro400 MMC CS74 BUS



The double-decker recently received the operator's new generic fleet livery which is pictured here by Sam Larke. Although not specifically branded for any route it is expected to be mainly used on the 84/86 between Bury St Edmunds, Thetford and Brandon and the 90 between Thetford and Norwich.

My thanks to Sam for the use of his photo.

Roy