Was It Or Wasn't It?

After some confusion over the identity of the inward transfer of one of Norwich's Darts to Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot, Grahame can at last confirm it was 43487 (R687DPW).

I was fortunate in noting it on the service 4 on Wednesday afternoon at Market Gates and, as it was not one of the regulars, I took a photo of her enroute to Barrack Estate.

However, I was unfortunate in going back home on her on the service 2 to the James Paget Hospital. A bit of a rattler especially when idle!

Dart 43434 (P434NEX) has also returned off loan from Lowestoft

Busy Afternoon In Great Yarmouth

Today was market day and this afternoon was quite a busy one coach-wise for Great Yarmouth.

Beach Coach Station was occupied by eighteen coaches at 14.00. They included two representatives from Shearings - 218 (BF10VCL) and 217 (BF10VCK) and one from National Holidays (NH05CDH).

Other noteworthy vehicles were DAF/Caetano OJI4369 of DCP Travel of Lingwood (shown above) and Dennis/Plaxton ECL943 of Judds Travel

Meanwhile, near Britannia Pier at least six coaches loaded/unloaded their passengers in the coach lay-by during a fifteen minute period on Great Yarmouth's seafront. The four local vehicles were from Freestones Coaches of Beetley (GDZ752 (above) and GDZ540), Smiths Coaches of Blofield (BV55 UES) and Maretts Chariots of Aylmerton (YM55RTO) shown below.

Further along the seafront, parked outside the Sealife Centre was Mil-Ken Travel of Littleport's Volvo B10M JAZ8315 which was seen being passed by Bluebird Travel of North Walsham's SIL5304

To view more of the photos taken during the afternoon please visit my Flickr site

Caister Road Clearout, Loans & Transfer

Following Tuesday's posting, Grahame informs me that tri-axle 30098 (K482EUX) was taken on Monday by Erith Commercials for scrap using a hired low loader. 30097 remains but for how long?

Another long term resident Volvo B10M 20129 (P769XHS) was collected on Tuesday as well. She was always parked on the ramp beside the Harley Road wooden fence and mostly hidden from view.

For pictures of the tri-axles and the 'hidden' Volvo 20129 take a look at my report dated 24th February 2011

Further to the previous posting, it has been confirmed that Dart 43437 (P437NEX) is parked next to 30097, whilst the other withdrawn example (43447 (P447NEX)) is located inside the depot close to the front doors. As previously stated Dart 42445 (P445TCV) is also dumped in the rear yard.

On the active front Olympian 34112 (W432CWX) with Darts 43434 (P434NEX) and 43469 (R469CAH) are all currently on loan to Lowestoft. In return President 32211 (LT52WTU) has been loaned to Great Yarmouth from Lowestoft.

Another transfer in to Great Yarmouth is Dart 43487 (R487DPW) from Norwich (updated information)

And Then There Was One.

Having previously posted about the removal of some of First's tri-axles from the rear yard of Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot, I made a point of calling in to see what was left.

I was surprised to see just one sole remaining example, 30097 (K481EUX). Keeping her company was a withdrawn Dart 43437 (P437NEX). Also present in the rear yard was 42445 (P445TCV) - it appears her escape was short lived!

Beach Coach Station - 18th July 2011

Ipswich based Soames' Volvo (FJ59CBU) was at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station this afternoon. She was acting as a feeder coach for Alfa Travel.

Also there was Whippet's Volvo B12 (SF05XYP) having arrived on the Coastal Service - her destination screen confirmed this! I wasn't aware that she had a destination display as I had not seen it in use before.

FEC Great Yarmouth Update

Regular correspondent Grahame Bessey has provided an update on First Eastern Counties operations at Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot.

Three Dennis Darts have been withdrawn having given some fifteen years service. They are
43434 (P434NEX)     43437 (P437NEX)    43447 (P447NEX)
(Subsequent update - 43434 has now moved to Lowestoft for reuse!)

Another Dart, 42445 (P445TCV), has been withdrawn at Lowestoft and sent to Great Yarmouth for storage. However, it has subsequently been reinstated for further use at Great Yarmouth until August!

Two Great Yarmouth Volvo B10BLEs have been transferred to First Essex as of yesterday (13th June) - 66177 (W377EOW) and 66179 (W379EOW)

After some time languishing at the rear of the depot, there has been some activity regarding the Leyland Olympian Triaxles. Erith Commercials of Dartford, Kent had taken 30104 (K488EUX) for scrap earlier today with 30098 (K482EUX) and 30100 (K485EUX) following tomorrow.

Routemaster RML 39623 (NML623E) has been repainted in London Red, having previously been in Flying Banana livery.

My thanks to Grahame for the information

Beach Coach Station - Wednesday 13th July

After my visit to Dereham (see previous post) I dropped by Beach Coach Station late yesterday afternoon and found 22 vehicles there.

Two similarly registered Shearings coaches were there - 539 (MX03AEV)  and 616 (MX04AEV) (shown below).

A second Spratts vehicle in a week was also seen there in the form of CJS 447, a Van Hool bodied Scania.

For the second time in the day, Dereham Coachways Scania Irizar V310EAK was noted having been seen at its home depot in Dereham that morning.