Gemini Convoy Heading To Yarmouth

Simon Taylor has kindly let us share his photos of a batch of Geminis which are being collected today for Eastern Counties from First Bradford.

The vehicles being collected are Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis
37021 YJ06XKK
37022 YJ06XKL
37023 YJ06XKM
37024 YJ06XKN
37025 YJ06XKO.

I understand they are all for use at Great Yarmouth, subject to confirmation.

Many Thanks to Simon for the photos from Bradford and en route back to Yarmouth at the Farm Shop on the A17.

Grahame.

Revisited Kings Lynn 2005

Been a while since i ventured into my archives of trips gone by, back in the days where i was allowed to venture out on a regular basis with the camera!

Today we are going back to Kings Lynn and a hot day back in August 2005. First and Norfolk Green were doing battle in the town at the time with Norfolk Green still being a popular independent prior to its eventual take over by Stagecoach Group.

First up is former Trent DAF/Optare J315BVO, Norfolk Green ran a few of these in the fleet at the time. Seen here laying over in the Bus Station.

First gained a large batch of Wright bodied Darts from First London around 2001/2 and a few ended up at Kings Lynn after spells in Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Ipswich and Norwich. 499 JDZ2321 is pictured working the local 42 service to Fairsted, it had not received its new national First fleet number which was being rolled out across the fleet at the time.

Norfolk Green were purchasing Alexander Bodied Darts from Stagecoach, 32541 J541GCD was still running in its former owners livery at the time after moving from Stagecoach South.

Former First Essex Olympian 34698 B698BPU ended up at Kings Lynn and from memory was a very brief spell with FEC, pretty sure it didnt run for that long prior to withdrawl, seen above working town route 43.

Finally we have MAN/MCV Evolution Demonstrator AE05DVC which was on loan to Norfolk Green, amazingly the destination screen came out perfectly in the photo which was highly unusual for the type!. It was be used on the 505 Kings Lynn-Spalding route. It ended up with Travel De Courcey in the Midlands.

Hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane, hard to believe it was 15 years ago!

Grahame.

Single Decker Demise

Today's news from First's Caister Road Depot regards two single deckers in the form of  Scania L94UB 65673 and Transbus Dart SLF 42483

65673 SN51UYG pictured in Gorleston High Street in April 2019

Scania 65673 SN51UYG has departed the rear yard of the depot on its last journey to Alpha Recovery. It arrived at Great Yarmouth in October 2018 by default from First Essex as the selected bus broke down a couple of days previously! Withdrawal came at the end of December but it returned to service for a short period in January 2019. Further resurrection came in April but it was finally withdrawn in September and has remained out of use ever since.

65673 SN51UYG awaiting its last journey inside the depot yesterday

Recently withdrawn is former First Essex Transbus Dart 42483 SN03WLK. It arrived locally on 10th November 2019 becoming the fourth to arrive from the county in four weeks. It was then admitted to the workshops in early December. Withdrawal came last Friday.

My thanks to First for the information and the depot photo

Roy

Jubilee Departure

Rollesby based Jubilee Coaches have sold their Neoplan Transliner reports regular contributor Kevan Portas.

Formerly known as L555 JCR, it has recently been reunited with its earlier registration of V608 VAV and has now been sold to Semmence of Wymondham. The MAN 18.350 was new to Jans of Soham in May 1999 as T50 HAM and arrived at Jubilee Coaches in June 2018.

My thanks to Kevan for the update

Roy

Lowestoft Station This Morning

My thanks to Andy Swan and Tim Miller for letting me know that Freestones Coaches' R25 DDA is again on rail replacement duty today being parked at the stand at the rail station.

The  latter also tells me that Sanders Coaches' Van Hool WH11 CHR and Volvo B12B SGF 965 are both on standby on the nearby car park.

My thanks to both for the information and to Tim for the photo

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 15th January 2020

Just a couple of changes to local bus services to report from today’s Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner.

They both concern National Express services with the the first being timetable amendment for the 490/491 route between Lowestoft Bus Station and London Victoria via Great Yarmouth and Norwich. The second entry affects the 481 Felixstowe, 484 Clacton on Sea services to the capital which involve amendment to the route, stopping places and timetable change. Both alterations are effective from 10th February 2020.

The full report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Lowestoft Today

Andy Swan observed a couple of unusual arrivals at Lowestoft Rail Station bus stop earlier today.

This morning he captured a photo of Beulas Cygnus bodied R25 DDA, a recent arrival for the Freestones Coaches fleet, on rail replacement work.

Andy returned later in the day to see an impressive looking Neoplan Starliner leaving the stand at around 16:00. K55 RDO was new to Parry of Cheslyn Hay as OU14 SSJ but now works for RM Buses of Manchester trading as Rhudlan Coaches. It is not known why it was there

My thanks to Andy for the two photos

Roy