Farewell 59

First Great Yarmouth organised a small farewell tour today for Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32059 W219XBD which has come to the end of its time with the company.

32059 arrived in May 2014 as part of a batch of Volvo B7TL from First Leicester, all arrived in Barbie livery before all the others gained Olympia colours, 59 was chosen to wear a new heritage livery for Great Yarmouth Transport meaning the Blue and Cream was to return to the streets of the town.



June 2014 and 32059 is seen working the 3 service to Hemsby Beach still wearing its original livery.

Forward to June 2015 and 32059 appears for the first time in its heritage livery, seen on Beatty Road.



Forward to today and 59 is joined by recent repaint 37562 FJ08FYN and former GYT AEC Swift 85 WEX685M for its farewell run around the town.

85 leads the convoy out of Caister Road and along Northgate Street before passing through the Bus Station and onto the Seafront. A photo stop at Seashore Terminus was next on the list.


All three GYT liveried vehicles assembled at Seashore Terminus by this time 85 was sounding a little 'Throaty' due to a blowing exhaust much to its owners displeasure!


32059 being positioned with its 'Goodbye 59' screen on show, well done to Zak at First for creating that for the day!

It has been saved for preservation back in its native Leicester where it will return to its original Barbie livery which it wore from new back in 2000.

Many Thanks to Chris Speed & Mark Reynolds at First for organising the little outing, nice to see a few local enthusiasts aswell and putting faces to a few names who have contributed to the blog also.

Stay Safe, Grahame.

First Great Yarmouth Update

Today is the last day in regular service for First Great Yarmouth Heritage liveried Volvo B7TL 32059 W219 XBD. It was observed on the 8 service earlier this morning in Gorleston High Street, complete with its blue wheels! It will be making its farewell run through the town tomorrow accompanied by similar liveried Wright Eclipse-Gemini 37562 FJ08 FYN and preserved AEC Swift WEX 685M.



In other news First Norwich 36178 BD11 CDX returned to the city yesterday with similar 36177 BD11 CGF going back today.



This week is also the last week in service for Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLEs 69029 SF55UAX and 69045 SF55 UBE. However, on the positive side Gemini 37174 SF07 FDE is expected to return from Ipswich soon

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the update

Roy

Border Bus Newbie In Service

With the sighting of their new arrival in service at the beginning of the new year, another of the BorderBus fleet makes an appearance on the blog in today's post.

Brand new ADL Enviro 200MMC BB71 BUS was observed by Liam S in Beccles yesterday outside the Tesco store. It was seen on the 146 route to Kessingland and Southwold.

My thanks to Liam for the photos

Roy

Town Centre Photo Shoot

 A couple of photos from yesterday afternoon ...

Service Alterations Registered ~ 5th January 2022

Just the one relevant 'local' entry in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. It concerns the surrender of an operating licence held by David Peter Arnold, trading as Boomerang Coach Tours, at Lincoln Avenue in Saxmundham, Suffolk.

The full Notices and Proceedings Reports can be viewed here soon

Roy

Freestones Further Updated

Some time has lapsed since we have provided an update on Dereham-based Freestone Coaches. However, David Slater offers information on what are possibly two recent fleet additions and are from his latest observations on Megabus workings.



It would appear that the cherished number ME54 BUS, which is a play on Megabus, has been applied to a different Irizar i6. The previous i6 (originally YT62 JBX) was shorter than the current one. The latest carries the word ‘Kingsize’ just beyond the rear wheels and the main fleet name of Freestones Coaches. The Megabus.com name is carried over the front windscreen and along the roofline are names of various British towns.

There is also a shorter Irizar i6 registered S28 FSC which seems to be the regular vehicle on the Birmingham service. This coach carries the newly revised Megabus livery style, the style that no longer features the Megabus Man (Sid) character.

My thanks to David for the information and his accompanying photos.

Update:
Colin Oakley provides details regarding the earlier registrations of the two coaches. ME54 BUS was formerly YN14 FVR. whilst S28 FSC was previously YN16 WUL. The pervious holder of the ME54 BUS plate has reverted to YT62 JBX. Thanks Colin

Roy

New Year Stayers

I begin by wishing you all a very happy new year with our first post reporting eight coaches seeing in 2022 in Great Yarmouth.

The sole visitor at the town's Beach Coach Station was Whittles' Volvo B8R / Plaxton PantherYX19 MLU which has visited the resort before

Next to The Arc Cinema on North Drive were two Mercedes Benz Tourismos - namely Caledonian Travel's BNH69 GHH and Alfa Travels's 115 BV19 YFK. The former was previously part of the National Holidays' fleet.

Another two Alfa Travel Tourismos in the form 118 BV20 HNB and 119 BV20HNC were located outside the New Beach Hotel. Both making many visits to the town in recent months

Heading south, two Shearings.com branded coaches were outside the Sealife Centre on Marine Parade. They were Temsa Safari HD12 RHD YJ19 BCO, operated by Llew Jones of Llanrwst, with Tourismo BU18 YTL from Watts Coaches based at Bonvilston near Cardiff bringing up the rear. The later was previously with the original Shearings.

On the opposite side of the road were Acklams' Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Elite YX18 LLO and Volvo GO02 TVL of Go2 Travel of Rotherham

Roy