Lowestoft Olympian

With First Lowestoft withdrawing their final two Volvo Olympians towards the end of last year, it is now quite rare to see an example in the Suffolk town

However, Howard Smith was at the bus station this morning and witnessed Great Yarmouth's 34186 S686AAE departing with the 9.40 am 1A service to Martham

He captured her on camera too and the photo looks good considering it was overcast and raining at the time (just for a change!)

Many thanks for the photo and report Howard

Sanders Acquires Easton's Scania

Eastons Scania YN08HXZ pictured in May 2010

Grahame Bessey was in Norwich earlier today and reports the sighting of Scania OmniCity YN08HXZ in service

Nothing unusual in that you might say as she has, until recently, been regularly seen on Easton's services in the city in her metallic blue livery. However, she has subsequently been acquired by Sanders and given fleet number 321, but still retains the same colour scheme

She was owned by Easton for almost four years after being acquired from Constable of Hadleigh in April 2010

My thanks to Grahame for his report

Acle Adventure

ADL Enviro400 SN60CAA at Acle on the 13:35 X1 from Norwich to Great Yarmouth

I met up with fellow blogger SteveW  in Great Yarmouth this afternoon, who informed me that Enviro400 33423 SN60CAA had been let out from First's Caister Road

Having earlier photographed it leaving Market Gates for Norwich on an X1 short, he suggested we should take a trip out to Acle to get a photo of it on the return journey. So we left Market Gates on Anglian Scania 455 to intercept

On the journey along the Acle Straight we talked about the holiday trains to the town and the conversation drifted on to the occasional use of a short set of carriages hauled by a class 47 at either end. I said that the set was in use earlier today and I called up Anglia Gen posts on my mobile and found that the 14:36 from Norwich to Great Yarmouth via Acle was to be loco hauled

DRS 47810 arriving at Acle with the 14:36 Norwich to Great Yarmouth train
For the record 47841 was at the Norwich end

After taking some photos of the Enviro400 we trekked to Acle Station and, after a lengthy wait, the lights from the leading 47 could be seen in the far distance. After recording its arrival we boarded for the journey back to Great Yarmouth - enjoying the luxury surroundings of a First Class carriage

As we were pulling into Great Yarmouth, we observed First Olympian 34187 S687AAE heading out of Great Yarmouth on what was was thought to be a Bernard Mathews contract. This was later confirmed by Jamie Skinner who saw her on William Adams Way in Southtown

After more photos at the station, Steve and I headed back to Market Gates to catch our respective buses home; Steve on an Anglian Gas Bus on the 61 whilst I enjoyed a First Gemini on the 7 route

Thanks again Steve for the company today and his report, which includes a video of the 15:17 train departure to Norwich, can be viewed HERE

Lound Link Maintained

Ambassador Travel normally uses an Optare Solo on the 607 route, as it did today.
603 MX54KYC is seen passing the Village Maid at Lound with the 14:00 from the 

Morrison's store in Gorleston to Lowestoft Bus Station

The Suffolk villages of Lound and Blundeston, just off the A12 Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth road, are currently served on weekdays by the Ambassador Travel 607 route

The five times daily service is to be withdrawn by Ambassador with the last bus operating on Saturday 22nd February

However, from the following Monday 24th February, Anglianbus are diverting their service 60 five times a day in each direction via Lound and Blundeston providing a link to Lowestoft and the James Paget Hospital (for buses to Gorleston, Yarmouth and Norwich).

The new timetable can be viewed HERE

Wet & Windy Wednesday

Ambassador Travel's Volvo G262UAS on the free Adsa shopper service

As the title suggests, I headed off to a wet and windy Great Yarmouth Town Centre today to pick up some shopping

Within a few minutes of my Jersey Dart arriving at Market Gates, I observed Ambassador Travel's Volvo B10M/ Plaxton Paramount 111 G262UAS arriving on the free Asda shopper service. I saw her undertake three return workings and wondered what would work the usual Ormiston School trip to the town centre

Ambassador's sister Volvo G261UAS emerges from the gloom of Market Gates

When it did arrive, just before 3pm, I did a double take and thought it was the same coach - until I noticed that the front bottom of the vehicle was not in black! It was 110 G261UAS. Quite unusual to see them both out at the same time

Whilst similarly registered, they have both held previous registrations. 110 was previously 930GJF and 111 was earlier

First Olympian 34187 S687AEE heads into Market Gates with the service 8 

448GWL. Both were new in 1989

Olympian wise, First's 34108 W435CWX was employed on the usual service 7 to Belton and return.

Whilst 34187 S687AAE was performing on the 8s between Caister and the James Paget Hospital

Service Alterations Registered ~ 5th February 2014

McMaster/Awaydays open top service

The latest Eastern Area Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was published earlier today on the Gov.UK website. Publication No 2172 has little of relevance to this area but the following may be of interest

Application to Vary Existing Services

David McMaster, trading as Awaydays of Wood Dalling near Norwich, has submitted an application to amend stopping places on service 1 which operates between Theatre Street and Theatre Street. Changes are effective from 6th April 2014

Information source: Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area - Notices & Proceedings Report 2172 - published on 5th February 2014.

Anglian Movements

Anglian's MX53FDO in St Stephen's Street Norwich in June 2007

The enthusiasts section of the Anglianbus website reports a fleet news update today

Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 700 V161MEV has been transferred to sister company Hedingham Buses at Clacton where it is now numbered 740.

Meanwhile, Optare Solo 905 MX53FDO has returned off loan from Chambers.