Service Alterations Registered ~ 2nd August 2017

Yesterday's Notice and Proceedings Report, from the Eastern of England Traffic Commissioner, includes just the one change relevant to our local area.

Granted under short notice is the cancellation of the Anglianbus 80A service between Harleston and Bungay High School effective from 31 July 2017.

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

First Norwich Heritage Bus

This morning saw the first completed photos emerge of the latest First Heritage bus for its Norwich Depots. 60916 YG02DKU has been transformed by Simon Morris at Ipswich into the same livery carried by Volvo B7TL 32479 AU53HJV in Ipswich. The final touches were applied yesterday and the vehicle will shortly be heading down to Norwich once ready.

60916 outside Ipswich Depot this morning.

Many Thanks to First for the photos.

Grahame.

2017 Worthing Bus Rally

The 2017 Worthing Seafront Bus Gathering and Running Day was held last Sunday with some fifty vehicles taking part in the event. As usual, preserved buses from the former Southdown operation, London Transport and Stagecoach formed a significant part of those attending - although there were some interlopers from the north west.

My first view of one of the participants was that of 1957 Devon General AEC RegentV/ Metro-Cammell Weyman VDV818. Since converted to an open topper, the vehicle is now part of the West of England Transport Collection.

Putting in an appearance was ex Brighton & Hove Bristol KSW6G/ECW highbridge 6447 (HAP985). Dating from July 1953 it still sees service with Seaford & District almost 65 years later!

Many London buses were on view and this was RM8 (VLT8). This was the first built of the production buses and was the only RM completed during 1958. However, it was not the first to enter service and was not eventually accepted by London Transport until March 1961. It was built for appearance at the 1958 Commercial Motor Show in September of that year After which it became the new test bus for modifications

Representing the north west of England was Massey bodied Leyland PD2 DEK3D. It was new  in December 1966 as Wigan Corporation's 140.

Another from the same region included Salford City Transport's 281 (JRJ 281E), a Leyland Titan PD2/40 built in 1967 with a Metropolitan Cammell H36/28F body.

Attracting some attention was a US built Blue Bird yellow school bus V875LYS which had seen some use in the Aberdeen area transporting students to and from campus.

The event was also used by operators to display their current vehicles and it was good to see the Big Lemon Company taking the opportunity to promote their solar powered Optare Solo YK55ENM

A decker making its second visit in two years was Alexander Dennis Enviro400 SN11BRX, although this year it was in a new Newbury Buses livery.

One bus certainly needing further restoration was a 1967 built former Southdown Leyland PD3/4 with Northern Counties FH69F 'Panoramic' body. The work is being undertaken by independent Seaford & District Motor Services

Links to East Anglia were provided by the presence of ex Eastern Counties Bristol RE849 (RPU869M) and former Brighton Hove & District Bristol K5G CAP229 with its Eastern Coach Works body. The latter moved to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in late 1962 and was, at one time, a temporary resident at the Carlton Colville museum site when then owned by the Ipswich Coach Company

All the photos taken on the day appear HERE on the eastnorfolkbus Flickr site

Roy

#TBT ~ Great Yarmouth FEX110

This week's Throw Back Thursday features a Great Yarmouth Transport Daimler double decker. FEX110 was one of five Daimler CVG6s with Roe bodywork which were new in May 1961.

Originally numbered 10 in the fleet (and later 15) it received a rather garish Silver Jubilee livery during 1977 which was designed  by local art students. Robert Kelly tells me that all five Daimlers were withdrawn later that year with FEX110 being acquired by Arbuckle of Invergowie the following year. I have also found a photo of it on Flickr when with Greyhound of Arbroath in 1980

My thanks to Robert for the additional information and to Mick Capon in providing more details in the comments below

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 26th July 2017

This week's Notice and Proceedings Report from the Eastern of England Traffic Commissioner again contains many local entries. The main points comprise the the provision of school services for the coming school year plus some changes to Lowestoft area services by First Eastern Counties

Registration of New Services

BorderBus has registered new service SL9 which will operate between Wangford and the Sir John Leman School from 6th September 2017. It will run Monday to Friday school days only

Applications to Vary Existing Services

First Eastern Counties is amending some Lowestoft services from 3rd September 2017. The timetables of the 106 Lowestoft to Burnt Hill and the 99/99B Lowestoft to Southwold are being revised whilst the route and timetables of the 925 Bramfield Road, Halesworth to Bungay High School and the 103 Lowestoft to Carlton Colville will also change.

From 6th September 2017 BorderBus is changing the route and timetables of the following Monday to Friday school services:-
SJL1 Kessingland to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL2 Oulton Broad to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL4 Carlton Colville to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL5 Carlton Colville to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL6 Southwold to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL7 Oulton Broad to Sir John Leman School, Beccles (timetable change only)

Cancellations of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

Richard & Audrey Hipkiss of Sutton Road, Catfield is to cancel its Feline DRT route serving  Gimingham, Buxton, Burgh, Brampton, Tuttington from 1st September 2017.

New Applications Received

D R Fosdike Limited has applied for permission for an operating centre for one vehicle at Corner Harris, Fairview Road in Halesworth.

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

BorderBus Loan From Ensignbus ~ Updated

Late yesterday afternoon BorderBus tweeted they had taken an Ensignbus two axle BCI Excellence double decker on loan for evaluation purposes and that it would be out in service today

LX59CNC at the James Paget Hospital this afternoon
Photo courtesy of Will Drake

Colleague Grahame Bessey was fortunate in that he managed to capture the demonstrator on his camera at Pakefield earlier today whilst it was working forward with the 146 to Southwold. It is intended to use it on the 146 Norwich  Beccles - Southwold route all day The decker was Ensigns 144 (LX17DXE) and is similar to the one on loan to First Eastern Counties about a month ago (that was LX17DXB)

BorderBus recent acquisitions, Scania OmniCity deckers LX59CNC/E/J, are also becoming more common on the 580 Waveney Line service between Beccles and Great Yarmouth following their debut on Latitude services. They were formerly with Stagecoach London as their 15138/9/41 and are noticeable for their red livery.

My thanks to Grahame and Will Drake for the photos

Roy

Ipswich Saturday

Saturday saw us in Ipswich for most of the day and we travelled into the town centre using the Park & Ride service from London Road

The first port of call was the Old Cattle Market bus station where I captured Galloway's Optare Solo 360 (MX59AWF) laying over with 119 Framlingham displayed on its destination screen.

Whilst the other half was shopping, I wandered down the end of Carr Street to view activity on St Margaret's Street. That is where I observed former First Great Yarmouth Eclipse 69009 (AU05DMX) getting its kicks on route 66!

After lunch (and yet more shopping) I went back to the Old Cattle Market bus station and saw another Ipswich P&R Enviro300 in the form of 67775 (SN62AXO) on Dogs Head Street. I saw 67775 two months earlier at the rear of First Great Yarmouth's depot in a completely different livery.

Another blue liveried bus was Beestons East Lancs OmniDekka YN55NJZ about to leave the bus station on the 91 to Sudbury.

It was also interesting to see some red liveried vehicles including VA479 (AU53HJV) recently named 'James (Jim) Long' after a local enthusiast who often provided much information and photos for this blog. Others included Ipswich Buses (formerly Carters) Dennis Trident 26 (LR52KWH) and on loan East Lancs Scania N230UD OmniCity demonstrator YR61RPV. This was previously First London SN36032 and then Metroline SN1920

An interesting visit which filled some of the gaps in my photo library plus the surprise meeting with fellow enthusiast Trevor Arbon and his wife.

Roy