Heritage Bus in Use at Caister Road

Following on from yesterdays post regarding the arrival of Heritage liveried 60916 at Caister Road from Norwich, it has been noted this afternoon in use on service 8 in the town and was duly photographed at the Marram Drive Terminus in Caister.

Thanks to Will Drake for the photograph.

Grahame.

Arrivals at Caister Road

Some news of recent arrivals at First Great Yarmouth.

Driver Roger Bellward reports the arrival of celebrity YG02DKU. The recently repainted Volvo B7L 60916 gained the old Eastern Counties Post Office Red livery following a visit to Simon Morris of Ipswich during July this year. The reason for it's appearance at Caister Road is that it is due to undergo an MOT.

Another Norwich vehicle here is Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 33165 (LR02LYC) on loan

My thanks to the staff at First for the information and photo

Roy

Last Day of Rail Replacement

Today (hopefully!) was the last day of rail replacement activities at Great Yarmouth station and I looked in to see what had been achieved on the railway in addition to view the coaches provided for alternative transport for the Great Yarmouth to Norwich line.

Simonds Volvo B12Bs 98TNO and 224ENG on standby this morning

As stated in press reports, the line on platform 1 was to be removed, as part of the re-signalling scheme, but what wasn't mentioned was the tearing up of the siding next to platform 4. Both had taken place during the week's shut down.

The third of the Simonds quartet was VanHool bodied Volvo B10M XIL4072

On the rail replacement front all four coaches at the station late this morning were supplied by Diss operator Simonds. They were VanHool bodied Volvos 8333UR, 98TNO, 224ENG and XIL4072

Roy

Deja Vu at First Norwich

With the Festive Season nearly upon us, extra vehicles have been drafted in for an increase in Bernard Matthews contract work. Reported elsewhere yesterday was the arrival of three Dennis Trident/Plaxton Presidents from First South West. Some may not know that this is not the first time all three have appeared with FEC.

32801 T801LLC in Castle Meadow back in May 2009

The three began life with First London before being converted to single door and gaining Barbie livery then passing to FEC in early 2009. 32801/32809 & 32849 worked in the city before moving over to First Essex and then down South to Weymouth & Southampton.

32809 T809LLC Castle Meadow September 2009

32849 T849LLC in May 2009

All three are now being prepared for use at Roundtree Way.  Other news to report is that Coach 20514 is due back at Yarmouth from its loan at Norwich whilst Volvo B7L 66343 (MV02VCW) is going on loan to Caister Road from Norwich.

Grahame.

Today's Simonds Fest

Passing Great Yarmouth station this morning it was a bit of a Simonds fest with three of the available coaches being supplied by the Diss based operator for today's rail replacement duties.

VanHool bodied Volvo B12Bs 8333UR and 98TNO provided the horses for the 11:17 departure to Norwich. Whilst standing in the wings was another Simonds VanHool in the form of 224ENG and Smith's Coaches' Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B10M FP51EUN.

Over at Lowestoft yesterday, Simon Bartram reports yesterday's appearance of Sanders Coaches' Jonckheere bodied Volvo B12BT OGR647 (pictured) and VanHool bodied DAF 537FN with Simonds VRY841 on rail replacement workings. Angie's Tours' BX59KWR and a Belle Coaches Setra were also on standby.

My thanks to Simon for his latest report and photos.

Roy

#TBT ~ Ambassador Travel G108HNG

Today's Throw Back Thursday features Ambassador Travel's Plaxton bodied Volvo B10M G108HNG which was new to the company in August 1989

It is seen here towards the end of its working life at Nelson Road North in Great Yarmouth. The date was 28th June 2007 and it was being employed on Bernard Matthews contract work. I am not aware of its withdrawal date but I suspect it is still at Ambassador Travel's site at Gapton Hall Industrial Estate.

Roy

News Round Up

A couple of items to report with the first being an update to the Anglianbus fleet as amended on the operator's website yesterday. Whilst there are no changes to the existing fleet, it is noticeable that the stored former Headingham and Konectbus vehicles have gone. Also departing since the last update are the last three Go South Coast Citaros.

The Ellough depot just three years ago. Scanias AO57EZM and YN03WRJ plus Optare Solo AU08GLY
undergo maintenance there on 22nd June 2014          

With maintenance now being concentrated at Dereham, and the Ellough site now cut in half, one wanders what future there is for the Beccles site. The new arrangement, plus the registration of both centres for use by both operators, often leads to Anglian vehicles appearing on Konect routes and vice versa.

Simonds VRY841 on rail replacement at Great Yarmouth on Sunday last

Meanwhile, coaches at Lowestoft station on rail replacement duty around lunchtime today included Sanders Coaches' Plaxton bodied Volvos YN05HVD and FN09AMX together with Simonds Plaxton bodied MAN 18.360 VRY841, new as MX10 DDZ. My thanks to Simon Bartram for the information

Roy