Unusual National Express Visitor

Whilst on a shopping trip to Great Yarmouth Town Centre earlier today I passed Market Gates and saw a National Express coach at Stand A next to the Poundstretcher store

It was National Express Caetano Levante 3 bodied Scania K410EB6 BF21 CYT which had previously completed the 9.30am 491 service from London Victoria Coach Station. Unless I have missed an announcement somewhere I assumed the service was still being provided by locally based Ambassador Travel. SH310 was carrying legal lettering for Birmingham Coach Station at Digbeth.

I later heard from Omar Atiallah.that an extra service runs from Friday to Monday inclusive operated by a Stansted based coach with Ambassador Travel still operating the other times.

Roy

Friday Flashback ~ September 2010

For this week's Friday Flashback we look back to September 2010 which includes a visit to Sheringham in addition to a couple of photos from the Great Yarmouth area.

Our first photo is of Ambassador Travel's FN52 HRG, a Plaxton Profile Bodied Volvo B12M, which was unusually parked on Church Lane next to Gorleston Church on the 14th. New in November 2002 it was more recently re-registered KIG 1856. It subsequently joined the Isle of Wight fleet of ALS Travel and has made return visits to its former home town.

Moving on to the town's Beach Coach Station we view Shearings Holidays 222 BF10 VCP on the same day. A regular visitor to the town, the Setra S416GT-HD coach was new to the operator in April 2010.

The remainder of the photos were taken in Sheringham on the Station Approach on the 19th of the month and outside the station was open topper 6546 FN. The Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian was previously E300 MSG and was purchased new as a closed top by Lothian Buses in April 1988.

The trip to Sheringham coincided with attendance at North Norfolk Railway's 1940s weekend with preserved buses in attendance. They included this ex Eastern Counties Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol LL5G KNG 718 restored by the Eastern Transport Collection Society.

Another visitor was a former Westcliff-on-Sea Bristol K5G with Eastern Coach Works bodywork. AJN 825 was new to Westcliff on 31st March 1939 entering service the following day. It is now owned by the 825 Preservation Group..

Roy

Coasthopper Evora's In Action

Yesterday evening I received an email from Chesterfield resident Tony Wilson who is currently visiting the North Norfolk area

He attached photos of two of Sanders Coaches' new Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora single-decks working the Coasthopper route along the A149 coast road near Cley-next-the Sea.

My thanks to Tony for the email and photos.

Roy

New Engine for Enviro200

Just a month after receiving its new Coastal Reds livery, ADL Enviro200 44533 SN62 DBV is having a brand new engine fitted at First's Caister Road depot

My thanks to Grahame for the photo and to First Great Yarmouth for the information

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 7th July 2021

For the second consecutive week today's Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains nothing of relevance regarding local area services. However, the full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Where are they now?

Another Where are they now post takes us to Lincolnshire and the home of Black Cat Travel in Harmston.

Mark Doggett came across a couple of old First Eastern Counties Dennis Tridents now with the company based not far from Lincoln.

First up is former FEC 32849 T849LLC now registered N666BCT and wears the distinctive Silver and Black livery.

In contrast the other resident is 32801 T801LLC which looks to be being used as a source of spares to others of the type in the fleet, pictured below in a sorry state!

 Many Thanks to Mark for use of his photos and the information.

Grahame

Sunday Saunter

Yesterday afternoon and evening was spent on a leisurely stroll around Great Yarmouth seafront pretending we were holiday makers. It also included a run on a First open top cabriolet is the shape of W905 VLN

Noted on our wanderings was Woods Coaches former VDL demonstrator WJ17 EYZ outside the Palm Court Hotel on North Drive. The operator is based in West Sussex

Continuing south we came across Alfa Travel's Tourismo 109 BV19 YFD unloading its passengers outside the New Beach Hotel on Marine Parade

The Tourismo was one of two Alfa vehicles later seen at Beach Coach Station; the second one being 82 BX14 LCL

Also present at the coach station was local operator Jubilee Coaches' Scania L94/ Van Hool W27 GES, formerly with Spratts Coaches of Wreningham

The remaining two coaches present were Van Hool TX15 Alicron YJ18 BCK from St Annes on Sea based G-Line Holidays and Silverdale of Nottingham's Scania K410EB4 Interlink Finesse HD YN17 OHT

Roy