Wymondham Vintage Day 2018

Sunday 9th September 2018 saw Wymondham town centre turn into a Vintage Day. At this event  there were classic cars, vintage bus rides between Wymondham to Norwich City via Hethersett, live music and memory lane exhibitions. To get to this event I boarded the free shuttle bus to  Wymondham,  this was the ex City Sightseeing Norwich Volvo Olympian Northern Counties Palatin. Also parked beside was the current City Sightseeing Plaxton bodied Volvo, which are both owned by Awayadays. 

Also at the event were Mid-Norfolk Railway who normally run train trips between Wymondham Abbey Station and Dereham, on Sunday the line was extended to the boundary of Network Rail. While waiting for the train at Wymondham Abbey Station, I was invited to looked around the Hunslet Austerity WD75008 SWIFTSURE locomotive.

While looking around the SWIFTSURE locomotive I was informed that the British Railways Class 4MT locomotive no.80078's last day in service on Mid-Norfolk Railway is September 12th 2018.

During the day different vintage buses was arriving and departing from Wymondham and Norwich. The vintage bus timetables were organised by the Eastern Transport Collection Society, who did a fantastic job. The buses included were the Ipswich Transport Museum, Eastern Counties (LFS125), Lowestoft Corporation 12 (PBJ2F), North Western Weymann bodied Leyland Tiger (KDB 696), Eastern Counties LFL57 (557BNG), Eastern Counties Leyland National East Lancs LG587 (WAH 587S), AEC Routemaster (SMK 737F), ex city sightseeing Norwich Volvo Olympian Northern Counties Palatin (G520 VBB) and EC Swift Great Yarmouth Corporation (WEX 685M).

More photographs from the day can be found on the Facebook Page

AnglianBus Activity

This afternoon I arrived into Norwich Bus Station and I notice that the KonectBus Optare V110 Versa was on the 87 service to Poringland, which is usually run by AnglianBus company. However both companies are subsidiary by the Go-Ahead group.

Optare V110 Versa MX08 UZT 

Blog Update

Hello, everybody. As you're may have realised I have not posted any thing on the blog for a while as I  now moved back to the Norwich area.

Thank you for bearing with me, and look forward of updating the blog in the near future.

First Buses Livery : Multi Coloured Spectaculars

It has come to my attention over the last month, What is First buses current livery? However it is clear it is lilac but a lot of the front of First buses are all different. Pink?, Yellow?, Purple, Red?, Mint? and Turquoise? ?. So I have combined a list with the support of other Bus enthusiasts from Flickr. I would like to thank everybody for allowing me to download their photographs for this post.

Firstly we start down south west in Bristol with the Pine Line service, Wright StreetDeck 35104 operating the the routes 70 and 71. In addition to this we have a photograph of the Mint Line service with the ADL Dart SLF/Pointer 42965. Brilliant photographs taken by RocknRave Nick, you can see more his amazing photograph at his Flickr account. 

Wright StreetDeck 35104 SM15 WCT: Picture by RocknRave

ADL Dart SLF/Pointer 42965 WX06 OMZ: Picture by RocknRave

Staying with the South of England theme lets move over to the South East, Hampshire. The bus in question is the stunning Wright Streelite Max 633304. The photograph is courtesy of Andrew Miller, whose Flickr account is here.  

Wright Streelite Max 63304 SN65 OLH: Picture by Andrew Miller

I think it is time for us to move back home to East of England. During 2014 to 2015, First Ipswich focused on refurbishment of their buses with the introduction of the urban grey livery on their whole fleet. 

Volvo B7TL Transbus ALX400 32491 AU53 HKJ

First Norwich have been really busy themselves with ongoing transformations of their Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini's fleet into the blue line livery, all this has been happing at Simon Morris Commercial Vehicle Printshop on the Ransomes Euro Park in Ipswich. In addition to this First Norwich have a selection of different branded liveries with the highlight of the Turquoise line between Spixworth and Attleborough via City Centre. 

Courtesy of Dan High: Dennis Trident Plaxton President 33167 LR02 LYF

It is time for us to move up North to York and highlight the superior livery on the Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37359, which is used on the service 66 between York railway station and York university. The photograph has been supplied by Mark Smith, Flickr account is here.

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37359 WX57HLZ: Picture by Mark Smith

With the theme of the North still in our minds, lets head over to Newcastle and see the red livery of the Volvo B7L/Wright Eclipse 66314, in service on the route 4A. My thanks go to David Burrell for the photograph, please look at his wonderful Flickr account.  

Volvo B7L/ Wright Eclipse 66314 KV02 VVR: Picture by David Burrell

To end this post we are going travel up to Scotland and highlight the factor of the blue/red livery on the Alexander Dennis Enviro300 67778 between Carlisle and Edinburgh. Many thanks goes to Mark Smith for the photograph,  Flickr account is here. This post has highlighted the factor, what is First buses current livery? I would like to thank everybody for their photographs and contribution towards this post. Please carry on LIKING our Facebook Page.  

Alexander Dennis Enviro300 67778 SN62 AXY: Picture by Mark Smith

Blue Line livery revealed: First Norwich

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini  2 36166 BD11CFK

Since the post on Friday 17th June 2016 (Exclusive Picture: First Norwich) more developments have been happening over at Simon Morris Commercial Vehicle Paintshop on the Ransomes Euro Park in Ipswich, with the unveiling of the Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36166 which is looking extremely smart wearing the brand new Blue Line livery. 

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini  2 36166 BD11CFK

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini  2 36166 BD11CFK

In the yard of Simon Morris Commercial Vehicle Paintshop is also the Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse 2 36179, which is going to have the same treatment as the 36179. 

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini  2 36179 BD11CDY

Exclusive Picture : First Norwich

This afternoon I popped over to Simon Morris Commercial Vehicle Paintshop on the Ransomes Euro Park in Ipswich and I was in luck, with First Norwich Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36166 present under going it's repaint into the Blue livery with the new Network Norwich branding being applied, picture below. 

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36166 BD11CFK

Many thanks to everyone for achieving over 20,000 views, please LIKE the Facebook Page. 

New Arrivals

Beccles Bus Station: Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

In the last two weeks there has been exiting news for independent bus company BorderBus with three new arrivals. Firstly lets start with the Optare Metrodecker which is on loan. I could say this is a demonstrator bus however I would be wrong as it's more of a prototype. Only  four are in existence and as of yet there are none in production. The prototypes have been lent to different bus operations for appraisal and feedback. 

Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

I caught up with the Optare Metrodecker in Suffolk on the route 144 between Norwich and Southwold. The first impression when you board is there it is very modem bus with an selection of different features. After that I noticed there was something different about the downstairs of the Optare Metrodecker, it is that the emergency exit is on the nearside of the bus. 

The nearside of the emergency exit : Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

The rear seating downstairs looks rather awful, however at the same time it feels spacious. The seats are rather comfy with full leather and there are 32 seats downstairs, which is key for this bus. 

The lower deck front : Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

Rear lower deck : Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

The upper deck has been very well designed, with 51 seats and I found it very spacious. A key point to highlight is the curved front window which enables extra light into the bus. In addition I note that there are no pillars at the front obstructing passengers views, when comparing this bus to the Wrightbus StreetDecks. 

The front top deck : Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU 

Rear top deck : Optare Metrodecker YJ65EPU

The last two new arrivals for BorderBus are in the form of an ex Arriva London Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini's which will be used on the 146 route and school contracts. However only one Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini has arrived so far. Firstly it needs its vinyls applying and pre-service checks need to be undertaken it is unlikely that it will be on the road until tomorrow. My thanks go to Peter for supplying me the photographs of the first Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini for BorderBus. 

Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini LJ03MJU

Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini LJ03MJU