Highlights of 2014

There are a few highlights from this year including a Bus window slamming shut by its self, going on  a Gas Bus for the fist time, a driver making passengers nearly fall off their seats and a " Drunk Bus " on my trip to London this year (we joked that) by the way it was turning and going on a bus with leather seats,Wi-Fi, air conditioning and more leg space for the first time on the X1.

Here are some of my holiday photos:

There are some really nice Buses in Dorset (not all of them have adverts down them) ranging from Eclipse buses - Scania N230UDS the Scania N230UDS were mainly found on route 40 and 50 and are titled the Purbeck Breezers. The 40 stopped out side the holiday park I was staying at and I got off site to take this photo of HF09 FVR from Morebus on the 40.

Scania N230UD Olympus photographed on holiday this year

 This is the only Gemini I saw whilst on holiday was this one branded for a express route between Poole and Exeter.

Gemini HX08 DHG also photographed on holiday

 I also went to London this year and went on 5 Buses this one I photographed was at Victoria Train Station at the Bus Station opposite.

Metroline Enviro400 from my trip to London in the Summer

I went to Lowestoft as well and rode on 2 gas buses with one nice driver and one horrible driver on Anglian route 61.

I first rode on a Gas Bus this year it is really quiet.

 Finally something more recent photographed last month was this Enviro400 on the 99 registered GN61 EWE with a fleet number of 15780 this is the only 61 reg Enviro400 not branded for the 99 this is a highlight because I photographed it for the first time.

Something more recent the only 61 reg Enviro400 not branded for the Wave I photographed for the 1st time.

Enjoy reading.

Your photos

I am now doing this blog on all your photos from Flickr and what I have received on DM that I have selected. The photos feature Buses from First, Ipswich Buses, Sanders and Stagecoach. Most of the Buses in the images feature Double Deck Buses with one image of 2 Single Deck Buses from my local Stagecoach company this might be one of the best blogs I have published.

33423 photographed by Marcus Kerton ( First )

32100 photographed by Kieran Smith ( First )

36904 and an Enviro300 photographed by Northwest85 ( Stagecoach )

Lowlander photographed by Bryan Dickson ( Ipswich Buses )

X1 Gemini 37578 photographed by Steve W ( First )

18174 photographed by Northwest85 ( Stagecoach )

YX63 LJF photographed by fife bus news ( First )

Another Lowlander photographed by Steve W ( Sanders Coaches )

I will now be sharing my pic of ALX400 18530 ( GX06 DYU ) one of my favourite ALX400S ever along with 18529 ( GX06 DYT )

My own pic of 18530 ( Stagecoach )

There is not much writing in this post which I enjoyed doing but there is loads of pics I have shared enjoy reading if I have used your pictures on the blog you will notice that you have been credited in the captions attached to the images for your top quality photos.

My trip to London back in the summer

In the Summer I went to London for the day with my Grandma I saw loads of London Buses however I didn't get that many photos I only got 2 at Victoria Bus Station before I left London to come back home to Eastbourne. My day started like this we got to Eastbourne Train Station at 9:45 in the morning in time to get the 9:58 train to Victoria when it arrived at around about 11:27 in the morning.

The Station was a bit dull where the train pulled in but as soon as we got into the main building it looked like a mini town centre. I was really amazed by all the London Buses I saw they were just beautiful. First we got onto the 11 which was a Borismaster and I didn't really enjoy the ride whatsoever. We then got onto the 453 ( When it was still an Enviro400 ) to see where it took us we ended up at another train station. After that we got a ALX400 on the 2 to Hyde Park Corner where from there we would get a 52 to the Albert Hall and Grandma showed me it. The route is run by Metroline and it was a nice Gemini 2 with air-con I managed to get my favourite seat on a double deck bus at the top and at the front. After we saw the Albert Hall we got another Gemini 2 on the 52 back to Victoria.

The centre doors make a noise when they open for passengers to get off.

Now for the 2 photos I got:

Arriva Gemini 2 LJ62 BMZ

Metroline Enviro400 LK60 AGY

I'm hoping to go up again next year and I will try to get more bus pictures if I do go 2 is not enough but they were the only 2 I got. Stay Tuned because next week I will be publishing a special post on the photos from you lot that I have already selected them thanks for reading.

Classic Eastbourne Enviro400s

Eastbourne has 4 classic Enviro400 both 06 and 56 reg only one of them has Stagecoach in Eastbourne on it whilst the others don't. The fleetnumbers are 19019, 19048, 19049 and 19053 with three of them 56 reg and one of them 06 reg. They are classic Enviro400s because they have light blue seats, these are Trident 2 Enviro400s that were built until 2008 and Enviro400s built after that year are Scania N230UD Enviro400s. These ones in the photographs are Trident 2 Enviro400s here are the images:

I have ridden on 19053 a couple of times when it was on route 51 and I sat on my favourite seat on the top deck at the front next to the window here it is in action on route 51 which is the route route in most of these images.

Enviro400 19053 MX56 FSC

 I have also ridden on 19049 a couple of times also on the 51 here it is photographed on the 51 the day I rode on it. 

Enviro400 19049 MX56 FRU

 One I have not rode on is 19019 which came from Manchester this is the one that has Stagecoach in Eastbourne on the side it is the oldest of all 4 classic Eastbourne Enviro400s but I have seen it a few times this one is photographed on the 1A and it is my favourite classic Eastbourne Enviro400.

Enviro400 19019 MX06 XAU

 Another image of an classic Enviro400 I have not rode on it is seen on the 51.

Enviro400 19048 MX56 FRR

 It is a real shame that all 4 have adverts down them and it does spoil them however I would like to share another picture of 19019 this time it is on the 1 a quicker route than the 1A.

Finally another image of 19019 MX06 XAU

Please stay tuned in because within the next couple of weeks I will be doing a post on some of the pictures you have sent to me in DM on Twitter and also some from Flickr as well thanks for reading.

33423 special

These are not my images but I have been given permission to use them on Twitter for this post. As you are all aware 33423 ( SN60 CAA ) is one of my favourite Non - Local Bus ever it has Tinted Windows, LED lights and nice seats. But 33423 will not remain in its current colours for much longer as it soon will be going into X1 colours but its features will be staying it will just be going a different colours.

33423 and Gas Bus photographed by Steve

Another image of 33423 

Rear View of 33423 

33423 showing its Tinted Windows 

 I'm really pleased to share a image of 33423 in its first week of service photographed by one of my Twitter followers which will be used in another post a bit later on where I will be sharing some of your best bus pics along with one of mine.

33423 in its first few weeks of service photographed by Marcus Kerton

Thanks for reading.

Spotting

 Sorry if this post is not long 

Last Saturday I met up with Frankie ( Northwest85) to do some bus spotting we stood right near the traffic lights in Eastbourne town centre taking some amazing photos. As you are all aware some of the Enviro300s have lost their UNO branding so I got some photos of them before their branding gets removed.

Still branded Enviro300

 I saw Enviro200 GN13 HHO running on the Loop these buses run along side the 7 Loop branded buses there was a photo opportunity for me to get some photos but I decided to share only one of them.

Enviro200 on the Loop

 Later on we saw a 54 reg ALX400 operating the 1 approaching a Pointer Dart running on the 3 I was so proud of this photo but the advertisement makes the bus less attractive this photo is just amazing.

ALX400 meets Pointer Dart.

Thats all I'm publishing on this post there will be one in a couple of days about all 4 of Eastbournes classic Enviro400s thanks for reading. 

Brighton Buses in Eastbourne

On this post I will be sharing some of my Brighton and Hove bus pics.

Brighton and Hove have routes that run into Eastbourne the routes are the 12,12A,12X and 13X. Brighton and Hove work along side Stagecoach in Eastbourne and have a fleet of mainly double deckers which are mostly Scania Omnidekkas and Scania Omnicitys but there are some Gemini 2s as well. Next February they will receive new Street Deck Gemini 3s that might be replacing the Omnidekkas that are currently running on the 12 i'm hoping some of them will be on the 12 next year.  

As shown in some of these images the Brighton Buses stop at Bus stop J when going back to Brighton.

Brighton Gemini 2 BJ63 UJP

Scania Omnicity Pick quality is not that great

 Some of the buses on limited stop at Bus stop E same stop as Stagecoach operated Wave 99 People have to be be quick getting off seeing as the bus is not stopping for long the 13X is limited stop the same as First X1 between Lowestoft and Peterborough with it splitting at Norwich the 13X just does that.

Gemini 2s keep coming one on 13X that runs between Brighton and Eastbourne

 Brighton Buses go to Eastbourne Pier for example a Gemini 2 on the 13X as well as all the other Brighton routes go along a display of flowers not far from the pier one of the images shows a bus going not quite at the flower bed yet and another one shows one at the flowers.

Photographed in June Gemini 2 going past flower displays along Eastbourne Seafront.

Scania Omnidekka operating on the 12X

Gemini 2 on the 13X

Further out shot of Gemini 2 with Stagcoach ALX400 behind

 Stagecoach and Brighton and Hove are rivals the image above shows a Gemini 2 of Brighton and Hove in front of a Stagecoach ALX400.

Rear Shot of Gemini 2

Just to finish off Brighton Buses don't have adverts on them unless it promotes the company but 30 non branded ones will end up having adverts Thanks for reading.

Guest Post Border Bus special

Sorry if this post is not that long.

I'm completely sure I'm allowed to use these pictures to do this post with Thanks to fellow blogger Steve who is one of my number 1 Twitter Followers lets hope you don't mind me using the pictures. Border Bus is a strong supporter of Movember and have attached Moustaches on to their buses. Here are some images:

A cracking shot of a Border Bus (BB62 BUS) with a Moustache 

Another amazing photo of a Border Bus

Another amazing photo love the colours BB07 BUS

A close up shot of an Border Bus Enviro200 BB62 BUS

This one loads in Norwich

These images will of course remain your copyright Steve thanks for sending me them. Stay Tuned because I will be doing a post  at some point of Brighton Buses in Eastbourne and I will also be sharing some of the pics I have taken off the Brighton Buses including a few Brighton Gemini 2s thanks for reading.

Bus Spotting Part 2

All these images were taken in my hometown Eastbourne.

I would like to Thank Kieran , Sam and Steve for inspiring me to do a blog after reading theirs you three got me inspired, now on to my post.

If you haven't read my last post which was part one you can still read it before this one ( Link can be found on my Twitter page ) It shows an image of 18529 as one of the replacements for 13992 and 13993. Now onto this post:

This post involves some Enviro400s and Enviro200s , I was near one of my normal spots for spotting and I saw Enviro400 19049 MX56 FRU operating on the 1A. I looked at it and it was not loading then I knew that it was not loading because it was terminating at the Town Centre. I wonder if the bus suffered a minor fault which shortened its service run, A replacement bus came as quick as possible which I thought would continue the service it was a 54 Reg Trident/ALX400  that pulled in behind the Enviro400 at the same stop I have ridden this Enviro400 on route 51 before I had to sit on the seat second from the front because two students my age put their bags on the spare seat so I could not sit there but I managed to get the front seat at the top when they got off.

Enviro400 19049 MX56 FRU

Before my Loop arrived I saw another Enviro400 this time on the 99 it is registered GN61 EWE and the fleet number 15780. The bus was a Hastings Enviro400 not a Eastbourne Enviro400 like 19049. When I saw it was not loading and the driver was absent at first and there were waiting passengers. When I got on my Loop I saw that the bus was gone after the driver turned up and  all the waiting passengers were boarded.

Enviro400 15780 GN61 EWE 

 Finally I would like to show an image of one of the Loop branded Enviro200s. All of them are 13 reg and still have that new bus smell despite being a year old. Their fleetnumbers are 36898 - 36908 and their registrations are GN13 HHO/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z. These buses are really nice and I have ridden on all the branded ones and 2 of the non branded ones.

Enviro200 branded for the Loop

Hope you enjoy this post as much as I have writing it.

Bus spotting last weekend part 1

This is my first post

Last Saturday afternoon I ventured out of my house to go into Eastbourne to do bus spotting the weather was cold but dry. I stood by the traffic lights hoping to get some good pictures.

First up I saw Trident/ALX400 18530 GX06 DYU on route 51 to Heathfield no photo though but I managed to get a photo of the other recently transferred Trident/ALX400 18529 GX06 DYT on route 51 later on before I got my Loop home here is an image:

18529 GX06 DYT in the late afternoon sunshine.

It is understood that the Tridents/ALX400S 18529 and 18530 are replacements for the earlier DAF DB250s/ALX400S 13992 and 13993 that were withdrawn from service not long ago. 

Withdrawn 13992  V652 LWT photographed in May.

Withdrawn 13993 V654 LWT photographed in February ( Rid on this one a couple of weeks before it was withdrawn it was horrible,  the seats were tatty/uncomfortable and my seat was ripped.)

The next part will be up within the next few days featuring the Enviro400s and Enviro200s I saw.