Southern England Bus enthusiast on tour part 3 Norwich

What a journey it was I went to seaside towns as well as a bustling city to photograph the Buses which operate in those areas. The final part of the series shows some of the Buses which operate in Norwich under many different operators. The operators I photographed in Norwich were First, Simmonds, Sanders and Konectbus. The Bus types include Geminis, MCVs, Presidents, East Lancs and Enviro400s. Every single one of these Buses I really needed and some of them were different operators for me to photograph.

My Bus to Norwich to see these Buses was B9 Gemini 37569 AU58 ECN on the X2 a really nice route. I really enjoyed the ride and it was worth it in the end once I saw all of the Buses in the Bus station and surrounding city centre streets.

Branded for the Turquoise line is Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36171 (BD11 CFU).

One of the MCVs works a route 1 these Buses aren't British they are Egyptian.

Go-Ahead are the other big company in Norwich KonectBus ADL Enviro400 636 (SN65 OAV) works the 37 series it's off route as it's branded for route 5.

Sanders Coaches operate some East Lancs like this 55 reg example on the 55.

First Norwich operate Volvo and Trident Presidents one of the Trident examples is seen on the purple line.

Another one of the Sanders East Lancs this time an 03 reg is seen loading.

Ex Leeds B9TL/Gemini 2 36181 (BF12 KXU) is branded for the Charcoal line here it is resting before taking up a Charcoal line.

Some Konectbus E400s look a real state on their rear but not elsewhere like one of the 61 reg examples on the X6.

I hope you enjoyed.

Southern England Bus enthusiast on tour part 2 Great Yarmouth

This was the trip I took the least photos on as the main Bus Station was too dark for photos. My Bus there was Posh E400 33822 YX63 LKM on the X1 with its nice leather seats something the MMCs on the Wave 99 have as well but this is standard E400s and not the MMC version as the MMC version are down here. The Buses featured are First Group Buses and Border Bus as you can see, Border Bus are a different operator for me to photograph. 

Believed to be an Ex demo for First is Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 37562 FJ08 FYN.

The X11 shares its allocation with the X1 and has ADL Enviro400s and Geminis on the service 33821 (YX63 LKL) now with no evidence that it's allocated to the X1, works the X11 I have to admit that these are better than the ADL E400s here. 

An operator only formed roughly 4 years ago is Border Bus and their fleet has continued to grow after starting with just one E200 and one route. A few more routes have followed for example the 146 and 580 E200 107 (BB12 BUS) is seen on the 580.

The final part of the series is Norwich and I have quite a few different photos including 3 Konect Buses in different liveries.

Southern England Bus enthusiast on tour part 1 Lowestoft

Last week I was away for a few days and as well as spending time with family, there was also time for some Bus photos. Throughout the course of the week, I visited Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Norwich. All 3 places will be split into 3 different parts the first part is photos of Buses in Lowestoft ,the second part being Great Yarmouth and the third and final part being Norwich. Lowestoft was my main place for last week as I spent more of the time there than in Great Yarmouth and Norwich. 

I was able to capture a range of Buses in Lowestoft which were ALX400 bodied Volvos, ADL E200s, Geminis with the first body, Gemini 2s and E400s.

Odd working! ALX400 30886 (W741 DWX) on route 106 a route which is normally operated by Singles. 

E200 44533 (SN62 DBV) one of 3 E200s recently transferred from First Berkshire to replace the Ex JPT E200s works the 101.

E200 44531 (SN62 AZW) was also transferred from First Berkshire which is also photographed on the 101.

One of the 58 reg Geminis departs the Bus station it was showing blinds, but they didn't come out.

Volvo B9TLs with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork were transferred over from Leeds some time ago one of them is seen on the X1 a route which is allocated E400s and Geminis.

This Gemini didn't sound good 37570 (AU58 ECT) is seen not in service I gather it had just finished an X2 or X22.

Another Ex Leeds Gemini 2 also departs the Bus Station on the 1A which normally has Buses which are 10 years or older on it.

A rather scruffy E200 which is 44517 YX09 ACY works the 105 this used to be in Norwich on one of their routes but transferred over.

One of the Posh E400s departs the Bus station on its normal X1 route I have a photo of another one of these in Great Yarmouth on the X11.

Gemini 37574 (AU58 ECY) is seen departing on the X1.

My next post will be a smaller post as I didn't take that many photos in Great Yarmouth.

Loans and more loans Eastbourne helping Hastings out

A repaint programme has led to loans to provide cover this was the Hastings 09 reg repaint programme which saw their 09 reg Scanias getting a respray. This led to Eastbourne lending them a helping hand by sending their Buses over on loan to provide the cover. The Buses featured have all been loaned to Hastings so far this year which led to me capturing some of them. However, I've been unable to photograph them all during their stay so i'm going to be showing them 2 Buses before and after their loans all 4 are in order ranging from the first to the most recent loan.

The Scanias were:

 15546 (GN59 EWV)

15771 (GN61 EVU)

15503 (GN09 BCY)

15770 (GN61 EVT)

15546 (GN59 EWV) was the first of this years loans to Hastings I was unable to photograph it during its stay so here it is long after it returned.

I was lucky to capture this photo it shows old Wave Scania 15771 (GN61 EVU) on the 98 it was the second loan to them. Once it returned, it took its time to enter service down here again it was also my first photo of an Eastbourne Bus on the 98.

Old Breeze Scania 15503 (GN09 BCY) is seen on the Wave 99 during its spell on loan to Hastings covering for one of the MMCs.

The most recent loan to Hastings has been old Wave 99 Scania 15770 (GN61 EVT) seen just before its loan started on the 51 it went over after service in the evening to allow 15503 to return.

A week of odd workings as well as the replacement for the Beach Bus

Who would of thought there would be so many Buses on odd workings in one week I was surprised with how many odd workings showed up. However, I was sadly unable to photograph them all which is a shame but I did manage to capture some. This post isn't just about odd workings as the Beach Bus and South Downs Bus which were regular performers on the Coaster have now been replaced by 2 Geminis in standard livery. 

Lets start with Single-Deckers: E300s 27580 (GX58 GKN) and 27582 (GX58 GKP) made appearances on the 56/5A/5 which are workings that are meant to be E200s during the holidays. 

Beast of a Bus the 56/5A/5 had a few appearances made by the GX58 batch of ADL E300s with one of 2 sighted appearances made. 27580 (GX58 GKN) is normally found on the 1/1A but took an outing on the 56/5A/5 a really odd working.

The second sighted appearance of a GX58 later on in the week was made by E300 27582 (GX58 GKP) known to me as the white moustache Bus it works a 5A.

 Meanwhile, it was interesting on the Double-Decker front with 09 plate Scanias appearing on the Wave 99 a route which is meant to be operated by Scania MMCs. This probably was due to the lack of MMCs available for the service 2 older Scanias appeared on it 15503 (GN09 BCY) and 15489 the latter still hasn't gone off for paint. 15503 is a loan to provide repaint cover for Hastings 09 reg Scanias. Another interesting thing was the fact that 3 Loop branded E400s appeared on the 1/1A the other day this led to 2 unbranded ADLs and one Scania E400 on the Loop. 19650/3/9 were on it in one day something in the way prevented me from getting photos of 2 of them. However, I did managed to capture one of them which is something. 

I've been trying to capture Eastbourne Scanias on loan to Hastings to provide repaint cover for their fleet of GN09s former Breeze 15503 (GN09 BCY) is seen on the Wave 99 covering for one of the MMCs another one was also on the service. 

It's a Loop on the 1 Loop branded E400 19653 (SP60 DPV) loads for its former service. 19650/9 were also on the service that particular day. 

 Elsewhere away from odd workings saw Brighton&Hove Geminis (Beach Bus 489 BJ63 UJT and South Downs Bus 490 BJ63 UJU) move homes so I will no longer be seeing them however, old 5 Geminis 477 (BJ63 UJE) and 478 (BJ63 UJF) replaced them. The good thing is that they are different Buses for me to photograph. 

Brighton&Hove Gemini 2 477 (BJ63 UJE) is seen on the 12A this replaced the Beach Bus.

Tribute to some of the Bus interchange

Due to the building work, part of the Bus interchange has to be handed over to the builders resulting in Bus stop movements to a place which isn't good for photos as there is loads of other traffic on that road. Here are a selection of photos I've managed to capture of the Bus types in service or are declining rapidly. The original style E300s have been declining so fast as of recently it's only been 27522 in service this is due to the type being withdrawn from service to become trainers their replacements being the GX58s which alongside some Doubles, replaced them on the 1/1A.

The Buses featured are 27523, 15506, 36122, 27571, 489, 19655, 28607 and 15331.

This was my last ever photo of original style E300 27523 (GX06 DZE) it was used in service for a bit and it was then withdrawn here it is at stop K on the 1A.

Scania E400s on the 51/251/252 worked from stop H like 15506 (GN09 BDF) photographed on the route earlier this week.

My E200 example isn't an E20D but these later variants of  Euro 4 E200 Darts sound very similar to the Euro 5s. The 98 also went from stop H Hastings based 36122 (GN10 JCY) works the service.

These replaced the original style E300s 27571 (GX58 GKA) works the 1/1A at stop K it's a shame the blind didn't come out.

My Brighton&Hove example sees the Beach Bus Gemini 2 489 (BJ63 UJT) work the 12A from stop J sadly, I won't be seeing this unless I go to Brighton as 489 and 490 have been replaced by standard liveried Geminis from the same batch.

L is for Loop and what a decision it was for the route to work from stop L. Loop branded E400 19655 (SP60 DPY) works the service it has been quite common for these to go off route.

Scania E300 28607 (GN61 EVL) also works a clockwise Loop from stop L. 

Whilst I've been unable to get MMCs on that side a poorly 15331 (YN67 YLD) waits for help.

I really hope this is temporary but I've done this incase it isn't temporary.

The sun is back for full sun Buses

When the clocks go forward and the sun is out you know what that means full sun bus photos for longer. With the main interchange being unsuitable for full sun photos and the fast approaching closure of part of it. I used spots where you can get full sun photos until mid afternoon when shadows would make it impossible. Here are some Buses soaking up some sun whether it's full sun or a brief sunny spell. 

Scania E400 15545 (GN59 EWU) soaks up some sun before doing the 51

The Scania E300s like it as well like 28609 (GN61 EVP) working the 5A

Meanwhile, ADL E400 19668 (SP60 DTO) enjoys some sun after finishing the 51 it would work a short working after

Waves in full sun Scania 15336 (YN67 YLJ) works the Wave 99 it doesn't go all of the way to its normal terminus

One of the other MMCs picks up for a Wave 99 this one doing the whole journey

If Loops are behaving and are actually on their route then they would enjoy the sun as well like  E400 19652 (SP60 DPU)

It's starting to become a challenge now in this spot as an MMC works the Wave 99

Old Breeze Scania E400 15503 (GN09 BCY) enjoys a brief bright spell the sun

Another Scania this time 15504 (GN09 BCZ) as it enjoys some sun

During a brief spell of  hazy sun is Scania 28610 (GN61 EVR) note the black window surrounds have returned it's seen after completing a 54

Here's to the many more to come!