New Loco, Old Paint Job & Major Rant!

As I'm dog sitting at the moment I'm not getting out much, which is proving to be pretty frustrating, so I was delighted to receive a couple of pics yesterday from fellow blogger Kieran Smith of Norwich Buses. One of the new Class 68 locos has been in Norwich the last week doing driver training and Kieran managed to get a pic of it on his way to Ipswich yesterday. I'm in Ipswich myself tomorrow, and it's booked to be coming through so I'm hoping to see it for myself, but in the meantime here is Kieran's pic of it. Looks good, the only comment I have is I can't think of another type of loco or unit that has as little yellow up front as these 68's do. Just wonder how that will affect visibility from distance in adverse weather.

The rather impressive looking 68 004 sits in Norwich sidings with a 47 in background

The other pic Kieran sent me was of single car unit 153314. This is the last 153 to remain in the old "One" livery, and it was also the unit that went paddling in the Lowestoft floods last year, resulting in many weeks off the rails. Kieran said she was the centre of attention from numerous train enthusiasts, for reasons I don't know, but it's such a good picture I had to use it. Cheers, Kieran.

Single car unit 153314 leaves Ipswich sidings

Now the rant. I was monitoring Twitter yesterday morning when Kieran tweeted that he was getting abuse and extremely unfriendly attitudes from First Ipswich drivers for daring to take pictures at Old Cattle Market. To such an extent that it appeared he was quite distressed. I suggested he contacted Chris Speed, who I know hates that sort of thing and is looking to stamp it out. Now before I carry on ranting I must praise Chris, who I know is on holiday in America right now. Despite that he found the time to respond to Kieran and has passed all details to the depot manager at Ipswich. Fair play, Chris, that was above and beyond the call of duty.

However, that does not detract from the fact that someone harmessly going about his hobby was subject to verbal abuse from so called professional drivers. I used to be a driver and we had more than our share of enthusiasts who used to hang around taking pics. Yes, I admit occasionally I'd pull a silly face or stick my tongue out, but never once did it cross my mind to be nasty or aggressive to them. In fact now I'm highly grateful to those guys and I spend a lot of time looking at pics taken in those days. Still haven't found one of me driving though!

I am acutely aware that none of the drivers who have an issue with enthusiasts will be reading this, but I know management do and they need reminding that enthusiasts give you guys a while lot of free publicity. It's bloggers like Kieran who publicise your new timetables, routes, initiatives and vehicles. It's thanks to bloggers like Kieran that potential customers well outside your catchment area see what's going on and come over here, thus generating more publicity and even revenue if they travel on the services. Negative attitudes from drivers and staff generate negative publicity and that is not good news for any company. Now it must be said that I have never had any problems at Ipswich from anyone while taking pics, and in a way that is even more worrying. I am big, middle aged and hairy. Kieran isn't, so if these big brave drivers are only picking on the younger generation then that makes it even more despicable and it needs to be sorted and quick. Norwich Buses has a similar readership to this blog - around 10,000 page views a month,and that is a lot of people seeing this negativity.

I hope Kieran gets a depot tour and interview with the depot manager to make up for this - it's the least First can do. I hope the drivers concerned are identified and disicplined. Companies NEED enthusiasts like Kieran. To read him say that sometimes he felt like giving up the hobby was truly sad. Perhaps those drivers would prefer he was throwing eggs at their buses or vandalising the bus stops as opposed to taking pics of them. Kieran - next time you intend to go to Ipswich let me know, and I'll do my damndest to meet you there, and God help any driver who objects to you taking pictures.

As an ex driver I will defend drivers to the hilt - in fact I'm waiting to hear if I'll be needed as a witness in defence of an Ipswich driver right now, and I have never reported a driver as I know anyone can have a bad day at the office. But there are limits to everything, and if I see any driver verbally abusing a young enthusiast there will be smoke coming off my phone.

Eastern Counties Olympian Special

Some months ago when we all thought the Yarmouth Ollies had seen their last days I put out an appeal for pictures for a series of commemorative Olympian specials. Thankfully that proved rather premature as 5 of them are still alive and in regular service. However, with the emergence of VA479 in Ipswich last week I had the idea to show a few of the different pics I received of  Ollies in that striking EC livery and the subsequent variant. I was inundated with pics from some very generous people and it's a good opportunity to show some.

First of all, from the maestro that is Syd Eade we have Leyland Olympian DD1 F101 AVG. Seen in Long Rd, Lowestoft this was its first run out in service

Olympian DD1 F101 AVG           photo (c) Syd Eade

Next, also taken by Syd, we have Olympian OL22 J622 BVG. This photo was taken in Thetford in July 1994 when bus routes were bus routes with no EEC interference!

OL22 J622 BVG at Thetford.          Pic (c) Syd Eade

The next picture is rather special. DD3 F103 AVG is shown looking rather smart albeit with double vision (2 Eyes) but the handsome bloke at the wheel is none other than Syd Eade himself. Richard Alger took the pic but I'm not sure when it was taken. Can't have been 1932 as I first thought as the bus wasn't built till 1988/9!!

DD3 F103 AVG with some bloke called Syd driving!     pic (c) Rchard Alger

After First took over Eastern Counties there were some variants on the livery. Here is 34862 C372 CAS outside BHS in Yarmouth on the way to Belton. Many thanks to David Oakley for this one.

Lookng a bit jaded 34862 C372 CAS       pic (c) David Oakley

And finally here is 34933 G133 ATW at Ipswich,also taken by David Oakley. Looking smarter than the above 34862 I still think the Eastern Counties livery as worn by VA479 looks better.

Ollie 34933 G133 ATW leaves OCM in Ipswich        pic (c) David Oakley

Hope you enjoyed that trip down memory lane, and I'll think up some more specials soon.

Weekly News Round Up 10/8/14

This year is flashing by alarmingly fast, and it's Sunday again already so here is the weekly look at what's been going on.

Carters

The most significant news of the week in my opinion has not been reported anywhere else yet, but from 1st September the frequency of buses between Ipswich and Colchester is being doubled to make it a basic hourly frequency. That is truly excellent news and not before time. All we need now is an express bus service and Greater Angfia might actually have some competition. To accommodate the extra buses unfortunately cuts have had to be made elsewhere, and the losers are Hadleigh and Mistley. The 94, which runs from Colchester to Hadliegh is largely withdrawn except a couple of connecting services in the morning and evening peak, and the 96, which ran from Ipswich to Mistley in the gaps the 93 didn't is now renumbered 94 and will not serve Mistley anymore, although other parts of the route will continue to be served, as will parts of the existing 94 between Caple St Mary and Colchester.

The other major change is that the 92 to Holbrook will be extended to Manningtree, at long last giving an alternative to the train from Ipswich. All in all these changes I view as positive, and will certainly allow me to get to Colchester a bit more often to observe the goings on there.

Not my best pic but the only one of a 94 I have, and let's face it not a bad model either! Ollie C101 CHM when Carters were using her in service

First Group

Not a huge amount to report this week. Ex Norwich B7rle 66950 has returned with a grey front and ex Clacton E200 44518 is due back soon. The newly painted ALX400 32479 now VA479 has been the centre of attention all week, and rightly so as it looks great. Norwich Volvo B7 66333 has unexpectedly returned to Norwich and was spotted in serivice on Friday. Over at Yarmouth the Olympians have seen extensive work this week, including a late night run on the 8's last night - thanks to Jamie for the heads up on that one. ALX 32064 is off sick with gearbox probs and the old driver trainer coach has finaly been taken away for burial. New trainer 60807 has arrived back in a blaze of chevrons!

66333, seen here at Tower Ramparts, Ipswich, has now returned to Norwich

Greater Anglia

It has been another truly horrific week for rail passengers. I cannot remember the last day the network ran without problems,and I'm not just talking minor inconveniences either. On both sides of the network it has been almost incessant disruption and GA have have broken the world tweet record this week I think.The trouble is, as usual, that the huge majority of the probs have not been down to GA, Yes, the Class 90's are failing with alarming regularity but most of the probs are down to the infrastructure. The worst case this week was on Thursday when  the signals between Ipswich and Stowmarket crashed. Nothing could run between those stations for hours and Lord only knows how long it took commuters to get home that night. Friday night a fatality at Broxbourne meant choas on the other side, and yesterday, dear God right in the middle of the Summer Season they closed the line between Ipswich/Manningtree and Stowmarket no doubt hugely inconveniencing thousands of holidaymakers we NEED to come to our region. Someone actually gets paid to decide these things! I hope it is a better week on the railways this week.

Showbus 2014

On September 21st Showbus takes place at Duxford again and after looking at the entry list last night it is quite sad to see very few vehicles from this region have been entered. East Anglia Transport Museum have 3 entries but from what I can see nothing from Anglian or Konect, nothing from Norfolk Green, Sanders, Ipswich Buses or Carters, Galloway or Beestons. Coach Services of Thetford are taking their Volvo B9tl, and joy of joys 33423 has been entered, which should steal the show in my opinoin, but that's it. There have been reports that VA479 is going too but as yet it is not on the official entry list. I have noticed that one of Oxford Tubes new Van Hool Astromegas is going so that should be worth seeing too.

Now a plea for help! I would very much like to get to Showbus this year but as yet haven't got a way of getting there. It was thought someone was going to organise a bus but I don't think that's happening now so if anyone can oblige (a couple of spare seats on 33423 would be HUGELY appreciated) then please let me know. I say a couple as I would need picking up from this outpost in order to get to the bus!

So, as it's the only official entry from operators in our neck of the woods (not ignoring you Coach Services but haven't got a pic of the B9 yet) here is another blatantly contrived chance to show yet another pic of 33423. Have a good week, everyone.

Before she was pink!! 33423 enters Lowestoft Bus Station in her early days on the X1

Misc Ipswich Obs

While I was in Ipswich on Wednesday getting shots of VA479 and visiting Beestons I also got a few other pics which I thought I'd share as they involve a pretty good mix of vehicles. We start in Saxmundham with a gleaming, well, some of it is 69009

69009 in the Saxmundham sun

It was dry, hot and sunny in Ipswich when I got there and it wasn't long before I heard just about the best sound in Ipswich these days, the dulcet tones of a Leyland Atlantean engine. Is there a more eye catching and sweeter sounding open topper in the country? I drove IB Atlanteans in London for Boro'line in the late 80's/early 90's and everytime I see IB9 the memories come flooding back.

A well patronised IB9 outside Revolution (was PALS) in Ipswich

Another IB vehicle that doesn't often get a School Holiday outing is IB10. On Wednesday it was on the 202 to Shotley, and proved rather difficult to fit in the frame - strategic positioning of the number plate was required.

IB 10 Trident PO51 UMK at OCM on the 202 to Shotley

While at Ipswich Station I was lucky enough to time it just as Galloways National Express branded Levante came in to pick up with First Hampshire Irizar 23312 in the background. You can't plan these photo ops - they just happen!

Galloways Nat Ex Levante FJ61 EVT loads up with stand by Rail Coach First 23312 in background

Earlier in the day, while on route to Beestons I had caught sight of VA479 for the first time while on a Beestons Scania Omnidekka. So here is another pic of the most photographed bus of the week!

VA479 heads for the town centre while IB Tiident LG02 FDC heads for Thorrington Park

And finally what I think is just about my favourite coach in the region. Farelines' vintage 1989 Volvo B10M has an almost intimidatory presence in the same way a Class 37 loco does. I travelled on her a couple of years ago and she gives a lovely ride. Yes - still a Setright ticket machine which gives the whole coach a real retro feeling. Long may she remain in service and I hope when the time comes someone preserves her. Worth noting is the roller blind - only 34186 at Yarmouth still has one of those!

Fareline's really endearing and impressive Volvo B10M Jonckheere F94 CBD at OCM

That's all folks, have a good weekend and I'll be back with the news round up on Sunday.

Ooh La La C'est Tres Bon!

Or to put it another way blimey that don't 'alf look good guv! Sometimes a picture just jumps out at you and when I saw this pic on Twitter I just had to post it. A Routemaster and Borismaster travelling together down the Champs Elysee in Paris isn't something you see everyday and there is just something about this pic that has the wow factor. My grateful thanks to McKenna Brothers for allowing me to use their pic, and considering Paris is regarded as the art capital of the world I think those buses are in the right place. The only prob is my eyes can't ID either of them so if anyone has better eyes than me feel free to let me know and I'll credit you!

Two icons in front of another icon. Just how good is that! Pic by Mckennabrothers