First
Oh God where do I start. Only Lowestoft has been quiet this week! OK let's start in Ipswich as usual. Returning from Rotherham since I last reported from Ipswich are B7tl 32653, ex Colchester B7rle 66979 and ex P&R B7rle's 69423/4/7 with either 69426 or 66983 expected imminently. Going the other way were B7tl 32488 and ex Colchester 66980, which spent but a few hours at Ipswich before heading north. The arrival of 66980 meant that 69431 bade a fond farewell to Ipswich and was transferred to Colchester. Only two transfers remain now - 66976 from Colchester, currently in the overall Co-op ad, and 69006 from Norwich, also sporting a Co-op ad, but a rear one, which has now been given a transfer date of end of the month. Again.
Ex Colchester Volvo B7rle 66979 at OCM Ipswich pic (c) Bryan Dickson |
33166 in Purple loads up in a now strangely quiet St Matthews St in Norwich pic (c) Bryan Dickson |
First Yarmouth Wright Streetlite 47501 sits at James Paget Hospital |
By their own admission not much is happening there at the moment. There have been a couple of irregular workings on the Park and Ride but apart from that very little to report apart from the news that another Daf Lowlander has been painted into the new colours. Fleet number 59 PJ53 OLB has been given the treatment. That bus was the first bus I travelled on when I arrived in Ipswich in 2007 so a personal connection there. I'm meeting Malcolm Robson for a drink this week so I'm hoping he has something really juicy up his sleeve for me. Borismasters for the 5/7/11/15 will do please Malcolm!
Ipswich Buses 59, Daf Lowlander PJ53 OLB looking as proud as a peacock outside Revolution in Ipswich pic (c) Bryan Dickson |
Poor Abellio. I really feel sorry for them this week. It isn't their fault the network keeps falling apart just as it wasn't National Express's fault that hole appeard in the M25 on Friday. The overhead cable probs on Wednesday brought everything to a virtual halt and certainly stopped me getting down to West Sussex for my hospital appointment. However it's not just on the trains Abellio have had problems recently. They also run buses for TfL out of their depot in Croydon and two of their buses have spontaneously combusted in the last couple of weeks. The most spectacular of these happened in Wallington, when a 157 started smoking. Pretty soon the smoke had turned into a pretty impressive blaze. Incidentally the vehicle involved is Abellio 9068 Volvo B7tl Gemini BX55 XNY
The Abellio Gemini is well alight pic Sutton Guardian |
That's just about it for this week. Keep checking in for posts throughout the week starting tomorrow with a special on the Newcastle Metro. I am also chasing up a couple of rumours I have heard regarding activity in and around Norwich early next year and if I get anything confirmed you'll hear it here first. Have a good week everyone.
What a good post as always enjoyed reading so much keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi steve galloway. Update the ex belle volvo. Vanhool coaches are 339 nji9241 still in belle blue and 340 nji9244 now. All white with no fleet names
ReplyDeleteThsnks David.
DeleteHi Steve,33166 in St Mathews street??? do you mean St Stephen's street.
ReplyDeleteYes I do!!!!!! All my tests are being well passed!
Delete