NORWICH RUNNING DAY: THE TALE OF AN EMERGENCY CONDUCTOR

Viv Carter had his excellent ex Eastern Counties Open Top VR JNG 50N out for the first time yesterday what an excellent restoration Viv and Justin.

You will have to excuse my lack of photos from yesterday due to both a lack of a memory card and then an intermittent screen problem. Okay that's my excuse out of the way, the day started at 0845 with 32479 from First Ipswich depot piloted by friend of the blog Joe Thorpe picking up a further 3  passengers from Ipswich Railway Station, good progress after that allowed us to arrive at 1010 at Norwich County Hall. After a quick ride on both LFL 57 to pick up a memory card from Argos and Richard Walkers National Greenway, I had just got back when i had a surprise call up as Chris Speed's conductor on Routemaster 39480 to Castle Meadow and back, followed by a trip out to First's Engineering Depot at Roundtree Way. Following that I took a trip out out in the country with Bristol VR VR 385 OCK 985K seen below with Routemaster CUV 151C and of course 32479 AU53 HJV. Then it was time to say good bye to Norwich leaving at about 1650 arriving back in Ipswich at 1810. Finally thanks to Joe Thorpe for taking me there, Chris Speed, organiser Neil Chilvers, ETC, EATM, First Norwich and all of my good friends from all the other blogs, Kieran, Sam and a very tired Grahame Bessey and any one else I missed.

Slight cut off at the wheels my chariot for the day RM 2480 JJD 480D.

Not the biggest of depots and the sheer volume of people meant a lack of great photos however to get an idea of the work that's carried out we see Norwich Trident 33237 LT52 WVF over the pits.

Dave Hale's magnificent Bristol RE class coach RLE 747 GCL 349N was amongst the attendees yesterday here just come off a trip out to Mulbarton.

Static on the day was Eastern Counties Bristol RE RS658 KVF 658E. Followed by one of the last trips of the day again on the 4 to Mulbarton with Richard Walker at the helm of National Greenway LG587 WAH 587S.