FIRST ESSEX UPDATED ALLOCATIONS/EASTERN NATIONAL RECALL

To celebrate the update of the First Essex allocations, I thought i would recall the earlier era of Eastern National with a couple of old pictures, the first is a particularly colourful livery based in Southend for Bristol Lodekka FLF 2837 LWC 663C which had just over a year in this livery from 02/73 to 04/74. Eastern Counties weren't the only ones saddled with the ex Scottish VR's Eastern National were too, 3005-19 SMS 31-45H came from Midland, while this one 3046 NAG 586G was one of six which were delivered to Eastern Counties but passed to Eastern National in exchange for Bristol FLF Lodekkas.

MNR VINTAGE BUS EVENT IN DEREHAM

Yesterday saw the first vintage bus event held by the Mid Norfolk Railway in Dereham, whilst only a small event it certainly attracted the crowds, i attended the event with the ITM using Eastern Counties LS 829 APW 829B in the hands of Owen Phillips who by the end of the day, certainly knew what it was like to drive a classic bus! Trips were taken in and around Dereham itself, including a very brief trip into Konnect's premises, where there was Enviro 400's galore, above we see Julian Patterson's ex Eastern Counties Bristol RE RLE 864 WNG 864H, more pictures can be seen below.

Konnect's Park and Ride livery for Norwich is shown off to good effect by ADL E 400 623 SN65 DAB.

Using the long lens to good effect a line up of three Routemasters one recently bought is an old friend of mine in ex First Eastern Counties 39480 JJD 480D, RML 2323 and RML 2737.

 Richard Walker's recently acquired from Carters Bristol VR Open top OT3 JNG 50N

Taken ironically up above on JNG 50N was Konnect's Mercedes Citario bendy bus BD57 WDA.

INDEPENDENTS RECALLED

Today's recall features two independent operators one which is still in existence and the other was bought out by Hedingham in 1997, both pictures are circa early 1970's from own collection, the first sees Belle Coaches of Leiston Bedford/Duple CBJ 859H and i would imagine new to the operator, whilst the other shows one of the two prototype Bristol VRL HHW 933D,which originated with Bristol before being sold to Osbornes after a very short career with their original operator.

FIRST BUS ORDERS UPDATE

Illustrating the Wright Streetlite at last years Clacton rally is 47646 SN15 AFF, from First Essex at Hadleigh which has been ordered for South Yorkshire only this year.

Courtesy of the new First Bus Handbook, i can present the orders for the rest of 2016/17, omitted are the ones that have already been delivered such as the Streetdecks at Norwich.

ADL E400 MMC

Scotland East:33431-49, depots unknown.

Cornwall: 33450-79 for Cambourne

West Yorkshire: 33480-87, Hunslet Park, 33914-21 E400 GKN Flywheel, Hunslet Park

Bristol: 33488-90, Lawrence Hill, 33491-98, Bath, 39314-21 Bristol

Scania N280 UD CNG/ADL E400 MMC

Bristol: 36601-20, Lawrence Hill

Wrightbus Streetdeck

West Yorkshire: 35202-13, Hunslet Park, 35214-28, Bramley, 35229-38 Bradford

ADL E200

Essex: 44659-62, Colchester

Wrightbus Streetlite Max

South Yorkshire: 63369-81, Rotherham, 63382/83, Doncaster, 63384-88 Olive Grove

ADL E200 MMC

Glasgow: 67096-105, Caledonia

Potteries: 67151-66, Adderley Green

Hampshire/Dorset: 67167-83, Hoeford, 67184-97, Slough.

IPSWICH TO FELIXSTOWE RUN/BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Yesterday saw excellent conditions for the Ipswich to Felixstowe run, so from an excellent vantage point on ST Augustine's I'm able to bring a selection of images, from the numerous buses that attended the event, above we see Mr McNae in charge of the ITM's ICT AEC Regent 1 ADX 1, Lodges who hail from Essex usually attend the rally most years here we see there beautiful Bedford Duple Bella Vega EDD 685C.

As you might be able to see this ex Thamesdown Daimler Fleetline is now painted into Southdown livery.

Now preserved and a newcomer to the rally this year is this superb Volvo B58/Plaxton Viewmaster VLF 6X in Grove of Hertford livery.

BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Today being a Sunday service saw the vast majority of the ADL E200's of IB out in service along with 3 of the 4 remaining Optare Solo's 243 YN04 LWJ above, the X5 interworks with the 6/6A today saw Solo's 241/43/44 and a Scania Omnicity, the rest of the town routes were in the hands of the E200's apart from the 9/10 which were Citario operated as usual.

SATURDAY RECALL

Originally supplied to West Riding, in 1974 Leyland Leopard/Alexander LL787 HWY 728N was part of 4 making there way to Eastern Counties during 1985 including sister LL 785/786 HWY 726/727N and LL 788 PWW706R, of these LL 785 was withdrawn with accident damage in January 1986, also withdrawn that year were LL 786/87, leaving LL 788 which survived until 1990.

In 1980 after an accident IBT repainted Leyland Atlantean/Roe 21 SDX 21R in this 100 years of Ipswich Transport, it then was used as a guinea pig for different livery colours including a modified Brown and Cream, and a two tone green livery before finally going back to normal livery.

FIRST GROUP NEW ORDERS 2016/2017

With Thanks to Cameron on the First Eastern Counties Blog for the picture of 2 of the Wright Streetdeck 35195 SK16 GYU, 71 have been ordered of which Eastern Counties have 11 for the Pink Line 11/12.

All of this year's bus orders will come from British firms including ADL and Wright and will feature Euro 6 engines and all will be fitted with free WI-FI, of these orders 14 have already entered service with First South Yorkshire at Doncaster with 10 more due at Sheffield, Bristol will receive a further 68 and Cornwall 30 buses, in total there will be 305, Volvo meanwhile at one time a major player in First orders will only have an order for 10 coaches, Volvo B11R with Plaxton bodies, there is also nothing for Optare who also provided at one time the Solo for most of First's small buses.

Manufacturer	Vehicle Model	Quantity
ADL / Volvo	Plaxton (ADL) body / B11R (Volvo) chassis coaches	10
ADL	Enviro 200 MMC single decker	71
ADL	Enviro 400 MMC double decker	80
ADL	Enviro 400 MMC Gyro double decker	8
ADL	Enviro 400 double decker (exact spec to be confirmed)	45
Wrightbus	StreetDeck double decker	71
Wrightbus	StreetLite Max single decker	20