On a gloomy late March afternoon, Sanders service 6A/X6 route branded MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 532 - BV23 NUW “Norfolk Broadsman” is captured heading along Norwich Road at Tuttington while working the above schoolday only service 18A journey. When the new term commences, after the Easter break on Monday 15th April, this journey and the morning run to North Walsham are to be rerouted over the Colby - Aylsham section by way of Banningham village, as per the service 18 route. As a result, they will no longer pass this way or serve Tuttington and Burgh-next-Aylsham. However, the road through the latter village will still be used by schoolday only services 82 & 88, both of which run between North Walsham and Aylsham High School using different routes.
In the background we can see Tuttington Church, dedicated to SS Peter & Paul, which is one of the many round towered churches to be found in Norfolk & Suffolk and since I was last here a Tuttington sign has been erected to the right. Also note that the rapeseed is already coming into bloom.
As previously mentioned, big changes are proposed for service 18, my favourite North Norfolk route, as from week commencing 1st April 2024.
Monday to Friday - Currently, the full route from North Walsham to Cromer runs by way of Felmingham, Colby, Banningham, Aylsham, Ingworth, Erpingham, Calthorpe, Aldborough, Thurgarton, Sustead, Metton, Aylmerton and Felbrigg (Green). The proposed changes see the withdrawal of the mid-morning short workings in each direction over the North Walsham - Aldborough section and the two each way journeys that cover the full route are rerouted in both directions over the Metton - Cromer section. They will all now follow the route taken by the current 0920hrs Cromer - North Walsham journey via the A148 and Felbrigg (Green) thus omitting Aylmerton and Roughton Road. Timings are slightly revised to match those provided by the current Saturday service 18 timetable with the 0920hrs journey now departing from Cromer forty five minutes later. These service 18 journeys will no longer run through from Cromer to Holt/Sheringham on services 16/17/19 & 20, although Sanders retain their slightly revised schoolday only service 18A journeys from/to Aldborough/Aylsham and North Walsham in term time - see above.
Saturday - Sadly, the 18 is to be withdrawn on this day and all the timing points listed, with the obvious exceptions of North Walsham, Aylsham and Cromer, lose their bus service on this day of the week, although Felmingham and Colby will have a connection to/from Norwich when “The City” are at home.
Tags: Sanders North Walsham Aldborough Tuttington Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora BV23NUW Norfolk
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Under an overcast sky, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 521 - BV21 OOD “Norfolk Discoverer” is captured as it heads along Burnt Street at Wells-next-the-Sea with the above Cromer bound Coasthopper service CH1 journey. A previous attempt at using this “unusual” Wells location some while back was thwarted by other traffic, but no such problem today.
When Sanders first introduced their replacement for the former Stagecoach operated Coasthopper service over the Cromer - Sheringham - Blakeney - Wells section of the route from Sunday 29th April 2018 in Wells it ran by way of Warham Road, Polka Road (B1105) and Station Road to The Buttlands after which a clockwise circuit was made to serve The Quay area via Mill Road, Mill Road (A149), Holkham Road (B1105), Freeman Street, The Quay, Standard Road and Station Road back to The Buttlands. Buses then returned to Cromer by travelling along Mill Road as far as the junction with Two Furlong Hill and then took the A149 along Burnt Street, Church Street and Warham Road.
The current routing which now follows an anti-clockwise circuit of the town by way of Warham Road, Polka Road (B1105), Station Road, The Buttlands, Mill Road, Two Furlong Hill (A149), Burnt Street. Church Street and Warham Road was adopted with the introduction of the winter period timetable on Sunday 14th October 2018. As a result, Sanders no longer pass through The Quay area, although Holkham Road, Freeman Street, The Quay and Standard Road are still served by Lynxbus Coastliner service 36.
Tags: Sanders Wells-next-the-Sea Cromer Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora BV21OOD Coasthopper Norfolk
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Taken from the graveyard of Morston Church, dedicated to All Saints, on a thankfully overcast Sunday morning, here we see former Southern National (Royal Blue) ECW bodied Bristol RELH6G type number 1457 - LDV 467F. Now in the hands of Keith Dickerson, it carries the local coach Western White and Dark Blue livery variation with large white fleetnames introduced by the NBC South Western Area from October 1969.
Captured while taking part in what is now an annual, early season road run along the A149 from Sheringham to Hunstanton. A fairly low key event for “local” vehicle owners, more recently it has become a Memorial Run for good friend and fellow transport enthusiast, Geoff Hanson who sadly passed away in February 2022.
Tags: Southern National Royal Blue Sheringham Hunstanton Morston Bristol RELH6G ECW LDV467F Norfolk
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Taken from the graveyard of Morston Church, dedicated to All Saints, on a thankfully overcast Sunday morning, here we see former Eastern Counties ECW bodied Bristol VRT/SL6LXB type VR190 - VPW 85S. Now in the hands of the VR190 Group, a consortium of enthusiasts/preservationists, of which Geoff Hanson was previously a shareholder.
Captured while taking part in what is now an annual, early season road run along the A149 from Sheringham to Hunstanton. A fairly low key event for “local” vehicle owners, more recently it has become a Memorial Run for good friend and fellow transport enthusiast, Geoff Hanson who sadly passed away in February 2022.
Tags: Eastern Counties Sheringham Hunstanton Morston Bristol VR ECW VPW85S Norfolk
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Taken from the graveyard of Morston Church, dedicated to All Saints, on a thankfully overcast Sunday morning, here we see former Eastern Counties ECW bodied Bristol RELL6G type number RL516 - EPW 516K. When new in April 1972 it was initially allocated to Peterborough depot along with sister bus RL515 - EPW 515K. Subsequently both moved eastwards and the latter, which has previously featured amongst my Flickr uploads, became a regular fixture at Cromer depot.
Captured while taking part in what is now an annual, early season road run along the A149 from Sheringham to Hunstanton. A fairly low key event for “local” vehicle owners, more recently it has become a Memorial Run for good friend and fellow transport enthusiast, Geoff Hanson who sadly passed away in February 2022.
Tags: Eastern Counties Sheringham Hunstanton Morston Bristol RELL6G ECW KPW516K Norfolk
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