Friday 14th June 2013 ~ Theres' a hole in my road !

20514 at Caister Road. Photo : Joe Watson /NBP

Not much time of late with my personal circumstances outlined previously, so a quick bulletin of recent events. On Thursday 6th I used the X1 for a brief visit to Peterborough - I can recommend the Oakham Ales in the Brewery Tap, which is very handily situated for the bus station. I travelled outward on the 11.19 from Wisbech with 37156 and departure was at 11.22. A stop at Weasenham Lane meant our lateness had increased to 5 minutes by Guyhirn and this was the same at Thorney, however, the new timings meant we were just 2 late into Peterborough bus station. After loading we were away on time at 11.08 and arrival at the railway station was at just after 11.10 which was a minute or so early. On the way home on the 16.08 from Queensgate the bus was 37572 but with the same driver (John Frangou). Departure was to the second and although earlier we had arrived via Boongate, this time we left from the rail station via Dogsthorpe. Arrival in Thorney was dead on time at 16.29, but we had lost 2 minutes by Guyhirn. A good drive meant Wisbech was reached just a minute late and departure was on time, something this particular service rarely manages. Likewise my arrival at Walpole.
On Sunday 9th, 37160 working XL06 10.10 from Peterborough to Lowestoft was in trouble at Norwich being unable to start. Dart 42929 was noted by Malcolm arriving at Lowestoft in its place. 37160 was repaired and back in traffic on Monday, but Cheryl reports 37578 which has been a bit dodgy lately in trouble on K5-XL11 17.42 from Peterborough losing power at Thorney, Guyhirn and approaching Wisbech before finally expiring at Tilney. Monday also saw another casualty when 37576 suffered a water leak in Norwich bus station while working K1-XL07. It was taken to Rowntree Way and 37570 took over the turn later.

Now here's something unusual , Zak photographed Norwich branded 33007 on an X1 short on 12th June. Photo : Zak Nelson /NBP.

 Diversions in Gorleston are reported by Des and Roy. Roy says "You may have heard that a hole appeared in Gorleston High Street on 7th following the collapse of a mains sewer in the middle of the road with all buses diverted from the High Street as a result. The X1 is being diverted along Beccles Road and Church Road before rejoining the normal route on Church Lane. I witnessed some bus activity on Church Road earlier this afternoon (9th) and saw buses stopping outside the Gorleston Parish Church (southbound) and on the opposite side of the road opposite the junction with Lovewell Road (northbound)". 

37569 on the 14.48 Lowestoft - Peterborough (XL05) passing the Kevill Arms in Gorleston with St. Andrew's Church in the background. Photo : Roy/ENBB.

The road closure in Gorleston. Photo : Roy /ENBB.

Roy continues "The location of the bus stops appear to be quite arbitrary as there are no temporary flags in place denoting where the 'official' stops are. Anglian Water says repairs are likely to take seven days to complete". 

More diversion pics from Des. The High Street reopened to cars only on 14th. Here is 37566 on the XL07-K1 07.03 Peterborough - Lowestoft on the diversion in Gorleston.

37572 wends its way westbound through Gorleston as the 10.25 Lowestoft - Peterborough (K17-XL04). Photo : Des Speed

 The remainder of the week in the west was uneventful though, with delays limited to Thursday when tree cutting on Guyhirn Bank meant some services in the middle of the day used the route via Wisbech St.Mary.

37566 was out of use from 9th to 13th for MOT work and as mentioned earlier 37578 has been troublesome with a data link fault. 37564 re-entered traffic on June 7th after bodywork repairs at Full Circle.
Over on the X2 ten buses are now required to run the service, so appearances by the Lowestoft based Palatines continue unabated. My thanks as ever to our regular correspondents, especially Cheryl, Malcolm, Bruce and Des.

Photo copyright : Joe Watson/NBP