‘Scene’ at Naples airport

A holiday in Sorrento took me through Naples airport both ways and this selection of images is a compilation from those visits.

 

EI-EWJ

 

A Boeing 717 of Spanish operator ‘VOLOTEA’.

 

The final development of what was the Douglas DC-9 and McDonnell Douglas (McDD) MD 80 and 90 series originally having been designated the MD 95. 

 

It became the Boeing 717 when Boeing took over ‘McDD’ in 1997.

 

Production ceased in 2006 with 156 aircraft built.

 

Still much in demand in the secondhand market with ‘Delta Airlines’ in the USA currently buying up samples from around the world.

 

Interestingly the aircraft is registered in the Irish Republic.

 

EC-MGT

The same type from the same airline but registered in Spain.

 

I-AIGH

 

A Boeing 767-23B(ER) of Italian operator ‘Meridiana’.

 

Originally built for ‘Air Mauritius’ in 1988 as 3B-NAK, it became N252MY with ‘MAXjet Airways’.

 

Going to ‘Air Italy’ in its current marks in 2008 and then to ‘Meridiana in 2014.

 

G-EUYA

 

An Airbus A320-232 of British Airways new in 2008 with the test registration of F-WWBM.

 

HB-ACA

An ATR-72 of ‘Etihad Regional’ (ER).

 

New as D-ANFH in 2001 for ‘Eurowings’ then to ‘Contact Air’ in 2005 with the same registration. 

 

It then went to Italian operator ‘Air Dolomiti’ as I-ADCB in 2009 before moving to ‘Darwin Air’ (DA) in 2014 with its current Swiss registration who operate it on behalf of ‘ER’.

 

EI-RDN

An Embraer ERJ-175 of Italian operator ‘Alitalia’. Another aircraft registered in the Irish Republic.

 

New in 2013.

 

LY-SPE

 

A Boeing 737-31S of Lithuanian operator ‘Small Planet airlines’.

 

New in 1997 to ‘Deutsche BA’ as D-ADBK, it has since been VT-SIX in India and EI-ANX in Ireland before going to Lithuania in 2009.

 

G-OOBH

A Boeing 757-236 of ‘Thomson Airways’ (TA).

 

Built in 1999 as N545NA for ‘National Airlines’ it has since been either G-OOBH or when in the summer it worked for ‘First Choice Airways’ (FCA).

 

Or C-FOBH when in the winter it worked for ‘Sky Service’ of Canada.

 

It came to ‘TA’ when they took over ‘FCA’ in 2010.

 

G-EZIW

 

An Airbus A 319-111 of ‘Easyjet’. New in 2005 with the test registration D-AVXE.

 

G-EZUW

An Airbus A 320-214 of ‘Easyjet’. New in 2012 with the test registration D-AUBY.

 

EI-IMI

An Airbus A 318-112 of ‘Alitalia’. New in 2002 as I-BIMI for ‘Alitalia’. Re-registered 2010 in the Irish Republic. 

 

Previously D-AVWZ for test purposes.

 

EI-FHD

A Boeing 737-8JP of ‘Norwegian Air International’ (NAI). New in 2012 as LN-DYX to ‘Norwegian Air Shuttle’. To ‘NAI’ May 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in and around Norwich Bus Station

Whilst on holiday on the North Norfolk Coast, the lure of the county town Norwich could not be ignored.

 

As we arrived by bus in the bus station, that seems a good place to start.

 

YJ56 ATX

 

An Optare Tempo of ‘Norfolk Green’ (NG).

 

At one time ‘NG’ was an independent operator but as of December 2013 it became part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group as ‘Stagecoach in Norfolk’.

 

YN57 HPU

A Optare Solo of ‘Anglian Bus Ltd’ (ABL).

 

YX63 LJV

 

Passing by the entrance to the bus station was this Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400 of ‘First Eastern Counties’ (FEC).

 

Seen operating on part of service X1 that at its longest links Lowestoft with Peterborough which according to Google maps is over 100 miles!

 

SN10 CFD

 

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 of ‘konectbus’ (kb) working on the Park & Ride (P&R) service from Harford.

 

‘kb is another one time independent who have joined a larger group. In their case the ‘Go Ahead’ group.

 

BL57 OXN

 

A Mercedes-Benz 0305G articulated Citaro. Another ‘kb’ bus working a ‘P&R’ service. This time from Costessey.

 

At one time it was part of the ‘London General’ fleet that was banished from the capital by London Lord Mayor Boris Johnson.

 

 

YN06 JWC

 

A Scania N94UD Omnidekka with East Lancs bodywork. 

 

Seen the livery of another independent operator ‘Sanders of Holt’ (at least at the time of writing they still were).

 

Formerly in the fleet of ‘Reading Transport’.

 

 

SN62 AVY

 

An ADL’ Enviro 400 again of ‘kb’. Working on service 6 from Watton.

 

 

W219 PRB

 

An Optare Excel once more working for ‘kb’. 

 

It has an East Midlands connection having formerly been a member of the ‘trentbarton’ fleet.

 

 

WX62 HHF

 

An unusual MAN Ecocity gas powered bus in ‘ABL’s fleet. The bodywork is by Caetano.

 

Working  service 7 from Great Yarmouth.

 

 

SN60 CAA

 

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 of ‘FEC’ being based in Great Yarmouth.

 

Working on service X1 from that town.

 

 

PN03 UMH

 

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork working for ‘Norse’.

 

Formerly part of the ‘Go- Ahead London General’ fleet.

 

 

GX10 HBY

 

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 300 of ‘NG’.

 

Part of the deal when ‘Stagecoach’ took over ‘NG’ was to retain the ‘NG’ livery for a period of time (which I think was up to two years).

 

This bus shows the ‘NG’ colours but painted in what I would call ‘Stagecoach’ style which I think is very attractive.

 

 

YJ03 UML

 

A rare Optare Spectra. Seen working for ‘NG’. 

 

Based on DAF SB250 running units it was previously part of the ‘Reading Transport fleet’.

 

This was Optare’s first attempt at a double decker and at the time of writing, its most successful.

 

‘Scene’ in Sheringham

Situated on the North Norfolk coast and home to the well known ‘North Norfolk Railway’. (See blog dated 03/11/15).

 

The town is well connected to the West to Kings Lynn, to the South to Norwich and to the East to Cromer and points beyond.

 

There are a number of operators who work into the town and we start with ‘Sanders Coaches of Holt’ (SCL)

 

OU05 AVB

 

A Volvo B9TL with East Lancs Myllenium Nordic bodywork. Previously operated by ‘Weavaway’ of Newbury in Berkshire. 

 

The bus is named ‘Samson’ and has a capacity of 102 passengers.

 

Seen outside Sheringham railway station.

 

OU05 AVD

 

A Volvo B9TL with East Lancs Myllenium Nordic bodywork. Previously operated by ‘Weavaway’ of Newbury in Berkshire. 

 

The bus is named ‘Hercules’ and has a capacity of 102 passengers.

 

During my visit this and its stablemate ‘AVB’ were employed exclusively on the Holt, Sheringham, Cromer to Norwich service

No. 44/X44.

 

YJ03 PKX

 

A DAF SB120 with Wright Cadet bodywork which at one time was employed by fellow Norfolk operator ‘Neaves’ on a Happisburgh Norwich service.

 

R739 XRV

 

A Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine part open top bodywork.

 

Although carrying ‘SCL’ ‘Norfolk coaster’ branding the livery otherwise is the same that it wore when I knew it working on the Isle of Wight for ‘Southern Vectis’.

 

‘Norfolk Green’ (NG) was a much respected independent operator which started up in 1996. 

Following the retirement of the owner Mr. Ben Coulson in 2013 for health reasons, the company was sold to the ‘Stagecoach’ group.

 

After the change of ownership, the name was kept and some of the buses were painted in the shades of green in what I would call a ‘Stagecoach’ style of swirls etc. and very good they look. 

 

However, the summer of 2015 saw a start made on repainting the buses into the ‘Stagecoach’ house style of white, blue orange and red.

 

YJ59 GGO

 

An Optare Solo of ‘Stagecoach Norfolk Green’ (SNG).

 

YJ10 EYC 

An Optare Versa of ‘SNG’. It was new to ‘Go West Travel’ of Kings Lynn.

MX05 EKY

 

An Optare Tempo of ‘konectbus’ (kb). ‘kb’ became part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group in 2010.

 

YN03 UVM

 

A Scania CN94UB OmniCity working for ‘SCL’ wearing one of those dreadful ‘contravision’ all over adverts. 

 

At one time it worked for Norfolk based ‘Anglianbus’. It was one of three acquired from this source by ‘SCL’.

 

MX58 AVB

 

Another Optare Tempo of ‘kb’.

 

A couple of visiting coaches were in town. 

YN08 DFD

 

A Scania K340EB4 with Irizar Century bodywork of ‘Worthing Coaches’ (WC). 

 

I believe that  ‘WC’ are a trading name for the ‘Lucketts Travel’ group who are based in Hampshire.

 

VX05 MXC

A Volvo B12M with Plaxton Paragon bodywork of ‘Powell’s of Ledbury’ who trade as ‘Newbury Coaches’.

 

‘Scene’ on the North Norfolk Railway 2015

A short holiday in the Norfolk coast gave me a chance to take a look at the ‘North Norfolk Railway’ (NNR) initially on a normal service day and later in the week on a diesel gala day.

 

76084

 

A British Railways (BR) Standard class 4 2-6-0 loco. Owned by the ‘Locomotive Company Limited’.

 

Built at Horwich works in 1957, it spent most of its short working life (10 years) based in Northwest England.

 

M51192

A Metro Cammell Class 101 DMU built in 1957.

 

Unlike today where the front of loco’s and units are covered in yellow paint. At the time these entered service, the small yellow panel under the cab window was considered sufficient.

 

D 3940

A Class 08 diesel shunter dating from 1960 when it was built at Derby. 

 

Prior to being preserved it was 08772.

 

D 5401

A Class 27 loco that was formerly  27064, 27210 and 27116.

 

Built by the Birmingham Railway & Carriage Company (BRCW) in 1962. Powered by a Sulzer 6LD28B  engine. The class numbered 69.

 

Initially working in the Midlands it moved to Scotland in 1969 where as 27210, it worked on the Glasgow /Edinburgh push pull services.

 

Withdrawn from BR service in 1986.

 

25057

A Class 25 loco built at Derby works in 1963. withdrawn in 1987 when it was based at Crewe, it is now based on and owned by the ‘NNR plc’.

 

D5343

 

A Class 26 loco that was later numbered 26043. Built by the Birmingham Railway & Carriage Company (BRCW) at Smethwick in 1959.

 

The loco spent most of its working life in Scotland being withdrawn in 1993.

 

Purchased by the ‘Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group’ the loco normally resides at Toddington on the ‘Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway’.

 

D 7076

A Class 35 diesel hydraulic loco built specifically by Beyer Peacock in 1962 for ‘BR’ Western Region. 

 

Powered by a Bristol Siddeley built Maybach designed engine model No. MD 870. Like all diesel hydraulics, it suffered early withdrawal in 1973.

 

Now preserved on the ‘East Lancashire Railway’.

 

 

D5631

A Class 31 loco that was later 31207. Built by Brush as a mixed traffic loco in 1960. 

 

Powered by Mirrlees 1,250 HP engines that were eventually replaced with English Electric engines when the original engines proved unreliable.

 

Having spent much of its working life in East Anglia it is fitting that it is preserved on the ‘NNR’ and owned by the ‘Midland & Great Northern Railway Society’.

 

37059

 

A Class 37 loco owned by ‘Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) of Carlisle.

 

Built in 1962 by English Electric and powered by that company’s 12CSVT engine.

 

One of the most successful early designs that remain in service today. The loco was subject of an extensive overhaul in 2014 at Derby RVEL.

 

D 6732

 

later 37032.

 

A Class 37 built by English Electric and powered by that company’s 12CSVT engine

Dating from 1962, it started work at Hull Dairycoates depot and was withdrawn from Tinsley depot. 

 

The loco received a heavy general overhaul in 2013 and is owned by the ‘Anglia Type Three Association’.

 

2015

 

This delightful model saddle tank at the head of a trainload of wagons full of geraniums graces platform 2.

 

It is nice to see that a sense of humour is still in fashion.

 

 

‘Scene’ once more in York

York is one of those city’s that I never tire of visiting and somewhere that I can always find something different.

 

BFZ 9999

 

A Van Hool Astrobel owned by ‘Richmond Coaches’ and operated from the City of Lisburn in Northern Ireland.

 

What a magnificent vehicle !

 

YX05 DHV

A Mercedes-Benz Atego 1223L with Optare Solera bodywork although my bet is that the bodywork was produced by ‘Ferqui’ in Spain and marketed as an Optare product. 

 

Currently operated by ‘Parkside Travel’ of Cramlington in Northumberland it was for some time operated by a company called ‘Bennetts Travel’.

 

PNZ 8266

A Mercedes-Benz 0814D operated by ‘Furlongs Travel’ of Knowsley in Liverpool.

 

GXZ 2986

 

A Volvo B13RT fitted with Plaxton’s ever elegant Elite body.

 

New to ‘Logan’ of Dunloy in Northern Ireland and is now with ‘Quinns Coach Hire’ of Ardboe in the same province.

 

 

AA-222-JD

An Irisbus Domino. A French registered visitor working for ‘Gatineo' from Beaune in Burgundy.

 

BP-JS-23

 

A VDL/BOVA Futura not often seen with three axles. This one is from Holland.

 

OU14 SVA

 

A Neoplan Tourliner working for ‘Malbank Coaches’ an operator based in Nantwich, Cheshire.

 

BR-BJ-31

 

A Van Hool T915 Alicron working for Dutch operator ‘Lanting Reisen’.

 

SIM NO 417

A Setra 417 HDH of German operator ‘BOHR reisen’ based in Frankfurt.

 

8784 ZW 42

A Setra 415 GT HD

 

I have included this relatively poor image because of the shade for its interest.

 

The operator being ‘Car Postal’ who are the French postal service.