Colchester - 8 Apr 2016

Friday 8 April 2016 (0945) – First Essex 65687 (YS03 ZKG), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in July 2003. It was seen at Highwoods Square in the northern part of Colchester picking up on service 65 via the town centre to Stanway.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1002) – First Essex 65687 (YS03 ZKG) in the grounds of Colchester General Hospital working service 65 from Highwoods towards the town centre. Seen from the rear window of Arriva Kent Thameside 3516 (LF52 USZ) working their competing service 8. To maintain a fair balance I travelled back on a First Essex service!

Friday 8 April 2016 (1148) - First Essex 66801 (MX05 CCJ) threads its way past the stalls of Colchester Market on the High Street. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2005 to First Manchester.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1047) - First Essex 66801 (MX05 CCJ) seen in Osborne Street, Colchester (also known as Colchester ‘bus station’). It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2005 to First Manchester.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1150) - First Essex Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLEs seen in High Street, Colchester. Both were new to First Manchester in 2005. Leading is 66803 (MX05 CCN) with 66810 (MX05 CDF) coming up behind.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1021) - First Essex 66804 (MX05 CCO) seen in High Street, Colchester. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2005 to First Manchester. The building with the colonade forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1143) - First Essex 66809 (MX05 CDE) seen in High Street, Colchester. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Manchester in May 2005.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1205) - First Essex buses in High Street, Colchester. 69421 (AU58 FFH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009 to First Eastern Counties, passes 63339 (SM65 EEX), a Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1137) - First Essex 69429 (AU58 FFR) seen in High Street, Colchester. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009 to First Eastern Counties.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1137) – You might wish to make a double take on the lettering carried on the rear window of First Essex 69429 (AU58 FFR). Does service 67 take a dim pathway? A Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009 to First Eastern Counties seen in High Street, Colchester.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1129) – First Essex 63336 (SM65 EEU), a Wright Streetlite DF new in December 2015, passes the decaying former Eastern National Omnibus Company Limited bus garage in Queen Street, Colchester. There was this single doorway facing on to the street and also two doors at the rear of the building accessed from the yard and old bus station. The whole area is rather forlorn and under redevelopment.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1155) - First Essex 63340 (SM65 EEY). A Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015, seen passing the stalls of Colchester Market on the High Street followed by Arriva 4075 (SK15 GXV) in Park and Ride livery. The town’s famous water tower (opened 1883) dominates the background.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1035) – First Essex 63343 (SM65 EFB) seen in Osborne Street, Colchester. It is a Wright Streetlite DF new in December 2015. Stephensons of Essex ADL Enviro200 465 (EU62 FBO) following.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1017) – First Essex 63334 (SM65 EFC) seen in turning into High Street from North Hill in Colchester. It is a Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015. The rust coloured items on the footpath near the rear end of the bus are two elephant shaped direction signs which may be seen in photograph DSCF3033. www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/41562560

Friday 8 April 2016 (1106) – First Essex 63335 (SK65 PXS) seen in turning into Osborne Street from St. Boltoph’s Street in Colchester. It is a Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015. Note the First enquiry office in the background.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1205) - First Essex 63339 (SM65 EEX). A Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015, seen in High Street, Colchester. The building with the colonade forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1028) - First Essex 33002 (LK51 UZP) seen in High Street, Colchester. It is a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident new to First Capital (London) as their TNL1002 in September 2001. The building with the colonade forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1044) – First Essex 65030 (YN05 TDV) heads away from Colchester ‘bus station’ into St. John’s Street. One of the Scania CN94UB OmniCity buses based at Chelmsford garage, new in July 2006.