Boston IT

A trip to Boston today enabled us to get a few shots of the IT town service operated by Brylaine Travel. Despite the controversy of the buses using the pedestrianised Strait Bargate in the town centre (please click here for more information), overall it appears to have been very successful.

Disappointingly, the destination displays are less than helpful. "INTO TOWN" as a destination is not exactly much use to non-locals - and reminiscent of the days of Lincolnshire Road Car vehicles when they worked town routes and rather unhelpfully displayed "SERVICE"!

On the day of our visit, it seemed to work well - apart from one vehicle which had to reverse three times to activate the traffic light on the bus lane on Haven Bridge!

Timetables for the route can be seen by clicking here.

MX08 DHF enters Strait Bargate on the IT6 to the Bladon Estate

YJ08 PHX is illustrated working an IT2 to Fenside

The same vehicle illustrated as it progresses along Strait Bargate. Audible warning alarms and a slow speed ensures that there is no conflict with pedestrians

Vehicles operate in both directions along Strait Bargate. YJ08 PHV is seen after working amn IT6 from the Bladon EstateMX08 DHF is seen emerging from Strait Bargate on the IT3 to Robin Hood Walk

Willoughby

The remains of Willoughby station on the East Lincolnshire Line, closed to all traffic from 5 October 1970.

The location of the level crossing looking west

A view from the opposite direction

The station house and trackbed looking towards Firsby
The trackbed looking north and the junction with the Mablethorpe Branch. No sign of the once smart station pictured when open in the bottom photograph

Surf Special

The East Midlands Trains relief coach service between Butlins and Grantham now appears to have been given the name "Surf Special"!

Stagecoach in Lincolnshire 16920 at Skegness bus station on the 1120 to Grantham52381 at Butlins after working the 1205 from Grantham

Midland Mainline HST

The HST relief train from Nottingham today was formed entirely of Midland Mainline liveried stock, a first for Skegness.

43066 arrives at Skegness with the 0807 from Nottingham

43059 departing from Skegness with the 1705 to Nottingham

X12

Stagecoach in Peterborough are again operating their X12 service from Peterborough to Skegness on Saturdays, Sundays and August Bank Holiday Monday, from today until 30 August. To see the timtable, please click here (PDF).

18420 (illustrated at Skegness bus station today) and 18421 did the first two runs

South Sidings

After some 40 years of dereliction, a section of the area which was once occupied by the south group of sidings at Skegness is being built on. The photograph below illustrates the new dwellings being constructed.

Addlethorpe Minibus

A new bus service between Addlethorpe and Skegness commenced today. The 44 runs hourly (Tuesday and Wednesday excepted).

The VOSA notice

The very first service is seen at Lumley Road, Skegness. The vehicle, KB02 DLV, is a Ford Transit 350 with B15F body.

EMT Relief Bus

East Midlands Trains are operating a relief bus service on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays between Butlins and Grantham railway station from today until 31 August. To see the timetable, please click here (PDF).

52357 seen this morning on at Skegness bus station on the 1020 to Grantham

Green Bus

A couple of unusual visitors at Skegness today were two double-deckers owned by Green Bus of Birmingham, which provides 23 bus services for pupils to a number of schools in the area. The company will also be trialling the next generation of bus pass (RFID) as well as developing a thumb print reader. Further information about them can be found by clicking here.

R363 and R364 LGH, are illustrated at the Skegness Coach Station shortly after arrival. They are both Volovo Olympians with Northern Counties Palatine II bodies and were new to London General in 1997.

Additional Trains

Today saw EMT commence operating a relief train from Nottingham to Skegness using an HST set. The train does two return trips and will run every Saturday and August Bank Holiday Monday, until 5 September.

Nottingham	Depart	08:07	14:06
Sleaford	Depart	08:54	15:21
Boston	Depart	09:21	15:44
Skegness	Arrive	10:22	16:45

Skegness	Depart	11:28	17:05
Boston	Depart	12:25	18:05
Sleaford	Depart	12:49	18:26
Nottingham	Arrive	13:43	19:14

43055 is seen at Skegness after working the 0807 from Nottingham this morning. 43073 was at the rear.

Network Rail Special

A Network Rail special train visited Skegness this morning. 37218 and 37611 worked top and tail on1Q14 0451 from Derby RTC. It arrived here at 0839 and departed at 0932.

With 37218 leading, the photograph below illustrates the train shortly after arrival at Skegness

Some video footage of the train departing from Skegness with 37611 leading and some quite impressive sound effects!

Possibly the most unusual item carried on a bus recently?

Here's something you don't see every day - a fully inflated dinghy with accompanying passenger on Stagecoach's service 1 today!