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First Essex doubledeckers

First Essex/First Eastern National doubledeck buses

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First Eastern National Volvo Olympian Northern Counties 34018

From the heady days of Tilling and NBC ownership, the number of doubledeckers in the fleet has shrunk dramatically and no new doubledeck buses have been seen in over twenty years. Of the forty or so deckers remaining in 2005 was this Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new to Stagecoach subsidiary, Viscount. Olympian 34018 (P546EFL) came to First from the Stagecoach Cambus fleet in December 2003.

First Eastern National Volvo Olympian Alexander 34282

Olympian 34282 (P182TGD), like 34018 was seen in summer 2005 in Colchester. This Alexander bodied example arrived from First Leicester, but was new to Strathclyde in 1986 as VO82.

First Eastern National Volvo Olympian Northern Counties 34302

Northern Counties bodied 34302 (L302PWR) has paused by Tescos on the outskirts of Colchester city. This Olympian hails from West Yorkshire where it was new as Yorkshire Rider 5302.

Originally Strathclyde LO63 (L163UNS), this Leyland Olympian/Alexander, 31198, was a new arrival in the First Essex fleet when seen at North Weald in 2007.

First Eastern National Leyland Olympian ECW 34815

Near the end of its days in Basildon in February 2010 is ECW bodied Leyland Olympian 34815 (C415HJN).

Coincidentally, the elderly Olympian made an appearance at SHOWBUS later in the year.

First Eastern National Volvo Olympian Northern Counties 34011 & 34012

A pair of former Stagecoach Cambus Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians, 34011/34012 (P551EFL/P552EFL) are seen parked up in Basildon depot in February 2010.

First Eastern National Volvo Olympian Northern Counties 34613

Another Northern Counties bodied Olympian, 34613 (K613LAE), but this time originating with First Bristol also took part in SHOWBUS 2010 and is seen arriving at Duxford.

Former Strathclyde LO63, aka 31198 (L163UNS), seen at SHOWBUS in 2009.

Sister bus, former Strathclyde LO61, aka 31374 (L161UNS) was seen in Basildon in the following February.

First Essex Scania N250UD ADL Enviro400MMC 36843

Essex passengers were treated to new doubledeck buses in late 2019 in the shape of Alexander Dennis Enviro400MMC bodied Scania N250UD. They were needed for the successful X30 from Southend to Stansted Airport which required capacity above that of the singledeckers used htherto. This is 36843 (YN68XYD) at Chelmsford Station in July 2022.
Picture ref D1244

First Essex Scania N250UD ADL Enviro400MMC 36843 & ADL Enviro350H 67902

A nearside view of 36843 alongside hybrid Enviro350H 67902 (SN13CHV) on route 300 to Basildon.
Picture ref D1250

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 32551

Also in Chelmsford that day was much older Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 32551 (SF54OSO).
Picture ref D1243

First West of England Volvo B7TL Wright 32551

Here is another photo of 32551 seen in Chippenham in May 2019 when with First Bristol, but it had been new to First Glasgow in the original First livery.
Picture ref C4301

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37037

Later that day at work in Colchester under Platinum Jubilee banners was Wright bodied Volvo B7TL 37037 (YJ06XLC), new to First West Yorkshire.
Picture ref D1275

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37016

Also in Colchester was B7TL 37016 (WX55VJD), another refugee from First Bristol.
Picture ref D1281

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 32526

From First West Yorkshire came Wright bodied Volvo B7TL 32526 (YJ54XUT).
Picture ref D1284

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 32531

Joining 32526 in Colchester from Yorkshire was Volvo B7TL 32531 (YJ54XUY).
Picture ref D1288

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37037 & Arriva 3992

Another Yorkshire Wright bodied Volvo, 37037 (YJ06XLC) is followed by an Arriva Alexander Dennis Enviro200, 3992 (GN07DME), a remnant from the acquired Colchester operation.
Picture ref D1293

Yet another Yorkshire Wright bodied Volvo B7TL, 32526 (YJ54XUT) in Colchester.
Picture ref D1296

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 32540

A bit of a twist with this Yorkshire Wright bodied Volvo B7TL, 32540 (YJ05VWE), which spent a while with an orange front and "HALIFAX" fleetnames, however it was new, closer to home with First Eastern Counties before departing for its Yorkshire sojourn.
Picture ref D1298

First Essex Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 32628

A totally different path to Colchester for 32628 (KP54KAU) which was delivered new to First Northampton.
Picture ref D1291

First Essex Volvo B7TL Transbus ALX400 32484

Transferred from First Eastern Counties to Colchester was this Transbus bodied Volvo B7TL 32484 (AU53HKB).
Picture ref D1282

Initially with the now defunct First Edinburgh operation, 37139 (SN57HCY) is a newer model Volvo B9TL. It sports a green front, a reminder of the old Eastern National colours.
Picture ref D1276

First Essex Alexander Dennis Enviro400 34462

A great result, new Essex branding brought the Eastern National livery up to date on this Alexander Dennis Enviro400 34462 (LJ59LYW) displayed at SHOWBUS5O at the Hertfordshire County Showground. Of couse the Enviro was not new to Essex, but acquired secondhand from Arriva London and refurbished. Sadly this attractive interpretation of the old livery is being swept away by the not unattractive new First national scheme.
Picture ref 22-5345

First Essex Alexander Dennis Enviro400 33983

Joining 34462 at SHOWBUS5O was 33983 (SN65OFY) an Alexander Dennis Enviro400MMC displaced from First Glasgow by new electric doubledeckers. It was the bus chosen to celebrate Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee and took part in the special SHOWBUS Jubilee display. First Essex had a novel approach to their Jubilee design, presenting a kaleidoscope of contributions drawn by children linked to the celebrations.
Picture ref 22-5280