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11/09/2010

X1 Blog Omnibus Edition ~ Wed, Thu & Fri 8th - 10th September 2010

Yes catch up time after a few days away and special thanks to Bruce for keeping the log of events. I think it would be fair to say that this (as far as I am aware) has been the least eventful week of the year so far on the X1. This must be a relief for the operators and probably for the passengers too.

Wednesday : The highlight of the week by far, K16 13.48 Wisbech to Peterborough departed 4 minutes early - most astonishing bit being that it was 37568, renowned for its late running. Punctuality was good until mid afternoon when 37570 on K19 was 11 late and 37574 on K1 16 late. These delays were due to Lynn bus station being closed because of a bomb alert. Some character deposited a suspicious pink bag (which in the event turned out to be full of clothing) on the pavement near the entrance to the bus station. This halted all traffic in and out between 14.00 & 17.00 during which time a controlled explosion was carried out. Buses used the roads around the railway station as picking up and dropping off points I am told. The Beast was out on L10 and managed to avoid the riots.

Thursday : By all accounts it would seem that almost two full days passed without any X1 diagram changing vehicles. Almost, but not quite, read on ....... Thursday's service used the same vehicles as Wednesday except that 37565 replaced 37566 due to servicing needs. 20107 worked K2. Des says tree felling at Corton caused some delays between Lowestoft and Yarmouth.
Rob Brooks reports "37576 K3 0718 Wisbech - Peterborough arrived Wisbech 0711 and departed 0717 ! Also seen : 37579 K19 07.21 Wisbech - Lowestoft, 37569 K1 07.00 Peterborough - Lowestoft and The Beast,  20107 K2 0730 Peterborough - Lowestoft.
 I had a day out in London and returned to catch L12 2210 ex Peterborough, which was 37575 and 30mins late when it turned up at the Railway Station, after I had given up hope and assumed it was cancelled. Driver offered no explanation to the delay, but managed to bring the delay down to just 14 minutes by the time we got to Wisbech". The reason as it turns out Rob, was the failure of 37577 with a broken intercooler pipe and 37575 which had earlier done K5 had to be substituted.

Friday : 37577 remained off the road today and because of this all the B7s were in use. 'The Beast' did the first leg of L10 before being rested and replaced by 37569. Since Tuesday 37571 has suddenly assumed the diagram formerly worked by 37562, K17. Whether this remains a regular thing we will have to see.

On the X1 route today (Friday), but not in service, was Norwich 'Trident' 33239 seen en route to King's Lynn for MOT work. It passed me at West Bilney just after 20107 had passed eastbound.

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