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FIRST |
Last update
14th July 2019
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First, through their predecessors, have a long history of serving Harlow. This ceased however when commercial route 333 was passed to Excel Coaches, following the loss of ECC tendered work in the area.
They returned to the Harlow scene in a very small way, picking up the one-bus 347 service from 6th July 2009, this lasting until November 2014. After a gap of 17 months they then returned with the one-bus approximately 2-hourly ECC Sunday service on the normally Arriva operated 59. The 59 is a number with a long history of connecting Harlow with Chelmsford and for most of that time it was an Eastern National or First service.
Some illustrations and details are shown below of vehicles either seen operating on the 59, or which could, based on them being other examples of the type and based at First's Chelmsford depot. This page is in no way intended to reflect the very significant allocation of vehicles the company has around Chelmsford and the rest of Essex. A full First East of England fleet list can be found at http://www.ukbuses.co.uk/fleet/firsteastengland.pdf
| Alexander-Dennis Enviro200MMC The most modern bus type to have seen service in Harlow from First is from this class. Four of the type are based at Chelmsford. |
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With an equivalent class of vehicle from Arriva in the background, 44662 is seen on Sunday duty in Summer 2018. (R Hudson) | ||||||||
| Alexander-Dennis E200/E20 A type which was a regular visitor to the 347 was the first to serve the new First 59 Sunday service. The Chelmsford City branding on some of the fleet is actually appropriate for the new task, although it was just as predominantly displayed on the last. Others display the "Essex" name. |
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Leaving Harlow Bus Station is 44544 on the first day of the Sunday service on route 59 by First. (R. Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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44539 shows the Essex branding (this bus once carried Chelmsford City) and that the emergency exist door has been replaced without black window surrounds having been applied. (R. Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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You might think that on a Sunday there would be enough unbranded vehicles available so as to avoid allocating a branded one to the wrong route. Here 44540 displays a Brentwood-Pilgrims Hatch route 37 legend. (R Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alexander-Dennis Mini
Pointer Dart
The small bus of the noughties, this time badged as
Alexander-Dennis. Four examples, now presumably in the later days of
their lives, are based at Chelmsford.
43845
43846
43847
43848
SN55CXH
SN55CXF
SN55CXJ
SN55CXE
The never especially helpful ESSEX
branding is shown on 43848 on a relative rare occasion that an MPD was
used on the Sunday 59. (R Hudson)
| Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander
Pointer Ten years ago no fleet would be complete without this vehicle type, but that's less true today. First's Chelmsford Depot though, still has quite a number, doubtless increasing the average age profile quite significantly. Those shown below have been noted in Harlow. |
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So-called "Barbie 2" livery is shown on 42936. (R Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The current First corporate livery is shown on 42930 on a September 2018 Sunday on the 59. (R Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Same place and same purpose, 42561 shows the ESSEX name prominently. (R Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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42556 on a 2019 Sunday, ready to go. (R Hudson) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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