99 At Sarfend; Twice?

It was this picture that popped up on-line that baffled fbb. So his first resource was to the every (un)helpful First Essex web site.

Nowt. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Nary a mention of 99. One last check on the route map; because you never know whether First has withdrawn the route and the “news” item is something that was simply badly researched by young Jemma, commissioned to fill a gap in a trendy web site feed!

And look, there really is a 99 to Shoeburyness!

And another First 99 bus appeared in similar garb elsewhere. Like the six wheeler above,  its windows have been blocked by advertising which should nicely impair the views as it happily hies to the seaside.

fbb’s first thought was that Cadbury’s had sponsored a revamp of the bus service in Southend and named it 99 after that delectable adjunct to an ice cream cone. For those unfamiliar with this consummate creamy confection, here is an old lady enjoying the very thing!

So does the First Bus 99 in Southend still go? And is it now sponsored by Cadbury’s Flake.

No and No in that order!

Here is Cadbury’s explanation.

Bridlington as well? But tacked on to the bottom of the above web page is a note saying that this offer is now finished. 

But hang on! If First’s Cadbury sponsored 99 service was short-lived, then why does it appear on their map and why is there no timetable in First’s on-line list.

Then a rather slow-witted fbb twigged! The 99 on the First Bus web site is NOT sponsored by Cadbury’s and is NOT run by First Bus. It is operated by Ensign.

Oh yes! Ensign is owned by First Bus! So there is no reason why the timetable should not be on First’s web site – but it isn’t.

Since the halcyon days of fbb’s youth, the traditional open top service at Southend has been the 68.

These days it, too is run by Ensign as First gave it up some years ago!

It strikes WEST from the elongated pier …

… running to Leigh-on-Sea, see? It runs every hour or every 30 minutes …

… according to date. 

Surely it would have been less confusing to have separate timetable panels for the different dates?

Uncle Roger French featured the 99 a few weeks back which is why the errant grey cells of fbb should have worked out what was happening (or what wasn’t happening) with the Cadbury’s deal.

As we have seen, the 99 runs EAST to Shoeburyness …

… also the terminus of the c2c railway line (once known as the London Tilbury and Southend). 

fbb has been to Shoeburyness and is feeling much better now. It has been tidied up since his last and only visit sixty years ago! fbb remembers multiple carriage sidings …

… now the obligatory industrial estate. 

So back then there was still evidence of the area as a Military Garrison.  Open top 99 terminates on Rampart Terrace, a memory of that military magnificence. (?).

But that was then; back to now. fbb supposes that the best description you can offer for Shoeburyness is …

Service 99 comes with some stunning publicity …

… again with a variable timetable.

Return and day fares are shown …

… also the fares for a combined 68 and 99 open top binge day!

The implication of the publicity is that “local fares” including the current £2 fare are available for single rides but that would make two singles on the 99 cheaper than the £5 return. So maybe not?

What is most interesting is the buses themselves. Reputedly there are four …

… each taking the name of a possibly fictional ice cream product.

And here they are:-

Buttersotch Breezer

Nobody seems to have pictured the converted orange one, but a check on registrations does, at least, show where these converted buses used to live, work and play. They have been retired from an arduous life in Manchester to the delights of Summer by the sea at Sarfend. The above bus has become/will become “the orange one”.

Whoops. Southend is now a City. Similarly, (?) fbb blogs from the aspirational new City of Seaton. Soon everywhere will be a City, even tiny St David’s in Wales.