EASTERN COUNTIES REVISITED 1984

LN 549 HVF 549L which started life in Norwich before emigrating south in the 1980's seen here outside the old OCM bus depot.

Why pick 1984 well for those not old enough to remember this was a great period of change both in my life and my bus enthusiasm, just beginning Secondary School bought me more privileges in being able to spend my time chasing buses around, primarily Ipswich Borough Transport i wouldn't get my interest in Eastern Counties until two years later when they started working the 4 to Broke Hall and the 6 to the Airport in the evenings and Sundays, of which there were many happy memories of riding around on the lovely ex Ribble VR's. Bear in mind this was also the time when the Cambridge and Peterborough areas was about to be split off from Eastern Counties of which some of the Ipswich Coaches would pass to the new Cambus operation.

Two glorious VR's here include Series 1 VR 368 TNG 368G and VR 138 SNG 438M

IPSWICH FLEET AUGUST 1984

Bristol VR:127/88/92/98/204/07/41/42/43/56/58/75/76/90/92/368/90/96/98/405 also 138/87/244/70 at Saxmundham and 189/91 at Felixstowe which in those days had their own allocations.
Leyland National: 539/46/86/93/98/99/782 With 549/87/765 at Felixstowe and 764 at Saxmundham
Bristol RE: 501/848/49/69
Leyland Leopard: 749/53/55/56/82/878/80/82 with 764 at Saxmundham and 765 at Felixstowe
Bristol LH 922/25/31
Bristol LD OT 2 at Felixstowe

Bristol LH 925 WEX 925S seen here a few years later in 1988 at the OCM where by now the old depot had been demolished.

RL 501 APW 501J seen here when new was the last normal Bristol RE left in Ipswich apart from Dual Purpose 869 and the coaches.

Aah happy memories of Felixstowe and the days sat waiting for the magnificent Bristol LD OT 2  on the top of the cliffs alongside Golf Road and the Winter's when the old girl with it's top closed up would work the 44 school service through Broke Hall.