3 FIRST E 200'S TRANSFER OUT/IB OLYMPIANS BOW OUT

Well it's a weekend of endings for today's blog, firstly is the confirmation that First Ipswich E 200's 44517/18 are currently in process of being de branding in preparation for their move to Norwich on Tuesday/Wednesday, seen above is my final shot in Ipswich last Tuesday of 44517 which had strayed away from the 53 and was on the 59, today was also the last day of the 53 which was in the hands of Volvo B7RLE's for the final day, as shown by 66986 below.

 Yesterday was also the end of Volvo Olympian operation for Ipswich Buses as 40/41 were withdrawn from service on Thursday with 41 going to Leon Wells for preservation, 41 is seen here with it's original blind still intact, Olympian operation first started back in 1985 with East Lancs bodied 45 Leyland Olympian B45 NDX see below,which within a few years was swapped with Eastbourne along with Atlanteans 96/97 TRT 96/97M for 3 ghastly Dodge Minibuses 211-13 D471-3 UHC, Second hand Olympian's were obtained during the 1990's from Trent came ECW 43/44 B714 HVO/C722 NNN and from London came 45-48 C100/01 CHM/D138 FYM/C97 CHM, two more followed for school use during 2005, along with 38/39 Alexander bodied from Dublin in 2003. Olympians will continue with Ipswich Buses after a short while when the Carters sale is complete.

Carters Northern Counties Palatine Olympian P915 RYO earlier this year, which originated with Stagecoach Midlands and before that with Stagecoach London.