CARTERS FLEET RENUMBERED

Taken back late last year we see Carters Dennis Trident 407 LX04 FYB which was renumbered from 406 this year.

Since the last blog on Friday, Ipswich Buses have renumbered the Carters fleet to fit in with their numbering sequence, the Tridents receiving single number digits fitting in with the current IB ones, fleet list is below with old numbers in brackets.

156(260) AY60 BYD DAF SB180/ MCV Evolution B40F 2010
157(351) NK51 ZSR Volvo B10M/Caetano Enigma C53F 2002
4 (402) LG02 FEV Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
5 (403) LG02 FCA Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
6 (404) LG02 FCE Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
26 (405) LR52 KWH Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President H73F 2003
7 (406) LX03 BTF  Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H45/31F 2003

8 (407) LX04 FYB  Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H45/31F 2004
44(415) P915 RYO Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine H74F 1997
43 (456) R156 LHK Volvo Olympian/Alexander Belfast H80F 1998

The last number 7 in the Ipswich Buses fleet was Leyland Atlantean MRT 7P pictured alongside sister number 2 HDX 905N.

SUNDAY FLASHBACK

 Two pictures today are different in nature but both were Ipswich allocations, in the days when the BBC regularly advertised their local stations i believe BBC Essex had an Eastern National VR done too we see Eastern Counties VR 290 VEX 290X heading out of East Bergholt on it's way to Colchester these days the service is operated by Ipswich Buses owned Carters, while below is Leyland Leopard LL 880 CAH 880Y with the notoriously weak ECW body, usually devoted to National Holidays work off peaks saw it generally work the old 081 National Express service to London now worked by Galloways under contract to National Express.

CARTERS TAKEOVER BY IPSWICH BUSES NOW COMPLETED

Seen a Couple of months back is Carters ex Tower Transit Dennis Trident 406 LX03 BTF which originated with First London back in 2003.

The takeover by Ipswich Buses was concluded today with the final fleet list below, buses will leave from Capel St Mary tomorrow morning for the last time before returning to Constantine Road tomorrow, the final journey in Carters ownership will be the 1755 from Colchester this evening. So far there has been two initial changes to the fleet with Ipswich Buses Trident's 18/19 which were withdrawn replacing Carters coach and one unidentified Trident. Trident 18/19 work was usually in the last few months included a turn on the 4 to Bixley Farm and a trip out to Shotley in the late afternoon.

260 AY60 BYD DAF SB180/ MCV Evolution B40F 2010
351 NK51 ZSR Volvo B10M/Caetano Enigma C53F 2002
415 P915 RYO Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine H74F 1997

456 R156 LHK Volvo Olympian/Alexander Belfast H80F 1998
402 LG02 FEV Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
403 LG02 FCA Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
404 LG02 FCE Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H66F 2002
405 LR52 KWH Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President H73F 2003
406 LX04 FYB  Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H45/31F 2004
407 LX03 BTF  Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX 400 H45/31F 2003

LOST INDEPENDENTS

Today it's time to hark back to the glory of the independent operators of the past, so many have disappeared over the last 30 years i can remember a time when the Old Cattle Market on Tuesday market day was awash with many varied companies now lost in time. First picture from 1973 illustrates Grey Green Leyland Leopard/Plaxton PGW 659L in Great Yarmouth, started originally by George Ewer in 1885 the company got taken over in 1980 by the Cowie Group in what is now Arriva, the depot in Ipswich remains today as a Car washing facility. Theobald Coaches started from the ashes of Corona Coaches of Acton and survived to the early 1990's when it was taken over by Beestons, services were centred around Long Melford, seen at the depot in the early 1970's is an ex Halifax AEC Regent V/MCW LJX 16 while alongside is ACF 558L an Bedford YRQ/Willowbrook.

WHEN A DOUBLE DECKER BREAKS DOWN WHAT DO YOU REPLACE IT WITH?

This is what occurs when a Double Decker breaks down, when First Ipswich Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 32653 failed to start today for a journey on the 63 to Melton, looked what stepped into the breach but mini E200 45119 RT09 JPT, meanwhile spare E200 44519 appeared again on the 60/61 town routes, while Volvo B7RLE 69010 was on the 66. Ipswich Buses wise there wasn't too many variances to the norm, one seen above was Lowlander 58 PJ53 OLA on the X3, while it's two sisters 55/57 were on the 4 assisted by Trident 22, during the morning and Trident 15 at lunch time.

IPSWICH BUSES AND OTHERS LEYLAND ATLANTEANS

As you may know i'm extremely fond of the Leyland Atlantean's so today we take a look at the wide and varied types that lit up Ipswich with a bit of Great Yarmouth thrown in for measure, above from the last batch of Roe bodied Atlantean's we see 33 SDX 33R with a T shaped advert for Kall Kwik Print Copy Design which no longer exists.The very first batch of Atlantean's appeared in 1968 with 73-76 LDX 73-76G with what was unusual for the company at the time ECW bodies. Heading up the road initially buying MCW bodied Atlantean's Great Yarmouth after the first batch of 1-4 DEX 701-04 they bought like Ipswich Roe bodied one's below we see the final one of the first batch 4 DEX 704, next up we see ICT 95 TRT 95M which was the last batch of buses to feature the brown leather seats before the Corporation became Ipswich Borough Transport heading out to Broke Hall on the 4, while below that we see East Lancs bodied 40 RGV 40W from 1981 on the long departed Northern Circular service.

FEC FLEETLIST UPDATED

Above is First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66850 MX05 CHD on the 61 at the beginning of May.

As there isn't a great deal to report i have updated the First fleetlst for Eastern Counties it can be accessed here http://ipswichbusblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/first-eastern-counties-pf0000323i-first_9.html

EASTERN COUNTIES SECOND LIFES

With news on local to Ipswich very thin on the ground time to go back to the archives with a look at two buses that had second life's after finishing with Eastern Counties, above we see the second in the first batch of Bristol Lodekka's LKD 228 OVF 228 new in 1954, this after being bought by Ben Jordan in 1971 was used as a staff bus by Anglian Builders, Lenwade in 1974 lasting just 2 years before being scrapped. Whilst below VVF 538 an Bristol SC4LK was new in 1957 and sold via a dealer to Corbatch Canners,Beeston, Norfolk in 10/71 and lasted just 17 months being sold for scrap in March 1973.

EASTERN COUNTIES ODDITIES

During the mid 1990's there were a lot of odd buses and coaches some like above had been bought before the First take over others were the result of the take over a lot coming from up north in Scotland the one above LL 791 XWX181S a Leyland Leopard/Duple came from Powells of Lapford in 1993 for contracts in the Bury St Edmunds area most were destined for short careers, this particular one only 2 years. Seen below is a bus taken over with the Rosemary Coaches business in Kings Lynn back in 1993 DD 505 OJD 195R was an ex London Transport Daimler Fleetline/MCW it was also destined for a short stay within the First Group era and had been withdrawn during 1995.

EASTERN COUNTIES OLD CATTLE MARKET CIRCA 1973

Two interesting pictures showing the old depot on the Old Cattle Market in Ipswich, firstly above is Eastern Counties Bristol MW LM 937 WPW 637 on a 254 service while resting below is LH 530 CNG 530K and the old guard in Bristol MW LS 796 4822 VF, buses used to enter the depot from Dogs Head Street where Wahoo are now situated.

FIRST ESSEX UPDATED ALLOCATIONS/EASTERN NATIONAL RECALL

To celebrate the update of the First Essex allocations, I thought i would recall the earlier era of Eastern National with a couple of old pictures, the first is a particularly colourful livery based in Southend for Bristol Lodekka FLF 2837 LWC 663C which had just over a year in this livery from 02/73 to 04/74. Eastern Counties weren't the only ones saddled with the ex Scottish VR's Eastern National were too, 3005-19 SMS 31-45H came from Midland, while this one 3046 NAG 586G was one of six which were delivered to Eastern Counties but passed to Eastern National in exchange for Bristol FLF Lodekkas.

MNR VINTAGE BUS EVENT IN DEREHAM

Yesterday saw the first vintage bus event held by the Mid Norfolk Railway in Dereham, whilst only a small event it certainly attracted the crowds, i attended the event with the ITM using Eastern Counties LS 829 APW 829B in the hands of Owen Phillips who by the end of the day, certainly knew what it was like to drive a classic bus! Trips were taken in and around Dereham itself, including a very brief trip into Konnect's premises, where there was Enviro 400's galore, above we see Julian Patterson's ex Eastern Counties Bristol RE RLE 864 WNG 864H, more pictures can be seen below.

Konnect's Park and Ride livery for Norwich is shown off to good effect by ADL E 400 623 SN65 DAB.

Using the long lens to good effect a line up of three Routemasters one recently bought is an old friend of mine in ex First Eastern Counties 39480 JJD 480D, RML 2323 and RML 2737.

 Richard Walker's recently acquired from Carters Bristol VR Open top OT3 JNG 50N

Taken ironically up above on JNG 50N was Konnect's Mercedes Citario bendy bus BD57 WDA.

INDEPENDENTS RECALLED

Today's recall features two independent operators one which is still in existence and the other was bought out by Hedingham in 1997, both pictures are circa early 1970's from own collection, the first sees Belle Coaches of Leiston Bedford/Duple CBJ 859H and i would imagine new to the operator, whilst the other shows one of the two prototype Bristol VRL HHW 933D,which originated with Bristol before being sold to Osbornes after a very short career with their original operator.

FIRST BUS ORDERS UPDATE

Illustrating the Wright Streetlite at last years Clacton rally is 47646 SN15 AFF, from First Essex at Hadleigh which has been ordered for South Yorkshire only this year.

Courtesy of the new First Bus Handbook, i can present the orders for the rest of 2016/17, omitted are the ones that have already been delivered such as the Streetdecks at Norwich.

ADL E400 MMC

Scotland East:33431-49, depots unknown.

Cornwall: 33450-79 for Cambourne

West Yorkshire: 33480-87, Hunslet Park, 33914-21 E400 GKN Flywheel, Hunslet Park

Bristol: 33488-90, Lawrence Hill, 33491-98, Bath, 39314-21 Bristol

Scania N280 UD CNG/ADL E400 MMC

Bristol: 36601-20, Lawrence Hill

Wrightbus Streetdeck

West Yorkshire: 35202-13, Hunslet Park, 35214-28, Bramley, 35229-38 Bradford

ADL E200

Essex: 44659-62, Colchester

Wrightbus Streetlite Max

South Yorkshire: 63369-81, Rotherham, 63382/83, Doncaster, 63384-88 Olive Grove

ADL E200 MMC

Glasgow: 67096-105, Caledonia

Potteries: 67151-66, Adderley Green

Hampshire/Dorset: 67167-83, Hoeford, 67184-97, Slough.

IPSWICH TO FELIXSTOWE RUN/BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Yesterday saw excellent conditions for the Ipswich to Felixstowe run, so from an excellent vantage point on ST Augustine's I'm able to bring a selection of images, from the numerous buses that attended the event, above we see Mr McNae in charge of the ITM's ICT AEC Regent 1 ADX 1, Lodges who hail from Essex usually attend the rally most years here we see there beautiful Bedford Duple Bella Vega EDD 685C.

As you might be able to see this ex Thamesdown Daimler Fleetline is now painted into Southdown livery.

Now preserved and a newcomer to the rally this year is this superb Volvo B58/Plaxton Viewmaster VLF 6X in Grove of Hertford livery.

BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Today being a Sunday service saw the vast majority of the ADL E200's of IB out in service along with 3 of the 4 remaining Optare Solo's 243 YN04 LWJ above, the X5 interworks with the 6/6A today saw Solo's 241/43/44 and a Scania Omnicity, the rest of the town routes were in the hands of the E200's apart from the 9/10 which were Citario operated as usual.