MORE COLOURFUL EASTERN COUNTIES AD'S

Another welcome return feature due to the lack of happenings this week, next week will be the excitement of the new E200's entering service next Monday! So 2 Eastern Counties Bristol VR's in two white based liveries, before the advent of what is now Heart there was Radio Orwell and Saxon Radio based in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, initially allocated to Ipswich VR 204 moved across to Bury later in the 1980's, seen here on the 208 at Colchester Bus Station, below we a somewhat more colourful VR 297 VEX 297X in National Holidays livery at the Norwich Showground.

SECOND LIVES/IB NEWS

As News seems thin on the ground at the moment and it's the Bank Holiday, i thought i would go back to an old feature of mine and have a look at the second lives of Eastern Counties Buses, the first one i have cheated  a bit as we see a Bus that has been converted in to a service vehicle, starting out as LL107 ENG 707  a Bristol L5G with E.C.W body, in 1942 it was withdrawn in 1959, it's bus body going to Jordan's Coltishall, it was withdrawn from Eastern Counties as X37 in 1973 it's seen here shortly before withdrawal. The second photo sees ex SB 661 NAH 661F a Bedford SB withdrawn after only 9 years, they made good purchases for small companies like Primrose Valley of Filey. The last picture sees the coach version of the Bristol SC, below is LSC 872 TVF 872 new in 1956, this passed to R.C Debnam, Canvey in 1969 it lasted just 18 months ferrying people to Airport's and Railway Stations it stayed withdrawn at Southend Airport before being scrapped in 1974.

All photos copyright ETCS

NEWS EXTRA

The four mentioned Ipswich Buses ADL Enviro 200's are 105-108 YX66 WCJ-M, withdrawn are Trident's 18/19, Lance 162,Olympian 43 and Trident 6, all apart from 161 were in the Carters fleet, although 18/19 were reinstated temporarily.

SECOND LIVES/IB NEWS

As News seems thin on the ground at the moment and it's the Bank Holiday, i thought i would go back to an old feature of mine and have a look at the second lives of Eastern Counties Buses, the first one i have cheated  a bit as we see a Bus that has been converted in to a service vehicle, starting out as LL107 ENG 707  a Bristol L5G with E.C.W body, in 1942 it was withdrawn in 1959, it's bus body going to Jordan's Coltishall, it was withdrawn from Eastern Counties as X37 in 1973 it's seen here shortly before withdrawal. The second photo sees ex SB 661 NAH 661F a Bedford SB withdrawn after only 9 years, they made good purchases for small companies like Primrose Valley of Filey. The last picture sees the coach version of the Bristol SC, below is LSC 872 TVF 872 new in 1956, this passed to R.C Debnam, Canvey in 1969 it lasted just 18 months ferrying people to Airport's and Railway Stations it stayed withdrawn at Southend Airport before being scrapped in 1974.

All photos copyright ETCS

NEWS EXTRA

The four mentioned Ipswich Buses ADL Enviro 200's are 105-108 YX66 WCJ-M, withdrawn are Trident's 18/19, Lance 161,Olympian 43 and Trident 6, all apart from 161 were in the Carters fleet, although 18/19 were reinstated temporarily.

WHEN IN LONDON

During the later part of the 1980's when deregulation was a right old mess, many smaller companies tried in most cases unsuccessfully to run London's bus routes, one company who tried was Maidstone Boroline for which Steve W will be happy to tell you his delight at driving Ipswich's finest Atlantean's well the older ones at that, anything from 83-87/94/95/1-5 and one from the P batch which i believe to be 7, were employed on the 188 initially with Nottingham's distinctive Fleetlines until Maidstone's Alexander bodied Volvo Citybuses were available above we see Ipswich Atlantean 4 HDX 907N on the 188, later on Maidstone won the 422 to Bexleyheath which kept the spare Ipswich Atlanteans from withdrawal, some came back to Ipswich for spells, after use in London the majority of the 83-87 batch were withdrawn. Below seen with sister 83, WPV 86L has returned to Ipswich and is parked at the rear of Constantine Road Depot.

 Pictures Copyright Clive Nixon

IPSWICH BUSES STRIKE ACTION?

Ipswich Buses Scania Omnidekka 62 PJ54 YJV seen 2 weeks ago, heading away from Tower Ramparts towards Thorington Park on the 15A.


Please note that this information is unconfirmed 
Latest news from Ipswich Buses is that union members have called to go out on strike, however negotiations will continue before possible strike action effecting services as early as September the strike action is believed to be over working conditions rather than pay. Currently as of Saturday a vast amount of services were cancelled as followed.

X3 - 15:4516:35
6 - 08:35
6A - 1340 1400 1500 
8 - 1026 1226 1516 1426 1456 1626 1536 1736
9 - 1350 1435 1520
13 - 1126 1326 1056 1416 1436 1616 1526 1636 1727
14 - 0925 1425
15 - 1825
15A - 0930 1950 1030 0950
16 - 1125
800 - 1040 1216 1504 1640 1816.

Today's cancellations.
4 - 1405 1500
12 - 1315 1350
13 - 1016 1116
15 - 1400 1500
15A -1010 1110 1350 1450


Update The E200's have now arrived, so i have now edited the page.

Ironically Scania Omnidekka 60 has had a full rear advertisement for vacancies within the company.

IPSWICH, COLCHESTER, YARMOUTH SIMLARITES

 Copyright ETCS

Ipswich, Colchester , Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft held many similarities to what types of Buses that they ordered, although on the AEC Regent V's Colchester, Yarmouth  and Lowestoft had Massey bodies, Ipswich took East Lancs(Neepsend) before taking Massey bodies for the last two batches 63/64,65-68, above with the Massey body is Colchester 22 194 MNO, while with Ipswich is 45 OPV 45.

 Further up the coast both Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth took AEC Swifts, Great Yarmouth initially took Swifts with Willowbrook as did Ipswich before both took others in Yarmouth's case it's final batch was locally built by E.C.W, which Lowestoft also took for it's final two in 1973 as shown by 83 WEX 683M, Ipswich went for the particularly ugly East Lancs body on 89-93, seen above with 90 DDX 90L,while Great Yarmouth loved it's Swifts the same couldn't have been said for Ipswich which had comparatively short life spans of between 10-12 years.

EASTERN COUNTIES COACHES

Copyright Clive Nixon

Summer time in the 1950's onwards usually meant holidays by coaches however by the time the 1970's came along, with the rise in car ownership meant the end of coach tours and holidays, the early 1950's saw the Bristol LS/MW with ECW bodies dominate, before the Bristol RELH from 1964 became the new favourite into the 1970's with 2 years of Bedford Vam's during 1967/68, followed by Leyland Leopards with Plaxton/Duple as seen above by LL 817 JVF 817V with a Plaxton body. The 1980's saw the end of regular holidays and tours by this time managed by National Holidays, the final hurrah saw the ubiquitous ECW Leopard's which were certainly not a patch on what went before and Leyland Tiger's with Plaxton Paramount bodies which restored the reputation of the coaching fleet .

 Copyright Clive Nixon
Bristol MW LS 808 3808 PW was typical of the coaches in the 1960's seen here during NBC days still in the gorgeous Cream/Maroon livery.

Copyright unknown
Bristol LS, LS 758 PVF 758 new in 1954 heralded a new age for coaching with the emergence of the rear engine.

Copyright Clive Nixon

Leyland Tiger LT 887 EAH 887Y in Norfolk Flyer livery.

AN EASTERN COUNTIES ODDITY

Due to interference from a certain person within an organisation, who will remain nameless i have had to withdraw the last article, so i have replaced the photo as best as i can. An odd choice for the company were 16 chassisless Buses built by E.C.W in 1950 and incorporating Gardner 4LK engines with gearboxes taken from the Dennis Ace's, this particular one withdrawn in 1961 with the rest of the batch passed to Ben Jordan(Dealer) was one of 4 that passed to TC Stewart, Bury St Edmunds for staff transport.

BEESTONS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA CONVERSION ONGOING

 Many thanks to David Burrows at Beestons who sent me these photos which are now available on Twitter on the conversion of Scania Omnidekka YN54 OAE to single door and now is awaiting full internal refurbishment.

THE LAST TIME OR IS IT BACK IN TIME!

Well i never thought i would see this interior decor again, it must be a good ten years ago when the last East Lancs Falcons were withdrawn, the first bus to receive would been East Lancs Atlantean 36 RBJ 36W in 1980 and would finish with the G registered East Lancs Falcon's in 1989,knowing full well that IB Optare Spectra will be withdrawn in little over 3 weeks i experienced what will probably be my last journey on one today on the 4. It's been a really slow month this August with very little occurring, September with the new IB E 200's arriving should liven things up a bit. Observation's in Ipswich today saw 4 Branded, East Lancs Dart's 86/87/88  on the 8/13 with Excels 172/73, before 86 switched to the 6 in the Afternoon, while 85 was on the 6A, Trident 13 put in an appearance on the X3 while the ALX 200 Darts continue their dominance on the 4 this week 142 on Monday,140 yesterday and 142 today. 

First Ipswich Baby E200 Dart 45119 was out on the 60/61 today.

New last October for Chesterfield based Nova Tours of Chesterfield is VDL FHD2 NT65 NTL.

Seen her after an number change to 147 is Ipswich Buses B117 LDX an Bristol B21/Alexander with it's sumptuous seats these would have the 80's style decor.

FURTHER MEMORIES OF HALF CABS

 Today continuing Saturday's themes of Half Cabs we have a selection of two ICT AEC Regent V's of which we see 66 DPV 66D from the last batch of 4 above, while second from the bottom we see PPV 50 both at Electric House during the 1970's, whilst below we see Ipswich allocated Bristol Lodekka LFS 74 AAH 174B at Ipswich OCM, and the final photograph, which is new to my collection shows Bristol K LK 283 LNG 283 with Bristol MW LM 444 later 944 3006 AH at Colchester Bus Station.

1986 AND THE END OF CONDUCTORS FOR IPSWICH

IBT AEC Regent V 59 SDX 59 seen at the beginning of the 1980's on the Station X service which would soon disappear.

This day thirty years ago on the 6th August 1986 saw the end of Conductor's on Ipswich routes, Eastern Counties had already finished back in 1980, the routes believed to seen have the final three AEC Regent V's of 63/64 ADX 63/64B and DPV 65D was the 2 to the Airport, 4 Broke Hall and 6 to Greenwich,if you want to experience the joy of a conductor on a Bus sadly without yours truly this year, than the Ipswich Transport Museum will be giving free rides this and the following 2 Sundays, note that next week, the town will be shut due to the SKY cycle ride, so a diversion will be in effect and on the 21st Ipswich will host Norwich at home in the football so expect delays, even so this is well worth attending so give your support to the Museum by paying to go into the Museum.

63 ADX 63B was one of the final 3 in service 30 years ago and was retained by Ipswich Buses, before entering preservation.

Park Royal bodied 27 GPV 27 an AEC Regent V seen at Electric House.

WEDNESDAY BITS AND PIECES

First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32491 AU53 HKJ was one of two B7TL's including heritage liveried 32479 on the 60/61 on Monday.

Very little seems to be happening on the local scene of lately, hence the lack of blogs, this is just a quick round up of what i have seen when i visited on Monday, First Ipswich had 2 Volvo B7TL's 32479/91 out on town routes 60/61 which i don't think i have seen before, Enviro 200 44516 was also on the 60/61, IB wise 139 was still being used on the 98 to Shotley, along with E200 79 on the 202, and Lowlander 57 continues to be used on Carters routes.

Eastern Counties LH 689 RAH 689F during 1973, shows how different the layout of the Old Cattle Market bus station is, First Ipswich are currently the leaseholder of the OCM.