MONDAYS OBSERVATIONS

Now above i would say is a fairly rare outing for a Dennis Dart of any variety, of course in their early days they worked the Martlesham Park and Ride from 2003 until 2007, but today saw Ipswich Buses Dart 84 PJ53 OLC and ADL Enviro 200 81 both on Park and Ride, problems with the Versa's again?. Other less major observations saw Dart 94 on the 19 while sister 98 escaped the confines of the 4 to be on 16 with sister 93 on the 16, and the 4 had the unwelcome return of an ALX 200 Dart in 144, it's worth noting that during the week the 4 is Single Decked worked but Saturday's 2 Decker's are used, recent acquisition ADL E200 77 was on the X5, whilst ex Lothian Darts 136 was on the 4 and 137 on the X3. Ipswich Buses Trident 20 was in use on Carters service 92 to Colchester.

Parked up ready for a run out on Midday 4's was IB Trident 14 LG02 FDJ.

MORE COLOURFUL OR NOT! ADVERTS

Once again so little happening again in the Suffolk area i find myself dipping into my collection again for some colourful adverts, although in these two cases rather dull!,these two both come from Eastern Counties and are rather dull in appearance, firstly seen at Long Stratton outstation long since closed is VR 254 PCL 254W shortly after deregulation in 1987 advertising people signing up for St Johns Ambulance, whilst VR 396 ENG 396K in July 1975 started advertising London and Manchester Assurance and traveled round the Eastern Counties depots until repaint into NBC Red in May 1978, when it finally settled down and lived it's life at Ipswich until withdrawal, it's seen here in Peterborough.

COLOURFUL ADVERTS

Two contrasting adverts one possibly tasteful the other in rather dubious taste, the first one shows IBT Leyland Atlantean 34 in an extremely colourful all over advert which was the first for the council owned company and was followed by 2 others Atlantean 86 WPV 86L which i showed last month had a Betabake all over advert whilst 97 TRT 97M had a short lived CKN Vollkswagen livery, Britannia Stores were situated on Woodbridge Road. Below one of the two converted Bristol VR's purchased from Ribble was OT 352 NCK 980J which experienced many different colours during it's time at Yarmouth, starting out in Venetian Blinds NBC livery before graduating to Eastern Counties Cream livery in the late 1980's, before this monstrosity for Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park.

 Copyright ETCS

BEESTONS DEMO AND NEW ARRIVAL

 Many thanks to Jason Player for allowing me to feature the latest demonstrator that Optare have provided for Beestons for 2 weeks this has already been in Suffolk with Borderbus who incidentally have a Wright Streetdeck on loan SL15 ZGP, The Metrodecker from Optare is the first Doubledecker that they have produced since the Spectra which finished production about 10 years ago, First have already trialled one early this year for tests, and this bus certainly catches the imagination and to me is more like a bus than the Wright Streetdeck! What you won't find is any rattles or poles coming lose us all poles and fixtures are moulded directly to the ceiling as the photo below shows, with well spaced seats made from e leather is this a serious contender to take on ADL's E400 MMC?

Borderbus Streetdeck SL15 ZGP which is currently on loan, thanks to Borderbus for the photo.

Photo from Beestons twitter fleet, the latest arrival for the coaching fleet is this new Mercedes Turas T900 seating 33.

A LEYLAND NATIONAL FLASHBACK

Today is another welcome back for the flashback, as there seems to be very little happening on the Suffolk scene oh to be in Norwich! First picture shows a late model series one Leyland National LN 587 WAH 587S which later became an East Lancs National Greenway convert in the mid 1990's and of course is now preserved in deregulation Eastern Counties Post Office Red in Norfolk, you can see by the picture how much has changed in the Old Cattle Market in Ipswich behind is the Plough pub. Below is the second ever Leyland National LN 539 HVF 539L initially like many of it's type experienced teething problems indeed some were off the road for at least three years, here shes on special duties in Norwich in her first year in service, most were Norwich career Buses although a few in later years travelled south down to Ipswich in the early 1980's, final picture shows the National 2 type with LN 617 PEX 617W seen in Norwich in the later days of her career in the First Blue Bus livery applied to Buses in Great Yarmouth after the takeover.

 Copyright ETCS.

GALLOWAY COACH FLEET

Mercedes Benz Tourismo BF15 XPJ is one of two in the fleet.

With thanks to David Green for informing me of recent withdrawals.

MINI COACHES

170  5516 PP Mercedes Benz 0814D/Plaxton C33F
265  4178 PP  Mercedes Benz 0816D/Plaxton C33F
288/291/93/329  Ford Transit M8
342 AX14 GXS Ford Tourneo M8
345 PO15 AZP  Mercedes Benz 1527L/Unvi C30F

DAF/VDL COACHES

209  3860 PP DAF SB3000/Plaxton C55F
273  6037 PP  DAF SB3000/Ikarus C51FT

DAF SB3000/Plaxton 209 3860 PP is currently the choice for Driver Training.

KASSBOHRER

289  BV10 ZKL Kassbohrer Setra S415GT-HD C53F
309  BN12 EOO  Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD C49FT

Kassbohrer Setra 289 BV10 ZKL

NATIONAL EXPRESS

300-305   FJ61 EVN/P/R/T/U/V Volvo B9R/Caetano C48FTL
317/18     FN62 CCA/D  Volvo B9R/Caetano C48FLT
341          FJ61 EYJ   Volvo B9R/Caetano C48FT
348          BK15 AJX  Volvo B8R/Caetano C48FLT


Seen below is 304 FJ61 EVU an Volvo B9R/Caetano










VOLVO COACHES

306       BX12 CWC Volvo B13R/Volvo C53FT
320/21  YN13 AVV/W Volvo B9R/Plaxton C53FT
339/40  NJ1 9241/44 Volvo B10M-62/Van Hool C53F

VAN HOOL COACHES

322/23 YJ13 GWG/GXG/GXG Van Hool TX15 C49FT
326/27 YJ14 CDX/CEX Van Hool TX16 C49FT
355/56 YJ16 EPP/V Van Hool TX16 C49FT

MERCEDES COACHES
293 BF60 OGA Mercedes Benz Tourismo C53F
338  BF15 XPJ Mercedes Benz Tourismo C??F

DEREGULATION OCTOBER 1986 FLASHBACK

Both Pictures from the James Long Collection.

Going back 30 years in your memory is bad enough, but i was there so to speak on Sunday 26th October 1986, as the picture shows above one of the first Buses on the combined 4 Broke Hall and 6 Airport service was Eastern Counties Bristol VR VR 276 TAH 276W at Broke Hall Shops the other two that were on the route was an Leyland National and an ex Ribble VR just don't ask me for the numbers, while Eastern Counties took on town routes on Evenings and Sunday's, Ipswich Buses were off to Shotley although that service had begun a few years back as well as taking on the 80 to Aldeburgh. Ipswich Buses seeing the advantages of Deregulation purchased Bantam Coaches, Squirrells and a joint buyout with Eastern Counties of Bickers later in 1989, by September 1988 Eastern Counties had returned to Aldeburgh and the 4 and 6 returned to Ipswich Buses, the coaches that made up Bickers and Bantam became Ipswich Travel but that's another story.

As many town routes had begun to use Minibuses, opening up new areas of the town, many of the older Leyland Atlanteans became surplus to requirements, while Boroline Maidstone had just won services in London and required Buses for the 188 service, seen here after a return from London is 86 WPV 86L at Constantine Road Depot, the arrangement as such that Maidstone drivers would return the Buses to Ipswich  for servicing and maintenance. 

GALLOWAY BUS FLEET

Seen here back in 2013 whilst working the 110 service which is now incorporated into First Ipswich's 89 is 224 AY05 KVF a VDL SB120/Wright now registered 3367 PP.

GALLOWAYS BUS FLEET

227/28 3367 PP/AY55 DGV VDL SB120/Wright B39F
229     5946 PP  DAF DB250/Optare H47/28F
244     2513 PP   Scania L94UB/Wright Eclipse B43F
253     1842 PP  Leyland Olympian/Alexander B H47/31F
258     1754 PP  DAF SB120/Wright B39F
278      AY09 BYC  VDL DE02SB200/Plaxton Centro B45F
279     4092 PP  Optare Solo M920 B33F
310     1482 PP  Optare Solo M880 B27F
311      MX08 DHC  Optare Solo M950 B31F
330      YJ14 BGE  Optare Solo M8900SR B33F
331/32   YJ60 GFA/GGY VDL SB180/MCV Evolution B36F
333     1440 PP Optare Solo M920 B33F
337/46     YJ60 GDO/YJ60 GGO VDL SB180/MCV Evolution B36F
349/50  YJ65 EWF/G Optare Solo M9950SR B35F
351       N827 FFK Volvo Olympian/Alexander B H47/31F
354       YJ62 EWF  VDL SB180/MCV Evolution B36F
























Bought for use last year on the Ipswich to Diss service contracted from SCC were a pair of Optare Solo SR's one being 350 YJ65 EWG seen here last year.

IPSWICH BUSES FLEET OCTOBER

Ipswich Buses ADL E200 79 YX63 ZVW from the first batch of Enviro's bought.

	IPSWICH
PF0000147/N	IPSWICH Buses Ltd, Constantine Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DL					VA96
PF0001842/N	CARTERS COACH SERVICES
4	LGO2 FEV	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22210	ArB	2003/14	H43/23F	Carters Livery
5	LG02 FCA	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22088	Ar	0184/24	H43/23F	Carters Livery
6	LG02 FCE	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22106	Ar	0184/27	H43/23F	Withdrawn
7	LX03 BTF	Tbs	Tt 33GBR52GX42589	Tbs	2069/02	H45/31F	Carters Livery
8	LX04 FYB	Ds	Tt 13GBR64GX43442	Ar	3094/15	H45/31F	Carters Livery
9	MRT9P	Ld	AN68A/1R 7600018	Roe	G07704	O43/29D
11	LG02FCX	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22211	ArB	2016/1	H43/23F
12	LG02FDC	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22235	ArB	2016/5	H43/23F
13	LG02FDK	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22257	ArB	2016/10	H43/23F
14	LG02FDJ	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22238	ArB	2016/8	H43/23F
15	LG02FDF	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22237	ArB	2016/7	H43/23F
16	LG02FDN	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22273	ArB	2016/12	H43/23F
17	LG02FEM	Ds	Tt 13CBR22GX22194	ArB	2003/9	H43/23F
20	Y436NHK	Ds	Tt 117BR21GX21554	Ar	0065/1	H43/25F
21	Y458NHK	Ds	Tt 111BR21GX21585	Ar	0065/23	H43/25F
22	LR02BBJ	Ds	Tt 334BR22GX22060	Pn	7763	H43/31F
23	SN51AXF	Ds	Tt 344BR21GX21513	Pn	7478	H45/29F
24	SN51AXO	Ds	Tt 344BR21GX21507	Pn	7453	H47/25F
25	SN51AXP	Ds	Tt 344BR21GX21508	Pn	7454	H47/25F
26	LR52 KWH	Ds	Tt 13GBR42GX22572	Pn	8113	H39/31F
54	PF04WML	VDL	DE02PSDB250 011891	EL	C50301	H43/29F
55	PN52XBO	DAF	DE02PSDB250 010169	EL	C43504	H43/29F
56	PN52XBK	DAF	DE02PSDB250 010157	EL	C43502	H43/29F
57	PN52XBJ	DAF	DE02PSDB250 010156	EL	C43501	H43/29F
58	PJ53OLA	DAF	DE02PSDB250 011161	EL	C47301	H43/29F
59	PJ53OLB	DAF	DE02PSDB250 011162	EL	C47302	H43/29F
60	PJ54YZT	Sca	N94UD 1849008	EL	C53801	H47/33F
61	PJ54YZU	Sca	N94UD 1849009	EL	C53802	H47/33F
62	PJ54YZV	Sca	N94UD 1849072	EL	C53803	H47/33F
68	YJ60KGX	Sca	N230UD 1870451	Oe	C74301	H47/27F
69	YJ60KGY	Sca	N230UD 1870452	Oe	C74302	H47/27F
70	YN56NVB	Sca	N94UB 1854729	Sca		B36F
71	YN56NVC	Sca	N94UB 1854730	Sca		B36F
72	YN56NVD	Sca	N94UB 1854788	Sca		B36F
73	YN56NVE	Sca	N94UB 1854857	Sca		B36F
74	YN56NVF	Sca	N94UB 1854858	Sca		B36F
75	YN56NVG	Sca	N94UB 1854924	Sca		B36F
78	YX14RWL	AD	E20D 7E1AR6DGY13698	AD	D201/10	B39F
79	YX63ZVW	AD	E20D 7E1AR6DGY18396	AD	D234/6	B39F
80	YX63ZVV	AD	E20D 7E1AR6DGY18395	AD	D234/5	B39F
81	YX63LGE	AD	E20D 7E1AR6DGY13556	AD	C253/5	B39F
82	YX63LGF	AD	E20D 7E1AR6DGY13559	AD	C253/8	B39F
83	SK07DYA	AD	Env 121AR26GG10280	AD	6316/1	B44F
84	PJ53OLC	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER33GW37478	EL	C47401	B41F
85	PJ53OLE	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER33GW37479	EL	C47402	B41F
86	PJ53OLG	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER33GW37480	EL	C47403	B41F
87	PJ53OLH	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER33GW37482	EL	C47404	B41F
88	PJ53OLK	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER33GW37483	EL	C47405	B41F
93	X93LBJ	Ds	Dt SLF 477BR1YGW35155	EL	C34105	B41F
94	X94LBJ	Ds	Dt SLF 477BR1YGW35180	EL	C34106	B41F
98	X98LBJ	Ds	Dt SLF 477BR1YGW35264	EL	C34110	B41F
100	PN52XBM	DAF	DE02PSDB250 010168	EL	C43503	H43/29F
101	SN16OGG	AD	E20D 7E1AR6FGY15355	AD	F284/12	B39F
102	SN16OGH	AD	E20D 7E1AR6FGY15356	AD	F284/13	B39F
103	SN16OGJ	AD	E20D 7E1AR6FGY15357	AD	F284/14	B39F
104	SN16OGK	AD	E20D 7E1AR6FGY15358	AD	F284/15	B39F
105	YX66WCJ	AD	E20D	AD		B39F
106	YX66WCK	AD	E20D	AD		B39F
107	YX66WCL	AD	E20D	AD		B39F
108	YX66WCM	AD	E20D	AD		B39F
134	SN53AVG	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER32GW47389	Tbs	3036/8	B42F
135	SN53AVK	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER32GW47394	Tbs	3036/9	B42F
136	SN53AVM	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER32GW47396	Tbs	3036/11	B42F
137	SN53AVP	Tbs	Dt SLF 4D8ER32GW47398	Tbs	3036/13	B42F
138	Y262FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65742	Ar	0070/10	B35F
139	Y271FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65763	Ar	0070/18	B35F
140	Y272FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65764	Ar	0070/19	B35F
141	Y273FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65765	Ar	0070/20	B35F
142	Y292FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65790	Ar	0070/39	B35F
143	Y294FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65803	Ar	0070/41	B35F
144	Y295FJN	Ds	Dt SLF 212BR11GW65804	Ar	0070/42	B35F
145	YK08EPA	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320077	Oe		B38F
146	YK08EPC	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320078	Oe		B38F
147	YK08EPD	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320079	Oe		B38F
148	YK08EPE	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320080	Oe		B38F
149	YK08EPF	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320081	Oe		B38F
150	YK08EPJ	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320082	Oe		B38F
151	YK08EPU	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320068	Oe		B38F
152	YK08EPV	Oe	Vrsa 1110 08L320069	Oe		B38F
153	BF65HVT	MB	O295 62801523130097	MB		B40F
154	BF65HVU	MB	O295 62801523130098	MB		B40F
155	BF65HVV	MB	O295 62801523130099	MB		B40F
156	AY60BVD	VDL	DE18FSSSB180	MCV		B40F
170	YG52DGO	Oe	L1180 000609	Oe		B41F
171	YG52DHF	Oe	L1180 000610	Oe		B41F
172	YG52DGE	Oe	L1180 000607	Oe		B41F
173	YG52DGF	Oe	L1180  000608	Oe		B41F
241	YN04LWK	Oe	M920 19000000001388	Oe		B33F
243	YN04LWJ	Oe	M920 19000000001384	Oe		B33F
244	YN53ELW	Oe	M950 19000000001201	Oe		B33F
245	YJ05 XNY	Oe	M950 19000000001820	Oe		B33F

AN UNUSUAL VISITOR/FLASHBACK

This bus certainly has done the rounds originally with new to Armchair as TA 152 KN52 NDL passed to Tellings Golden Miller which was subsequently taken over by Arriva, it was sold out of service after just 11 years to become an hospitality bus in 2014, firstly with Avon when it visited in 2014, then Capital FM and now Haven Power, obviously owned by a Promotions company?

From the RJ Elseworthy collections comes Eastern Counties Bristol VR 198 TEX 408R which pretty much stayed an Ipswich allocation during it's time, is seen here at Sudbury? waiting time before it's next journey back to Ipswich the 205 is now numbered 90 and operated by Beestons, so dates the period to the early 1980's.

CANVEY BUS RALLY PART TWO

Well by how many people viewed yesterday's blog, i have decided to add 4 more pictures for today, to kick things off today we see Eastbourne Corporation's lovely livery on 69 KHC 369 an AEC Regent V with East Lancs body.

 Being fairly close to London brought a fair few to Canvey including London Transport AEC RT/Park Royal RT 1702 KYY 529 and just about alongside is an fairly early RM 158 VLT 158.

Originally with Countybus for services on the fringe of London, eventually passing to Arriva as LR 105 was passed on to their North West division at Manchester before finishing it's days with GHA Coaches at Macclefield, it's now restored to it's original livery.

Bristol MW U1766 JAX 117E was an late delivery of the MW type to Red &White at Aberdare, subsequently it was transferred to Western Welsh in 1978 which in turn became National Welsh before being withdrawn in 1982, it's now restored in it's original livery and preserved by David Bateman.

CANVEY ISLAND BUS RALLY

Today's blog includes a selection of photo's taken from yesterday's Canvey Island Bus Rally, above we have probably the newest bus on display ADL Enviro 400 MMC from Arriva Southern Counties 6540 SN66 WJF, along with Streetlite 4262 GN64 DXS.

This beauty certainly caught my eye yesterday this last in a batch of five bought for Maidstone & District 5385 LKP 385P a Volvo Ailsa with Alexander body remained unique within a NBC company.

A very recent restoration by Mundens is this superb Leyland Titan PD3/Massey CJN 436C now back in Southend Corporation livery. 

Bang up to date with this Tri Axle Evo Seti LX66 GXC from Ensign.

The order of the day in Canvey Island is now First Essex, seen working back to Basildon is Wright Streetlite 47564 SN15 AEU.

SATURDAY'S ATLANTEAN FLASHBACK

Photo by RJ Elseworthy.

Two new pictures that i have recently purchased for my ever growing collection of one of my favourite types of bus, the Leyland Atlantean played an significant part in the history of Ipswich Buses for nearly 28 years, seen above is 86 WPV 86L from the first batch of Roe bodies, the first two batches 84-88 WPV 84-88L, 94-98 TRT 94-98M had gorgeous brown leather seats, while the later batches from 1-5 HDX 904-908N were the first batches with green leather seats resulting from the change from ICT to IBT in 1974, from the batch 21-35 SDX 21-35R is 28 SDX 28R which after a substantial life in Ipswich saw a few more with the privatised Lincolnshire Roadcar. 

IPSWICH BUSES STRIKE CALLED OFF

IB Trident 14 LG02 FDJ has certainly been around and about this week Monday saw it out on the 4 at lunchtime, Wednesday it was on Carters route 94 to Colchester.

Just a quick notice that Unite the union have called the Ipswich Buses strike off this coming Monday, as both parties have reached an equitable agreement on pay for the lower third of drivers, both parties have agree to work more constructively with each other.