IPSWICH DOUBLE DECKERS FROM THE 1980'S AND 1990'S

Carrying on from Sunday's blog we have now reached the 1980's, but as i have mentioned previously Ipswich bought mainly Single Deckers right through this period and into the 1990's and haven't bought Double Deckers in large numbers since the 1970's, in 1984 Ipswich Borough Transport went an tried 2 different Double Deckers in the Dennis Dominator and the Leyland Olympian, both came with an unusual single door arrangement a la Nottingham and both with East Lancs bodies 82 B82 NDX being the Dominator and 45 the Olympian, 45 had a particularly short life span of just 2 years being swapped for 3 ugly Dodge S56 minibuses from Eastbourne, the narrow door didn't catch favour although the Dominator was with 81 F81 ODX arriving in 1988. Strangely by 1995 Ipswich went back to the Olympian by this time manufactured by Volvo in 40-41 M640 EPV/M41/42 EPV in 1995. Another time i will complete the story taking as up to today from the Ex London and Trent Olympians in 1998 to the Scania/Optare's in 2011 and Ex Lothian Tridents in 2015.

Archive photos from the Jim Long Collection.

IPSWICH'S SINGLE DECKERS OF THE 1980'S

Taking the story up from the previous post we have now reached the 1980's when the now General Manager and latter Managing Director Barry Moore's influence took hold, particularly with Bus orders and the dominance of Dennis as the go to company, now that dominance of AEC was over, we start at 1980 when the decision was made that some of the aforementioned AEC Reliance's were now life expired and generally disliked so in came five Bristol RE's a well known and generally liked type that was far more reliable than the Swift's and Reliance's from Leicester 118-122 TRY 118-22H already 11 years old these were withdrawn finally in 1987, 118 below being the final one in service in June 1987 seen below. When new single deckers were needed for the Chantry services in 1983 the Dennis Falcon with the rather angular East Lancs bodies were chosen these being 100-105 YDX 100-105Y, as can be seen above the later privatised livery was far more pleasing. Double Deckers became a thing of the past during the mid to late 1980's with only 3 bought one an Leyland Olympian with East Lancs body being sold on in 1987 45 B45 NDX whilst the others Dennis Dominator 82 B82 NDX and 81 F81 ODX were more successful.

Coming to the mid 1980's and the Falcon buys continued one being 106 C106 SDX with one can only describe as an livery that was not used any further although the combination of the East Lancs was 

far more pleasing than the Northern Counties bodied 107-113 C107-113 SDX, 110 seen below. The final Falcons received went back to the more pleasing East Lancs bodied with their slightly off centre grilles in 1987/88 with E114-17 KDX and 118-124 G118 -124 VDX, 118 seen below when fairly new. 

IPSWICH BUSES ADL ENVIRO 200 MMC ROAD TEST

I wasn't expecting it to be back so soon, but a quick change of plans saw me experience the New Model Change ADL Enviro 200 MMC demonstrator YX65 RKK from Alexander Dennis which i photographed when it was at the Ipswich Transport Museum last month, you can see the interior view from then below, fortune favoured me today as i hopped off the 4 and on to the 10 Castle Hill & Whitton service, what is noticeable as soon as you sit down is how comfortable the seats are compared with the Mercedes Benz Citario that IB have, on Norwich Road the bus was particularly rattle free and smooth, but as soon as you enter Castle Hill the pole nearest to me at the back began to rattle, this i put down to the roads which i can only describe as bumpy and rough as well as the numerous speed bumps which certainly don't help, acceleration away from stops was pretty good the driver certainly handled it well, obviously IB won't be buying them next year but it's certainly something to think about, already the big groups have switched from the standard E200 it looks and feels much more substantial than the E200 as the price to buy reflects this, there are also the little touches like Free Wi Fi sockets on the back of the seats that are becoming common place these days on Buses which passengers like, if you are a progressive company it's certainly a must have bus.

IT'S TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR BUS COMPANY!

Ipswich Buses Trident 25 SN51 AXP in the pouring rain yesterday morning on the 6 to Ipswich Hospital.

It's that time again, no not Christmas but for the best company of the year award, this year the lucky company may actually get something, In what has been a mixed year for most local companies, here is a run down for what has happened, Ipswich Buses have invested heavily in ADL Enviro 200's this year, and averted a strike by the drivers whilst we have said goodbye to East Lancs Olympians 40/41  Spectras 51/53, and Trident's 10/18/19 and the remaining X Reg Dart's that were Non DDA also left some being used to convert Beeston's remaining Scania Omnidekka's to single door, the major news was of course the buying of local independent Carter's with the fleet gaining IB numbers but retaining a separate identity, of which one Coach soon departed bring in a further ADL E200 in 77. For First Ipswich it's been a year of consolidation, the only movements being 2 ADL E 200's out to Norwich along with Volvo B12M 20514, next year will be interesting for both companies as more than likely there will be changes to the Park And Ride with First gaining the Martlesham end and IB the Copdock end. As for the Independents Beestons have had 2 buses on loan a Optare Metrodecker and a Scania/ADL 400, whilst 2 further Mini Coaches came in one second hand and one brand New. Galloways it was announced would be brought into the same company as Stephensons, with Galloway keeping it's identity, as contracts were lost, a fair few coaches went out although 2 new
Volvo B12BT/Van Hool's came in.

First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32653 AU05 MUV about to take up a schools service.

EASTERN COUNTIES SPLIT 1984

Eastern Counties was split into two during September 1984, this allocation list of June 1984 shows that the above LL 749 MCL 931P an Leyland Leopard Alexander was allocated to Felixstowe along with sister LL 754 with LL 753 at Ipswich come September they were moved to the new coaching division Ambassador where they had only a short stay before moving on to OK Travel in the Darlington area, one example LL 751 MCL 933P ended up with Lough Swilly on school runs in Ireland. In 1985 Cambus took back Ambassador allocations in the Cambridgeshire area, whilst Eastern Counties took back 4 Willowbrook Leyland Leopards in 1987, LL792-4/96 OEX 792-94/96W.

Ex Ambassador Travel Leyland Leopard/Willowbrook LL 793 OEX 793W shortly after re purchase.

TWILIGHT IN IPSWICH

As dusk was approaching it was time to take some photos of some observations of the day, all from Ipswich Buses,the X3 was once again in the hands of 3 different types including Trident 23, an Ex Lothian Dart number unknown and  ALX 200 Dart 140 .On the 4 was Dart 84 and ALX 200 Dart 141 photo below,which was looking extremely scruffy at the rear, Dart 136 was on the X1 with Dart 88 whilst Park and Ride continued it's Optare Versa shortages with Scania Omnicity 70 YN56 NVB, 13 had Dart 86 and the 10 Castle Hill's solitary Decker was Lowlander 57 and on the 6 ALX 200 Dart 144.

A unusual visitor today in Crown Street was this Neoplan Euroliner YR02 UOG from Southern Star Coaches of Harlowthis originated with Don's of Dunmow.

IPSWICH DECKERS OF THE 70'S AND EARLY 80'S

74 LDX 74G was from the first batch of Atlantean's bought in 1968 this is the second livery carried  from 1974

Well the first one is a bit of a cheat, as we move forward into the 1970's One Man Buses began to come into Bus managers thoughts as economy was the order of the day, that and the shortage of Drivers and Conductors that many companies began to feel, services were cut or didn't run at all the boom days of the 1950's and 1960's were over, as more commuters began to use their cars. The first One Man Double Deckers came in 1968 with the first use in 1970, Ipswich coming late to the party of their advantages, the first four were the elegant Eastern Coach Works bodied Leyland Atlantean 73-76 LDX 73-76G, ECW had only been available to the nationalised bus companies prior to the embargo being lifted, from 1974 an new livery coinciding with the change to Ipswich Borough Transport with a predominately cream and less green this livery was not perpetuated further being used just on 73-76 and a few AEC Regent V's, along with the single door. Ipswich kept faith with the Leyland Atlantean throughout the 1970's but this time with Charles Roe bodies from 1973 until 1977, 83-88 WPV 83-88L, 94-98 TRT 94-98M, 1-5 HDX 904-908N, 6-10 MRT 6-10P, 11-20 RDX 11-20R and 21-35 SDX 21-35R, subsequently later on it was revealed that in 1976 Ipswich were seriously giving thought to the Volvo Ailsa. 1980 saw Ipswich keeping faith with the Atlantean with five with East Lancs bodies 36 RBJ 36W and 37-40 RGV 37-40W, with the thought of more Double deckers being needed Ipswich purchased four Atlanteans from West Yorkshire PTE which originated with Leeds 41-44 UNW 401-404H with Roe bodies of which one never received Ipswich livery 42 UNW 402H withdrawn after just over a years use, and two which received altered front panels similar to the later Roe bodies which rather spoilt their looks.

 86 WPV 86L was from the first batch of Atlantean's bought in 1973 with Roe bodies. Below is 44 UNW 404H one of 4 bought from West Yorkshire PTE in 1980.

Two Atlantean's for the price of one on the left is Roe bodied 27 SDX 27R and the right East Lancs 37 RGV 37W.

MONDAYS RELATIVELY QUIET

Monday's these days is about the only chance to i actually get to visit the centre of Ipswich, some would say that's a good thing. As far as unusual observations there was very little to report, on the X5 to Ipswich Hospital there was only 1 Decker instead of the usual 2, with ADL E200 101 seen above  Dart 137 was also allocated, the 15/A Thorington Park each have 1 Decker allocated these days as does the 10 to Castle Hill & Whitton. On the X1 was Dart 88 whilst Scania Omnicity 73 was employed on the X3. As far as the Branded for the 4 Dart's 84/86/87 were on the 8/13, whilst one actually was employed on the 4 in 85. First Ipswich Mini E200 Dart 44928 EU08 FHB usually on the 59/70 routes was once again on the 60/61 see below.

IPSWICH AEC SINGLE DECKERS

Continuing last weeks theme charting the career of Ipswich's single deckers, the first batch of single deckers arrived in the form of AEC Regal/Park Royal 7-12 BPV 7-12 in 1953 for routes to Chantry Estate and to replace the remaining single deck trolleybuses using the low bridge on Bramford Road, these were followed in 1955 by 2 more in 19/20 DDX 20, 20 is seen just behind the Town Hall entering Princes Street. It wasn't until 1967 that more single deckers arrived with the less than popular AEC Reliance this time with Massey bodies 69-72 HPV 69-72F, 72 seen below is pictured at the rear of Constantine Road Depot.

Replacing the Regals began in 1972 with Ipswich again choosing the AEC product with the Swift, while Great Yarmouth found it to be a good product, firstly the batch Willowbrook bodied 79-82 JRT 79-82K , 79 below than the following year with East Lancs 89-93 DDX 89-93L proved as troublesome as the examples that London Transport had, most were withdrawn by 1983, 79-82 with 89-93 following a couple of years down the lines, Leyland by then had absorbed AEC and the next time it was another British Bus company in Dennis that dominated Ipswich's orders in the 1980's.

ICT AEC Swift 91 seen at Tower Ramparts in the early 1980's.

THREE LIVERIES ONE BUS

 Going through and sorting my photo collection today i came across Eastern Counties Bristol LHS 930 WEX 930 in 3 different liveries, the first picture is at Great Yarmouth in Commuter Express livery, followed by two taken in the late 1980's, the second shows her in NBC Dual purpose livery without NBC Fleetnames and the third in the hideous battleship grey colours at Ipswich OCM where it finished it's career.

ARRIVA COLCHESTER FLEET

 Arriva Colchester Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 2 3412 SN54 HWZ. Copyright Steven Hughes

ARRIVA COLCHESTER

Single Deckers

ADL Dart MPD/ADL Pointer 2: 1558/59/1600(Transbus)
ADL/Transbus Dart/SCC:1562/63/64/65
Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 2:3314/27/28/29/30/33/3412/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21
DAF DE12/Wrightbus: 3516/27/28/29/34
Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus: 3825/26
ADL E200: 4011/4012/4013/4014/4015/4016/4017/4071/72/73/74/75

IPSWICH ON A MONDAY

On a bright crisp November Monday, First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32486 turned up on the 60/61 Greenwich/Gainsborough service.

Monday seems to be the day to catch odd occurrences on Ipswich Buses and First Ipswich services, firstly i had a surprise when IB Trident 13 turned up on the 4, these days they only usually turn up on Saturday's, sister 15 also turned up on the X3, which is usually ALX 200 Dart operated with anything from 138-44, 140 slipped away from the X3/X1 and was on the 12, below IB Scania Omnicity 72 was on the 10 usually Enviro 200 operated, Dart 98 has changed from being a regular on the 4 and is now commonly used on the 16, with sister 94 on the 19 and 93 on 8/13, 84/86 were also on the 8/13 with sister 87 on it's correctly branded route 4. On Rail Replacement duties was Panther Travel BIG 8856 a Plaxton bodied Dennis Davelin.

IPSWICH AEC DOUBLE DECKERS

Prior to the introduction of the Leyland Atlantean fleet of Double Decker's Ipswich had a predominately AEC fleet of both Single and Double Decker's with the Regent III, Regent V, Regal, Reliance and finally the Swift. Motorbuses as they were called back in the 1950's were introduced to Ipswich in 1950 with an route to Whitehouse, gradually the Trolleybuses were withdrawn as the cost of Electricity became to high, Buses took there place and were finally withdrawn in 1963. Below from the first batch of Motorbuses is ADX 3 a Park Royal bodied Regent III seen here at Electric House during the 1960's on Training duties behind is Sunbeam/Park Royal Trolleybus 123 ADX 193 from the final batch of Trolleybuses delivered to Ipswich. The later batches of Regent's came in the guise of the Regent V, the vast majority of which were bodied by East Lancs up to 62, 63-64 were Massey bodied and the final 4 were Neepsend, above picture shows 49 PPV 49 an East Lancs bodied Regent V passing through the Cornhill on the infrequent Ipswich Station X.

66 DPV 66D from the final batch of 4 became the Ely Playbus later in life and still exists albeit in a very poor state, fortunately all 3 others exists from the batch 68 with the ITM, 67 became an Open Topper and exists somewhere in Europe while 65 DPV 65D this year was bought for Preservation.

SQUIRRELLS COACHES/THOMPSON COACHES FLEET

SNZ 1783 Is a 1998 Volvo B10M/Van Hool which came from Soames back in 2013.

 Squirrells Coach Fleet

LEZ 1045  Mercedes Benz O404 Hispano Carrocera C53F 1999
S139 RWA  Mercedes Benz O404 Hispano Carrocera C53F 1998
Y369 UOM  Mercedes Benz O404 Hispano Carrocera C49FT 2001
MEZ 3873  Volvo B10M/Van Hool C55F 1998
SNZ 7183  Volvo B10M/Van Hool C53F 1998
J400 MWG  Kassbohrer Setra C53F 2003
YLZ 1389  Mercedes Benz 0112L/Ferqui C35F 1998
YLZ 1390  Mercedes Benz 0112L/Ferqui C35F 1998
S299 JRM Mercedes Benz 0814D/Autobus C33F 1998
OO05 FLX  Mercedes Benz 616CDI/Koch C23F 2005
LA55 XMD Mercedes Benz 1223L/Ferqui C39F 2006
NG57 HFD Ford Transit M16 2007


Thompsons Coaches

E7 TCS Volvo B10M/Van Hool C70F 1994
M333 CLS Volvo B10M/Jonckheere C53F 1995
W6 AMS  Volvo B10M/Van Hool C53F 2000
FL02 ZXK Volvo B7R/Jonckheere C53F 2002
WJ02 VRT Volvo B12M/Van Hool C49F 2002
YJ04 GYS Mercedes Benz 0815DT/Sitcar C29F  2004
MX54 ZVZ Mercedes Benz 311CDI/Concept M16 2005
YN07 VBG Mercedes Benz 0816D/Plaxton C33F 2007
EN60 HBD Ford Transit M8 2011

E7 TCS Is the oldest coach in the fleet and has increased seating of 70 ideal for school use as used here on a swimming contract in Crown Street, Ipswich

IPSWICH BUSES INTO THE FUTURE

Currently out of service with a failed engine for a while now, Dennis Trident 17 LG02 FEM has had it's engine rebuilt and is awaiting a new MOT for which it will replace Optare Spectra 52.

As part of a new feature i have started to talk to the Big Bosses of our local companies on their future plans, first up Jeremy Cooper of Ipswich Buses.
Currently still in it's dealer white livery recent acquisition E200 77 may be repainted short term based on the current white livery. The current Carters fleet will not be repainted, instead IB are looking at ways to move forward with the brand, as they are quite happy with the smart livery.
Disappointingly the current diversion into Broke Hall of the 6/A will stop in January as the Council stop the funding, but the campaign has started here as i have kick started an appeal to my local councillor, other changes may include extra X5 peak services and extra 14's on Saturdays, very shortly SCC will be talking to IB and First in regards to the Park And Ride provisionally finishing in the Summer, in which case the Ex Stagecoach Darts will be replaced by the Optare Versa's.

Optare Versa 148 YK08 EPA in it's first week in service during November 2013.