ROUTEMASTER DAY

An excellent began at 0930 today saw me arriving at Ipswich Depot to witness the arrival of RML 2623 NML 623E to Ipswich for one journey to and from the Old Cattle Market to Felixstowe, met by Depot Manager Cliff Hussey and Stephen Fountain and later conductor of the day Paulo Van Krieken first job was by Russell Young who very kindly provided some LT Johnson style blinds specially cut to show route 77 Felixstowe Landguard Fort and Ipswich Via Warren Heath.

Close up showing 77 Felixstowe Languard Fort.

After the blinds were done up to the Old Cattle Market to load up and were Richard Walkers excellent LG 587 WAH 587S was parked ready to follow us to Felixstowe.

At Felixstowe Languard Point we bumped into IB Atlantean No 9 which sadly wasn't doing a brisk trade alongside the beautiful VA 32479 AU53 HJV

Blinds now set to return to Ipswich we were off back to Ipswich

And on return to Ipswich in the rain

And not forgetting the sterling work done by Paulo Van Krieken on the day and many thanks to the Ipswich Transport Museum for the kind use of the conductors money bag and last but not least Chris Speed who sadly couldn't make it after a 4 hour flight delay from the USA, for arranging it

And last but not least VA 32479 AU53 HJV awaiting for it's next run on the 75.

44518 ENTERS SERVICE AND RETURN OF 69011

    44518 YXO9 ACZ was one of three Enviro 200's on the 53 yesterday

44518 YX09 ACZ finally returned to service on the 75 to Felixstowe on Wednesday before being put on the 53 to Pinewood on Thursday and Friday, although by today two of the three were parked up in the OCM, Thursday also saw the return of Volvo B7RLE 69011 AU05 DMZ see photo supplied below with thanks to James Long and Ipswich depot staff, this leaves currently Volvo B7RLES 66959/69007, Volvo B7TL'S 32486/87 and 32490 to return.

44517 ENTERS SERVICE

Just  a quick report tonight reporting the entry into service of  Enviro 200 44517 YX09 ACY which has entered on the 53 today seen here in Belmont Road many thanks again to James Long for the excellent photo, which is his copyright, meanwhile sister 44518 still remains in the depot a week or more after arrival. Also worth reporting was an article in the Evening Star on Tuesday about the abandonment of a section of the IB route 19 which now only serves Dales Road and not Castle Hill, IB withdrew the section due to an average of around 5 persons per trip, the local people who live in the care home now have to walk an extra 500 yards, the cost of taking one bus of the route costs £54,000.

Something from my ever increasing archive tonight for a change here we have LM 645 KNG 645D a Eastern Counties Bristol MW heading out of Ipswich on route 207 to Colchester approaching Ipswich Railway Station.

44518 BACK IN IPSWICH AND RAIL REPLACEMENTS

Photo Copyright James Long

20514 WVO2 EUP a Volvo B12M came back from Norwich seen here was one of the vehicles used over a very busy weekend of Rail Replacement along with i believe 23314 also used was Volvo B7TL's 32653 AU05 MUV and 32491 AU53 HKJ many thanks to Paulo once again for the information. Returning home during Thursday was Enviro 200 44518 YX09 ACZ picture below, going out this week will be ex Norwich B7TL 32486 AU53 HKD which during it's spell here has managed to keep it's large Norwich Advert to the rear, due out i would imagine will be one of the two remaining Volvo B7RLES in the old livery 66987 KX05 MHV or 69010 AU05 DMY with a possibility of 69011 AU05 DMZ returning home. Volvo B7L 66333 MV02 VBY has also now returned to Norwich thankfully!

Once again i must thank the Ipswich Depot staff for allowing James Long to photo 44518 inside the depot.

And as a bonus photo this week a picture of the two Routemasters together inside Caister Road Depot in Great Yarmouth after 39623 NML 623E returned home after a day on a Wedding Hire, many thanks to Graeme Bessey and James Long for allowing for me put this up.

66950 RETURNS AND OTHER NEWS

66950 seen today on the 53 at Tower Ramparts with Paulo Vank at the helm.

As can be seen above 66950 WX55 TZM entered service yesterday on the Felixstowes quickly followed by work on the 53 to Pinewood town service, also due today should be Enviro 200 44518 YX09 ACZ from Rotherham while Volvo B7RLE 69007 AU05 DMO has departed for refurbishment to Rotherham on Tuesday. Steve W's blog reports on the changes due to the Ipswich fleet in the coming months and i can firm this up thanks to Paulo at First that departing will be Volvo B7RLE'S 69431/32/33 AU58 FFT/V/W to Essex with either more of the 66976 05 plate batch from Colchester in exchange or the 66794-66837 05 plates from Chelmsford. Also worth reporting is the fact on 17th  August First Eastern Counties Routemaster 39480 JJD 480D will operate one journey from Ipswich at 10.25 and return from Felixstowe at 11.31, more on Steve's chat can be found here http://www.busandtrain.blogspot.co.uk/

Two further close up views of 32479 firstly an onside view and at the bottom a rear and offside view

DIFFERENT VIEWS OF 32479

32479 offside view at Martlesham Heath Terminus photo copyright Russell Young

32479 onside view this time in Halifax. Photo Copyright James Long

Just a quick photo blog today with two contrasting pictures of 32479 one in Martlesham and one in Halifax. 

32479 HOME AT LAST AND STRAIGHT INTO SERVICE

Photo copyright James Long

32479 AU53 HJV Ipswich's first Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 arrived home last evening and this morning went straight into service on the 66's to Martlesham.