A SURPRISE IN 60807 AND THE RETURN OF 66959 AND 69011

A surprise for me today was the visit of 60807 S658 RNA now a Driver Trainer for First based now at Norwich, which happened to be visiting to take on a driver for a PCV test, also a surprise was 66959 WX55 TZM picture taken by Jim Long which is his copyright, in Belmont Road this afternoon

Below is rather a poor but interesting shot of 69011 taken on Monday in the OCM whilst on the 65 to Aldeburgh unfortunately a Carters Trident had made taking a shot very hard!

In the next two days i hope to put up another blog which will contain news about my visit to Ipswich depot and some other exciting news.

EASTERN COUNTIES REVISITED 1984

LN 549 HVF 549L which started life in Norwich before emigrating south in the 1980's seen here outside the old OCM bus depot.

Why pick 1984 well for those not old enough to remember this was a great period of change both in my life and my bus enthusiasm, just beginning Secondary School bought me more privileges in being able to spend my time chasing buses around, primarily Ipswich Borough Transport i wouldn't get my interest in Eastern Counties until two years later when they started working the 4 to Broke Hall and the 6 to the Airport in the evenings and Sundays, of which there were many happy memories of riding around on the lovely ex Ribble VR's. Bear in mind this was also the time when the Cambridge and Peterborough areas was about to be split off from Eastern Counties of which some of the Ipswich Coaches would pass to the new Cambus operation.

Two glorious VR's here include Series 1 VR 368 TNG 368G and VR 138 SNG 438M

IPSWICH FLEET AUGUST 1984

Bristol VR:127/88/92/98/204/07/41/42/43/56/58/75/76/90/92/368/90/96/98/405 also 138/87/244/70 at Saxmundham and 189/91 at Felixstowe which in those days had their own allocations.
Leyland National: 539/46/86/93/98/99/782 With 549/87/765 at Felixstowe and 764 at Saxmundham
Bristol RE: 501/848/49/69
Leyland Leopard: 749/53/55/56/82/878/80/82 with 764 at Saxmundham and 765 at Felixstowe
Bristol LH 922/25/31
Bristol LD OT 2 at Felixstowe

Bristol LH 925 WEX 925S seen here a few years later in 1988 at the OCM where by now the old depot had been demolished.

RL 501 APW 501J seen here when new was the last normal Bristol RE left in Ipswich apart from Dual Purpose 869 and the coaches.

Aah happy memories of Felixstowe and the days sat waiting for the magnificent Bristol LD OT 2  on the top of the cliffs alongside Golf Road and the Winter's when the old girl with it's top closed up would work the 44 school service through Broke Hall.

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