66982 STRAIGHT INTO SERVICE AND FAREWELL TO THE SCANIAS

Not the greatest of photos as i was using my old camera, and it missed showing the display however a bit of work on Picture Manager has brightened up 66982 no end. Thanks must go to my loyal twitter follower Toby Pearson who got into touch with the news.

Today saw the start of a chain of transfers which will see the end of First Ipswich Scanias, which have served Ipswich in different forms since the summer of 1996, seen above is ex Colchester Volvo B7RLE 66982 KX05 MHL which arrived with sister 66979 KX05 MHF which departed this morning for refurbishment, out went Scania L94UB/Wrightbus Solar's 65672/74 SN51 UYE/H to Colchester, two more are leaving tomorrow, one 65589 V589 DVF is only going on loan at this point with 65673 SN51 UYG, coming in should be Volvo B7RLE'S 66977/78 KX05 MHA/E  thanks to Chris Speed for keeping me up to date with this news.

 65589 V589 DVF spent it's last day at Ipswich working on town services 60/61Greenwich/Gainsborough.

65673 SN51 UYG pictured heading through the roadworks last year at Tower Ramparts

69422 AND 69425 IN SERVICE

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69422 AU58 FJJ entered service today on the 60/61, complete with full branding to front and sides while sister 69425 AU58 FFM here on the 88 still has no branding.

And to finish today further branding with Enjoy Luxurious Seats on this Bus with 32492 AU53 HKK.

32493 BACK IN TOWN AND IB X3 TO OPERATE ON SUNDAYS

Many thanks to James Long and the depot team for allowing him to take this picture of 32493 AU53 HKL which has returned to Ipswich with sister 32489, leaving only 32488/91/94 of the 66 Deckers to be done taking her place for refurbishment, also departing this week with the return of 69422 was 69426.
In other news carrying on from the news about the 5/11 being diverted around Broke Hall on Monday to Saturday evenings and Sundays, i have additionally found out that the X3 to John Lewis will additionally be operating on Sundays and be extended to Warren Heath Sainsburys as of the 9th November.
Hopefully during this week i will be able to bring you up to date with new additions to the Beeston's fleet in the way of photos with thanks to the Beeston's management team, and a look at Carters ex Eastern Counties VR JNG 50N is also on it's way.
Before i go i would like to apologize to any of you who follow my twitter account and have been offended by my conduct in recent months especially to some of my contributors.

This beauty is an Educational and Specialist tours vehicle for Galloways BX13 BZA a Volvo B12B?

FIRST IPSWICH DRIVER ON TV AND IPSWICH BUSES FEATURE IN BUSES MAG

Following on from my article on Saturday about Double Amputee driver Justin Pearson, ITV Anglia news was filming yesterday a piece presumably for that nights program, as can be seen little did i know i had photoed the back end of 69425! Also out today was an excellent feature in Buses Magazine for November on Ipswich Buses the one thing that struck out for me was as Malcolm Robson said that a lack of funds was the reduction in the level of money from the Bus Service Operators Grant and from the English National Concessionary Travel Fund which is costing the company £720,000 per year.

Very odd occurrence yesterday was Volvo B7TL 30888 W743 DWX  on the 66 while 32490 was on the 64.

As seen above Volvo B7RLE 69425 AU58 FNN has re entered service while returning is Volvo B7TL 32493 with sister 32489 departing, confusion still reigns over whether 23312/14 have actually left Ipswich, as they turned back from their trek to Cornwall because of the bad weather on Monday.

 69010 AU05 DMY on camera at last and in service seen here yesterday on the 60/61.

32487 a different view of how the logos are applied to the side of the bus it also has the same application of the Ipswich name to the front as per the Volvo B7RLES and the Enviros.

200TH BLOG NEWS AND VINTAGE PHOTOS

Soon to depart for pastures new, well Colchester anyway is 65670 SN51 UYC on the 61 to Greenwich.

Welcome to the 200th Blog Ladies and Gentleman, with special pictures coming up later on in the blog, it's taking me 2 years and 3 months to get this far and we haven't finished yet. News this week again concentrates on First Ipswich with a further two refurbishments coming back again this week in B7RLE 69422 and B7TL 32493, worth noting that although the B7RLE'S have been repainted in the last year they are also receiving the new livery, going out this week this is subject to change will be 65673 SN51 UYG and 65675 SN51 UYJ which should be heading back to Colchester where they where allocated in 2010, definitely already left are coaches 23312/14 which are now back off to Cornwall.

 Now time to pick some of my favourites gathered from Flickr or from my own collection, this pictures illustrates the early days of deregulation with VR 258 RAH 258W and Leyland National LN 585 TVF 620R both are on Sunday duties taken over from Ipswich Buses on the 4/6.

Illustrating the early days of the NBC is Dual Purpose Bristol RLE 875 YAH 875J in the gorgeous cream and maroon of the Tillings Eastern Counties.

Final Eastern Counties pick is ex Ipswich allocation Bristol FLF 471 KNG 471D in the early eighties in Norwich.

Technically a Eastern Counties bus but seen here in Great Yarmouth livery is Bristol VR CVF 29T that a certain Chris Speed will enjoy.

69010 AND 69425 PICTURE EXCLUSIVE

Picture exclusive tonight with both 69010 AU05 DMY and 69425 AU58 FMM many thanks to on the ball James Long and the depot staff for allowing him to photograph them.

66985 PHOTO AT LAST AND FURTHER FIRST IPSWICH NEWS

Pictured above is a shot of First Ipswich 66985 KX05 MHO resplendent in the new livery and fully refurbished as can be seen it has had branding applied on both sides as well as the free WI FI branding, sister 66986 went out shortly before on the 65 but had no branding. Further news on the exchange of the remaining Scanias has reached me once again a big thank you to Chris Speed, the first vehicles will be swapped from mid week with Colchester also gaining Volvo B7RLE'S from Hadleigh who are putting 10 Wright Streetlites into service allowing Ipswich further B7RLES from the 669--batch from Colchester. A further positive news for First Ipswich is a piece on the Star website today about driver Justin Pearson who is the first double amputee bus driver in the country, he has also recently been promoted to relief duty controller, proving that disability in any form is no barrier to being successful. Link to story http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/kesgrave_ipswich_justin_pearson_is_first_ever_double_amputee_bus_driver_in_country_1_3801693

66986 KX05 MHU with a small First logo on the front shows the contrast in branding.