66978/84 BACK IN SERVICE

Just a quick blog with 66984 KX05 MHN in service today after replacing poor old 66986 which seems to be in the wars of late, also in service today was sister 66978 which i missed but was on the 88/89s to Stowmarket.

Finally after being service for a few weeks i managed to get a proper shot of Volvo B7RLE 69424 AU58 FFL

THE MANY COLOURS OF EASTERN COUNTIES ALL OVER ADS

Today being a complete washout!, i thought i would back at some of the more interesting all over ads that graced the Eastern Counties fleet, so to kick off is one time Ipswich allocation FLF 457 JPW 457D in a Solid Fuel advisory services "Come home to a real fire" all over ad.

 Seen here in Norwich is an all over ad for Phoenix Assurrance on VR 223 BVG 223T.

 VR 251 PCL 251W in a Lathams of Potter Heigham bright yellow all over ad on the 702 to Yarmouth.

VR 257 PCL 257W at Cromer Bus Station inspiring people to listen to BBC Radio Norfolk.

One from my native Ipswich and another free Shoppers Bus in VR 276 TAH 276W.

 Back to the 1970's with this VR 307 LFS 280F with what was one of the first all over ads for Eastern Counties seen here in Norwich Bus Station with Courage comes to Norwich ad. There is plenty more Eastern Counties that had all over ads, but next time i'm bored i will have a look at Ipswich Buses.

IB CHANGES PLUS 66978 RETURNS AND 66982 LEAVES

IB 83 Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 SK07 DYA straying yesterday on the 1 usually the preserve of the East Lancs Darts 89-99.

Ipswich Buses have announced minor changes to the 13 Pinewood Tesco and the 8 Whitehouse ASDA which go back to be every 12 mins from January, this change i believe is in order to allow for an extra bus on the 9/10 Whitton and Castle Hill when the timetable changes in the new year. On the First Ipswich front Volvo B7RLE 66978 has left for Rotherham and 66982 has returned. Volvo B7TL 32492 is currently off the road at present with 30888 substituting for it for the time being.

Not the best of pictures yesterday due to the sun and low clouds Volvo B7TL 30888 W743 DWX on the 66.

FIRST'S DIFFERENT HERITAGE LIVERIES/ MORE IPSWICH NEWS

All pictures have been taken from Flickr.

Today something a little bit different from usual with a chance to look at the different heritage liveries that First have applied to their fleet from different areas of their fleet first one above is a representation of the Halifax livery which is still being used by a company in that area and is dedicated to Geoffrey Hilditch a former manager of Halifax who passed away earlier this year, 37048 YJ06 XLY is a Volvo B7TL with Wrightbus Gemini body from the West Yorkshire fleet.

First South Yorkshire also use the Wright Gemini body for a recreation of the Rotherham livery on 37231 or 1431 YNO8 LCL

More again from South Yorkshire with two from the Sheffield fleet one in Tramway livery 37528 YN58 ETX a Volvo B9TL alongside is 37229 YN08 LCJ in the later livery a Volvo B9TL both have Wright Gemini bodies.

Moving to Manchester now and this is one of many heritage liveries this being the famous Mancunian style used on their Fleetlines in the 1960's. This is Volvo B7TL/Wrightbus Gemini37289 MX07 BTE

Yet another from the First Manchester fleet is this recreation of the Salford City Transport livery on a Volvo B7TL/Wrightbus Gemini is 37290 MX07 BTF.

And just to show that it's just not Double deckers being done is this recreation of the Oldham livery on Volvo B7RLE/ Wrightbus Eclipse 66869 MX05 CJZ.

FIRST IPSWICH NEWS

Returning from Rotherham yesterday was Volvo B7RLE 66984 KX05 MHN and leaving to go the other way was Volvo B7TL 32491 AU53 HKJ.

66983 AND 32453 IN SERVICE

Well what a lucky day i had today, Volvo B7TL 32653 AU05 MUV came out around 11.30 from the depot and then when out on a 64 to Saxmundham, while shortly after that Volvo B7RLE 66983 KX05 MHM which had just passed it's MOT parked up in the OCM after a trip on the 68 to Kesgrave.

While 32655 AU05MUY keeps up it's regular trips on town routes with an day out on the 60/61.

Meanwhile we have yet another repaint and the first Ipswich Buses 02 Trident to be repainted is 11 LG02 FCX

END OF THE LINE FOR FIRST'S NATIVE DARTS AND LATEST NEWS

With the end of the last native Darts to shortly be withdrawn from service in Lowestoft, here's a chance to look back at some of the memorable types and not memorable ones too.
One of the first darts that i ever saw in Ipswich was this Superoute 66 Plaxton bodied dart DP 75 M275 YEX later 46375

Moving on we have the Wright bodied Handybuses which came to Eastern Counties from London and nicknamed the Puddle Jumpers by some, here we we have 45413 LDZ 9113 in Lowestoft.

The first low floor darts in Ipswich were a batch of ex Norwich ones which ended up scattered all the way around Norfolk and Essex, this one is a Plaxton Pointer SLF Dart 43435 P435 NEX

Now well this one came to Ipswich but is seen here in 2003 in Plymouth to get rid of the unpopular Volvo B6's 42436 P436 ORL is another Plaxton Pointer SLF Dart.

Yet another Plaxton Pointer of the step entrance kind seen here in Norwich is an ex First West Yorkshire one in 47217 M217 VWW.

Originating from the purchase of Great Yarmouth's Blue Bus in 1996 was East Lancs Dart 46062 K62 KEX.

Just a quick note that Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66977 has departed to Rotherham, while returning to Ipswich is Volvo B7TL 326563.

MORE ON 66979 AND IB REPAINT

As Sam's previous post mentioned this is the first of the ex Colchester Volvo B7RLE'S 66979 KX05 MHF to be refurbished and one that never entered service in the original Barbie livery as it came to Ipswich and almost straight away went off for refurbishment, expected back this week should be either 69426 or 66983. Arriving from Colchester on Monday was 66980 KX05 MHJ which left straight away for refurbishment leaving just 66976 to come to Ipswich.

And looking rather smart in the new Ipswich Buses livery is East Lancs DAF 59 PJ53 OLB