66976 INTO SERVICE AND THE END OF 65670?

Pictured together which is a rarity in itself is Scanias 65670 SN51 UYC and 65579 T579 JNG last month, 65670 yesterday was in the yard with various panels off and hasn't been seen on it's regular route the 60/61 all week, with both due to be withdrawn by the end of the month, it's probably unlikely we will see 65670 in service again. Volvo B7RLE 66976 soon went back into service on Thursday on the 64/65 but with the weather as it is i didn't stand around waiting. On the IB front service 4 will have an additional service from the 5th January from 7.14 from Bixley Farm.

MORE ON MOVEMENTS

Yesterday saw the return of Volvo B7RLE 66976 KX05 MGX while shipping out to Rotherham was as predicted 69428 AU58 FFP to be refurbished and fitted with high back seats for the Felixstowe route, meanwhile expected back on Saturday is the above 69426 AU58 FFN when freshly repainted into First's Marmite livery last October, the livery will be as standard livery but with a different colour front, while leaving for just a repaint will be 69005 AU05 DME.
It was interesting to hear yesterday on BBC Suffolk the ramifications of the court trial about whether Buggies should make way for Wheelchairs for which First's Business Manager in Suffolk and Norfolk, Chris Speed made the point that it now will be even more difficult for the driver to ask people to move their buggies, i won't go too much further than that as it's a very emotive issue to address.

32491 IN SERVICE

Just a quick blog tonight, firstly,apologises for the quality of the photo it didn't quite come out right by the time i waited for it my hands were so cold i messed it up. 32491 AU53 HKJ entered service today on it's usual route the 66 to Martlesham, whilst recent repaint 66982 was on the 75.

MORE FAVOURITES

As you know the blog reached 100,000 views this week I thought i would indulge you with a few more memories in photography form, above from the collection of Stuart Ray is Great Yarmouth AEC Swift 74 PEX 174K in 1984, no matter how I tried in early 1984 to go on this magnificent beast I never did, although I did have a tour of Yarmouth routes the following year.
Another bus I wholly loved was the Bristol VR of Eastern Counties, seen here on the right in the Old Cattle Market still with it's Scottish destination display intact is a series one VR, VR 322 NAG 587G, again from Stuart Ray. Checkout the unusual bumper the bus has, very strange.

I know i'm a sucker for a Bristol VR this time in Cromer is Eastern Counties VR140 SNG 440M.

 Another Stuart Ray one used in the Ipswich Buses History book in the late 1980's sees 3 all over advert buses all with companies that no longer exist, all are Leyland Atlanteans with the classic Charles Roe body are 34 SDX 34R,86 WPV 86L and 97 TRT 97M.

 To finish off with is Eastern Counties LFS 104 DNG 404C in Lowestoft interesting to see the driver still has the Summer dust jacket on something which would come increasingly rare in the 1970's was the sometimes sloppy attire that could be seen in the summer in the 1970's

69006 BRIEFLY IN SERVICE/RETURN OF 60622

Volvo B7RLE 69006 AU05 DMF briefly entered service today on the 60/61 before being taken out of service at 10.00 when it was taken back to the depot and sent off to refurbishment at Rotherham.

Interestingly the bus that took over from it was Volvo B10BLE 60622 R785 MKW picture below

 

Above is 66982 Which entered entered service on Wednesday on Town Services and is seen here in the twilight yesterday on the 64 to Saxmundham/Alderburgh thanks to David Warren for the picture for which remains his copyright.

This caught me by surprise today being Galloway's on loan Alexander Dennis AD 200 YX14 RWB 

 Beeston's latest Scania Omnidekka still in London red is YN54 OAE

100,000 VIEW SPECIAL

Scania 65549 P549 RNG in May 2013 by this time her days were numbered, seen here on the short lived service 70 to Ravenswood.

Well I've finally cracked it the blog, has finally reached the impressive milestone of 100,000 views, which has taken nearly 2 and half years, when i first started out i thought hardly anyone would read it but little by little i have managed to grow the blog into something I'm more proud of, today i admit will be something of a nostalgia trip. Back in 2012 when i started we were in the midst of a bus war between Ipswich Buses and First Ipswich, during that time we have seen routes come and go like the 17,56,70 we have seen huge changes to the First Ipswich fleet, Ipswich Buses buying Optare Versa's for the Park and Ride, First bringing Enviro 200's in competition with IB's 13 service, and slowly but surely a lessening of the bus war. Today's Ipswich services are run by two efficient companies who have put the customer to the fore of their operations, and not forgetting of course the Independent operations of Carters, Beestons and Galloway among others, the future will see all buses having to become Low Floor Easy Access, apart from the step entrance buses which can be used on contracts. What will the next year bring who knows but rest assured i will be there getting the photo's

Before IB purchased Optare Versa's we had Anglian duplicating First's 64 and 65 to Aldeburgh in the end two companies operating over the same route saw Anglian withdraw, seen here is Versa YJ60 KGU.

Okay i know i featured this not so long back but for my livery of the year has to be First Ipswich's heritage repaint of Volvo B7TL 32479 AU53 HJV of which i had a small part to play, whether it went it has turned heads, especially at Showbus in September and something the staff can be proud of.

Now before i go i must pay my thanks to everyone who has provided information over the years including Chris Speed First Business Manager, Steve Fountain, Cliff Hussey at First Ipswich, Paulo Van Krieken, IB Managing director Malcolm Robson for telling me the answers to questions that he didn't have to, photographers, James Long, Mark Doggett amongst others, to all the other blog owners, Sam Larke, Zak Nelson, Roy and Grahame, Steve W, Kieran and anyone else i have forgotten.

69006 ARRIVES AT IPSWICH

Volvo B7RLE 69006 AU05 DMF awaiting to depart for Ipswich along with Wright Streetlite 47511 SN64 CRX.

And back inside Ipswich Depot it will now depart to Rotherham and will be refurbished then have a MOT as it's due on the 17th December.

Volvo B7TL 30888 W743 DWX was driven back to Great Yarmouth via Norwich returning with Volvo B10BLE 60622.
Many people have guessed at what route will be receiving the two excel liveried buses, suffice to say it will not be a new route but an already existing one. Many thanks to Paulo again for these pictures.