20514 ARRIVES AT IPSWICH FOR RAIL REPLACEMENT

Photo Copyright James Long, 20514 seen here outside Ipswich Railway Station in July

The above coach 20514 WV02 EUP a Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon has arrived at Ipswich to cover Rail Replacement duties at Bury St Edmunds for the next three weeks i believe. Also on Rail Replacement duties today was a Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere BIG 611 from Panther Travel.

32656 RETURNS HOME

 

Both these photos have already appeared on Steve W's blog already today but for those who haven't seen them i will repeat them here, Volvo B7TL 32656 AU05 MVA arrived home very late last night so many thanks to contributor Paulo again, so contrary to expectations 69426 did not arrive back, so that leaves just the one decker to come back in 32494, on the single decker front another saloon will arrive back on Tuesday, with 69428 leaving up at Rotherham will be 66980,69005,69006,69426.

Sunday morning bright and early sees a rare visit to Broke Hall in the form of First Ipswich 69010 AU05DMY.

Another rare visit to Broke Hall on Sunday was IB 79 E200 YX63 ZVW on a Evening and Sunday only extension of route 5.

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in the yard with various panels off and hasn't been seen on it's regular route the 60/61 all week, with both due to be withdrawn by the end of the month, it's probably unlikely we will see 65670 in service again.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