66980 RETURNS HOME/FARE INCREASES

Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka FLF 446 GVF 446D, on the 509 to North Thorpe in Norwich.

No hesitations in putting up another classic photo of a Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka as i haven't been out and about taking photos, not much to report today apart from a surprise return yesterday of Volvo B7RLE 66980 KXO5 MHJ with 60618 R781 MKW returning to Rotherham, leaving just Volvo B7RLE'S 69005/6/69428 and Volvo B7TL 32494 to come back in the New Year. First have announced a whole lot of fare increases in the region, Ipswich sees the majority of 10 trip, and bus passes remaining the same with an increase of 10p on some single and returns. Now this is the last blog before Christmas, so thank you everyone who has contributed to the blog, take a bow Sam Larke, Paulo Van Krieken and Chris Speed at First, Grahame Bessey, and Roy at the East Norfolk Blog, Zak Nelson, Steve W and not forgetting James Long who's been invaluable with his photos and not forgetting you my dear blog devotees

Probably the best thing this year was meeting Business Manager Chris Speed this year who has firmly became a great friend to this blog and to me personally, here is the photo of him and Ipswich Engineering Manager Barry Spurling back in September when we launched 32479 at the ITM which i helped organize, Chris of course is now much thinner of course due to a health scare not long after this picture was taken, but was still able to take 32479 to Showbus.

CHRISTMAS PHOTO SPECIAL

Today's special is a crop of my slide purchases of the last year so we will kick off with one of the most recently bought one's this shows a particularly sunny day in August 1980 with Eastern Counties Bristol RE RL668 PPW 668F parked up on the forecourt of Felixstowe Bus Station.

The end is nigh for this beauty again in 1980 as IBT AEC Regent V 60 SDX 60 waits outside of the Football ground.

Another early 1980's photo here as IBT Leyland Atlantean 29 SDX 29R takes off from Tower Ramparts on the 7 to Chantry Estate.

Apologises for this one as it was converted from a slide projector slide which was difficult to cut in size, here nevertheless this a rare photograph of one the Bristol Lodekkas that ended up in Scotland seen here in Norwich is Eastern Counties FLF 496 MAH 496E on a 90 to Cringleford.

CHRISTMAS TREATS

IB Scania Omnicity 70 YN56 NVB was a surprise on the X3 today usually the preserve of the ex Stagecoach London darts which used to operate on the 4.
Now that the Schools have finished there seems to be a few treats available to the good people of Ipswich, including Ipswich Buses Opentop Atlantean 9 MRT 9P on the 5/11 on Saturday and Volvo Olympian 40 M640 EPV photo courtesy of Leon Wells on the 4 on Saturday afternoon no doubt to convey all the extra passengers due to the Football and Christmas shopping. Late bit of news First Ipswich has received 20515 which has taken the place of 20514, both Routemasters were here Friday for a society wedding which will be in Hello magazine this week.

I don't usually dole out platitudes but give this some thought, If you were to name an Operator of the year for Ipswich and Suffolk who would it be, Who came out with the best livery this year, Who gives the best Customer service? Let me know through Facebook, Twitter, comments at the bottom of the page or clivenxn@gmail.com

69426 ENTERS SERVICE ON THE 53

Many thanks to Richard Walker for allowing me to publish these photos with 69426 AU58 FFN which entered service today on the 53 to Pinewood.

69426 ARRIVES HOME AND 32100 AFTER REPAINT

Above is Volvo B7RLE 69426 AU58 FFN seen this morning in a series of snaps taken by James Long with the help of the depot staff showing the full extent of the Excel style livery

In this picture you can see the Esteban Civic V3 e- leather seats which has been already used by other First Group companies such as First Aberdeen's Sapphire Volvo B9TL'S and on Arriva Yorkshire's E400's. Many thanks also go to Paulo who also sent me some pictures which can be seen on Steve W's latest blog. Below is Norwich Trident 32100 LT02 WTE after leaving Simon Morris in Bluestem Road this morning love the Turquoise front. One other piece of news is that Volvo B10BLE 62143 has now left for Rotherham, all 4 will soon return to Eastern Counties at Great Yarmouth for the conversion of the W reg Volvo B7TL's to DDA standards.

32656 ENTERS SERVICE AND 69426 RETURNS

Just after i thought i was going to give up this week that i wasn't going to get anywhere with tracking down any of the recent refurbishments up popped both 66976 and 32656, Volvo B7TL 32656 AU05 MVA arrived back last Saturday but may have slipped out on Tuesday or Wednesday, but i got it coming in off a 64 from Aldeburgh before it lay over for the afternoon, before taking up a 75 to Felixstowe in the afternoon, i can also reveal for the first time that Volvo B7RLE 69426 AU58 FFN will arrive back tonight in it's excel inspired livery for use on the Felixstowe routes.

An nearside view as well of 32656.

And at last pictured this morning Volvo B7RLE 66976 KX05 MGZ.

YET MORE ALL OVER ADS

Seen here advertising Great Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach during the 1990's is Eastern Counties ex Ribble VR OT 351 OCK 995K. Pictures from Flickr

As there isn't an awful lot happening in the bus world as it's approaching Christmas and as the last feature went down pretty well i have chosen some more from around East Anglia.

One from Stuart Ray's collection where we have a long gone car dealer Tim Brinton Cars for Nissan on Woodbridge Road in Ipswich, approaching Tower Ramparts is Atlantean 30 SDX 30R.

Showing off the full extent of it's All over advert from the rear is Eastern Counties Bristol VR 255 PCL 255W with an ad for John Grose in Kings Lynn a well known Ford dealer still in existence.

One from an contributor to this page from Bryan Dickson of Eastern Counties VR 205 XNG 205S in Norwich with an all over ad for Norwich Energy Action.

Rounding up todays feature with Cambus ex Eastern Counties VR 301 VEX 301X in a rather bland all over ad for Peterborough's Evening Telegraph.