32653 ON THE 60/61 AND VISITORS TO IPSWICH.

Not an awful lot happening again this week so i will keep it short and to the point, seen above is 32653 AU05 MUV which appeared on the 60/61 today which seems to be a regular occurrence on Tuesday these days, what with 32492 last week, two pictures below see some unusual visitors to the Crown Street Lay by in Ipswich today, 5 coaches appeared from a tour company called Nova Tours from Stockport all seeming were VDL/Bova Europa's unfortunately due to the tight parking i could only manage one out of the five which was YJ08 VPD.

As you can see parking was very tight, using a narrow lens we see Mulleys Tri axle Van Hool WSV 555.

EASTERN COUNTIES SECOND LIVES

As i enjoyed searching for the second lives of Ipswich Buses i bring you part two in the feature where we now look at the lives of buses after Eastern Counties many were snapped up Jordan's at Coltishall where some where bought by other operators. First up is RLE 873 XAH 873H which passed to Cambus in 1984 although it did spend some time in Ipswich in 1975, this one passed to Northern Bus in Sheffield

One from my own collection now is former Eastern Counties Bedford CB 661 NAH 661F which had rather small lifespan before being sold off after around 8 to 9 years, it's seen here with Primrose Valley in the East Yorkshire area area during the late 1970's

Many of Eastern Counties later Bristol FLF'S were swapped with Bristol VR's from the Scottish Bus Group Companies during 1973, seen here approx 1980/81 is KPW 485F with Eastern Scottish in Edinburgh.

Another bus which joined Cambus in 1984 but went on to serve with Moxon's Tours of Worksop was ex VR 233 DNG 233T

Apologises for this last one which didn't scan too well is Bristol K GVF 74 formerly LKH 74 which managed about a year with Canhams in Whittlesey during the 1960's.

IPSWICH BUSES THE NEXT LIVES

Interesting article in Classic Bus magazine with a piece on Ipswich Buses Dennis Falcons prompted me to go looking for photographs off Flickr of Ipswich Buses in their new lives, first up we see ex Ipswich Atlantean 28 SDX 28R with Road Car in Lincoln, sold by Ipswich in 1996 these strangely replaced younger Bristol VR's.

Next up the rather square looking Northern Counties Dennis Falcon which Ipswich kept for only 10 years before being mainly bought by First for use at Leicester and Northampton here we see ex Ipswich 107 C107 SDX  with an ex Ipswich Volvo B6 lurking behind. Some escaped by being bought by First, seen below is sister C110 SDX seen here in 2002 with Choice travel in Birmingham during 2002.

One from Stuart Ray's fine collection is one of the fine ex Ipswich ECW Atlanteans LDX 73G seen here with it's new owner Eastbourne during 1982.

Finishing today's feature we see two ex Ipswich Dennis Falcons 103/105 now registered KAZ 3254/53 with Eagre which by the looking of things brand new front ends, latterly Eagre were taking over by Road Car serving out of Gainsborough depot.

32494 IN SERVICE

Well at last i capture my final Double Decker repaint purely by accident, on my way home on the 4 which goes to the Railway Station before going back into town i spotted Volvo B7TL 32494 on the 66, so i got off and captured her meaning now i have only one member of the Bus fleet to capture in the form of Volvo B7RLE 69006, that and the repaints of 20514 and 20515 into Excel Blue, also at the Station was Panther Travel Volvo B10M/Van Hool VLT 177 on standby for Rail Replacement and Galloway's National Express Scania/Caetano Levante FJ61 EVU on the 250 to Heathrow pictures below.

32492 SPENDS THE DAY ON 60/61

As can be seen above a curious allocation for the day was Volvo B7TL 32492 AU53 HKK on the 60/61, which is usually Volvo B7RLE operated, these allocations sometimes happen as the town routes in some cases start later than the country routes and if the only bus is available....

Haven't put up a picture before of this recent repaint, Ipswich Buses Optare Solo 241 YN04 LMK.

GOODBYE TO 65670 AND 69433

Saturday saw my favourite bus only joking in First Ipswich Scania L94 65670 SN51 UYC  depart Ipswich along with the last Volvo B7RLE left in the First Marmite livery 69433 AU58 FFW both are seen here just two days before in the Old Cattle Market.

Photo Copyright Richard Walker
As can be seen above this is Beestons new livery which seems to be a darker blue than before along with a silver grey piece below the front windscreen which is dividing a number of people already, seen here is the first in the new colours is Scania Omnidekka YN54 OCJ.

FIRST WIN BEST LIVERY OF THE LAST YEAR

First up i would like to thank all those who took part in the poll for the best livery of the last year winning with a massive 40% of the vote and over double that of their nearest rivals, First Ipswich's Excel inspired livery won the vote, seen here on Volvo B7RLE 69428 AU58 FFP. Appearing just after my Wednesday visit was the return of Volvo B7TL 32494 AU53 HKM thanks again to Joe Thorpe for the photo on Thursday night, were now waiting just for Volvo B7RLE 69006 which has been delayed as it's having it's MOT.

And after escaping my clutches all week finally i present Volvo B7RLE 69005 AU05 DME.

FLASHBACK SATURDAY

Throwing away my rose tinted spectacles i present a new feature inspired by Roy and Grahame's feature on the East Norfolk Bus blog one of my favourite Ipswich buses was the ECW bodied Atlanteans which i was particularly sad when they were sold to Eastbourne strong memories of going to and from the Wolsey Theatre on a school trip back in 1979, when this picture was taken heading along Norwich Road, photo once again from Stuart Ray's collection.