69006 BACK AT IPSWICH, HOW THE NEW E400 LOOKS AND FLASHBACK FRIDAY

As can be seen above, 69006 AU05 DMF finally arrived back in Ipswich bringing the end to the refurbishment, thanks to Joe Thorpe for this full sized picture and to Paulo Van Krieken who made me aware of it's arrival his pictures can be seen over on Steve W's site, this will see the end of 65588 which may see further service in Norwich prior to storage, hopefully in two weeks time i may be able to confirm it's being saved for preservation watch this space for further news.

Further to my blog on Wednesday taken from Flickr this photo is the brand new coach seated Enviro 400 demonstrator currently i believe on loan with Nottingham, as can be seen all poles have now been integrated within the body structure .

And as a comparison from a photo taken from Martin Jarvis this time we have the Arriva Wright Streetdeck and goodness me doesn't look it good with a properly marked Buggy space and wheelchair bay.

                                        FLASHBACK FRIDAY

Ah a classic Bristol RE picture again from Flickr sees Eastern Counties  RL 677 PPW 677F arriving back on a 215 in Ipswich in 1983 by this time this fine bus and it's delicious engine sounds were coming to the end of it's life i miss those halcyon days travelling around on VR's and RE's.

FUTURE BUSES FOR FIRST GROUP

Bh

 Flickr Picture by Buses 2012

This year maybe interesting to see what First Group decide to order in double deckers the favourite is likely to be the Wright Streetdeck picture below, although the bus above a Volvo B5TL/Wrightbus Gemini 3 BF63 HDC on loan at First Manchester may sway there minds? The Volvo B5TL from information gained is more fuel greedy than than the Streetdeck, or could the new look Enviro 400 from AD, be an option, lately First Group have moved away from both the E200/300/400 and buying the Wright Streetlite although many commentators dislike them, the proof suggests that they are more economical than the competition including the Volvo B7RLE which garnered no orders last year.

The rather impressive AD E400 has been radically upgraded for the 2nd incarnation, with new front profile and will be free from the usual rattles associated with this type. Seen here with Stagecoach Manchester is SL64 HZN 10406

This is most likely to be the popular choice for First the New Streetdeck from Wrightbus 35102 SN64 CSO.

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.