BLOG STATEMENT/FLASHBACK FRIDAY

It has come to my attention that certain people are trying to create a whole lot of animosity between the blogs, i thought that the Blogger community and the Bus Enthusiasts as a whole are a friendly bunch, put it this way i'm getting sick and tired off being basically being targeted by people trying to force me out off this blog, this is not an idle threat but i am seriously thinking about quitting the blog i can't get by by solely being the only one taking photos and capturing the news unlike some i have an life and i don't have time to be swanning about on buses everyday. What i need is for people to help me out here what i need is people to contribute to the blog as certain people i have used in the past no longer want to help out. One final thing i will admit too is that certain pictures that i took from Flickr weren't linked to or copyrighted i have now corrected that, the vast amount of historical photos used are from my own collection whether they be slides or photographs.

 FLASHBACK FRIDAY PLUS MORE ON BRISTOL RE'S

Eastern Counties RLE 869 WPW 869H at Felixstowe Bus Station
Many thanks to James Long for the information regarding Bristol RE's which he sent me via e mail.
RS653 is a RESL6G meaning short version and not RELL6G which is the long version and RELH6G is the coach version,which is high frame against the low-frame,hope this helps,the RS were delivered with the 6HLX engine and found to be to powerful so,they were also stick box.
In order to slow these monsters down,the chassis of RL703-7/10/11 RLC712-15 arrived with 6HLW engines which were less powerful and the swap took place with RS647-60 and the chassis were then sent to ECW for bodying,hope this info helps.  And finally to finish one from my colleague at the ITM Stuart Ray's collection taken in 1980 when Ipswich were trying out 121 TRY 121H before purchasing a further four, to the right is a Tyne and Wear Atlantean which Ipswich trialled but swiftly sent back as unsuitable leading to the purchase of 4 from Leeds.

IPSWICH BUSES MERCEDES BENZ CITARIO DEMOSTRATOR/ODD SIGHTS ON TOWN ROUTES

 Photo Copyright Leon Wells https://www.flickr.com/photos/20686471@N04/16258866907/

You may of course seen this picture on others blog but it's worth putting up on this blog, Ipswich Buses have on loan for approx two weeks Euro 6 a Mercedes Benz Citario demonstrator BG63 VVE with the new Euro 6 engine it will serve it's time here under the usual demonstrator number 500, also in the news again reported elsewhere including Steve's Bus and Train Page is that IB are having four of the X Reg darts refurbished, first one up is 93 X93 LBJ  which is already at Hant's and Dorset with new e leather seating, new livery and a general deep clean, plus modifications to DDA standards.

 Four odd sights on town routes for you lucky people today firstly IB Dart/ALX 200 141 Y273 FJN on the 13

 Followed by something Mr Speed might not like First Ipswich E200 44517 YX09 ACY on the 61.

Then First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32486 AU53 HKD on the 60/61.

Seen here earlier in the morning tucked away in Crown Street Lay By IB Scania Omnicity 72 YN56 NVD later appeared on the X3.

BUS PROFILE 1: BRISTOL RELL/ECW

 Photo copyright Return to Layer Road.https://www.flickr.com/photos/55355638@N05/sets/72157633112488386/

As the refurbishments have now finished, after much consideration i have decided to start an occasional series on the types of bus that made a difference, first up is the Bristol RELL developed in the early part of the 1960's with an horizontal engine behind the rear axle, it was usually offered with 2 engine options a Gardner 6HLW or a 6HLX with the Leyland engine added in the 1970's. From the outset it offered Air Suspension which though expensive to maintain offered a remarkably comfortable ride, later on in some companies with the later series 2 type the option of conventional leaf springs was added. Series one as seen above on a Eastern Counties in the shorter form of the RS model is RS 653 KVF 653E which featured the curved front with split windscreen, by 1967 that had been replaced by a more squarer profile with a peaked dome, series 3 added a new curved profile with a BET style front profile and new radiator grill and five inches longer at 36ft 5 inches than the original, production continued until 1974 when NBC decided to buy just the Leyland National although production continued until 1983 for the major operators with the Alexander body. Other companies bodied the RE including Pennine, Strachan,East Lancs, Park Royal and Marshall.

Seen early on it's career before coming Ipswich is the Flat screened Bristol RELL in the form of RL 668 PPW 668F seen here in Cambridge on a 113 to Haverhill. Copyright Mark Kirk https://www.flickr.com/photos/26024754@N07/11139144443/in/photolist-

Seen here in the company of a Lodekka FLF 431 VFE 959 is a series 3 type RE in RL 729 YPW 729J at the rear of the Ely depot. Copyright Robert Forsythe https://www.flickr.com/photos/49212920@N03/15901735157/in/set-72157629111988913

69006 ENTERS SERVICE AND LEON TAKES OUT A TRIDENT ON THE 14

And so it's over, the chase is finally won, the last Ipswich refurbishment has entered service in Volvo B7RLE 69006 AU05 DMF as seen above thankfully i didn't have to wait long today as it was on the 60/61, now Mr Speed no it's all over what will we do, well from my conversations there is a lot more happening with the Ipswich depot and maybe some further new services. While i was nattering away with David Warren this morning Leon Wells who owns a few preserved Ipswich Buses himself provided us with the treat of the day with Ipswich Buses Dennis Trident 14 LG02 FDF on the 14 to Gippeswyk Park this morning only you Leon.

65588 GOES TO NORWICH/RAIL REPLACEMENT/MORE FLASHBACKS

 RS659 KVF 659E waiting to depart on the 266 a Wednesday only service from Bury St Edmunds in September 1969 copyright Paul Robeson.

Not much to report on this thoroughly miserable Sunday evening, 69006 appeared out in the snow showers yesterday, check out David Warren's excellent set of photo's on Flickr, while this weekend has seen major upsets on the Ipswich to London line, with coaches once again replacing Trains between Ipswich and Billericay companies involved include Reliance who's Scania/Irizar YP12 KUE is seen here yesterday morning courtesy of Richard Walker, Panther Travel, First and Kings Ferry also supplied coaches. Meanwhile in Norwich Scania 65588 entered service there yesterday to cover for buses currently undergoing repair due to the recent weather. And finally many congratulations to my good friend at First Paulo Van Krieken who has been appointed to Full Time Supervisor to Ipswich's deep clean program.

And the time has past remember the days when Scania's where the mainstay of Ipswich operations sees 65546 P546 RNG on the 70 aah the days when you could go around and display just Ipswich on the blinds when you were on a town service, taken in February 2012.

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.