A MOMENT IN TIME: JULY 1981

 

Eastern Counties Bristol RELL RL 501 APW501seen here waiting time before undertaking a 273 back to Stradbroke, the young man in the photo is Ipswich Engineering Manager Barry Spurling. Copyright Peter Horrex

Why have i chosen July 1981 you may wonder well it was when i received my very first model bus an Matchbox Londoner Bus in Silver for the Royal Wedding, which kicked off my interest in Buses and has continued for the last 34 years. In TV Tom Baker quit Doctor Who with Peter Davison coming in, Ken Barlow marries Deidrie in Coronation Street, and Only Fools and Horses, Dangermouse,Bergerac and Bullseye all made their debuts. In music the number one for the month was The Specials and Ghost Town, and in Football Ipswich won the UEFA Cup and Spurs the FA Cup.

Heading a line up of 3 of the 4 Leeds Atlanteans still in their former owners colours are IBT 44/42/41 UNW 404/402/401H. Copyright Stuart Ray

New the previous year was Eastern Counties VR JAH 243V seen here after working in from Norwich on the 851, sadly a route no longer in existence.Note the former depot on what is the Old Cattle Market, buses would enter from Dogs Head Street.Copyright Peter Horrex

Seen here the previous year typical of the IBT Single Decker fleet of the time was Willowbrook bodied A.E.C Swift 80 JRT 80K.

NORWICH RUNNING DAY: THE TALE OF AN EMERGENCY CONDUCTOR

Viv Carter had his excellent ex Eastern Counties Open Top VR JNG 50N out for the first time yesterday what an excellent restoration Viv and Justin.

You will have to excuse my lack of photos from yesterday due to both a lack of a memory card and then an intermittent screen problem. Okay that's my excuse out of the way, the day started at 0845 with 32479 from First Ipswich depot piloted by friend of the blog Joe Thorpe picking up a further 3  passengers from Ipswich Railway Station, good progress after that allowed us to arrive at 1010 at Norwich County Hall. After a quick ride on both LFL 57 to pick up a memory card from Argos and Richard Walkers National Greenway, I had just got back when i had a surprise call up as Chris Speed's conductor on Routemaster 39480 to Castle Meadow and back, followed by a trip out to First's Engineering Depot at Roundtree Way. Following that I took a trip out out in the country with Bristol VR VR 385 OCK 985K seen below with Routemaster CUV 151C and of course 32479 AU53 HJV. Then it was time to say good bye to Norwich leaving at about 1650 arriving back in Ipswich at 1810. Finally thanks to Joe Thorpe for taking me there, Chris Speed, organiser Neil Chilvers, ETC, EATM, First Norwich and all of my good friends from all the other blogs, Kieran, Sam and a very tired Grahame Bessey and any one else I missed.

Slight cut off at the wheels my chariot for the day RM 2480 JJD 480D.

Not the biggest of depots and the sheer volume of people meant a lack of great photos however to get an idea of the work that's carried out we see Norwich Trident 33237 LT52 WVF over the pits.

Dave Hale's magnificent Bristol RE class coach RLE 747 GCL 349N was amongst the attendees yesterday here just come off a trip out to Mulbarton.

Static on the day was Eastern Counties Bristol RE RS658 KVF 658E. Followed by one of the last trips of the day again on the 4 to Mulbarton with Richard Walker at the helm of National Greenway LG587 WAH 587S.

WARTIME IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES

Shortly i am going to be speaking to a lady at the Museum who was a Conductress during the War who is now 98 years old and apparently has a lot of tales, so this has got be thinking of what buses were used during the War above we see originally new to Harrison and Ives (Eastern Motorways) as number 30 in 1930 they were then taking over by United in 1930 and subsequently becoming part of the E.C.O.C in 1931 VG 2559 was an Daimler CF6  originally with an Eaton body it
was rebuilt in 1935 with an E.C.O.C body seating 34 seats, and then altered to B29R with perimeter seating subsequently it was renumbered from it's original number N44 to N4 then after the war as seen above it received  N745 in 1946/47 seen here in 1948 in the old Norwich Bus Station , it was allocated to Kings Lynn during the War and was withdrawn in 1950.

 The majority of the Double Deckers used during the Second World War would of been the Leyland TD class the bus seen here again in Norwich was A87 VF 8522 an TD 1 with originally an Leyland body during 1930 this came as part of the United fleet in 1931 an new Highbridge ECW  body was fitted in 1938 and became AH 287 in 1946/47 again as above it was withdrawn in 1950. Shown below is what the fleet looked like in 1942, many of the older members of the fleet were used as ambulances and would never return to the fleet after the War, although some of the Buses and Coaches would.

IPSWICH BUSES REFURB'S AND MORE INTERLOPERS

IB East Lancs Dart 93 X93 LBJ seen at HD Trim is now complete, copyright HD Trim.

 As can be seen above the first of four refurbishments and conversions to DDA requirements is now complete in East Lancs Dart 93 X93 LBJ as seen above and very nice it looks too, i will stand neutral on this as this many for and against these conversions because of their age, suffice to say that it's probably a lot cheaper this way than buying in either new buses or second hand one's to meet the requirements and Ipswich Buses will need to buy some replacements for the remaining six non DDA buses as some will know is still a council run operator but at hands length I don't know the situation regarding their finances but it is thought to be holding steady although as reported in Buses Magazine some months back they have lost out on Concessionary bus fares which is affecting a lot of smaller independent companies but that's another story.

                         3  STRANGERS ON THE 4

While I didn't catch all three of the strange allocations to route 4 today, as the sun was playing havoc with photography today i did manage one of IB Enviro 300 83 SK07 DYA the others were Dart/East Lancs 88 and even more unusual Scania 70. Below is a couple of photo's taken yesterday one is a rather strange futuristic looking thing from Mulley's OO04 MUL for which i will look up it's origin, the other is rather more conventional in the form of Whincop of Peasenhall Volvo B12M/Plaxton BCZ 4306.

65579 OFF TO CORNWALL!

Well I have used this photo before but as it was the last one I took I have to use it again as the last Scania defiantly leaves for Cornwall tomorrow morning at 5.00am this brings to end of Scania operation to Ipswich after 18 years a remarkable time of service spent for what has been a remarkable bus in general the type has been a hardy and reliable bus although the first ones 65541-50 did have a few teething problems.

 One of the ex First Potteries Scanias which travelled far and wide from Glasgow to Potteries and then to Ipswich seen back in early 2013 is Scania L113CRL 61528 R116 GSF.

Photo copyright Leon Wells. Finally the one that kicked it all off Scania L113CRL 65541 P541 RNG.

FIRST IPSWICH VOLVO B7TLS IN THE WARS

A quick update on yesterday's blog, 65579 T579 JNG Ipswich's Scania was parked up over the Weekend with a to be transferred sticker, which got many minds thinking that it was off to Cornwall however that wasn't the case, due to a mix up  the old girl was subsequently back in service today substituting yet again for an ailing Enviro 200 on the 53. As can be seen from above Ipswich have a bit of a problem at the moment with I believe 3 Volvo B7TL's off the road, including 32486 which needs a new engine and has now been joined by 32491 which as can be seen has been deposited at the back of the depot and now 32487, whether this means any temporary additions to cover the losses we will have to wait and see.

Sitting in the Old Cattle Market after a weekend of Rail Replacement was First Ipswich Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon 20514 WVO2 EUP while sister 20515 was parked inside the depot, also alongside is Beestons Scania Omnidekka YN54 OAE.

WESTERN GREYHOUND:THE DOMINO EFFECT

 Ex Pennine MPD Dart KN52 NFT on the 595 in Bocastle on the last day of service on Thursday picture copyright Steven M Guess https://www.flickr.com/photos/steves-travels

Sadly another independent company has left the bus scene albeit one in the south western part of England, Western Greyhound which had been one of the biggest Independent operators in the country sadly went into receivership on Thursday know you maybe thinking why have I included this on the Ipswich Bus Blog well suffice to say that First Devon & Cornwall will be taking over the majority of services and there has been talk of particular buses moving from Ipswich to help out, suffice to say I have asked the man in the know Chris Speed and he has said that all First Operating companies have been asked to help out and that no particular bus as yet has been singled out to leave.

By the same day the vast majority of the Western Greyhound fleet had moved to First's Cambourne depot where we see various Optare Solo's and Darts and interestingly an Bristol VR ex Western National AFJ 706T. Photo copyright Shane Webster https://www.flickr.com/photos/57604pendenniscastle/.