Thursday, 9 April 2015

OUR NEW LOOK...

Welcome to your new look Ipswich Bus Blog!

Kieran from Norwich Buses Blog has been busy rebuilding Ipswich Bus Blog to give it a fresh new look. It's now easier to find our previous posts, see what's popular, check us out on social media and locate the pages you need to find!

The new Ipswich Bus Blog header.

Wednesday, 8 April 2015

IB TRIDENT 22 ON SHOTLEY ROUTE AND A FURTHER REPAINT FOR BEESTONS


Not the best of images as it was a little bit hurried, Ipswich Buses Dennis Trident/Plaxton President put in a rare shift on the 202 Shotley service today, although with it being the School Holidays anything goes, following this photo is another repaint for Beestons in Scania Omnidekka YN54 OCY on the Sudbury route and finally a new overall rear advert has appeared on the rear of First Ipswich Transbus Volvo B7TL'S 32487/88 for Jonathan Waters Estate Agents.

Sunday, 5 April 2015

IPSWICH BUSES 1980'S DEMONSTRATORS:A SMALL TASTE

Today's look back for a Easter weekend, looks at the curious types of demonstrators that Ipswich tried out during the early 1980's again from Stuart Ray's collection we see JGF 321K an ex London DMS repainted by IBT for Maxwell gearbox and is seen coming down Princes Street in October 1983, the bus itself had a very short life span being scrapped a few years later.
Again from Stuart Ray, this shows a very bizarre combination of a Marshall body on a Dennis Dominator single decker from Darlington 14 GHN 814V, this lead to Ipswich buying Falcon's but not Dominator's in 1983.
This unusual beast being the right word to describe this Leyland Articulated bus 2008 FHE 291V came down on loan from South Yorkshire PTE in Sheffield to try out use on the 12/13 routes, while they certainly could shift the crowds it certainly didn't catch on in the halcyon days of the 1980's but just over 20 years later they became a subject like Marmite you either loved them or you loathed them.

Friday, 3 April 2015

MEMORIES OF THE SOUTHERN CIRCULAR

Image Copyright Ipswich Buses

Now who remembers the Southern Circular service run by IBT from 1982 but the finish date now that's where my memory begins to play funny tricks, someone out there will know won't you, from the age of 11 I would spend every Saturday and some school nights on the peak hour extension which took in RSJ Works off Nacton Road and then visiting Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate on the way back into the town now this was enjoyable if you got the right bus particularly any of the Leyland Atlanteans but not 41/43/44, or worse still any of the horrid remaining AEC Swifts although any ride on a Bristol RE I wouldn't mind so much. Starting in 1982 the journey took in most parts of Ipswich starting from outside Electric House taking in Colchester Road, to Ipswich Hospital, Foxhall Road, Felixstowe Road, Nacton Road then Orwell Bridge and Wherstead Road into Town with the 18 being the clockwise route and the 19 the anti clockwise route.
Stuart Ray captures Leyland Atlantean 5 HDX 908N on the Wherstead Road bridge on the anti clockwise 19.
While heading down Heath Road is Leyland Atlantean still in ICT livery after 11 years on the clockwise 18 during 1983.Copyright Stuart Ray
And I always appreciated a ride on the East Lancs Atlantean's this one is 40 RGV 40W heading again down Heath Road towards the Foxhall Road Roundabout, during 1983 copyright Stuart Ray.

Thursday, 2 April 2015

LOTHIAN DARTS AND THURSDAY FLASHBACK

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cuthbus/14990131789/in/photolist-oQCkW6-degjiX-83pHLt-83pFG4-83sPcY

Due to complete incompetence on my part, my PC and camera combined have decided to wipe everything I have taken pictures off this week, over the weekend I have decided I will have to reboot my entire system so this will be the last one until Monday. In general there is not an awful lot happening at the present time apart from Ipswich Buses two recent arrivals, above we see Transbus Super Pointer Dart 98 SN58 AVP in Edinburgh whilst on the 12 to Seafield during 2012, the following picture is of sister 96 SN53 AVM in May 2012 on the 30 to Musselburgh, both pictures are copyright Steve Cuthill.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cuthbus/7295661904/in/photolist-qfsgiH-c7G94y-c7Gb7d-8kotJm-nLqnsU-dkHDmw-85LPLA-bpfdH1-bW7YSJ-aFhi4U-8ndLVn-8BDuka

 THURSDAY FLASHBACK


Two completely contrasting photo's from my ever growing slide and Negative Collection tonight we see OT2 VDV 753 an Bristol LD at Felixstowe Ferry in around 1980, while the second is two Leyland National's in NBC Red but with different applications LN 594 WAH 594S has the new style post 1986 fleet names whilst LN 768 XNG 768S has the older style NBC white fleet names so picture dates it from around 1988, seen here at Lowestoft Bus Station.

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

IPSWICH BUSES NEWS

 Photo Copyright Leon Wells
Major Ipswich Buses today to report, as can be seen by Leon Wells photo above and the grateful assistance of Steve W of the Bus And Train Page who revealed to me that these are the first two of four coming to Ipswich Buses the first two above are SN53 AVM/P and are a new type of Dart for IB in the SPD type, these will be refurbished by Hants And Dorset Trim, the four darts that will not be refurbished will be 92/95/96/99 which will finish there career by the end of the year. Thanks to Steve W who's interview with Malcolm Robson on the changes in May to the Town network can be found here http://www.busandtrain.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/ipswich-buses-may-changes-explainef.html

Sunday, 29 March 2015

IPSWICH BUSES HEAVY REVISIONS FOR MAY BANK HOLIDAY

 
 
 
 
 

 IB Scania/Optare Olympus 69 YJ60 KGY on the too be discontinued Service 5 which will be replaced by the current X5 which will no doubt lose their lovely ALX 200 Dart's.
 
 Steve's Bus and Train page has reported a whole raft of changes for Ipswich Buses services, http://www.busandtrain.blogspot.co.uk/. In Brief this sees the axing of the 5/11 with the current X5 continuing with service 11 to be included in a revised 6 service.
 
 
PF0000147/3 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts and Ipswich, Tower Ramparts given service number 7/15 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
  1. PF0000147/5 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts and Ipswich, Tower Ramparts given service number 9/10 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
  2. PF0000147/6 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts and Cambridge Drive given service number 12 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
  3. PF0000147/7 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts and Copdock Tesco given service number 13 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
  4. PF0000147/16 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Cancellation Accepted: Operating between The Havens, Ipswich and Ipswich Station given service number 3/1 effective from 24-May-2015.
  5. PF0000147/32 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich and Ipswich given service number 5/11 effective from 24-May-2015.
  6. PF0000147/77 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts Bus Station and Ipswich Hospital given service number X5 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
  7. PF0000147
    1. PF0000147/2 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
      • Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts and Heath Road Hospital given service number 6 effective from 24-May-2015.
    IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts Bus Station and Ravenswood given service number X3/x1 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
  8. PF0000147/79 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich Station Forecourt and Martlesham Heath, Tesco's given service number 4 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route 
    • and Timetable.
    •  PF0000147/83 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
      • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts Bus Station and Ipswich, Montgomery Road given service number 16 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Timetable.
    • PF0000147/87 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
      • Variation Accepted: Operating between Ipswich, Tower Ramparts Bus Station and Ipswich, Holbrook Road given service number X1 effective from 24-May-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.
    • PF0000147/91 - IPSWICH BUSES LTD, 7 CONSTANTINE ROAD, IPSWICH, IP1 2DL
      • Registration Accepted
      • Starting Point: Tower Ramparts Bus Station
      • Finish Point: Tower Ramparts Bus Station
      • Via: Cliff Lane, Hospital & Sidegate Lane
      • Service Number: 6
      • Service Type: Normal Stopping/Circular
      • Effective Date: 24-MAY-2015
      • Other Details: Daily service (every 20 minutes)



New Liveries, Recent Transfers and a huge update.

  Seen in Colchester is a First Essex Streetlite 47667 SN15 ACO which has the new logo on the front , fleet name on the side but with no lar...