AD ENVIRO 400 MMC ROAD TEST

Today something a little different, as aided by an Adult Day Trip ticket i experienced the AD Enviro MMC demonstrator YY64 GWX which is currently on loan to Ipswich Buses after two days on the 9/10 to Whitton/Castle Hill it has now been on the X5 to Ipswich Hospital for the last two days. When entering the bus you are overwhelmed by the sheer elegance of it all some of the highlights of the spec is that the flooring is made from plywood to make the cleaning more easier, the glazing uses the quick release glazing system which can be replaced by one person as well as a sealing system which prevents water coming through, the engine is a Cummins Six Cylinder turbo charged diesel engine to full Euro six standards. What i noticed throughout the journey was the excellent acceleration particularly up Grove Lane and it's easy ability when pulling away from stops, now i haven't been on the older Enviro 400 which by all reports suffers from rattling obviously AD have listened to the operators as all the poles are now integrated into the structure of the bus, now i often moan about seats particularly as i'm tall but the seats were amongst the most comfortable i have been on, also the legroom between seats was also good, if you can do experience because it's certainly worth it. Ipswich Buses MD Jeremy Cooper has stated that in the future they maybe interested in buying some as replacements for the older deckers, if my experience is anything to go by i would be urging the council to buy them, while perhaps not the most aesthetically design externally it's certainly catches the eye.

 The view from the top while the tables are useful for inter city services i wouldn't think most operators like Ipswich Buses would specify them, AD has an options list which include LED destinations and upper saloon tables.

BEESTONS RECALLED

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peagreenbus/5513508358/in/photolist

Two more flashbacks today this one is taken back in 1990 which shows an ex Dundee Daimler Fleetline/Alexander  PYJ 456L with Beeston's note the predominately brown livery which i can remember well from various school trips in the 1980's

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55355638@N05/10368125155/in/photolist

Back in 1974 Eastern Counties suffered from vehicle shortage and many local predominantly Norfolk Independents hired buses for operations in the Norwich area including this ex Barton's AEC Reliance with Willowbrook body, still carrying Barton fleet numbers but purchased from Safeguard of Guildford, we see her in the village of Homersfield on the 11B, the shortages lasted around one month and up to 30 buses/coaches were hired at one time.  

WEDNESDAY FLASHBACK

Time for a Wednesday flashback with 2 recently acquired slides, above we Ipswich Buses Atlantean 21 SDX 21R, as many or may not know this bus for the centenary of 1980 was painted in a brown and cream livery, this being the original livery colours this livery was then revamped without advertising the centenary then into a darker green base with lime green middle then this being branded lurid was changed for a darker green. This bus was then sold to Lincolnshire Road Car where it had yet another green based livery.

Seen here in the early part of the 1980's location unknown is the classic Eastern Counties Bristol RE RLE 874 YAH 874J my guess puts it in the Cambridgeshire area but the lack of a destination blind?

AD ENVIRO 400 MMC DEMO IN SERVICE AND FIRST GROUP'S FIRST NEW LOOK STREETDECK

First up an apology to my loyal followers for getting the identity of the AD Enviro 400 MMC wrong in actual fact it was the other one YY64 GWX still with Go North East logos and legal lettering, unfortunately it came into service too late for me to get a ride, however by a stroke of luck i was able to get some shots in, before it rushed off nearly 10 mins late on the 10 to Castle Hill and Whitton, included below is a side and rear on view. Below you can see the additional  posters that Ipswich Buses are using in their fares promotion.

FIRST'S NEW LOOK STREETDECKS

Photo Copyright Nathan Bentham.

Look what Norwich missed out there's something wrong with bus in my opinion, is it because i'm ugly! This is the first new look Wrightbus Streetdeck delivered to First Group and is heading to Bristol seen here on delivery.

IPSWICH BUSES RESPOND TO FIRST IPSWICH PROMOTION

First Ipswich's ticket sale promotion has already started a reaction by Ipswich Buses who have lowered there prices on the X1 to Greenwich and the X3 to John Lewis to £2 return, as can be seen above First Ipswich's promotion is slightly different with a £1 single saving 50p and a child single 70p save 30p,as Ipswich Buses promotion has been done in rather quick time you can just about see below the X1/X3 card put up on the front of  IB Dart/ALX 200 140 Y272 FJN advertising the cheaper fares until 16th August. Finally below is a picture copyright Leon Wells of the last two ex Lothian SPD Darts 134/35 SN53 AVG/K to return from refurbishment, my opinion from experiencing 136 a couple of weeks back on the 6 was that they are excellent buses, comfortable and rather smooth obviously they have obviously been looked after and certainly don't look there age.

EASTERN COUNTIES ROSEMARY TAKEOVER 1993/FIRST IPSWICH PROMOTION

James Long has brought something to my attention that i had completely forgotten about in 1993 that i missed on yesterday's blog, so i thought i would feature it today as a follow up, on May 31St 1993 Rosemary Coaches ceased trading with the fleet, contracts, services, private hire and goodwill passing to Eastern Counties including the fleet below, including the above VR 502 YHN 654M.

VR 501 GAG 49N  Bristol VR/ECW H43/31F Ex East Yorkshire 1989
VR 502 YHN 654M  Bristol VR/ECW H43/31F  Ex United 1990
DD 503 D/L CKC 302L Daimler Fleetline /MCW H43/32F Ex Crosville 1987
DD 504 THX 573S Leyland Fleetline/ Park Royal H44/27F Ex London Buses 1994
DD 505 OJD 195R Daimler Fleetline/ MCW  H45/32F Ex Derby 1990
DD 506 THX 531S Leyland Fleetline/ Park Royal H44/27F Ex London Buses 1992
DD 507 WWH 26L Daimler Fleetline/Park Royal H43/32F Ex Greater Manchester 1987
DD 508 CKC 312L Daimler Fleetline /MCW H43/32F Ex Crosville 1987

S521 6149 KP AEC Reliance/Plaxton Elite C53F Ex Shrub & Howard 1987
S522 VPH 31S AEC Reliance/Plaxton Supreme C53F  Ex London Country 1984
S523 6920 MX Leyland Leopard/Plaxton Elite C51F Ex Graham,Paisley 1990
S524 RYL 720R Bedford/Duple Dominant II C53F Ex Burton,Haverhill 1987
S525 EHE 234V Bedford/Duple Dominant II C53F Ex Maranair,Cliftonville
S526 JTY 926P Bedford/Plaxton Supreme C53F Ex Moore, Sleaford

Seen here alongside GRF 267V a Bedford/Duple Dominant is another taken over Rosemary coach a Leyland Leopard with Plaxton Elite body 6920 MX with the changed number of LP 523 within 3 years of take over the whole fleet had disappeared apart from 2 coaches remaining as trainers.

FIRST IPSWICH PROMOTION

 First Ipswich AD Enviro 44518 YX09 ACZ.

First Ipswich start a new promotion tomorrow with fares reduced on routes in Ipswich on the 53 to Pinewood and the 60/61A Gainsbborough/Greenwich routes £1 Adult and 70p Child for single fares.

FLASHBACK EASTERN COUNTIES ALLOCATION SHEET 1993

Seen here during the early part of the 1990's is Bristol VR 270 RAH 270W which is seen it was in the second deregulated livery of Cream with red and orange stripes.

As Mr Bessey is travelling back to 1993 on his 1990's show this Thursday i thought i would travel back in my Tardis to the time when tracksuits seemed popular and yuppies were the thing you aspired to be queue the filofaxes and brilliantly parodied by David Jason in Only Fools and Horses in the wine bar fall!  By this time Leyland Nationals the first ones at least were on there way out some became re bodied as National Greenways and the Mercedes Benz Minibuses were gaining in numbers. The fleet allocation is the only one i could find of this year, so enjoy.

Seen in Norwich again the cream based livery is OC 5 F105 AVG an Northern Counties Bodied Leyland Olympian on the 794 to Peterborough now of course the X1.

Thought i would include this photo as it also squeezes in one of Chris Speed's favourite bus the AEC Swift, but the main focus is Yarmouth's allocated Leyland National 2 UVF 625X on the 604 to Lowestoft.