60813 AND 65572 WANDER NORTH AND RECALLING 2003

Sadly due incompetence on my part i can't find any photos of the buses involved, so instead i have put up one that's still going strong in Essex 65565 S565 TPW at Colchester, all though it's day's are numbered once the next batch of Streetlite's arrive. From news generated else where Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 60813 S664 RNA has emigrated north this time to Aberdeen from Buses of Somerset now this bus has had a chequered history, starting it's career in Manchester then down to Bradford, Norwich, Ipswich,Great Yarmouth, Taunton and now Aberdeen! Meanwhile Scania 65572 S572 TPW is on the move from the Potteries at Stoke, for a short term move to Glasgow whilst they await new buses, 65572 has an Ipswich connection being here for a short time before moving on to Norwich, then Northampton and the Potteries. Below is well a puddle jumper oh i mean a Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Dart 45426 LDZ 9126 not on my list of favourites , this one is seen in Kings Lynn in 2003 and for once it has a full destination blind set unlike the ones at Ipswich had!.

THREE MERCEDES CITARIOS ARRIVE AT IPSWICH BUSES

Taken from Ipswich Buses PCV Training on Facebook.

All three Mercedes Benz Citario's for Ipswich Buses 9/10 service to Castle Hill and Whitton have arrived as i revealed last night on twitter should be 153-55 with two of the three currently at Constantine Road registered BV65 HVT/V, as can be seen they have been delivered in current fleet livery. The date of their entry into service has now been pushed back two days to October 7th a Wednesday. I should be visiting the depot next week to get a sneaky peak at what they are like quickly followed by a report on October 7th with Steve W to give you a unbiased view as an on the road report.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown

Well this was how we travelled in my young days, from the age of 11 i was fascinated by the Bristol RE okay they rattle, the windows vibrate but who cares when they produce the magnificent Bristol engine whine. Here we see the first one in the batch of five Ipswich purchased from Leicester 118 TRY 118H, one of my claims to fame was seeing 118 i think leaving Constantine depot for it's final journey in revenue earning service back in 1987. 

THURSDAY RAIN AND SUN ALL IN ONE MORNING!

Well i did promise a picture of Ipswich Buses repainted Dennis Trident 24 SN51 AXO and so i have many thanks to Ipswich Buses for telling me what route it was on it certainly helped not sticking around in the early morning rain, there's a slight difference on 24 in that it hasn't had the telephone number attached to the upper right on the offside as yet. Meanwhile sister 25 SN51 AXP was also on the 10 in a photo from Russell Young. A little later and a move down to the Old Cattle Market saw me just about catch Galloways recent loan MCV Evolution YJ62 JWF while Russel Young managed to photo of in my case one the elusive Optare Solo SR's that are on loan here we see KX15 BLN heading back into Ipswich on the 113 from Diss. Other odd allocations were IB Dart 139 on the X1 whilst Scania Omnicity 73 was on the 16.

EASTERN COUNTIES 1950'S ODDITIES

 A chance today to see some of the rather exotic buses and coaches that Eastern Counties bought or inherited, firstly we see an Dennis Lancet /Duple C33F DS 982 new in 1950 to Metropolitan Coaches of Great Yarmouth in 1950 and taken over in 1951, this picture would have been taken in Great Yarmouth after 1953 when Eastern Counties fleet names were applied but before its relegation to bus work in 1957, this was withdrawn in 1960.

 This was rather a strange choice for Eastern Counties in 1949 as most buses bought were of the Bristol/ECW marque, however these Beadle Bedford's were purchased primarily for working rural routes, seating 35 they were converted from petrol to diesel engines a Gardner 4LK in 1952,this particular one CB 816 HPW 801 was allocated to Ipswich and withdrawn in 1959 replaced by the Bristol SC/ECW class

Finally a one off coach this was again acquired with the Metropolitan Coaches takeover in 1952 was a Bedford SB with a rather rare Gurney Nutting body with 33 coach seats, BS 925 EX 7107 was converted to a Gardner 4LK engine soon after the takeover gaining Eastern Counties fleet names in the process this coach had a short existence being withdrawn in 1957.

IB TRIDENT 24 IN SERVICE

Photo from Stuart Ray https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/

Today saw another Ex Lothian Buses Dennis Trident 24 SN51 AXO enter service on the X5 to Ipswich Hospital which myself just managed to see leaving town just before ten to four leaving town, this now leaves just 23 to enter service, something i didn't add yesterday was the new style numbers in white on the front and the Ipswich Buses telephone number added to the top offside corner.

Above we see another classic view this time of Eastern Counties RL 735 AAH 735J which was painted into this advertisement to send your parcels by bus just over a year from new in 1972 and from then on in was sent just about everywhere within Eastern Counties and survived the massive cull of the type in late 1982 ending it's day's with Cambus after the split of the Cambridge/Peterborough operations in 1984, seen here in Peterborough in 1983.

IB TRIDENT 25 IN SERVICE

Seen today after completing one trip back and forth on the 4 to Bixley this morning was freshly repainted Ipswich Buses Dennis Trident 25 SN51 AXP, 25 entered service on Friday on the 6/A. Other wanderings today included DAF Lowlander 59 PJ53 OLB on the X3, whilst X3 branded Dennis Dart/ALX 200 142 Y292 FJN was on the 12, and 138 was on the X1 so much for dedicated buses being on the right routes.

EX EASTERN COUNTIES OPEN TOP BRISTOL LODEKKA GETS A NEW HOME

After serving Quantock for many years ex Eastern Counties Ipswich/Felistowe allocated Open topper Bristol Lodekka OT 2 VDV 753 has acquired a new owner in the Bristol Vintage Bus Group. Seen here at Felixstowe Ferry.

ITM EVENTS FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Just time to today to plug two events that the Ipswich Transport Museum are hosting over the next two months to brighten up your Autumn months! Firstly on Saturday October 3rd there's the Classic Vehicles day an event with  classic cars and light commercials as well as some visiting buses including Dave Hale's excellent Eastern Counties Bristol RELH RLE 747 GCL 349N which would have spent some time in this area. Above we see ICT AEC Regent III 24 EPV 24 at Electric House on the 4 to Kingsway, photo by Stuart Ray which should be attending the museums 50 years event on Sunday November 15th both events will be open from 11AM-4PM, with Chris Speed's and Danny Beales Great Yarmouth AEC Swift 85 WEX 685M will also be attending, an AEC Swift head of with Ipswich's 82 JRT 82K should make an interesting comparison.