EASTERN COUNTIES AFTERLIVES

 Two Eastern Counties after lives today the first one complete with it being a little lopsided is  LKH 74 GVF 74 which was the first of the batch to be withdrawn in 1963 after which it passed to Jordan's of Coltishall purchased in 4/64 it only lasted 5 months so this makes this picture rather rare. Below we see LSC 875 WAH 875 new in 1958 for coach operations and converted to one man bus operation in 1966 it was withdrawn after just 10 years use in 1968 passing to Jordan's at Coltishall, sold to V.C Transport LTD in Leigh on Sea in 4/68, then just under a year later passing to Bickers of Coddenham seen in there yard below finally sold for scrap in 03/77.

FIRST IPSWICH WIN CUSTOMER SERVICE POLL

First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32655 AU05 MUV seen back in March on the 66 to Martlesham Heath.

Congratulations to the team at First Ipswich who won my first poll of the year, for the best customer service in Ipswich and Suffolk, there nearest rival was Ipswich Buses who polled just 34% of the vote, this presents a healthy picture for First in Ipswich who in there recent past suffered from poor customer service under the previous management team, so well done to all the drivers and management, Chris Speed, Stephen Fountain and Cliff Hussey amongst others, for this change around during the last 18 months or so.

Part of the improvement in Ipswich's performance was the refurbishment last year of all the fleet with E leather seats and Wi Fi as well as a new local identity and the repaint of Volvo B7TL 32479 into an Eastern Counties heritage livery. Here we see Volvo B7RLE 69008 AU05 DME.

Volvo B7TL 32479 AU53 HJV at the press launch last year of the heritage livery at the ITM alongside the museum's Bristol Lodekka LFS 125 GNG 125C.

THURSDAY FLASHBACK

After yesterdays launch of Ipswich Buses Mercedes Benz Citaro's time to step back into the time tunnel and recall two very different pictures the first is very local the second more to the west of the region. First picture illustrates the unique East Lancs Dennis Falcon C106 SDX bought at the same time with the Bristol B21's, the attractive half green and cream evidently was a throwback to the 1970's and in my opinion was an attractive livery and of the various types of Falcon body was probably the most attractive, 106 ended up in Jordans of Coltishall scrapyard, sadly being scrapped for a unique bus a shame. Below we see Eastern Counties Bristol KSW LKH 269 LNG 269 in Cambridge and with the Mini Van alongside it with an H reg Plate of 1969 it would indicate between  it was taken late 1969 and withdrawal in early 1971, there was two types of Bristol K's, Ipswich would of been allocated the Lowbridge type (LK) due to the low height of Ipswich depot, whilst others were as below LKH.

IB MERCEDES BENZ CITARO'S LAUNCH

Two of the three Ipswich Buses Mercedes Benz Citaro's were on hand today to launch the new buses for routes 9/10 Whitton/Castle Hill, the buses had there names blanked out on the side ready for the mayor of Ipswich to unveil the two World War 2 heroes names at 1.00pm, the two receiving the names were 154 BF65 HVU and 155 BF65 HVV whilst sister 153 BF65 HVT was seen yesterday on route and type training. Meanwhile Ipswich Buses were getting people used to Single Decks on the 9 with Scania Omnicity 73 YN56 NVE.

SCHOOL DAYS COACHES PART 2

Today once again two more School days coaches, starting with  JR Executive Travel JR04 BUS today at Anglesea Road, which obviously has a cherished plate and is what i can only think is a Mercedes Benz Tourismo. While below we see Galloway Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther YN13 AVV.

A TARTAN LOOK INSIDE IB TRIDENTS

Now we know Ipswich Buses 3 Plaxton President Trident's 23-25 came from Lothian but have the good people of Ipswich seen anything like this before, i must admit it's quite fetching the tartan look, journey wise the one i travelled on today was 24, a bit rattly downstairs but all in all for a 14 year old bus, Lothian have looked after them pretty well. Below is one of the few remaining IB East Lancs Darts from the 89-99 batch new in 2000, 92 X92 LBJ on the 16 this morning.

IPSWICH BUSES START SUNDAY SERVICE THROUGH BROKE HALL/SUNDAY FLASHBACK

Ipswich Buses started operating service 6/A through Broke Hall today after the withdrawal of the 4/A last week, although the weekday evening service started on Friday above we see Ipswich Buses Scania Omnicity 70 YN56 NVB at Broke Hall Shops interestingly the journey from the Gainsborough sees the stops up Penshurst Road being reused since ironically the 6 was withdrawn Monday to Friday earlier this year.


                          SUNDAY  FLASHBACK                     

 Seen during the mid 1990's we see Ipswich Buses Atlantean 33 SDX 33R on the 15 to Stoke Park