IPSWICH TROLLEYBUSES RECALLED

I'm obviously too young to remember the heyday of Ipswich's Trolleybuses in the 1950's but volunteering in the ITM and listening to the tales of my dad, of how quick and skittish they were to travel on, and not only that but my late Uncle Fred worked for Ransomes and helped put together the Trolleybuses during the 1930's and 1940's, for which my dad has told me many tales of the work that went in to them, hence my fascination with them. Above in the first picture is a Ransomes Type D Trolleybus 41 DX 7683 at Ipswich Railway Station in 1949 which originally had a verandah front and half cab for one man use, it was rebuilt in 1948. In a photo below copyright Geoff Lumb we see 113 PV 8870 a Karrier/Park Royal heading back towards Electric House or Tower Ramparts as the younger of us may not know, this image could roughly be taken today on Nacton Road, as very little has changed although the island shelter is no longer in situ.

IB ODDITIES AND PART OF THE OLD 19 SERVICE SAVED

Probably due to the school holidays this week saw a number of deckers being used by Ipswich Buses on routes which don't normally see them the X1 to Greenwich and the X3 to John Lewis above we see Dennis Trident 17 LG02 FEM on the X1 whilst DAF Lowlander 59 was on the X3 along with below Dennis Trident 12 LG02 FDC, normally the 6/A would see these Deckers instead Single Deckers were the main stay today with Darts 90/91/136 and AD Enviro 200 81. Something i haven't picked up is IB will restore an service link which the old 19 service used with a new service which will start from Stratford Court via the old 19 route along Valley Road and Norwich Road to Tower Ramparts the deal was thrashed out between MP Dr Poulter and Jeremy Cooper MD of Ipswich Buses, after complaints from older residents, other changes from Monday see an additional X5 journey on Sunday mornings and a change to the route on the 4 around Bixley Farm.

WEDNESDAY FLASHBACK A CONTRAST IN SINGLE DECKERS

 Know i don't know where this particular picture is taken if anyone knows, but shows Ipswich Buses Bristol B21 115 B115 LDX when pretty new so around 1985/86 i know the owner of this wonderful machine will be pretty pleased it's being shown again!

Another one where the location eludes me but shows the classic Eastern Counties cream and maroon on Bristol MW LS 814 3814 PW and in the back of the photo an Bartons coach so could it be Nottingham?.

FIRST IPSWICH ALLOCATIONS

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban 69422 AU58 FFJ seen here last year shortly after refurbishment and repaint.

First Ipswich Fleetlist

20514 WVO2 EUP Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon C49FT
32479/86-94 AU53 HJV/HKD-H/J-M Volvo B7TL/Transbus ALX 400 H49/29F
32653/55/56 AU05 MUV/Y/MVA Volvo B7TL/ADL ALX 400 H49/27F

44516-19 YX09 ACV/Y/Z/ADO ADL Dart 4/ADL Enviro 200 B35F
44928/44519 EU08 FHB/RT09 JPT ADL Dart 4/ADL Enviro 200 B28F

66850 MX05 CHD Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban B43F
66950/57/59 WX55 TZM/U/W  Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban B43F
66979/81/83-87 KXO5 MHF/MHK/M-O/U/V Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban B43F
69005-11 AU05 DME/F/O/V/X-Z Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban B43F
69422-28 AU58 FFJ-P Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban B43F

Volvo B7TL 32489 AU53 HKG in August whilst on the 60/61 routes to Greenwich/Gainsborough.

CARTERS REPLACEMENT TRIDENT/LOWESTOFT CHANGES

Many thanks to Viv Carter, for his permission to feature their replacement Dennis Trident 406 LX04 FYB which replaces the fire damaged  LX51 FJN, below i have put up the changes to the Lowestoft area services of Anglian this sees many reductions in service and is controversial to the least.

7 Lowestoft – Great Yarmouth

Anglian Bus

This is a new service which will operate from Lowestoft – Great Yarmouth, Monday to Saturday. This part of the journey has to be taken out of Service 61.

02.11.2015

60J

Lowestoft - James Padget Hospital

Anglian Buses

This service has been renumbered from Service 60. They will operate from Lowestoft to James Paget Hospital, three journeys either way, Monday to Friday.

02.11.2015

61, 61A, 61B

Lowestoft - Southwold

Anglian Bus

Service 61 has now been split into services. This service will operate Lowestoft – Southwold via Kessingland, Monday to Sunday. Service 7 will now operate Lowestoft – Great Yarmouth. Service 61A will now only operate Monday to Saturday from Lowestoft – Southwold via Kessingland. Service 61B has moved their journey 10 minutes forward, now at 15:30 from Pakefield – Kessingland. This service operates on school days only.

02.11.2015

80

Beccles – Bungay - Diss

Anglian Bus

This service will now operate via Waveney valley villages between Beccles and Bungay. They will now operate every 90 – 120 minutes a day, Monday to Saturday.

02.11.2015

81, 81A

Beccles – Great Yarmouth

Anglian Bus

There are minor changes to the timetable. They will now operate every 90 – 120 minutes a day, Monday to Saturday.

02.11.2015

82, 82A

Beccles Town Service

Anglian Bus

Service 82A has been withdrawn but service 82 has changed to cover parts of the withdrawn route. This means service 82 will now serve Rowan Way and Kemps Lane. Tesco on Newgate will also be served. The timetable will operate hourly throughout the day, off-peak.

02.11.2015

86, 86A

Bury St Edmunds – Thetford – Brandon

Coach Services

Service 86A has been added the one journey at 07:30 in the morning towards Bury St Edmunds to cope with the timings and overcrowding on the Service 86. Service 86A will run on School Days only. No changes have been made to the timetable for Service 86.

02.11.2015

87, 88, X88

Halesworth – Bungay – Norwich

Anglian Buses

Service 87 and 88 have made some changes to their timetable. Service X88 will be operating around every hour both directions during the day, Monday to Saturday.

02.11.2015

88A

Southwold – Wenhaston - Halesworth

Anglian Bus

There are minor changes to the timetable only. There will operate every hour during the day, Monday to Saturday.

02.11.2015

88B

Wrentham – Southwold – Bungay High School

Anglian Bus

There are minor changes to the timetable only. This service operates on school days only.

02.11.2015

60H

Beccles – Brampton – Halesworth

Anglian Bus

The first journey of the day between Halesworth and Beccles has been removed with an additional 18:06 journey from Beccles to Halesworth added.

06.11.2015

60S

Beccles – Brampton – Southwold

Anglian Bus

The route has been changed slightly so that the Tesco stop in Beccles is no longer served and there are minor changes to the timetable.

- See more at: http://www.suffolkonboard.com/buses/bus-service-changes/november-bus-service-
changes/#sthash.xZ7AMbWz.dpuf

Today's bonus picture is a wonderful image of one of Ipswich Corporation Transport AEC Regent V's 46 OPV 46 this would of been taken towards the end of it's career, heading towards Gainsborough in the abbreviated form of Gainsboro on the 6B. 

HISTORY OF EASTERN COUNTIES BRISTOL VR IN IPSWICH 1969-76

Taken by Stuart Ray, in its brief time at Ipswich is Eastern Counties Bristol VR 375 UAH 375G the first of it's kind to be allocated to Ipswich in June 1969 and lasted just over a year being the only one of two series one VR allocated from new to Ipswich, it was replaced by VR 368 TNG 368G from  Norwich in October 1970, a bus which would then serve Ipswich on and off for it's 16 year career, VR 370 TNG 370G arrived in January 1971 and stayed for three years until transferred to Wisbech in 1973, VR 368 transferred to Bury St Edmunds just over a year from transfer from Norwich,replaced by a brand new in a series 2 VR in VR 387 BNG 448J  another which would transfer to Bury St Edmunds three years later and reappear back in Ipswich towards the end of it's career, no more transfers occurred until 1973 when VR 365/72 TNG 365/72G arrived from Norwich for a three year spell, followed by VR 378 VNG 378H also from Norwich in 1974 before moving to Bury St Edmunds in October 1975, VR 396 ENG 396K arrived from Great Yarmouth for just one month then moving to Peterborough, with VR 380 XAH 380H coming in the other direction for a month before going back to Peterborough. This is just the first part of the history of the Bristol VR in Ipswich which finally finished in Ipswich just under 14 years ago, the second part will take us from 1976-1981 with the arrival of the first series three VR's and the withdrawal of the series one VR's.

VR 370 TNG 370G during 1972 in the Ipswich OCM.

FIRST IPSWICH PROSTATE CANCER PEDAL AND OTHER THINGS

Just a few things to add to yesterday's blog, as can be seen seen above Ipswich Depot staff kicked off their 25 hour pedal for Prostrate Cancer, the event was organised by two lady drivers Alison Clark and Kirsten Elliot and started this morning at 10.00 am with Freddie the Frog who was being a bit lively having photos taken and trying to cajole passengers into giving money for one minute i thought it was Chris Speed as Freddie, but as he is on holiday....

Today saw a few odd things to report including the use of  Ipswich Buses Optare Solo 244 YN53 ELW on the 16, an DAF Lowlander on the X3, whilst First Ipswich used full length Enviro 200 44519 on the 59 and Volvo B7RLE 69428 on the 53. An odd working on Saturday's is an spare Ipswich Buses single decker working the 12.31 from Bixley Farm on the 4 as an extra bus is needed for covering the extension to Martlesham at lunchtimes, Monday to Friday this is covered by a Double Decker coming off the 6A at 1125, the Saturday working involves a dead run to Bixley Farm from Tower Ramparts. Seen below is IB East Lancs Dart 98 X98 LBJ covering this duty.