IPSWICH TO FELIXSTOWE RUN/BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Yesterday saw excellent conditions for the Ipswich to Felixstowe run, so from an excellent vantage point on ST Augustine's I'm able to bring a selection of images, from the numerous buses that attended the event, above we see Mr McNae in charge of the ITM's ICT AEC Regent 1 ADX 1, Lodges who hail from Essex usually attend the rally most years here we see there beautiful Bedford Duple Bella Vega EDD 685C.

As you might be able to see this ex Thamesdown Daimler Fleetline is now painted into Southdown livery.

Now preserved and a newcomer to the rally this year is this superb Volvo B58/Plaxton Viewmaster VLF 6X in Grove of Hertford livery.

BANK HOLIDAY SERVICES

Today being a Sunday service saw the vast majority of the ADL E200's of IB out in service along with 3 of the 4 remaining Optare Solo's 243 YN04 LWJ above, the X5 interworks with the 6/6A today saw Solo's 241/43/44 and a Scania Omnicity, the rest of the town routes were in the hands of the E200's apart from the 9/10 which were Citario operated as usual.

SATURDAY RECALL

Originally supplied to West Riding, in 1974 Leyland Leopard/Alexander LL787 HWY 728N was part of 4 making there way to Eastern Counties during 1985 including sister LL 785/786 HWY 726/727N and LL 788 PWW706R, of these LL 785 was withdrawn with accident damage in January 1986, also withdrawn that year were LL 786/87, leaving LL 788 which survived until 1990.

In 1980 after an accident IBT repainted Leyland Atlantean/Roe 21 SDX 21R in this 100 years of Ipswich Transport, it then was used as a guinea pig for different livery colours including a modified Brown and Cream, and a two tone green livery before finally going back to normal livery.

FIRST GROUP NEW ORDERS 2016/2017

With Thanks to Cameron on the First Eastern Counties Blog for the picture of 2 of the Wright Streetdeck 35195 SK16 GYU, 71 have been ordered of which Eastern Counties have 11 for the Pink Line 11/12.

All of this year's bus orders will come from British firms including ADL and Wright and will feature Euro 6 engines and all will be fitted with free WI-FI, of these orders 14 have already entered service with First South Yorkshire at Doncaster with 10 more due at Sheffield, Bristol will receive a further 68 and Cornwall 30 buses, in total there will be 305, Volvo meanwhile at one time a major player in First orders will only have an order for 10 coaches, Volvo B11R with Plaxton bodies, there is also nothing for Optare who also provided at one time the Solo for most of First's small buses.

Manufacturer	Vehicle Model	Quantity
ADL / Volvo	Plaxton (ADL) body / B11R (Volvo) chassis coaches	10
ADL	Enviro 200 MMC single decker	71
ADL	Enviro 400 MMC double decker	80
ADL	Enviro 400 MMC Gyro double decker	8
ADL	Enviro 400 double decker (exact spec to be confirmed)	45
Wrightbus	StreetDeck double decker	71
Wrightbus	StreetLite Max single decker	20

INS AND OUT FOR INDEPENDENTS

A chance today to catch up with the various ins and out for our local Independent operators, first up is Galloway who have 2 new Van Hool TX16/Van Hool C49FT in 355/56 YJ16 EPP/V while going the other way to Arriva, Gomersal are 296/97 YJ11 GGV/X again both are Van Hool, 356 is seen above. Frost(PF Cars) have FX51 OEP a Mercedes Benz 0814D/ACI C31F ex Herrington, Aldershot, JR Travel of Copdock have another coach in 1996 Kassbohrer Setra N265 MBX ex Williams, Brecon and has since been re registered as JRZ 6241 and Harlequin have YX07 GYA an Mercedes Benz 0815/Fer C31F. With thanks to Dave Burrows at Beestons we have this new delightful little Mercedes Benz /Unvi C41F, which is just awaiting fleetnames to be applied.

The odd and strange runs of Ipswich Buses continue yesterday Scania 72 YN56 NVE was on the 4, while Enviro 200 79 was on the 202, where the only Decker turns on the route are for the school run in the morning and afternoon, interestingly if you want to find Trident 14 you're best bet now is the 4 from 1135 until 1405. Meanwhile Optare Solo 245 looks to be out of service currently with 244 taking its place on the 38.

MID 1970'S RECALL

I know many of you enjoy the recall feature so once a week along with an weekly report, will see me travelling back in time to feature vehicles from the Suffolk area, today the first one is local bus and coach operator Beestons with there AEC Reliance ex Barton SVO 547 on hire to Eastern Counties during late 1974, notice the Eastern Counties driver and to the right Bristol Lodekka LFS 125 GNG 125C now preserved of course with the ITM. Below we see ICT AEC Regent V LDX 38 at Electric House before the car park was transformed into the bus station, just behind is Leyland Atlantean 86 WPV 86L.

NEW SCHEDULE FOR BLOG

Seen in the rain last Thursday is First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69428 AU58 FFP seen heading towards Aldeburgh on the 65.

I have decided after much deliberation to scale back the blog, due to my own personal health and other family matters, not only that but the Ipswich scene has become rather boring to the extent that the majority of the blog is based on observations rather than news, not only that the scene has become rather static and mundane, First Ipswich, Ipswich Buses won't have much else happen this year, so instead this will become a once a week blog from now on in, this will allow time for the fleetlists to be updated in the coming weeks.

Currently on loan to Norwich for Rail Replacement is Volvo B12M 20514 WV02 EUP.

MONDAY AFTERNOON OBSERVATIONS

For a change i visited Ipswich in the afternoon and it lead to some unusual sightings to say the least, of the new IB Enviro 200's, 101 as seen above stepped in for an Optare Versa on Park and Ride duties, sister 104 was spare on Tower Ramparts, 103 was on the 111 to Hitcham, before turning up on the 15 at 1520. Trident 14 which as i mentioned was previously dedicated to the 202 Shotley run popped up on the afternoon 4's, where Optare Excel 172 delighted me with an excellent comfortable run, branded 4 Darts 84 was on the 8/13, while sister 87 was on the 15A, Darts 138/39 were on the X3 with sister 142 on the X1. 2 of the ex Lothian Darts were seen on routes which they usually don't appear, 137 below on the X1 with 136 on the 19, while Scania/Optare Deckers 68/69 seem to be stuck on X5's. First Ipswich wise Volvo B7TL 32488 was on the X7 and ADL E 200 44516 was on 60/61.