EASTERN COUNTIES COACHES

Copyright Clive Nixon

Summer time in the 1950's onwards usually meant holidays by coaches however by the time the 1970's came along, with the rise in car ownership meant the end of coach tours and holidays, the early 1950's saw the Bristol LS/MW with ECW bodies dominate, before the Bristol RELH from 1964 became the new favourite into the 1970's with 2 years of Bedford Vam's during 1967/68, followed by Leyland Leopards with Plaxton/Duple as seen above by LL 817 JVF 817V with a Plaxton body. The 1980's saw the end of regular holidays and tours by this time managed by National Holidays, the final hurrah saw the ubiquitous ECW Leopard's which were certainly not a patch on what went before and Leyland Tiger's with Plaxton Paramount bodies which restored the reputation of the coaching fleet .

 Copyright Clive Nixon
Bristol MW LS 808 3808 PW was typical of the coaches in the 1960's seen here during NBC days still in the gorgeous Cream/Maroon livery.

Copyright unknown
Bristol LS, LS 758 PVF 758 new in 1954 heralded a new age for coaching with the emergence of the rear engine.

Copyright Clive Nixon

Leyland Tiger LT 887 EAH 887Y in Norfolk Flyer livery.

AN EASTERN COUNTIES ODDITY

Due to interference from a certain person within an organisation, who will remain nameless i have had to withdraw the last article, so i have replaced the photo as best as i can. An odd choice for the company were 16 chassisless Buses built by E.C.W in 1950 and incorporating Gardner 4LK engines with gearboxes taken from the Dennis Ace's, this particular one withdrawn in 1961 with the rest of the batch passed to Ben Jordan(Dealer) was one of 4 that passed to TC Stewart, Bury St Edmunds for staff transport.

BEESTONS SCANIA OMNIDEKKA CONVERSION ONGOING

 Many thanks to David Burrows at Beestons who sent me these photos which are now available on Twitter on the conversion of Scania Omnidekka YN54 OAE to single door and now is awaiting full internal refurbishment.

THE LAST TIME OR IS IT BACK IN TIME!

Well i never thought i would see this interior decor again, it must be a good ten years ago when the last East Lancs Falcons were withdrawn, the first bus to receive would been East Lancs Atlantean 36 RBJ 36W in 1980 and would finish with the G registered East Lancs Falcon's in 1989,knowing full well that IB Optare Spectra will be withdrawn in little over 3 weeks i experienced what will probably be my last journey on one today on the 4. It's been a really slow month this August with very little occurring, September with the new IB E 200's arriving should liven things up a bit. Observation's in Ipswich today saw 4 Branded, East Lancs Dart's 86/87/88  on the 8/13 with Excels 172/73, before 86 switched to the 6 in the Afternoon, while 85 was on the 6A, Trident 13 put in an appearance on the X3 while the ALX 200 Darts continue their dominance on the 4 this week 142 on Monday,140 yesterday and 142 today. 

First Ipswich Baby E200 Dart 45119 was out on the 60/61 today.

New last October for Chesterfield based Nova Tours of Chesterfield is VDL FHD2 NT65 NTL.

Seen her after an number change to 147 is Ipswich Buses B117 LDX an Bristol B21/Alexander with it's sumptuous seats these would have the 80's style decor.

FURTHER MEMORIES OF HALF CABS

 Today continuing Saturday's themes of Half Cabs we have a selection of two ICT AEC Regent V's of which we see 66 DPV 66D from the last batch of 4 above, while second from the bottom we see PPV 50 both at Electric House during the 1970's, whilst below we see Ipswich allocated Bristol Lodekka LFS 74 AAH 174B at Ipswich OCM, and the final photograph, which is new to my collection shows Bristol K LK 283 LNG 283 with Bristol MW LM 444 later 944 3006 AH at Colchester Bus Station.

1986 AND THE END OF CONDUCTORS FOR IPSWICH

IBT AEC Regent V 59 SDX 59 seen at the beginning of the 1980's on the Station X service which would soon disappear.

This day thirty years ago on the 6th August 1986 saw the end of Conductor's on Ipswich routes, Eastern Counties had already finished back in 1980, the routes believed to seen have the final three AEC Regent V's of 63/64 ADX 63/64B and DPV 65D was the 2 to the Airport, 4 Broke Hall and 6 to Greenwich,if you want to experience the joy of a conductor on a Bus sadly without yours truly this year, than the Ipswich Transport Museum will be giving free rides this and the following 2 Sundays, note that next week, the town will be shut due to the SKY cycle ride, so a diversion will be in effect and on the 21st Ipswich will host Norwich at home in the football so expect delays, even so this is well worth attending so give your support to the Museum by paying to go into the Museum.

63 ADX 63B was one of the final 3 in service 30 years ago and was retained by Ipswich Buses, before entering preservation.

Park Royal bodied 27 GPV 27 an AEC Regent V seen at Electric House.

WEDNESDAY BITS AND PIECES

First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32491 AU53 HKJ was one of two B7TL's including heritage liveried 32479 on the 60/61 on Monday.

Very little seems to be happening on the local scene of lately, hence the lack of blogs, this is just a quick round up of what i have seen when i visited on Monday, First Ipswich had 2 Volvo B7TL's 32479/91 out on town routes 60/61 which i don't think i have seen before, Enviro 200 44516 was also on the 60/61, IB wise 139 was still being used on the 98 to Shotley, along with E200 79 on the 202, and Lowlander 57 continues to be used on Carters routes.

Eastern Counties LH 689 RAH 689F during 1973, shows how different the layout of the Old Cattle Market bus station is, First Ipswich are currently the leaseholder of the OCM.