FROM ENGLAND TO SCOTLAND THE 1973 SWAP.

Both Pictures Copyright ETCS

During 1973 Eastern Counties were involved with other NBC companies to swap Bristol Lodekka's apart from ones with Bristol Engines, above ex Eastern Counties FLF 491 LAH 491E became BE 357 with Central SMT gaining the triangular destination common to SBG companies, other NBC companies such as United didn't have to send there Lodekkas very far, strangely this one THN 264F moved to Western SMT based in Glasgow new in 1968 it retained it's 4 piece set blinds as well as it's Cave Brown heating system.

MORE COLOURFUL EASTERN COUNTIES AD'S

Another welcome return feature due to the lack of happenings this week, next week will be the excitement of the new E200's entering service next Monday! So 2 Eastern Counties Bristol VR's in two white based liveries, before the advent of what is now Heart there was Radio Orwell and Saxon Radio based in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, initially allocated to Ipswich VR 204 moved across to Bury later in the 1980's, seen here on the 208 at Colchester Bus Station, below we a somewhat more colourful VR 297 VEX 297X in National Holidays livery at the Norwich Showground.

SECOND LIVES/IB NEWS

As News seems thin on the ground at the moment and it's the Bank Holiday, i thought i would go back to an old feature of mine and have a look at the second lives of Eastern Counties Buses, the first one i have cheated  a bit as we see a Bus that has been converted in to a service vehicle, starting out as LL107 ENG 707  a Bristol L5G with E.C.W body, in 1942 it was withdrawn in 1959, it's bus body going to Jordan's Coltishall, it was withdrawn from Eastern Counties as X37 in 1973 it's seen here shortly before withdrawal. The second photo sees ex SB 661 NAH 661F a Bedford SB withdrawn after only 9 years, they made good purchases for small companies like Primrose Valley of Filey. The last picture sees the coach version of the Bristol SC, below is LSC 872 TVF 872 new in 1956, this passed to R.C Debnam, Canvey in 1969 it lasted just 18 months ferrying people to Airport's and Railway Stations it stayed withdrawn at Southend Airport before being scrapped in 1974.

All photos copyright ETCS

NEWS EXTRA

The four mentioned Ipswich Buses ADL Enviro 200's are 105-108 YX66 WCJ-M, withdrawn are Trident's 18/19, Lance 162,Olympian 43 and Trident 6, all apart from 161 were in the Carters fleet, although 18/19 were reinstated temporarily.

SECOND LIVES/IB NEWS

As News seems thin on the ground at the moment and it's the Bank Holiday, i thought i would go back to an old feature of mine and have a look at the second lives of Eastern Counties Buses, the first one i have cheated  a bit as we see a Bus that has been converted in to a service vehicle, starting out as LL107 ENG 707  a Bristol L5G with E.C.W body, in 1942 it was withdrawn in 1959, it's bus body going to Jordan's Coltishall, it was withdrawn from Eastern Counties as X37 in 1973 it's seen here shortly before withdrawal. The second photo sees ex SB 661 NAH 661F a Bedford SB withdrawn after only 9 years, they made good purchases for small companies like Primrose Valley of Filey. The last picture sees the coach version of the Bristol SC, below is LSC 872 TVF 872 new in 1956, this passed to R.C Debnam, Canvey in 1969 it lasted just 18 months ferrying people to Airport's and Railway Stations it stayed withdrawn at Southend Airport before being scrapped in 1974.

All photos copyright ETCS

NEWS EXTRA

The four mentioned Ipswich Buses ADL Enviro 200's are 105-108 YX66 WCJ-M, withdrawn are Trident's 18/19, Lance 161,Olympian 43 and Trident 6, all apart from 161 were in the Carters fleet, although 18/19 were reinstated temporarily.

WHEN IN LONDON

During the later part of the 1980's when deregulation was a right old mess, many smaller companies tried in most cases unsuccessfully to run London's bus routes, one company who tried was Maidstone Boroline for which Steve W will be happy to tell you his delight at driving Ipswich's finest Atlantean's well the older ones at that, anything from 83-87/94/95/1-5 and one from the P batch which i believe to be 7, were employed on the 188 initially with Nottingham's distinctive Fleetlines until Maidstone's Alexander bodied Volvo Citybuses were available above we see Ipswich Atlantean 4 HDX 907N on the 188, later on Maidstone won the 422 to Bexleyheath which kept the spare Ipswich Atlanteans from withdrawal, some came back to Ipswich for spells, after use in London the majority of the 83-87 batch were withdrawn. Below seen with sister 83, WPV 86L has returned to Ipswich and is parked at the rear of Constantine Road Depot.

 Pictures Copyright Clive Nixon

IPSWICH BUSES STRIKE ACTION?

Ipswich Buses Scania Omnidekka 62 PJ54 YJV seen 2 weeks ago, heading away from Tower Ramparts towards Thorington Park on the 15A.


Please note that this information is unconfirmed 
Latest news from Ipswich Buses is that union members have called to go out on strike, however negotiations will continue before possible strike action effecting services as early as September the strike action is believed to be over working conditions rather than pay. Currently as of Saturday a vast amount of services were cancelled as followed.

X3 - 15:4516:35
6 - 08:35
6A - 1340 1400 1500 
8 - 1026 1226 1516 1426 1456 1626 1536 1736
9 - 1350 1435 1520
13 - 1126 1326 1056 1416 1436 1616 1526 1636 1727
14 - 0925 1425
15 - 1825
15A - 0930 1950 1030 0950
16 - 1125
800 - 1040 1216 1504 1640 1816.

Today's cancellations.
4 - 1405 1500
12 - 1315 1350
13 - 1016 1116
15 - 1400 1500
15A -1010 1110 1350 1450


Update The E200's have now arrived, so i have now edited the page.

Ironically Scania Omnidekka 60 has had a full rear advertisement for vacancies within the company.

IPSWICH, COLCHESTER, YARMOUTH SIMLARITES

 Copyright ETCS

Ipswich, Colchester , Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft held many similarities to what types of Buses that they ordered, although on the AEC Regent V's Colchester, Yarmouth  and Lowestoft had Massey bodies, Ipswich took East Lancs(Neepsend) before taking Massey bodies for the last two batches 63/64,65-68, above with the Massey body is Colchester 22 194 MNO, while with Ipswich is 45 OPV 45.

 Further up the coast both Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth took AEC Swifts, Great Yarmouth initially took Swifts with Willowbrook as did Ipswich before both took others in Yarmouth's case it's final batch was locally built by E.C.W, which Lowestoft also took for it's final two in 1973 as shown by 83 WEX 683M, Ipswich went for the particularly ugly East Lancs body on 89-93, seen above with 90 DDX 90L,while Great Yarmouth loved it's Swifts the same couldn't have been said for Ipswich which had comparatively short life spans of between 10-12 years.