IPSWICH OCM FLASHBACK

 An welcome back today for the flashback which has been absent for a while with two rather contrasting photos, firstly the above picture illustrates an interloper in the camp, with the second time the number VR 186 was used originally on PEX 386R which had passed on to Cambus in 1984, 3 second hand VR's were purchased from Southern Vectis  in 1990 ,VR 185-87 ODL 657-59R, ironically i had travelled on these the year before on the Isle of Wight. Below we see Bristol RL 736 AAH 736J which was new in 1970 in Tillings livery and sadly painted just 2 years later in 1972, note the rather decrepit corrugated hangar to the right!

MONDAY'S OB'S IN PICTURE

Ipswich Buses Dart 137 made an unusual appearance on the X3 to John Lewis which is usually in the hands of the ALX 200 Darts while sister 136 was on the 15A. Meanwhile Scania Omnidekka 62 PJ54 YZW found itself on the X1, which by looking at the amount of passengers on the bus didn't warrant an Double Decker, sister 61 was the Double Decker of choice for the extra 38 journey's over lunchtime's, whilst on the 4 for the past week or so has been Dart 98 along with any of the ALX 200 Dart's,  Dart 139 has returned to the 98 to Shotley, whether this is permanent is not known. As mentioned in a previous blog 3 Volvo B7RLE'S seem to be allocated to First Ipswich's 66 yesterday the 3 were 69005/06/11, 69005 is seen below. Seen with an attractive Orange rear end is Volvo B7RLE 69009 with Apprenticeships Suffolk, E200 45119 also displays this advert with other B7RLE's also displaying the advert.

SOAMES SOLD TO SUFFOLK NORSE CONFIRMED/SOAMES RECALLED

Although this news had already been mentioned that Soames(Forget Me Not Travel) was to finish operations the news confirmed this week was that Suffolk Norse would be buying the company and four of the remaining 10 coaches including the above KX09 GMO a Volvo B12B/Plaxton, the 3 others are YX10 FFU also a Volvo B12B along with 1 Volvo B9R/Plaxton S4 GET  FJ59 CBU and Volvo B12M T4 GET originally YN04 YTK. The coaches which will not be passing to Suffolk Norse are Volvo B10M/Plaxton 11 PKN originally P616 FTV and V57 KWO, Volvo B12M YS02 YXZ, 2 Volvo B9R/Plaxton S4 GET originally YN09 AOX and YN60 FML and Volvo B12B/Plaxton R17 BUS originally YN07 NUO.
Pictures below copyright Clive Nixon.

New in April 1978 to Ladvale, Dursley and passing to Soames in the 1980's was this Ford R114 with Plaxton body.

In an Early livery style and unusual and being new to Soames, was a new in August 1975 Ford R114/Plaxton KPV 921P.

DART SLF TYPES IN IPSWICH

Since 1996 when the Dennis Dart SLF first appeared with Ipswich Buses with 130-32 P130-32 PPV, there have been several different bodies used, i have picked 3 different companies Dart SLF's all with different bodies and of course in different lengths. Firstly we have the last Plaxton Pointer 1 allocated to Ipswich in 42431 which originated in Cornwall with the old Western National company, strangely below has a connection with First in that it still has First London livery and Interior, this passed to Go Ahead when First sold their Orpington operations and was numbered 41460, had a Marshall body which passed to Ensign this had a short spell with Carters, finally Ipswich Buses 90 X901 LBJ was an East Lancs Spryte and until the ex Lothian Dart's arrived in 134-37 this body type was the only one used.

BELLE COACHES FLEET SEPTEMBER 2016

Scania K113CRB/Van Hool LIL 9455 from 1995 is one of six still in the Belle Coaches fleet.

Kassbohrer Setra S315GT C49FT

04 LIL 9713(2000)  11 LIL 9452(2003)  24  LIL 9718 (2001) 25 LIL 9456(2004)  26 NJI 9242(2005) 33 LIL 9717(2002)  37  MIL 3503(2000)  39  OJ1 4758(2000)  40  OJI 4755(2003)
43  OJI 4756(2001)  46  LIL 9718(2004)

Kassbohrer Setra S250 29,215HD

07  LIL 9457(1997) C49FT  15  SIL 9043 (1997) C53F  23  LIL 9454(1997) C53F  29 K2 JTB (1992) C53F

Scania K360EB4/Lahden C53F

18  BC12 BEL  20  BC11 BEL  21  YR61 RVO  45 BE11 EEE

Scania K113CRB/Van Hool

12  LIL 9455 (1995) C53F 19  OJI 4722 (1998) C49FT  22  NJI 9243 (1995) C53FL  42  LIL 9714 (1995) C53F  47  LIL 9716(1995) C53F  48  LIL 9458(1995) C53F

Mercedes Benz Tourismo C53F 16 is C49FT

01 LD10 HOL  16  BC09 BEL  17  BC10 BEL

Mercedes Benz 0816D/Plaxton C29F

08  SF13 PFA  049  BC10 BEL

Not included are any Smaller Vehicles, with thanks to Bus View and PSV Circle reports for updates.

MONDAY'S VISIT TO IPSWICH

Seen on the 93 today at Ipswich OCM was Ipswich Buses Dennis Trident 16 LG02 FDN.

Monday usually sees my usual pilgrimage to Ipswich to see if there's anything unusual about, and IB didn't disappoint, me supplementing the Carters routes were DAF Lowlander 55 and Trident 14 and 16, while on Park And Ride there was Scania Omnidekka 62. On Town routes IB had East Lancs Darts 84/86 on the 6/A, 85 on the 15A and 87 on the 8/13. Its Worth noting that First Ipswich now have a healthy quota of Volvo B7RLE's on the 66, including 69006/08/09 today, with the Volvo B7TL's now gainfully employed on Felixstowe's and School duties were extra capacity was needed.

One of the newest Coaches left in the now declining fleet of Soames is Volvo B12B/Plaxton YX10 FFU which originated with Reays of Wigan.

MULLEYS FLEET

Mulley's have a pair of Alexander Royale Olympians, Above is M529 LHG.
Data taken from Bus View and PSV Circle Reports.

Bus Fleet

Leyland Olympian Tri Axle/Alexander RH DPH 55/41F/DPH 53/41F/DPH 53/39F

BIG 6865/H604 ENA/ J167 UNH

Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale H43/29F

M529/30 EHG

Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 H47/27F

MUI 6449/7919/7294/7249

Scania Omnicity/Scania B42F, YNO4 GMU is B35F

YN04 GMU/YN54 AHA/D/E/NKK/YN03 UWJ

Optare Solo M920 1= B35F, 2=B32F,3 = B31F, 4=B31F, 5=B29F

1 CN54 HFC /2 AE06 YYU/3 CN06 BKJ/FDU/4 MX57 HDH/ 5 YJ57 YDU

Coaches

Volvo B12B/Van Hool WSV 555 one of two of this type in the current fleet.

Volvo B12B/Van Hool C59FT/C49FT

WSV 555/888

Volvo B12BT/Berkhof CH61/18CT


222 VKE/444 NXX

Volvo B12BT/Van Hool C57F

BC09 NBC

Volvo B10M/Jonckheere  

S595/97/98 KJF (C57F)X471/2 KUT C53/70F

Volvo B12BT/Jonckheere C46FT

WCF 99

Irisbus/Belarus C51F

X888 MUL

MB 1223L/Eurocoach C41F

BU51 MUL

Kassbohrer Setra C53F

N76 PYN

Iveco/Indcar C31F

00O4 MUL

ScaniaK114/Van Hool C53FL/K941B/Irizar C70F

TC03 TLC/YN05 HBO