AN LODEKKA SPECIAL FLASHBACK!/CHAMBERS FLEETLIST ADDED

An typical early 1970's view with thanks to Syd Eade of Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka LFS 114 FAH 114C popping out of the old Norwich Bus Depot after completing an 84B into Norwich.

 Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka LFS 72 72 DPW heading out to the University on the 510. Below we see two of the West Anglian based Lodekkas in the late 1970's LFS 122/3 FVF 422/23C, LFS 123 was later reinstalled as an service bus in Cambus days. As of today i have added an Chambers fleetlist to my pages, Beestons to follow shortly.

THE ORIGIN OF THE IPSWICH TO SHOTLEY ROUTE

All three pictures taken with grateful thanks to Peter Horrex. Ipswich allocated First Eastern Counties Leyland Olympian 34872 F172 LBL in 2004 in the ghastly Barbie 2 livery at Shotley terminus.

Many people may or may not be interested to know that the first country bus service was from Ipswich to Shotley or that it was operated by the Great Eastern Railway, the service began on the 21/08/1905 for which 12 double decker omnibuses seating just 30 people were built at Stratford works for services in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, originally they were to cost £600 each, however the cost spiralled to £1000 and were heavy weighing in at 4 tons 17 cwt because of wagon type springs, later that year they were soon replaced with bus type springs because of the original springs unreliability. During 1916 because of World War 1 the route was suspended due to Shotley being a Royal Navy Station, after the war the GER built needing replacement, so 6 Thornycroft/Hora B28F double deckers were built, 3 being allocated to the depot in Croft Street, Ipswich. In 1922 the Eastern Counties Road Car bought out the buses and the service from GER, the 3 buses transferring to the Thames Valley Traction company.

Heading to Shotley on the 98 through Lower Holbrook is Eastern Counties Bristol VR 138 SNG 438M in 1993 at the grand old age of nearly 20.

Going back to the time before the routes were renumbered in the mid 1980's we have Eastern Counties Bristol RE RL 739 AAH 739J awaiting time at Shotley.

MONDAY SPECIAL FLASHBACK

Tonight time to indulge in a extra special edition of the flashback feature, tonight featuring some of my slide conversions which haven't featured on the blog before, no doubt with very little news this week there will be a few more to come. 

Kicking off with a picture which i can make out to be to be from the late 1960's or early 1970's as the bus featured is Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka LKD 234 SAH 234 which was withdrawn in 1972, and is seen heading into Great Yarmouth.

 The next one is also another new one added recently to my collection and is a pair of fine Ipswich BusesLeyland Atlanteans, being Roe Bodied 27 SDX 27R and East Lancs 37 RGW 37W.

Seen here in the Summer of 1981 at Felixstowe depot with the the 50th Anniversary sticker on the side in probably the best interpretation of the NBC liveries is RLE 869 WPW 869H which was allocated to Ipswich/Felixstowe depots from 1970 to it's brief spell at Norwich in 1985.

Seen here waiting time at Woodbridge Railway Station is Eastern Counties Bristol VR 402 OCK 990K still in NBC livery during 1989.

RALLY HIGHLIGHTS

Today some of the best photos i have gathered together from the various events i have attended, kicking off in March we had the Norwich Bus Running Day, where Chris Speed threw me in the deep end with my first attempt at conducting on First Eastern Counties AEC Routemaster RML 2480 JJD 480D.

The highlight for the Clacton Bus rally was the beautiful Eastern National Bristol RE/ECW 1516 FWC 439H although it rattled like crazy, the sound emanating from the engine was a joy to be hold, seen here at the old Harwich Bus Depot, now closed!

 Chris Speed and Danny Beales won their first trophy at the ETCS rally in August with Great Yarmouth Swift 85 WEX 685M

Two of the visitors on the very bust ITM 50th event not seen on the blog before are Crosville Bristol RE ERG 53 UFM 53F and Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka LKD 229 OVF 229.

A very proud me was allowed to join the conductors rota this year at the museum myself fifth right with driver John Rawling and conductors Richard Oliver, Maria Moss and Curtis Moss.

BUS DEPARTURES 2015

My time frame was technically buses that have departed in the last year, however this one went in the October of 2014, however as the type finally bowed out during January this year it's certainly worth mentioning the last being Scania/Wright 65670 in January this year, seen here a month before departure to Essex is 65673 SN51 UYG. Ipswich Buses have been slowly withdrawing their East Lancs Darts before the DDA requirements here we see 97 X97 LBJ.

At the end of last year First Ipswich returned the Volvo B10BLE's that were on loan for refurbishment seen in Tower Ramparts in October 2014 is 60618 R781 WKM, however they returned to Graet Yarmouth and Norwich in January pretty much for the rest of the year.

Withdrawn in the Summer was Ipswich Buses East Lancs Lolyne 10 PO51 UMK.

COULD IPSWICH PARK AND RIDE FINISH?

On the first day of the current Park and Ride contract back in November 2013 is Ipswich Buses Optare Versa 146 YK08 EPC.

It seems that the closure of both Park and Ride sites is still a real possibility at a cost to the tax payer of £715,000 per year, Suffolk County Council want to see more value for money in their investment, currently the Council can give 6 months to terminate the current deal with Ipswich Buses the sites at Martlesham and Copdock currently run at 70% capacity of their 1100 spaces, which is 800 cars per day using both sites, the current deal is currently believed to be not economically viable. If both sites were to shut surely this would throw Ipswich back into the dark ages, the towns antiquated road system has shown no signs of improvement since the Travel Ipswich scheme finished, you only have to see how the town copes when the Orwell Bridge shuts. Further to the Travel Ipswich scheme is the council still seem reluctant to install public toilets in one bus station, the Old Cattle Market as it would cost £150,000 to install yet they can right royally mess this town up with more ridiculous traffic lights and as for the refurbishment of both Bus Stations don't get me started.

First Ipswich were the previous holders of the Park and Ride contract from 2008-2013, seen here back in October 2013 is Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 69424 AU58 FFL.

VIEW FROM UP TOP/THURSDAY FLASHBACK

First Ipswich 66984 Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse just inside the running shed last month.

A chance today with not a great lot happening and partly inspired by an article in Buses Magazine this month, now with the growth in the economy it is now noticeable that Bus Companies are struggling to find drivers, First Bristol currently have 150 agency drivers on their books, which they have addressed by raising the pay rates, the problem is now nationwide and companies are beginning to look at making cost reductions elsewhere by cutting service frequencies, fuel costs are now at a record low of under a £1 a gallon meaning passengers are taking to there cars, but if you put up fares passengers will respond by saying"Why", it also means that companies can no longer afford to upgrade their fleets in the way that they used to, Ipswich Buses have experienced this but with recent changes can now invest in buses once again, however companies are being forced out of business not only by this but by lower reimbursable rates from free passes, the change this year and next year from the DDA requirements means it will be a stormy year ahead.

THURSDAY FLASHBACK

Now fully restored at the ITM, is ICT Karrier/Park Royal Trolleybus 105 on the 4 to St Augustines whilst behind is another restored bus in 16 CDX 516 an AEC Regent III, picture would be taken in the early 1960's.