Demonstrator In Ipswich

Thanks to Trevor Arbon for alerting me that an ADL E400MMC is currently on loan to Ipswich Buses for Evaluation. YN66 BBV has gained the usual fleet number 500 and is being used on the rather short X5 between Tower Ramparts (OK Sailmakers if you insist) and Ipswich Hospital via Foxhall Rd. I was in Ipswich yesterday and waited an hour for it to grab a ride there and back. However the bus never showed up, it started hammering down so I gave up Then magically when I was driving past the hospital myself it emerged from the ether. A quick U turn and park up and I managed to snap it as it came out of the hospital. I don't know how long IB have it so if anyone knows I'll be grateful.

I don't know if it's significant that IB are trialing a decker, but it would seem the crazy idea to make the fleet all single decker promoted by the last MD has been consigned to the bin where it belongs!

E400MMC demonstrator at a very wet Ipswich Hospital.     pic (c) Steve W

The rear view                                            pic (c) Steve W

Also in Ipswich yesterday was a real sight for sore eyes. Ex Dublin Bus Volvo Olympian S678 PAG was parked up outside Crown House. Now with JR Travel of Copdock the bus was formerly with Proctors of Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire. More than that I can't trace so assume it must have been re-registered. Good to see one of these brilliant Ollies still working, even if us mere mortals can't get on it for a ride!

JR Travel's Volvo Olympian S678 PAG        pic (c) Steve W

Finally, and this is a bit late, First's Eastern Counties liveried VA479 has returned from its loan spell at Norwich. Here she is back on home territory last Wednesday.

VA479 at Old Cattle Market last week back on the 66;s.      pic (c) Steve W

HAPPIER TIMES

This has been a long time coming, i didn't think i was ever going to do another blog full stop, after the last 2 weeks, this is a sort of a tribute to my father, who tolerated my love of Buses and actually encouraged me to keep on with it, this blog is a reflection of where my memory drifts back to with determination and hope for the future, some things won't be the same again, i won't have time to dedicate my passion of Buses like i have done, my dream was always to find a job within the Bus or Travel industry, sadly this hasn't happened, so if there is anyone out there willing to give me a chance! The picture above is a fond memory of the one place i go to that is Felixstowe, where we had a beach hut, as a 7 year old i was fascinated by the strange bus that travelled up and down Golf Road that being Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka OT 2 VDV 753, i just missed out on going on the Lodekkas as they were on their way out, although there are vague memories of them on Felixstowe Road on Fireworks night in 1979. I can also remember one of the first Leyland Nationals in Felixstowe heading towards Western Avenue that year. For now this is goodbye, i will return at some point, RIP Dad.

Monday Round Up

A few things to report so here goes.  Firstly - literally - First Ipswich have once again had their heritage livery B7tl kidnapped by First Norwich, this time for a few weeks. I was in Norwich on Saturday and as luck would have it managed to snap 32479 back on her original turf.

32479 changing drivers in Castle Meadow, Norwich

It must be said that all buses are grubby within minutes of leaving the depot at the moment so don't take much notice of 32479's outer appearance.

32479 departs for Attleborough

Also observed in Norwich was former First Ipswich (yes and Essex) Volvo B7rle 66980, in my view looking much better with a Yellow Line front than Ipswich Grey - sorry RAF Blue!

66980 in St Stephen's Street Norwich

In other news it has been revealed that Jeremy Cooper, who left his post as Managing Director of Ipswich Buses in December, has taken up the post of Acting Commercial Manager at Konect/Anglian. Mr Cooper was always welcoming to this blog and we wish him luck in his new post. As yet Ipswich Buses have not advertised for a successor to Mr Cooper.

My thanks to Toby Pearson who has informed me that Stephensons' Northern Counties bodied Olympian M409 RVU, new to Metrobus, has moved to Galloway, presumably for school work. Perhaps someone from Galloway can confirm that?

Finally I'm grateful to Cameron Robinson for alerting me that Ipswich Transport Museum have revealed details of this year's Heritage Bus Day, to be help in Portman Rd on Sunday 9th April. Entrance and bus rides are free, and there are events taking place at the museum as well as Portman Rd. See Ipswich Transport Museum's Facebook page for more details.

That's it for today, again our thoughts are with Clive at this difficult time, and if anyone has any news and/or pics relevant to Ipswich please let me know by emailing me at busandtrainpage@gmail.com and I'll be happy to publish them.

Blog News

Good evening everybody. Clive has asked me to look after this blog while he takes care of some unfortunate family issues. I'm happy to do that, but as I don't get to Iswich too much these days if anyone has any news or pics worthy of publication then please send them to me at busandtrainpage@gmail.com and I'll be happy to publish them here.

In the meantime take as long as you need, Clive, some things in life are more important than buses and I'll try to keep things ticking over.

Steve W

LOST INDEPENDENTS:ROSEMARY COACHES

Copyright ETCS.

Rosemary Coaches was bought out by First Eastern Counties during 1993, the fleet was made up of various Buses and coaches, some i must say not all in the best of conditions, 3 pictures here tonight illustrating three different decades, at the top we see Leyland Tiger/Burlington? VUP 742 which was new in 1957 to Summerson of West Auckland, pictured during 1973, part of the inherited fleet purchased by First was this 19 year old Bristol VR/ECW YHN 654M which had originated with United as 654 and given fleet number VR 502, the other VR 501 was an ex East Yorkshire example a year older. Finally an interesting coach and a rare one at that, here we see an Western Scottish Bristol REMH NAG 114G with Alexander M type body originally used on overnight services between London and Glasgow during the 1970's as 2208 and allocated to Dumfries depot.

Copyright ETCS.

ON HIRE TO EASTERN COUNTIES

Sovereign was one of many local coach operators who hired in Buses and coaches to Eastern Counties this particular example is FEX 9 an Bedford SB/Duple Super Vega. Copyright ETCS

During the mid 1970's many companies had Bus shortages partly due to manpower shortages, also because of a shear lack of replacement parts, in certain areas such as London, many of the AEC Swift's bought in large numbers were never repaired and went straight to the scrapyard. Operators as far south as Beestons and Theobalds in Suffolk, even Great Yarmouth Corporation hired Eastern Counties single and double deckers.

Great Yarmouth hired this 10 year old Daimler Freeline a type that never really caught on anywhere in this country, this example is 19 AEX 19B. Copyright ETCS.

EASTERN COUNTIES MINIBUSES:THE EARLY YEARS

Ford Transit/Robin Hood TH891 C891 BEX was one of five allocated to Felixstowe's minibus services.

You either loved them or hated them, sadly no Eastern Counties Minibuses are preserved although one does exist somewhere in Suffolk, no Eastern Counties services thankfully were converted to minibuses in Ipswich the nearest you could see the above was a network of services with Ford Transit's was Felixstowe, nowadays these services are tacked onto the 75-77 operated today by First Ipswich, come 1990 Ipswich had 3 more additional Ford Transit/Dormobile in MB 965/66/68 C965/66/68 YAH and the slightly larger Mercedes Benz 608D/Alexander with 20 seats which  originated from Norwich MB 711/24/54 C711/24/54 BEX. Meanwhile the dreaded Freight Rover Sherpa's allocated to Norwich and Lowestoft had literally burned themselves out were now parked up at Ipswich depot after just 3 years use out of 40 bought only 9 were in service by the beginning of 1990.

Freight Rover Sherpa/Dormobile SD 647 C647 BEX was one of only 4 left heading into 1990 seen here at Lowestoft Bus Station.