EATM 1940's Report

Unfortunately I was unable to spend much time at this event due to earlier family commitments. However, I did enjoy the band and choir giving their all to an appreciative audience

Both new in 1940 to London Transport - AEC Regent III FXT183 is posed beside Metro Cammell trolleybus FXH521 

There were a few additions to the home fleet on view and one was the much travelled London Transport AEC Regent III RT8 FXT183, which fitted in well with the 1940's theme. Bodied in 1940 it entered service in April of that year at Chelverton Road Depot. Ten years later it was in use a training vehicle and saw such use at Hendon, Southall and Clapham among others. In September 1960 RT8 was sold to Birds Commercial Motors of Stratford on Avon and a year later was exported to Chicago the USA. Towards the end of 1961 it was preserved at the Museum of Transport in St Louis, Missouri and there it stayed until Ensign acquired it and brought it back home in 2006

Ex ECOC Bristol LS5G/ ECW KNG711 leaving the museum to stretch its legs on a run to Beccles 

Also present was Patrick Burnside's immaculate Eastern Counties Omnibus Company KNG711, a 1950 Bristol L5G 35 seater saloon with ECW body and Gardner engine. New to the company in July 1950, LL 711 was withdrawn in January 1968 and passed on to dealer Ben Jordan of Coltishall. Its stay there was short lived quickly being sold to Simplex of Sawston, Cambridgeshire for use as a workers bus in all over green. On withdrawal and ownership by two preservationists, LL711 was bought by Patrick who has fully restored the bus to its original 1950s condition.

Anglianbus OmniDekka YN55PZF on Park and Ride duty

Park and Ride duties were shared by deckers from the Anglian and First fleets. The former provided Scania OmniDekka YN55PZF whilst the latter supplied appropriate Lowestoft Gemini 37572 AU58ECW - (ECW - Eastern Coach Works)

First's Gemini 37572 AU58ECW also featured on Park & Ride service

Just as I was about to leave, one of First Lowestoft's former Jersey Dart's 43863 EG52FFK arrived from Lowestoft Bus Station. Faced with a warning light in the cab, the driver decided not to proceed any further and called for assistance

An expired Dart on the 14:50hrs 123 service from Lowestoft Bus Station

My thanks to Ians Bus Stop and the Eastern Transport Collection for information regarding FXT183 and KNG711 respectively

Roy