Ipswich to Felixstowe Run ~ Photo Special

Sunday saw the annual Ipswich to Felixstowe run which I expected to attend, but unfortunately things conspired to preclude my visit

The event starts at Ipswich's Christchurch Park and usually attracts more than 500 vehicles. Not only a collection of buses and coaches attend but also other forms of transport make up the mix - including other commercial vehicles, fire engines, trucks, cars, taxis and motor cycles

Fortunately Syd Eade was observing activities and provides a selection of photos. Former Ipswich buses naturally took part and these included Willowbrook bodied AEC Swift No. 82 JRT82K and AEC Regent III 16 CDX516

However, Essex-based Lodge's Coaches from High Easter can always be relied upon to supply a vintage selection of vehicles from its fleet

Syd's photo above shows two Duple bodied Bedford OBs with TMY700 leading TA752. Lodge's also turned out Bedford SB3/ Duple Vega MJB481 together with an impressive 1929 Chevrolet Charabanc 7 seater ES8640

Eastern National was represented by Bristol KSW/ Eastern Coach Works (ECW) VNO859 whilst the East Anglia Transport Museum sent Eastern Counties Bristol Lodekka 557BNG to provide balance!

Other ECW products on view included former Crossville duple purpose RELL6G UFM53F and similar SVW274K, new to Eastern National

Other deckers appearing included South Down 'Queen Mary' open topper BUF426C, Westcliffe on Sea Bristol K5G AJN825 and Sunderland Corporation Crossley GR9007

Among the notable single deckers were Oliver Fosker's preserved Leyland National as Eastern Counties LN274 YYE274T, Dons Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Leopard A62OJX and ex-Green Line AEC Regal IV RF 113, LYF 464

Event sponsor Galloway of Mendlesham entered one of its latest vehicles in service in the form of their 2015 Mercedes Benz Tourismo BF15XPJ

I am very grateful to Syd for the variety of photos he sent to me of the vehicles leaving Ipswich. He continued to Felixstowe by way of First's service 77. Following a walk along the seafront to view the line up, he returned to the station get a train back. However, he found First Ipswich 32487 instead on Rail Replacement!!