ITM 50th Anniversary Event

Yesterday saw the 50th Anniversary celebrations for the Ipswich Transport Museum with a special event to mark the landmark for the popular venue in the suffolk town.

I was lucky enough to be able to attend with Great Yarmouth Swift WEX685M and Chris Speed. Also making the trip from Yarmouth was Great Yarmouth Transport liveried ALX400 32059 driven by Mr Speed Senior (Des!).

32059 provided a few trips for the Park & Ride service operating for the day.

We left Caister Road around 8.45am and had a good trip up down to Ipswich arriving just before 11.00, 85 & 59 were parked together at the front of the museum for the first part of the day and provided many enthusiasts with good photo opportunities. 85 was used on a few trips around the town along with various other visiting vehicles from around the local area.

New Ipswich Buses Mercedes Citaro BF65HVU also on Park & Ride duties

The event also saw the first time that all three First Eastern Counties Heritage liveried ALX400's had been together, Lowestoft's 30888 and Ipswich 32479 were also in attendance at the event alongside 32059 from Yarmouth and a photo shoot was hastily organised in the late afternoon in the Museum's yard with all three side by side at last.

All three ALX 400 lined up in the fading winter afternoon sun.

This was my first visit to the museum and it was well worth it, lots of exhibits inside the building covering all sorts of Transport not just Buses from Bicycles to Lorries and even a Hearse!. The latest addition was also on show, that being former Eastern Counties Scania L94UB 65589 V589DVF which was lattererly with First Essex at Colchester and was withdrawn only last week before being donated to the Museum.

A very enjoyable day and credit to all at the Museum for a well organised event and some very nice bacon rolls!. Thanks also to Chris for the invite and to Des for the trip home.

Grahame.