Monday 8 May 2023

Ipswich - Felixstowe Run

Yesterday I witnessed the 51st Ipswich to Felixstowe road run featuring car, bikes, commercial vehicles and buses (and not forgetting the Sinclair C5s!)



The run started at Christchurch Park in Ipswich and finished on Felixstowe seafront. The first to arrive just before noon was preserved open top MRT 9P, a Roe-bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68 which was new to Ipswich Buses in 1976. Following closely behind was ex Eastern Counties Bristol FS / Eastern Coach Works LFS125 GNG 125C.



Some 20 minutes later I was pleased to see Ipswich Transport Museum's former Eastern Counties Dennis Ace D3 DVF 519 for the first time. This impressive vehicle was leading former Ipswich AEC Regent III No.16 CDX 516 (seen in the background) which is on long term loan to the Museum.



A couple of interesting entrants were East Anglia Transport Museum's Lowestoft Corporation AEC Regent V 918 NRT and Eastern National ECW lowbridge bodied Bristol K5G VNO 859.



More green buses followed in the shape of London Transport Green Line AEC Regal IV/MCW RF113 LYF 464 accompanied by JJD 419D. AEC Routemaster / Park Royal also from the capital.



Plaxton Paramount bodied Bedford YNT D434 BCJ was up next which was new to Yeomans of Hereford in April 1987. It has also seen use with Norfolk Coachways and is now owned by an Essex preservationist. Noticeable in the background is another Eastern Counties vehicle in the form of RE896, SVF 896G, an ECW-bodied Bristol RELH6G.



A regular participant at this annual event is Lodge's Coaches and this time they sent along CFV 851. The Bedford OB / Duple Vista was new to Seagull Coaches of Blackpool in March 1948.



Our final photo features Don's of Dunmow's Jonckheere bodied Dennis Lancet TXI 8756 with an ex National Express coach behind. The latter was previously E612 AEY and the Duple 425 wasn't a common choice for National Express work although Crosville Wales had two of them. It is in the colours of A Lyles & Son and also NU Coaches.



Some interesting vehicles attending then on a sunny warm day with the rain staying away. Photos taken on the day can be viewed here on our Flickr site

Roy

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