Suffolk Made & Operated ~ Day Two Photographic Special

Buses from three different municipals - I missed a ride on Ipswich's E|PV24 but

more than made up for it with a run on Lowestoft's 'chocolate bus' GBJ192

I decided to attend the Suffolk Made & Operated event on Sunday instead of Saturday as the weather forecasters said it would be the better day - they were wrong yet again! However, the showers didn't spoil my enjoyment and I got to meet some old friends there and also put some faces to the names of some others too

I arrived at Lowestoft rail station around

Star of the show was Ipswich trolleybus 105 restored to a very high standard

1pm, only to see Ipswich Corporation Park Royal bodied AEC Regent 24 EPV24 leaving the stand as I was walking along Denmark Road. Having noted the next departure was at 1:30 I returned to the car disappointed

However, it worked to my advantage as Lowestoft Corporation Regent 21 GBJ192 arrived at the stand. I had always wanted a ride on it and now was

Mulleys very smart looking Bedford OB PV9371

my chance. I remember these buses operating when I was youngster when visiting my uncle. I knew we had arrived in the town when we saw the 'chocolate buses' on the northern outskirts

We left the station just as it started raining and I had to make a dash for cover on arrival at the museum. After a couple of minutes of sheltering from the elements, Ipswich Trolleybus 105 PV8270 

Ex Ipswich Optare Excel R186DDX sits alongside Great Yarmouth's AEX85B

arrived at the terminus and I got on for my circuits of the museum complex.

A lot of good quality work has gone into restoring 105 and I noted the details in the wooden seating with all the slotted screw heads lined up horizontally. Such perfection!

As the rain had more or less ceased by the end of the run by 105, I returned to the car park to obtain some photos 

Really liked travelling on these - Ipswich Atlantean MRT6P awaits its next duty

of the vehicles present. These included former Mulleys Motorways Bedford OB PV9371 looking very smart

Keeping company with Great Yarmouth's AEC Reliance AEX85B was former Norfolk Green and Ipswich Buses Optare Excel 186 R186DDX

There were other Ipswich buses present in the form of  a 1976 Leyland Atlantean MRT6P, 1950 AEC 

The 1923 Ipswich Trolleybus No 2 acquired by Ipswich Transport Museum in 1977

after 40 years in use as living accommodation for two sisters who worked in the 

tea rooms at Flatford Mill

Regent ADX1 and a ECW bodied Leyland Olympian C101CHM

Another interesting Ipswich exhibit was trolleybus no 2 DX3988 - 'the oldest restored and displayed trolleybus in the world'. It was built by Short Brothers of Rochester to a design by Railless Electric Traction in 1923. It was one of three hired, later purchased by Ipswich Corporation to test trolleybus operation when tramway track became too expensive 

Garretts of Leiston products are posed together - only two years in age difference

to repair and maintain after damage suffered during the first world war.

I then witnessed the line up of two products from the Leiston works of Richard Garrett & Son. Former 1926 built NESE (Copenhagen) trolleybus No 5 was posed next to 1924 traction engine Bunty from Bressingham Steam Museum.

All to soon it was time to think about returning 

Ex Eastern Counties 5789AH provided an eventful journey back to the rail station

home although I wanted to stay as long as possible. However, the powers that be had scheduled former Eastern Counties LS789 5789AH for a journey to Lowestoft rail station and the opportunity to ride on her was too good to miss.

The journey on the 1959 Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol MW5G was a joy to behold. The driver was constantly battling with the gearbox on the way back and the Gardner engine sounded good. A reminder of the days when they used to be based at Great Yarmouth's Wellington Road

And so the end of the outing came so quickly. I spent an enjoyable time there meeting old friends and putting faces to the names of others who contribute to the blog. Good to meet you all

The next event can't come too quickly!

Ipswich 69005 Refurbished - Updated

First Ipswich 69005 following refurb at Rotherham. Photo: Dave at Driffbus

After its crash into a florists at Stowmarket during February, it was decided that following repairs to Ipswich's Wright Eclipse 69005 AU05DME would receive the the latest First livery

With help from Grahame Bessey, I am now pleased to bring you one of the first photos of the vehicle at First Rotherham following its refurbishment

My thanks to Grahame and Dave for the information and photo respectively

Update:
Michael Sayer observed 69005 heading south on the A1 near Grantham at around 2 pm on 12th May - thanks Michael

Suffolk Made & Operated ~ Day One

Eastern Counties Bristol VR NAH135P at Beccles waiting for the off 

Regular contributor Tim Miller attended the Suffolk Made and Operated event at Carlton Colville yesterday and here is his report:

'Today I did as I promised and rode to the museum and back via Lowestoft on three buses!

First up as you may see by the tweet I left Beccles on VR172 NAH135P with, I think, Mr Chilvers at the 

Tim's arrival at the museum was greeted with this view

wheel. Very bumpy ride and I was beginning to think they were all like this as couldn't remember the last time I rode a VR.

Got to the museum and tweeted another pic as I was very happy just to get there and see all the buses.

Next it was VR385 OCK985 driven by Mick Slynn from Ipswich ably assisted by yours truly giving directions (all aboard!! ) to Lowestoft 

Some of the vehicles in use including VR385 second from the left

rail then bus station and back. Better ride on this one smoother and gear change was better (after we worked out how to close the doors lol)

Then it was Mick again straight-away with the Ipswich Atlantean no 6 MRT6P with the return to Beccles with expert direction from the part time conductor and this was a really smooth ride again. It's been years, even decades, since I was on these 

The rear bustle on Ipswich Atlantean 6 MRT6

buses and always liked the Atlanteans.

Said bye to Mick at Beccles - turns out he works with someone I know in Ipswich. I did do a video of the Atlantean pulling away but it won't play, b****r !

Well just wanted to report that I have fulfilled a wish to do some bus riding and hope next time to spend more time there.'

I would like record my thanks to Tim for the report and photo's The tweeted pictures he referred to can be viewed in the twitter feed by scrolling down in the window

For those interested, there is a video on YouTube of NAH135P on the road to the Sparrows Nest whilst attending last years EATM Hop On A Bus event Click here to view it 

Finally, Julian Patterson's Eastern Counties open topper was also on view but I suspect, that due to the inclement weather, the trips out on it were limited.

As OT5 OCK995 is on loan to the museum for the season, I hope to sample a ride during better weather 

Olympian 34111

Olympian 34111 works a Lowestoft to Martham service through Ormesby

Since it's return to service, Olympian 34111 W431CWX has successfully avoided the camera, even though I have seen it out and about on a number of occasions recently

Grahame Bessey, however, got a photo of 34111 earlier today in Ormesby St Margaret near the former Royal Oak Public House in the centre of the village

It was on a northbound working to Martham on service 1

My thanks to Grahame for the photo

Rail Link N626GAH

First Dart N628GAH outside Norwich Station on 27th May 2000

Following my post on the use of a stepped Dart to promote the reintroduction of 3 route in Great Yarmouth, our Ipswich based correspondent Jim Long got in touch

'Just read your article on Yarmouth press regarding using the 3 to serve the station and the bus used was a stepped Dart. Well all that batch came from Ipswich after being used on the then Superoute 66. They were all painted into the Anglia livery, so called by the chief who was in charge back then. They all had 'Rail Link' on them too, photo enclosed, you may remember this livery.'

Many thanks for the contribution Jim - I can just about remember that colour scheme!

Olympian Fest

Jamie's photo of 34108 lurking in the gloom of  Market Gates

Regular contributor Jamie Skinner reported earlier this morning that, as he alighted from his X1 from Norwich, he saw an Olympian ready to leave on the service 8 to Caister

It was 34108 W435CWX lurking in the dark of Market Gates Bus Station. Before departing with the 10:28 to Caister Jamie managed to get a photo. He also witnessed the vehicle on the 8s this afternoon too; so it appears to have been on the route most of the day

Another Olympian spotted by Jamie was 34111 W431CWX heading for Martham on the 1 just before midday. A change of route meant that I observed the same

34111 on Southtown Road at around 2pm destined for Belton on the 7

That wasn't the last of it, as another Olympian was on the Bernard Matthews workings.

Olympian 34109 trails President 32212 on Bernard Matthews contract

34109 W436CWX was noted with President 32212 LT52WTV passing Beach Coach Station at around 2:15pm

Jamie also saw 34187 S687AAE returning from Bernard Matthews earlier today

So at least four Olympians were out earning their keep today - something missed by SteveW?

My thanks to Jamie for his reports and photo

Press Faux Pas

First 46726 N626GAH in Gorleston High Street on 1st March 2010

Today's front page of the Great Yarmouth Mercury promotes the fact that First's seasonal route 3 will be introduced later this month and will serve the train station following campaigning by the East Norfolk Transport Users Association

This is to be applauded but unfortunately the Routemasters will not appear on the route this year which will help it to become DDA compliant following the use of low floor buses

Imagine my surprise then, when accompanying the article is a picture of a single decker with its destination 'photo shopped' with 3 RAIL STATION. Not only is the route expected to be double deck worked but the photo used is of a step entrance single decker!

The subject is Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer N626GAH which was withdrawn some four years ago! You would have expected that a modern Gemini or Enviro400 would have been a better choice but I suspect the travelling public wouldn't notice the difference.

My thanks to Jamie Skinner for the heads up