FIRST REPAINTS ~ EATM 50TH ANNIVERSARY ~

I haven't updated the blog for some time now, but welcome to another blog post which is associating repaints of the newest scheme of First Ipswich. One month ago was seen the first repaint which was E200 44517, (YX09ACY) which was painted in the newest livery but headed towards the MOT area which took longer then expected. The first one to actually come onto the route was 44519 on the new Shuttle 60s.


Also, currently, almost all long-based E200's have been painted into the modern livery, yes, it looks duplicated to the Cymru version in Wales. During the first week of July, Volvo B7RLE 69422 was painted but in 'Felixstowe Flyers' and was authentically spotted on the X7 on its first passenger service which the next day, it turned to the typical 75,76 and 77 routes. On Sunday 7th July, it was spotted on the Ipswich route 4 between Tower Ramparts and Bixley Farm.

(Reversing out of the Cattle Market on 5th July for the 13:40 to Felixstowe; also spotted on 4 route at St Augustine's) The next Volvo B7RLE/E200 to be repainted is 69426 and 44518. 

Similar spotting's with Ipswich Buses with repainted 81 and 82, possibly 78,79, or 80 to be next.

81 in new colours.

Yes, Ipswich Buses will do away with the white stripe now. 

Now, 6 & 7th July saw Carlton Carville do the 50th anniversary of Eastern Counties. Decided to collect the 10:17 service, as I didn't want to get there too early, unlike daft people who get trains around quarter to eight in the morning. Got to Lowestoft Central at 11:42 and bus Leyland National WAH587S which was new in 1977.

When got to the museum, saw the recently repainted Bristol VR OCK985K, which was new to Ribble in 1972 along with front-door Lodekka FLF NTW942C which was new in November 1965 and is currently displayed at the Canvey Island Transport Museum.

In the field, (which will be a new extension in the future), held some heritage-liveried buses from Eastern Counties from the modern era, selling things like stationary commodities such as pens displaying the P&R in Ipswich, also some people said they have seen destination blinds for sale, which is common. Even surprising to see was Delaine's 1995 Volvo Olympian which was doing some duties.

Also, trolleybuses and trams included a Blackpool Tram 11 which was built by Maley & Taunton with the bodywork done by English Electric, completed in 1939. Other buses included a pre-second world war bus from 1933 (VG5541 -  which is a open-topper and it was absolutely peeing it down with rain, which I didn't catch a cold which was strange as I was solitarily wearing a polo shirt and some black trousers. Ipswich Transport Museums' KNG374 and MAH744.

I also had a ride to Beccles on a 1959 Bristol MW5G with ECW-bodied, quite a nice bus to ride on, comfortable and had a chance to get in a photo! This was brand-new to Eastern Counties in May 1959 in Norwich, and since April 1985, it has been preserved by Eastern Transport Collection, very nice coach indeed!

At Beccles