Ipswich Transport Museum visit

[trigger]

I've lived in Ipswich for 8 years now and although i knew about the Transport museum ( http://www.ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk/index.html ) which is only about a mile from my house I've never been so after Mrs Trig asked me if i fancied a look today as they had a special 2012 season opening event on i thought I'd be daft not to go, I'm glad i did!

 

The museum itself is a large ex Trolleybus Depot on the edge of a old housing estate, I was surprised to see the amount of exhibits on display, all from Ipswich and the local area from new.

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

When i turned up i saw this Commer Fire Engine leaving with a bunch of people in the back, It turned out that this was one of the vehicles doing the road trips, How exciting!

 

Inside the museum is a LOT of exhibits making it a bit difficult for photos but the good thing was that your able to climb aboard the buses, Ding Ding!.

 

1939 Dennis New World Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Former Port Of Felixstowe fire engine, this was before my time sadly.

 

1970 Commer TS3 Maxiload Lorry by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Green and Skinner are still going, I often have to load their lorries at work.

 

1949 Land-Rover Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Old Car Motor Parts Shop by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

My local motor factors is exactly the same as this inside!.

 

1988 Land Rover V8 Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Land Rover from the old Airport, now a housing estate.

 

1976 Trident Clipper by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

The very last Trident made, these were made in Ipswich and this one runs a 360CI V8, Still painfully ugly though.

 

1976 Enfield Electric Car by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1981 Enfield Electric Van by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

A couple of Enfields as used by Eastern Electricity in town.

 

1966 Smiths Electric Vegetable Cart by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

This was used by the Co-op until 2001!.

 

1985 Freight Rover Sherpa K2-250 Electric Van by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1985 Freight Rover Sherpa K2-250 Electric Van by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Electric powered Sherpa!, This was used by Ipswich buses until it pack up at 4 years old.

 

1976 Leyland Atlantean Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1976 Leyland Atlantean Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1959 Stella Mini Motor Cycle by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1979 Triumph Bonneville 750 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

The story about this is that it was involved in a fatal crash in 1986 and has been fully restored since and is only allowed to be used for display purposes.

 

1979 Bedford TK Removal Lorry by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

This removals firm still have a few of these old TK's i believe.

 

1954 Ford E83W Pickup by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1965 Scammell Scarab with Bulk Grain Trailer by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1974 Karrier Bantam Lorry by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1974 Karrier Bantam Lorry by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1950 Atkinson 8 Wheel Lorry by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

This has only just been restored.

 

1914 Ransomes Electric Lorry No. 1 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Mann Egerton Ford Princes Street Ipswich Carrier Cycle by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Local Ford dealers courtesy vehicle "Get on ya bike!"

 

1923 Ipswich Trolleybus No 2 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Oldest complete trolleybus in the world.

[trigger]

1950 AEC Regent 3 Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1950 AEC Regent 3 Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1948 Daimler Hearse by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

This rocked big time!

 

2000 Vauxhall Omega Mv6 Suffolk Police Car by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

On for Billy, it's covered an amazing 220000 miles in 4 years!

 

A few facts:

•Career lasted four years with Suffolk Constabulary (Sept00 to Oct04)

•Used 20 sets of tyres in 4 years

•Cam belt changed every 40000 miles

•One new clutch at 173400 miles

•Battery replaced twice

 

1984 Ford Transit Mk2 Ambulance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Calling Fred!

 

1984 Ford Transit Mk2 Ambulance and 2000 Vauxhall Omega Mv6 Police Car in Ipswich Transport Museum by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1964 AEC Regent 5 Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1930 Chevrolet LQ Coach by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1965 Bristol LFS Bus and 1949 Bristol K6B Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

As i mention in the Grin thread I had a ride on both these buses, The older one was the slowest thing in the world, It was brilliant!

 

1949 Bristol K6B Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1949 Bristol K6B Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Check out the friendly seat lay out, it's had a alleyway on the right hand side which was lower then the rest of the floor so that the roof of the bus could be a bit lower to fit under bridges, hence the seat layout.

 

1949 Bristol L4G Bus by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

I had a ride in this one as well, Again it was frightfully slow with no leg room what so ever but it was a fantastic experience.

 

1962 Bedford J Type Truck by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1964 Bristol MW Coach by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Another bus i had a ride on, I loved this one, it was quite quick and the gearbox kept crunching and grinding though the lack of synchromesh.

 

Here's the old Commer again, I very nearly got a ride in this in the front seat but the fuel had vapourised and it wouldn't start again, Boo!, I got some nice interior photos though.

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Lovely!

 

1954 Dennis F12 Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1954 Dennis F12 Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1954 Dennis F12 Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

I had a ride in this amazing sounding Dennis in the end, It really flew and everyone in the traffic kept looking at it, Everytime it went over a bump the jerk would make the bell ring, I was like a kid in a sweet shop in this!

 

1950 Commer Avenger Fire Appliance and 1954 Dennis F12 Fire Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

So there you go, all that for £6.50 each, I class that as a good afternoon out myself!

[RoadworkUK]

Flippin' bloody 'ell. How have I managed to not go there? Well, I'll be living in Mistley soon so the excuses are running out...

[michael1703]

That commer karrier wasnt there when I went, I will have to inspect that as I've been thinking about buying one

[boobydoo]

Your missus is a 'diamond' isn't she. I can't think of many women who would ask their other half if they'd like to visit a transport museum...and she's always accompanying you to car shows and the like.

What a refreshing change from the self-absorbed, shallow creatures that seem only interested in shopping and reading pointless 'tit-bit' magazines.

[Cavcraft]

Your missus is a 'diamond' isn't she. I can't think of many women who would ask their other half if they'd like to visit a transport museum...and she's always accompanying you to car shows and the like.

What a refreshing change from the self-absorbed, shallow creatures that seem only interested in shopping and reading pointless 'tit-bit' magazines.

 

Steady now Tony, don't make me go up stairs and tell her what you said!

 

Trig, cheers for sharing some ace pictures. Pat & Carl would approve of the Omega and that Bristol MW is just fantastic.

[Angrydicky]

Fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Woody]

I found out about this museum only about a year ago, and have been meaning to go! Maybe we should arrange a autoshiters mini get-together at one of their open days - I'd love to go out in one of those fire engines!

[trigger]

I'd be up for going again but I don't think the rest of the special events are as good although on the 27th August there's a ride a fire engine day which does sound good.

 

I'm really shocked at how poor the turn out was, even the staff was surprised by the lack of punters, I think the trouble was that the event wasn't publicised very well, If more people knew about it I'd imagine it would have been packed, Mind you the fact it was quiet mean't no queuing or people getting in the way.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Excellent photos, it looks a belter of a place.

Thanks for sharing.

[theorganist]

Great photo's, very interesting, love the electric Sherpa! Definately somewhere to visit if I am in the area.

[vulgalour]

That Leyland Atlantean with the stepped back window on the back brought back mixed memories of school days and the unique smell these have when you're sat on the back seat downstairs. One of the joys of living in a deprived area growing up is getting to experience old vehicles that would have been decommissioned decades ago in wealthier boroughs, and I reckon my life was enriched for it. I wonder if I can find any pictures of the sort of stuff I travelled in during my school days? I can feel a thread coming on.

 

Looks like a really awesome museum, with lots of neat stuff to see and explore. I don't think I've ever seen a hearse in a museum before, or a Scammel Scarab for that matter, so they get some bonus points from me for those two.

[Wilko220]

Fantastic pictures. I need to go an have a look at this place.

 

1976 Trident Clipper by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

The very last Trident made, these were made in Ipswich and this one runs a 360CI V8, Still painfully ugly though.

 

This is great! Looks like a Bristol with even less attention to styling!