Out and about in Ipswich today and we take a look at Ipswich Buses which is wholly owned by Ipswich Borough Council.
The Bus Depot is located in Constantine Road in a IP1 Post Code.
Also gave a shout out and asked for help from@NarnianRailway for the history on the Bus Depot Building
I hope you like the video and thanks for watching
#scorpionaudits #audit #auditor #pinac #ukaudit #ipswich #ipswichbuses
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[Music] welcome back to the uh Channel everyone uh today we are at and about an ITP switch and we’re going to take a look at IP switch buses who are located uh at 7 Constantine Road in an ip1 postcode which is maintainable at the uh public expense now looking at the website it Swit buses that have been helping people get around since 1903 and almost 20,000 people use a service every day and it’s only uh wholly owned by IP switch B Council so it’s publicly uh funded now IP switch buses uh tee backing IP switch buses limited is still going uh and has seven officers and these are Jennifer Mitchell Daniel Basset James Fair class Peter Gardner ingga lockington Ken mimo Amobi Christopher Maul and Helen pluck and uh Helen pluck is I believe also the chief executive of uh it switch B Council now the accounts only run up to the 26th of March 2022 and uh for the period uh ITP switch basses made a 53 ,000 profit and the uh but the balance sheet isn’t as healthy now no dividend has been paid out to the council who own 100% of the shares and I’ll add a full set of the accounts in the description there are uh there are also four outstanding charges and all of these are to I switch uh B Council so let’s have a look shall we what we can see say zoom in first of all say just a b looks like there’s a a vehicle wash right down the uh down the bottom yeah quite long garages as you can see got uh a bus in this garage here to zoom out it’s like it’s it Swit school bus number six so let’s have a look what these uh these signs so it’s got a saf sight safety notice we do like looking at our sign that’s a let me zoom in see if I can see it so yeah it switch buses sight safety so no smoking do not exceed the 5 M speed limit sand hor um Hazard warning lights on uh Beyond this point high visibility clothing must be worn warning beware of moving vehicles and these pumps here are under 24hour CCTV uh surveillance so you can see what the uh the sign saying is um four signs saying exactly the same thing so you got one two three and four so people can’t say they haven’t been warned we’ve got a cigarette box on the uh outside just there zoom in on that so have there there’s no smok in actually on site so you have to come out into the public Highway uh to smoke uh but it’s got a bin there for you to uh to put your cigarette butts uh just going to have a look see if there’s any buts on the [Music] floor all looks pretty tidy that no cigarette BS on the floor so that’s uh let’s p s that as just a cup all but there’s a few there guys come on just put them in in that container there so access to stores and S office and the door there so no Min so it’s like this is the mechanics yard so they’re working on uh on this bus here so it’s for housed housed [Music] school so it’s over the pit I could see if anyone’s actually in the [Music] pit I can see where the gauges and valves [Music] there bit TOS just land about [Music] though so the whe is are on this side so I think it’s so not really a lot going on all the buses will take it probably out and about there’s a bus in there I can’t see uh it’s so shuted off I can zoom in on that little bit and show you what I mean all right there’s a bit down the side so let’s walk around the side uh if you can see the the bit of the [Music] back [Music] it’s old building one for Nani and that my n Railway maybe you can uh give a bit of information on uh the history of this [Music] building I’ve been walking around waiting for you sh oh yeah it’s quite a little buses out here so you can see them all here ction bus is exiting before 7:30 so you got a ramp just [Music] there yeah see different uh buses doesn’t say what numbers they are oh let me zoom out zoomed in M was too far and there’s the uh the water wash that was uh talking [Music] about so I’m not impeding the uh the gate at all so I’m well away from the gate so if any buses want to come in so they’ll come in this way and they’ll go out the other way so scan your buses by looks of it there’s the make of the buses just zooming on the red plate so you can see how old old they are it’s got 61 plate there 61 plate there as well 60 one plates SP looks of it zoom up so you see the back inance itself there yeah so they got the own petrol pumps in there as well or diesel so they haven’t switched over to Electric uh Vehicles being cancel uh cancel R it’s quite uh probably an investment but really they should be looking at the uh the environmental side of it uh to be be far but it’s not my uh not much activity going on but that’s probably cuz all the drivers are out on their rounds uh obviously the buses cover uh it switching the spending areas but I’ll try and find out what the all the rout numbers are and if I can find out I’ll uh I’ll stick those in as well just so let people know and roughly where those uh where those roots go and what is the coverage of uh of this Depo got some ibcs just there wonder if that’s blue in there might be can’t quite work out that’s [Music] sign nois person Bey on that point no smoking dead slow make sure you got your PP on yeah that’s very uh very switch past garage so wonder if that building’s got anything to do with it as well so got have a I have a walk Down’s see what’s around the other side yeah and you got that ramp there that I was talking about from the other second ago so the buses probably go up on there they check the underneath of the uh the buses as well okay let’s have uh quick walk up here does it feel like i’ Bel trying to keep it alive on this hung side for a better confir that I’m heading for the station I can see these gates are lops from 8 a.m. daily so it’s safe for me to yeah so just wonder what that building is there that’s anything to stir the buses bus as well that generate some additional uh revenue for the council Hearing Care Center your hearing [Music] matters [Music] there’s quite a lot of buses not in surface at the moment okay some their use of uh this car park your own risk management AC no responsibility for l or Dam image you can see right down the end there you got pman Road you got it switch it switch football ground okay guys just a short little video there of it switch uh buses so there’s no sort of interaction really quite um quite here today so if you um if you like that video please give it a thumbs up please give it a like please give it a a share and uh n and if you watch this video maybe you might know a bit about the history of the uh the building at the uh uh at the front looks uh very very old and you’re the expert uh on that uh on that uh finding out uh details of buildings and areas Etc so yeah thanks for watching the video guys if you like it like I said please give a thumbs up please give it a like please give it a share and as always have an absolutely fantastic day and I’ll see you on the next video bye for now
4 Comments
Hey
Scorpion Audit visits a building with ties to Mammoth and Reindeer!🦣🦌🚎😃
Great video and history to the former tram depot and power station.
The Constantine Road Bus Depot began as the Ipswich Tramway depot (tramshed) and electric power station where the car park is now located. The tramshed and power station were constructed 1903 and had similar elaborate frontage; buildings designed by Stanley Peach. The tramway track was 3ft 6in (1067mm) with 10.82 miles (17.41 km) with routes based at Cornhill. The tramway operated 36 Brush open top double deck tramcars in Ipswich dark green and cream livery. Brush Traction Company was based in Loughborough, England
Ipswich Tramway Corporation formed in 1900 under the Ipswich Corporation Act of 1900, rebuilding the horse tramway network and began electric tramcar operations in 1903. Ipswich Tramways was a horse drawn tramway system began in 1879. In 1884 it operated six single deck and two double deck cars with a pool of 18 horses. Ipswich Tramways was acquired by the new Ipswich Tramways Corporation in 1901 and replaced the horse drawn tram service with electric tram service. At its peak the tramway operated 36 Brush open top double deck tramcars stored and maintained at the Constantine Road Depot. The electric tramway service ceased in July 1926, replaced by Ipswich trolleybuses.
By 1922 road and tram track conditions in the town centre had become a concern and in 1923 began experimenting using rail-less electric trolley buses and avoid replacing tram tracks. Overhead electric wiring was modified May of 1923 and trolley service began September 1923. The track electric tramway system was replaced by electric trolley buses by September 1926. At its peak, the trolley bus system operated 14 routes with a fleet of 85 trolley buses. Electric trolley buses were phased out for motorized buses and ceased operation in August 1963.
A more detailed history of the Ipswich horse drawn and electric tramcar service is covered by Local Transport History UK page “Ipswich Corporation Transport 1903-1986” along with some details summarized from the wiki pages and other sources.
Now back to those mammoth and reindeer in Ipswich.
Ipswich Corporation Tramways constructed the tramcar depot and electric power station in 1903. During construction various flint knife leaf artifacts were discovered. In 1916, a new coal handling plant was constructed. Handaxes were found in the excavation and at a14 foot depth in layer of loam, stone age artifacts, mammoth and reindeer remains were discovered (the Suffolk Heritage Monument reports noted as Mousterian implements).
The electric power station supplied lighting, general power and traction power for the tram system. In 1913 the plant operated two 1000 kW turbines coupled to four 500kW dynamos and a Reavell high speed engine coupled to a1500kW dynamo.
By 1913 the capacity was 3,500 kW., supplied partly by two 1,000-kW Willans and Robinson turbines, each coupled to two Siemens 500-kW dynamos. Each dynamo was arranged so that it could be used, either as a shunt machine for working the ordinary lighting and power supply, or as a compound machine on the traction supply. The remaining 1,500 kW of plant was a Reavell high-speed engine coupled to dynamos made by A.E.G. of Berlin. In 1923 the power station conversion to a 3-phase, 50 Hz, 230 and 400 Volt AC operated two 3 MW turbo alternators and one 225 kW reciprocating machine. Other machines provided 230 and 460 Volt DC supplies. By 1961, the Ipswich power station capacity was 17.25 MW. The facility ceased operation and decommissioned in 1967. (summarized from Graces Guide of British Industrial History).
Britain From Above posts an aerial photo “The Constantine Road Tram Depot and Power Station, Ipswich, 1933.” The photo looks west along Sir Alf Ramsey Way shows the 3 bay depot garage entrances and power station and chimney to the left along Constantine Road. By 1933 the tram tracks were gone. Most of the surround area was open land divided by trees and hedgerows. The river is in the background. Buildings and street layout similar to the 2022 street views except some of the rear power plant and chimney are gone and partially replaced by car park. Would say Ispwich did a great job restoring and maintaining the buildings [but access to planning department sucks].
In 1948 the electrical industry was nationalized and fell under the British Electrical Authority. The buildings are listed as a Suffolk Heritage Monument, IPS 286 – Ipswich Generating Station, Constantine Road, Talk Electric Centre, Ipswich. In addition is the Priory Heath Depot constructed 1936 on Cobham Road/ That depot now houses Ipswich Transport Museum with six tramcars and other equipment preserved.
From the Ordnance Survey map history, 1902-1904 show before the depot construction the land was mostly open. Ipswich sewage and pumping station located along River Orwell at the end of Constantine Road, now the modern car park garage. Across the street was the East Suffolk Cricket and Football Grounds, now the modern football grounds and stadium. Sir Alf Ramsey Way was known as Portman’s Walk and Alderman Park simply labeled Recreation Grounds with similar perimeter footpath. Just west at River Gipping was a lock now a modern flood control weir. The 1905 map is updated with a rail spur from the Goods Yard to the south to supply coal.
The next O/S map is 1924-1927 showing the tramcar depot, power station and tram tracks. Most of the tramway network was single narrow gauge track. Approaching on Portman’s Walk was a split to double tracks to allow tramcars to pass. At the depot, tracks fanned out with three tracks to each of the first two bays and two tracks to the third bay. A destuctor to process coal was constructed at the rear of the depot, now the car park area of the modern extension. Conveyor supplied coal to the power station boilers. The 1928 O/S map no longer included the tramway tracks. No other changes noteworthy through the 1958 map.
Buses are a 'vital form' of public transport! And in particular for people who may be disabled, vulnerable, or possibly both. So filming a bus depot makes perfect sense. Nicely done, Scorpion Audits!!😊
Nice to know some buses are still council run . wish ours where never sold off . Best years of my life driving council buses until Thatcher deregulated and buggered the whole transport system then it got unbearable