Something from the Weekend



Newly repainted Olympian 368 belies its 23 years with a duty on route 14 (Fleetwood to Mereside) as it turns onto the Promenade from Church Street. The last Line 11 livery Trident 322 is following on Line 7 which was Trident operated for the day

Saturday was Lytham Club Day which, as usual, saw the main roads into Lytham and its town centre closed. As Blackpool Transport no longer run buses to the East of Lytham; their two routes terminated in Ansdell  from 830 to 1330. Stagecoach and Coastal services followed diversion routes via South Park, Park View Road and Mythop Road and at least still served parts of Lytham. Route 11 terminated at Ansdell Commonside and then turned via Blackpool Road and Albany Road to resume service at Lytham St. Annes High School while route 7 terminated at the Fairhaven Hotel. As has become tradition, the 7 was turned over to double deckers for the day with several Tridents noted.


322 later heads into Lytham after the Club Day closure had been lifted.

Double Deck operation continues on the Promenade service - now whole again as route 1. Unfortunately the new roller blinds fitted a year ago do not include Starr Gate as the 1 terminated at the Airport then. Efforts were made to maximize the number of LED display fitted Tridents but with only eight such buses and eight workings roller blind buses deputised. This was not an issue for much of Sunday as route 1 was truncated to turn at Pleasure Beach during Totally Transport.


New as RM910, this was one of several Routemasters purchased by Scottish Bus Group firm Kelvin Scottish for use on competitive services in Glasgow. It was purchased recently by Martin Gurr and Gary Conn and was restored back to Kelvin livery by The Busworks, Blackpool. 1929 came down for a visit earlier this month and put in a one off appearance on the 12 complete with specially made Kelvin style blinds

 Totally Transport itself saw a display of about 350 Classic Vehicles along New South Promenade with Blackpool Buses PD3 501, Atlanteans 353 and 364 and Fylde Atlantean 45 amongst the display. Blackpool PD3 529; Lytham PD1 19; visiting Kelvin Scottish RM 1929 and Bristol VR open topper WTG360T provided the extended Seafront 12 service with Routemaster RM1568 replacing 1929 for its last round trip.