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| Olympians 368 and 369 are the oldest buses to receive the new fleet livery - both were painted in 2011. |
- 67 double deckers (40 Tridents and 27 Olympians)
- 31 single deckers (17 Excels and 14 Volvo B7s)
- 58 minibuses (57 Solos and 1 Metrorider)
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| 518 was the final Metrorider to operate in service with Blackpool Transport, finishing its active life on service 15 on 27 January and was later sold for scrap |
In January 2011 BT also owned 16 stored buses: Deltas 101/2, 119, 122/3/5/6, 132/3, Atlantean 364, Olympians 365-367, 401 and 403 plus open topper 813. Of these 364 has been available for events but not used commercially. 365 and 403 returned to use in September 2011 while the remainder were disposed of. Additionally Solos 261-266 were withdrawn between February and May, Metrorider 518 in January and Olympians 404 and 409 in January and 406 in November. Most were sold leaving just 364, 366, 406 in store, along with the open toppers.
Dates of sale were:
- March 2011 - Deltas 101 and 133 (preserved)
- April 2011 - Open Top 813 (Padarn Bus)
- May 2011 - 261/2/4 (Centrebus), 263/5/6 (Holmeswood Coaches)
- June 2011 - Delta 132, Olympian 367 and 404, Metrorider 518 (scrap)
- July 2011 - Delta 126 (scrap)
- September 2011 - Delta 123/5 (scrap)
- October 2011 - Deltas 102, 119, 122 and Olympian 409 (scrap)
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| Excel 226 is currently away at Cummins in Stockton to receive a new engine |
Excel refurbishments continued. 224 started the year at Cummins after repaint and refurbishment in Blackpool. It returned in January and was back in use at the end of February. The third ex Go North East example to be treated was 221 which left for Cummins on 20 January and returned in late June and returned to use on 10 September. October saw body refurbishment commence and it it was repainted during December and returned to service around 17th.
221 was replaced by 222 at Cummins and returned on 14 October prior to repaint and return to use on 2 December. 226 went in exchange and remains away. 223 and 225 are the only two to retain the original specification engine.
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| Trident 343 arrived in Blackpool at the start of December having been refurbished by Bus and Coach World. It is the first of eleven expected from Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man |
No new vehicles have been purchased, however the first of 11 Dennis Tridents from Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man arrived in early December and entered service on 30th. It was imported in July and was refurbished with a new front at Bus and Coach World, Blackburn. Originally 53 EMN53Y it is now Blackpool 343 and is registered H1FBT using the registration from former Delta 131. Sister bus 50 EMN50Y was delivered to Blackburn in early November following withdrawal with roof damage on the Island. December saw 48 and 51 (EMN48/51Y) arrive at Blackburn - 48 having been out of use for most of 2011 but 51 is a more recent withdrawal from Bus Vannin.
Also visiting Bus and Coach World were Olympians 375-379 which have been fitted with seat belts to operate primary school baths contracts to Palatine and Moor Park swimming pools. All five were repainted, but sister 374 has not been treated either to the new livery or fitted with seatbelts. It is normally the only one to appear on local services now.
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| 285 is one of 12 Solos to receive the new fleet livery during 2011 |
No less than 34 buses have been repainted during 2011 - plus 343 at Bus and Coach World
January - Trident 329, 336
February - Trident 327/8
March - Solo 255, Trident 325
April - Trident 324, 326, Olympian 369
May - Solo 284/5
June - Solo 250, 286, Olympian 368
July - Solo 287, 291 Trident 322/3, Olympian 379
August - Trident 338
September - Solo 251, 292, Tridents 310, 339
October - Olympians 375-378
November - Excel 222, Solo 252/3 (plus Trident 343)
December - Excel 210, 221, Solo 254
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| 322 was the final vehicle to operate in Line 11 colours and is seen here at the end of June shortly before entering the paint shop. |
These repaints saw off Line 11 livery with 322 the last bus to operate so attired on 5 July and Line 16 with 292 last used in September. Line 10 livery was eradicated by 518s withdrawal on 27th January.
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| Elderly Leyland Olympians saw regular service on seasonal route 20 including the hitherto little seen on service work 411-417. 411 leaves Blackpool Zoo |
Livery Summary
New Livery: Excels 210/1, 214, 221/2/4, Solos 250-255, 284-293, Trident 310, 322-343, Olympians 368/9, 375-379, Volvo 520-533 (66)
Old Pool Livery: Excels 218-220/3, Solos 273-283, Tridents 317-9, Olympians 370-374 (23)
Line 1 Orange/Yellow: Olympians 365, 402/3, 405, 407/8 410-17 (14)
Line 2 Green/Yellow: Solos 240-247, 249, 294 (10)
Line 3 Blue/Yellow: Solos 258-260, 295-7 (6)
Line 4 Cadbury Blue/Yellow: Solos 267-269, 271/2 (5)
Line 5 Red/Yellow: Solos 248, 256/257 (3)
Line 7 Purple/Yellow: Excels 212/3/5-7, 225/6 (7)
Line 14 Dark Green/Yellow: Tridents 301-309/311-316 (15)
City Sightseeing: Olympians 818, 857, 873 (3)
See the Blog Page on the right hand menu bar for the current fleet list.
