Today marked the 100th anniversary of Lodges Coaches, High Easter in Essex and their low key event saw former 327 outshopped in a retro livery. Alongside it were sisters 328-332 and 347/8 all in Lodges blue and cream livery. With eight this is the largest fleet of Blackpool Tridents with one owner.
The 2002 batch of nine has lost 302 to scrap, but 301 is a mobile screen with One Agency Media and has been part of a drive in Theatre near the Trafford Centre. BT retains 303/4 as trainers while 305-9 run with Coach Travel Solutions of Blackburn alongside DAFs 368-372.
Of batch 2 310/2 have joined Andrews of Tideswell, 311/3 are with Grindles, Cinderford, 316 with Black Cat of Lincoln and 317 with AC, Gosport. 314/5 are as yet unsold by Archway. 318 was lost to fire damage.
The 2004 batch includes 319 - awaiting accident repairs with Archway before sale, 322/3 are with Sweyne Goole, 324/5 Black Cat and 326 with MM of Chelmsford. 327, as noted, is with the entire 2006 batch at Lodges.
The five ex Blackburn examples are split between Morton’s (333/5), Stockdale of Selby (334/7) and Dews of Somersham (336). Similar 342 ex South Lancs is still with Vision of Bolton.
Ex Blue Triangle 338/41 were scrapped, 339 is retained as a trainer and 340 is with 301 at One Agency Media.
The 11 Manx Tridents are split between Tanat Valley (343/4/6) Abbey of Goole (345), Lodges (347/8) and Coastliner Buses (353). The other four (349-52) have passed from Reading Buses to Go Southern Coachlines with two advertised for sale recently.
