tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38443078643767159642024-02-08T06:26:59.592+00:00Fylde Bus BlogPersonal blog to record news and happenings about buses on the Fylde.
No connection to any operator or group should be implied.
Information may be re-used with acknowledgment. Photographs remain the copyright of the photographer and should not be posted to other websites or groups without prior permission of the photographerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger875125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-563936006850607052024-02-04T20:42:00.005+00:002024-02-04T20:45:59.661+00:00Fylde 77 ready for repaint.<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today the Fylde Transport Trust's Atlantean 77 moved to Arriva's St Helens paint shop for a full repaint into the Fylde Borough blue, white and mustard. This was first applied in 1977 - when the bus was seven years old and had a 'mid life' overhaul (though it managed 19 more years in service!). It was 1986 before a further repaint saw it outshopped in a blue and white variant. The mustard band livery was a characteristic 70s livery as the operation tried to evolve from its traditional style. Fylde Borough was formed 50 years ago this year, from Lytham St. Annes, Fylde Rural and Kirkham Urban councils. FTT hope to celebrate this with an event later in the year at which the newly painted 77 will star. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photos thanks to Philip Higgs</i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHBy1ATpJohZ0CeHzwPtDN8ImZcOJl-YlxlhTEuwZivwetXdysAMSqgL7B6wTqYrM1Pw3yYZ7aZGUShyphenhyphenWMdngBtAVxdPnd-2W7RhbfCzVK3PVv5griNLO4KVzaB5LLxJyMzqwFPLZf_wnr5SP_CCJA4tpY68e7eyQKj2TMrM20hL1DRztGCK_xgZ6tU3y/s4032/IMG_3161.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHBy1ATpJohZ0CeHzwPtDN8ImZcOJl-YlxlhTEuwZivwetXdysAMSqgL7B6wTqYrM1Pw3yYZ7aZGUShyphenhyphenWMdngBtAVxdPnd-2W7RhbfCzVK3PVv5griNLO4KVzaB5LLxJyMzqwFPLZf_wnr5SP_CCJA4tpY68e7eyQKj2TMrM20hL1DRztGCK_xgZ6tU3y/w640-h480/IMG_3161.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">77 from the rear - in the Arriva paint shop<br /><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAUXItonoNLKvsiqIQPPXi1qbVFVaJDDM1XWstv0DPM8p2o1KPdZqSzMkx-kOfL7ZbgbTEiuGmhFuytXzJSrLpOiV3dxWFcMypGdUyGvAqM5U9_Et2dubKCJGh0Ir8EuQ31zYD8srMM0YLEtQAjqBviO2fq8A8fPCZeG726GDRgOT1tRoaw_vCs54mQVt/s4032/IMG_3162.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAUXItonoNLKvsiqIQPPXi1qbVFVaJDDM1XWstv0DPM8p2o1KPdZqSzMkx-kOfL7ZbgbTEiuGmhFuytXzJSrLpOiV3dxWFcMypGdUyGvAqM5U9_Et2dubKCJGh0Ir8EuQ31zYD8srMM0YLEtQAjqBviO2fq8A8fPCZeG726GDRgOT1tRoaw_vCs54mQVt/w640-h480/IMG_3162.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">77 started the day at the North West Museum of Road Transport in St Helens</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB5fSDhGRwG-fGsxUgKgiAQ0gxyQqfGU4FOqZyj8ytGAYPTtBIXXXIfN3dbjyenyua2Q5oziwZDnKXxoiHtEAHoqOao066hcQyD4QsqTysSk2BHC6FirsFn1lwCgvtGzl9BBfBNRO4TUCsj4W-PybFXVA556tY_d4iDInXCYFD0sGpozPPpGy7889n-Lx/s1170/IMG_3163.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1170" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB5fSDhGRwG-fGsxUgKgiAQ0gxyQqfGU4FOqZyj8ytGAYPTtBIXXXIfN3dbjyenyua2Q5oziwZDnKXxoiHtEAHoqOao066hcQyD4QsqTysSk2BHC6FirsFn1lwCgvtGzl9BBfBNRO4TUCsj4W-PybFXVA556tY_d4iDInXCYFD0sGpozPPpGy7889n-Lx/w640-h480/IMG_3163.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">77 on arrival at Arriva.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D5tjue1CogA6MdbyR7W4BNqIn-KJ9LKv7rOS4U7p6anxNmnkxbJ8FrWVM3J1XWNsO_ibOpaos5xa41xvDXRXx6hCUTLdy3HSRT3iBD2NMghc8ZMjG-av799w_Cwr21MYNulyHgFDg2YKhG3eICg69Wy2wfFqHLR4B0SK12ERRZSnyc0QxrI6My1x9eUg/s1170/IMG_3164.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1170" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D5tjue1CogA6MdbyR7W4BNqIn-KJ9LKv7rOS4U7p6anxNmnkxbJ8FrWVM3J1XWNsO_ibOpaos5xa41xvDXRXx6hCUTLdy3HSRT3iBD2NMghc8ZMjG-av799w_Cwr21MYNulyHgFDg2YKhG3eICg69Wy2wfFqHLR4B0SK12ERRZSnyc0QxrI6My1x9eUg/w640-h480/IMG_3164.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">77 in the Arriva paint shop<br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3oLqNvHbdC1-jAVyLzs-NbG3fB4htsKe45GvsIvtj7Ps1HwkOnHV9WZXY8C0hp0GSMnFvug-uFy42LCPEVZ8MDqQGCkByQqh-oqrptr1HrZcxoCm6FJiUpsEl-v2Da3QF_WIJRKiCtCQKEG5-scV090BY9SiB-qVf35SPK5_cFztG9cV2Re8rwPVftfF/s1170/IMG_3165.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1170" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3oLqNvHbdC1-jAVyLzs-NbG3fB4htsKe45GvsIvtj7Ps1HwkOnHV9WZXY8C0hp0GSMnFvug-uFy42LCPEVZ8MDqQGCkByQqh-oqrptr1HrZcxoCm6FJiUpsEl-v2Da3QF_WIJRKiCtCQKEG5-scV090BY9SiB-qVf35SPK5_cFztG9cV2Re8rwPVftfF/w640-h480/IMG_3165.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">77 from the rear - in the Arriva paint shop<br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-5095275448050378812023-12-26T20:38:00.003+00:002023-12-26T20:49:47.815+00:00'Reimagined Routes'<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">This blog has ground to a halt simply because there is little worthy of reporting on however its worth a post to record a curious network change to Blackpool Transport's services from Sunday 7th January.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why curious? Well the change is being promoted as "Your Routes Reimagined" and there is both lots changing, yet little changing at the same time. After over 20 years of a simple straightforward network with little variation, the change introduces several suffices and route variations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In an exercise representative of an ill-fated change in Bournemouth many routes are renumbered without change and corridors grouped, sometimes having to change numbers midway to complete this. Sometimes the groupings are tenuous - eg the 5C having little in common with the 5, 5A, 5B and the 11B likewise with 11/11A. The 5 gets different suffixes for different termini, the 6 gets three southern termini but no suffixes! Long standing routes 2 and 9 disappear, not for the first time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Changes are summarised by existing route number:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>1 (Fleetwood to Blackpool)</b> minor route cut back to North Pier rather than Tower. Presumably this means it can turn via Market Street rather than Central Drive/Chapel Street. It will run hourly daily with 2 buses. During the summer extra hourly buses will run from Cleveleys to St. Annes Square as they did this year but will be numbered 1A. This makes a 30 minute Cleveleys to North Pier service. Oddly this appears in the new timetables as starting 7th January but the accompanying news item says its summer only.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>2 (Poulton to Blackpool). </b>This is withdrawn and replaced by an extended 5 between Hospital and Poulton. Route 5C (the current 2C) will be the only BTS service along Newton Drive from Devonshire Square to Hospital with one bus every 40 minutes, rather than four per hour as present. On school days an "X2" bus will run over the current 2 route at 8am from Abingdon Street and 3pm from Poulton.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>2C (Knott End to Blackpool).</b> Renumbered 5C and cut down to every 40 minutes from every 30 minutes. PVR=4. The renumbering is to "group" the service with the 5s, with a selling point that any 5 goes to the Hospital from Blackpool. All well and good, but from the Hospitals, 5s could take you in multiple directions! The logic of grouping the 5C with the 5/A/B is flimsy as there is no route section in common - it takes a different route Blackpool to Hospital and Hospital to Poulton. There is no hope of co-ordination of the 40 minute with the 15 minute 5/A/B.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>3 and 4 (Cleveleys to Mereside). </b>The 4 is renumbered 3A, despite having very little commonality with the 3. The Cleveleys to Cleveleys Park loop switches from the 3 to 3A. Only Bispham Hotel to Gynn Square and the last few stops at Mereside are common yet the pair of half hourly services are timed such as they leave Bispham with alternate 10/20 minute intervals! The 3 loses its evening services, though the 3A keeps it. That means there is no service on Park Road in the evening, despite Whitegate Drive also having Stagecoach's 61 operating. 10 buses are required. An 11th bus works a 3A at 809 Bispham to Mereside and 324pm back from the Saddle to Cleveleys Park. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>5 (Halfway House to Hospital). </b>A rare good news is the increase of the 5 to every 15 minutes between Halfway House and Victoria Hospital from every 20 minutes. However the simplicity of this service - a 2001 Metro creation, then every 10 minutes is eroded by the creation of sub routes 5A and 5B. The 5 itself will extend over the current 2 route every 30 minutes (Mon-Sat daytime) and hourly (Sunday daytimes). Curiously it runs every 30 minutes through to Poulton on weekday evenings, meaning this section gets a better Sunday evening service than in the day. The 5A runs hourly Mon-Sat daytime only replacing the 15 to Staining, while the new 5B, with shades of the prederegulation 23/23A runs hourly beyond the Hospital to the Zoo hourly every day - daytime only.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Collectively 9 buses are needed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>6 (Grange Park to Mereside) </b>happily this gains an increase from the remarkably poor half hourly service this one high frequency service currently endures. It runs every 20 mins from 9am to 6pm, remaining half hourly in the morning peak - though there is an extra 730am Mereside to Aspire Academy bus with a 1508 return. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is half hourly on Sundays, hourly in the evening. Not previously noted here is that from sometime in 2022 evening buses were routed via Devonshire Road and Church Street rather than the section of Caunce Street between Devonshire Road and the Town Centre. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The daytime service pattern sees 2bph extend from Tesco to Peel Park and the other extends to Whitehills Park. All buses show 6 regardless of which of the three Marton termini they serve.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>7 (Cleveleys to Lytham).</b> The 7 is split cosmetically with the Cleveleys to Blackpool section continuing as the 7 every 30 minutes (hourly evenings/Sundays). The southern section is renumbered 11A and extends beyond St. Annes over the same route as the 11 to Lytham Hospital.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>9 (Cleveleys to Blackpool).</b> Despite having little in common with the 7, the 9 turns into the 7A. It runs every 15 minutes at peaks, 20 minutes off peak and hourly evenings/Sundays. 5 buses run through the day, 2 extra in the peak. Evenings there is some interworking at Cleveleys with the 7.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>11 (Blackpool to Lytham).</b> A mixed pattern here - the current 11 reduces from 20 minutes to 30 minutes - certainly the worst (covid lockdown excluded) service ever along the length of Lytham Road). The 'reimagined 7' becomes the 11A but runs along St. Annes Road and extends to Lytham. It makes an almost 15 minute service from Starr Gate through to Lytham Hospital but not quite with 12/18 minute gaps the main pattern. Even Sundays end up 20/40 minutes appart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The main pattern is for an 11 Blackpool to Lytham, 11A Lytham to Blackpool, 7 Blackpool to Cleveleys then the reverse back.11 buses are needed. A 12th works an 11 at 715 from Lytham to Blackpool Sixth college, returning at 415pm</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>12 (Blackpool to Poulton schools) </b>no change - one bus runs mornings, 2 afternoons. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>14 (Blackpool to Fleetwood) </b>a basic 7 PVR 20 minute service is provided reducing to half hourly evenings/Sundays and hourly after 9pm. Peak services increase to 15 minutes using 2 extra buses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>15 (Blackpool to Staining) </b>replaced by 5A.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>17 (Blackpool to Lytham Saltcotes).</b> Renumbered 11B, despite little in common with either the 11 and 11A and a longer journey time. Frequency drops to every 40 minutes with 4 PVR. Sundays is hourly with the 5C and 11B interworking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>18 (Blackpool to Mereside)</b> minor timing changes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are no changes to the 74/75. Total core PVR is still 75 on top of which are seven school extras determined from the timetables and the two buses used on Myrescough contract work. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking back PVR was 97 in summer 2018. The July 2010 network reductions saw a PVR reduction from 113 to 104.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Current fleet is 102 buses, 49 E400s, 26 long and 22 short E200s and 5 Citaros. The much vaunted electric bus project has reduces from 115 to 90 buses given the reduced network currently provided. Little progress seems to have been realised on this, with recent stakeholder board meeting minutes suggesting it is still far from clear cut and awaits tender results for buses and infrastructure before a final decision is taken. Planning permission was granted which involved demolishing the bus depot and bus/tram workshops, but these plans appear now dropped for economy reasons</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since our last post, Citaros 552 and 553 have left the fleet with 552 now at Howards Travel, Warrington and 553 at Baileys of Southsea used as a Shuttle Bus for Portsmouth International Port. Long term stored accident damaged Centro 532 has finally gone for scrap as has the last Trident ex trainer 973 which left in May. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-5175455440989971032023-05-01T18:58:00.002+01:002023-05-01T19:15:52.681+01:00Spring Round Up<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Blackpool Transport</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Service changes from Sunday 16th April saw a change of heart for Staining where in December the former service 20 was cancelled as it was no longer commercially viable. Transpora won a short term contract for a replacement service numbered 72 which ran via Layton rather than the Zoo. Inspired, Blackpool Transport has now registered a commercial replacement over the same route numbered 15. It runs hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also from the same date most journeys on service 1 were diverted via The Stand, Marine Parade and Chatsworth Avenue- school time buses still follow the old route. Not previously reported was the ending of the late night buses introduced in July - presumably at the December change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Minor changes were made to the 2 and 18, while the 3 was diverted on journeys back form Cleveleys Park via Cleveleys Avenue and West Drive rather than Cumberland Avenue and Rossall Road. On Sundays the 11 and 14 interwork during the day sharing nine buses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Current fleet requirements are:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 - 2 PVR usually SD in the week, DD weekends</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 - 1 bus daily with a 2nd at peak times. DD M-F, SD Sat, Midi Sundays</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2C - 5 buses MS with a 6th at school times, 2 Sundays. DD MF, SD Sat, Midi Suns</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 - 6 buses MS, 5 shared with 4 on Sundays. Daytime usually Citaros, Eves/Suns Midis</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 - 5 buses (5 shared with 3 on Sundays). Midis. On school days an extra bus works an 0804 Bispham to Mereside and a 1521 from the Saddle to Cleveleys.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 - 5 buses (4 Sats, 3 Suns). DD M-S, SD Suns</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 - 5 buses (4 Sats, 4 Suns), mixed M-S, SD Suns. A sixth bus runs school times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">7 - 5 buses - DD M-S, SD Suns</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">9 - 4 buses MF with 2 extra at peaks, 4 Sats, 3 Suns. DD M-S SD Suns</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">11 - 6 buses MF, 5 Sats, 9 shared with 14 Suns. Usually DDs</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">12 - usually 1DD AM and 2 SD PM schooldays only</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">14 - 8 vehicles MF, 9 in the AM peak, 6 Sats and 9 shared with 11 on Sundays usually DD</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">15 - 1 bus Midi</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">17 - 5 MF, 3 Sat/Sun. Mixed M-F, SD weekends</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">18 - 2 Daily SD M-S, Midis Sun</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">74 - 4 MS, 2 Sundays Midis</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">75 - 4 MS, 2 Sundays Midis</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With 2 buses for Myrescough College that means a total PVR of 79, of which 11 are peak only - often just one single or return trip. 104 buses are currently in the active fleet - 49 E400s, 26 long E200s, 22 short E200s and 7 Citaros.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In other fleet news:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">422/423 have recently lost their Platinum Jubilee adornments</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Citaro 554 was converted to a driver trainer late last year and is now numbered 974</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sisters 550/1 have been sold, the former is under conversion as a exhibition bus, 551 is now with Lyles of Batley trading as Longstaffs as WIL3619 and can often be found on its 205 Dewsbury to Mirfield road</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently construction work has commenced to ready the depot for electric buses with the work focused on the East Shed which will become the new maintenance shop. 115 buses are expected, which will provide 45% spare cover for the current service levels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No orders have been publicised, though a further Wright Electroliner has visited the resort recently LY71GHZ which ran in London as a seed vehicle but is now back with Wrightbus. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Transpora North West</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recent service changes include the end of the short lived 72 as noted above. The 24 was extended to Blackpool via the Hospital on 12th February with 1 bus per hour Fleetwood to Blackpool (3 buses Mon-Sat) and a 2nd working shorts Poulton-Cleveleys (4th bus Mon-Fri). 1 bus runs hourly Poulton to Cleveleys on Sundays.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 22 resumed linking Tower with the Zoo from 7th April. It runs five days per week (not Mondays or Fridays). The 26 Beach Bus from Marton Mere restarted at the start of April.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Blackpool Survivors Update</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trident 304 (later trainer 974) was advertised for sale in Essex, part converted to a catering vehicle. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">342 has passed from Dews to Southern Coachlines. Powell's ceased trading last year, 294 has passed to Smiths, Marple. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">257 has passed from Archway to "the Baz Stop" a mobile diner based in Fleetwood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-85911964018899955292022-12-31T00:22:00.000+00:002022-12-31T00:22:01.287+00:00Survivors Update<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tridents</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">307-309 have passed from Coach Travel Solutions to Davies, Ruithin (dlr) probably for scrap</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">334 and 337 have passed from Stockdale Selby, to Sweyne Goole - joining ex Blackpool 322 and 325</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">345 is now with Linburg Travel ex Lodges in white.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>DAF</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dekkabus sold 354 (now Y346HAA) to Xelabus who are believed to have sold it on to an unknown owner.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">371/2 passed from Coach Solutions, Blackburn to Andybus, Easton Grey and since have moved to Cotswold Green, Nailsworth</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>B7RLEs</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">523 has passed from Paul Winson to Greaves, Nottingham reverting to its original registration. Sister 524 has moved to Redline Penwortham as YIL6984</span></p><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-76912371255049656262022-12-31T00:14:00.004+00:002022-12-31T00:14:47.968+00:00Autumn Round up<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Blackpool Transport</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From Sunday 18th December BTS withdrew service 20 and reduced the 1 to run from Affinity Fleetwood to Blackpool Tower. The 20 is replaced by a new LCC contract numbered 72 from Staining to Blackpool via Hospital and Layton operated by Transport North West every hour. Other than a brief spell in 1995/6 when Town Bus and the Fylde ran the 15, Blackpool Transport has provided the Staining to Blackpool link since 1927. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An earlier change was the 74 which has been extended to serve Rossall Point via Affinity and Fleetwood Esplanade. A new 74/75 timetable has increased PVR from 7 to 8.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enviro 428 has recently been adorned with stickers as a ‘festive’ bus.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coastliner Buses becomes Transpora North West</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Earlier this year the Transpora group which includes operations in Bristol, Hampshire, Manchester and London. It has now started to trade as Transpora North West and has introduced a fleet numbering system. The fleet list on this page is being updated to reflect this.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recent fleet additions include:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">YT09ZCJ - ex RATP London Scania Omnicity (2902)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">YR59FYW - ex RATP London Scania (2903)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">BX56XBY - at National Express West Midlands B7RLE (1301)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">YX68URG - ex Powells, Rotherham Enviro 200MMC (1298)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">YW68PDV - ex Stuarts, Carluke Enviro 200MMC (1296)</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Stagecoach</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From 28 November, with Lancashire County Council Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, Stagecoach reintroduced evening buses on the 42 to Lancaster. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-47446530300697220652022-08-16T22:33:00.002+01:002022-08-16T22:33:30.845+01:00Electroliner trial<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ADcOWlHMSG2-2kfrv_q6F0V5ycCTmouokpbTpsT3LPw6S0NFY28uWlpPRXUSoMqOnTM_aJRbeImkiW5sHBzT3O_q_GtEFDEwaxOPNj6qoLbEjybB43WKtr3hRib-6PPdAF7RkkJGaOo6Z7upyspr6d8grlVwpOlcoZqCr5D3xAE68S9qeI2of83S8Q/s5831/EA8D937F-458D-478B-83BE-827ACF8907C9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3893" data-original-width="5831" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ADcOWlHMSG2-2kfrv_q6F0V5ycCTmouokpbTpsT3LPw6S0NFY28uWlpPRXUSoMqOnTM_aJRbeImkiW5sHBzT3O_q_GtEFDEwaxOPNj6qoLbEjybB43WKtr3hRib-6PPdAF7RkkJGaOo6Z7upyspr6d8grlVwpOlcoZqCr5D3xAE68S9qeI2of83S8Q/w640-h428/EA8D937F-458D-478B-83BE-827ACF8907C9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">With plans to renew the Blackpool Transport fleet with electric buses, they entertained a trial of Wrightbus’s Streetdeck Electroliner last week. It ran on the 1 as a dupe to the 935 and 1335 trips with a conductor taking fares and collecting feedback. Many thanks to Paul Wigan for the photo.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In other news it is understood Enviro 400s 403-10 have been withdrawn and sold to Vision Bus of Bolton. </span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-601159482492238102022-06-02T20:42:00.003+01:002022-06-02T20:42:45.958+01:00Service Changes<p> <b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As is common at this time of year, 12 June sees some timetable changes for Blackpool Transport's buses. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 - extra bus added to cycle at weekends- no change to frequency but new night journeys 2330 and 0130 from Starr Gate to Fleetwood and 0030 and 0230 from Fleetwood - the latter to Manchester Square only. This is slightly curious given the lack of evening service.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 - 0730 from Blackpool, 800 and 1500 from Poulton will run year round rather than just school terms. The service remains hourly other than these weekday extras. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 - a second journey runs to Peel Park. A 5th bus added to cycle to extend running times. Still only every 30 minutes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">5, 7, 9, 11 and 14 are retimed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All services are retaining their current frequencies and the daytime PVR will be 69 buses with some peak extras. Not previously reported is Blackpool operating the 400 (Fleetwood-Blackpool-Poulton-Myrescough College) and 853 (St. Annes-Lytham-Kirkham-Myrescough College) buses on behalf of Preston Bus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>76 and 78</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coastal Coaches has recently lost the contract to operate these buses (on behalf of LCC) to Preston Bus. Minor changes have been made, notably a Sunday service on the 78 and some later evening trips to Lytham. The 78 now serves Derby Road in Wesham too. The 76 runs Blackpool-Poulton-Weeton-Kirkham-Wrea Green-Warton-Lytham- St. Annes and the 78 Great Eccleston-Wesham-Kirkham-Warton-Lytham-Ansdell-Heyhouses-St. Annes. Both interwork at St. Annes and use six buses with 2018/2019 Mellor Stratas in use.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Preston Bus use a two tone blue livery, replacing Coastal's blue and white buses. With the 78 evolving from a former Fylde service it is ironic that its current and previous operators are using similar liveries to Fylde's 80s and 90's schemes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coastal is still operating three LCC schools - two of which use coaches and one 813 (Hambleton to Garstang High) uses one of the two Stratas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-40944709486416110032022-04-10T20:55:00.001+01:002022-04-10T20:55:31.117+01:00Jubilee buses<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport has outshopped two of its Enviro 400s in a commemorative livery for the Queens Platinum jubilee. 422/3 have both had some purple vinyls over most of the yellow bits on their liveries and suitable messaging in the advert panels. 423 entered service yesterday and was capture on camera by Mike Wilson:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDkZ_gWOQy9iRL8aElYWF6yml-KGuictLWU3ruGOlrFxSGuabE0LT_YWp_7YWdOibF-Zwxr4KldAL-hMo_nIamBvcxg_9OopiID2TpI4JAs9k6vmf9R8UXH7ezk88jlbBzUiDfsTCDGfCg4m_fQLn8SdjNJsA40KtNmJLQ71780ZJbzrDGOgNPealqA/s828/4B1CFA08-60AD-4605-B127-BB5CFFF1161B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDkZ_gWOQy9iRL8aElYWF6yml-KGuictLWU3ruGOlrFxSGuabE0LT_YWp_7YWdOibF-Zwxr4KldAL-hMo_nIamBvcxg_9OopiID2TpI4JAs9k6vmf9R8UXH7ezk88jlbBzUiDfsTCDGfCg4m_fQLn8SdjNJsA40KtNmJLQ71780ZJbzrDGOgNPealqA/w640-h480/4B1CFA08-60AD-4605-B127-BB5CFFF1161B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW1e3V7sKqBztp9m429nTZndxkBZfPPPMAB4_9tTP55VUGzmuvUZhBGnsqBcge2abmU4NqXZg0SU4cIn-7_YAAtzu0l00xm3w8xyNNY1pEpjJdkdEo6zIxgrUzgfOs-h4IbrA9Km_pCUhBHlWH625_L3e5rYf87yAQ3sxVxh-WQBA1t3mAMmRnpmWgg/s1425/306B1B50-EFFE-4D80-AEE1-452AECE8F5C7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW1e3V7sKqBztp9m429nTZndxkBZfPPPMAB4_9tTP55VUGzmuvUZhBGnsqBcge2abmU4NqXZg0SU4cIn-7_YAAtzu0l00xm3w8xyNNY1pEpjJdkdEo6zIxgrUzgfOs-h4IbrA9Km_pCUhBHlWH625_L3e5rYf87yAQ3sxVxh-WQBA1t3mAMmRnpmWgg/w368-h640/306B1B50-EFFE-4D80-AEE1-452AECE8F5C7.jpeg" width="368" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS3TY9sAG5qdImbmyjvzJTqEl2JAqzHOvCrWWd06c3K14Z26b1JP3iCa5UqHOHyCDJYpgdjUFpylm4nF9KtvtyTkqyG7vYz8ttE2aC-QPLauj_mdctaQX8OoIbmQosJkv81aM0kSi7Op4vukkV48L_NvEpSNZDIUKb5oQWJZVg5uTezQMRYL3Hex67g/s828/E93E8E8F-91F5-4077-9475-8637D64C1C7C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS3TY9sAG5qdImbmyjvzJTqEl2JAqzHOvCrWWd06c3K14Z26b1JP3iCa5UqHOHyCDJYpgdjUFpylm4nF9KtvtyTkqyG7vYz8ttE2aC-QPLauj_mdctaQX8OoIbmQosJkv81aM0kSi7Op4vukkV48L_NvEpSNZDIUKb5oQWJZVg5uTezQMRYL3Hex67g/w640-h480/E93E8E8F-91F5-4077-9475-8637D64C1C7C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-63505082045682466022022-03-26T19:19:00.002+00:002022-03-26T19:19:24.641+00:00ZEBRA bid succesful<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Council’s bid for 115 electric buses for its wholly owned operator Blackpool Transport is one of 12 Zero Emission Bus Regional Area projects announced this morning. It is understood 57 double deckers (like for like replacements for the E400s) and 58 single deckers replacing the 48 E200s and ten Citaros) are to be purchased 2022-2024. Significant work is also expected to make Rigby Road depot suitable for electric buses including a refurbished and extended east shed, demolition of the body, paint and tram fitting shops. By 2025 it is also possible that the bus depot will be demolished in favour of hard standing as most facilities will be accommodated in the East Shed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-24561487053469752002021-12-15T20:48:00.000+00:002021-12-15T20:48:14.684+00:00Coastliner Expansion, Blackpool loans and suvivors<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Coastliner Buses</b> has secured five school contracts for Lancashire County Council and is starting to acquire suitable vehicles ahead of their start on 4th January.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">LX03BTV is a new to Stagecoach London Plaxton bodied Trident acquired from London Borough of Havering and now in Coastliner livery.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 ex Abellio Enviro 400s including LJ09CAA</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Their London Routemaster RML887 has been treated to a full repaint into London red and on completion featured on a road run in London to mark the anniversary of the end of Routemasters on their last route - the 159.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, <b>Blackpool Transport</b> has been assisting Warrington's Own Buses with a vehicle shortage. Centro 531 has been on hire from 1st to 13th December before returning to Rosso. Enviro 200s 566, 572 and 580 are there too. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool survivor updates include the sale of 342 to Dews of Somersham ex Vision bus - it rejoins 336. Thanks to Ron Way for the report last month. Solo 249 has left Archway and is now with Smiths of Marple. DAF 354 has been sold by Dekkabus and is currently advertised by Xelabus in allover white.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-7618378955264788832021-12-08T00:17:00.001+00:002021-12-08T00:17:18.492+00:00Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes - the ideal Christmas Gift!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes by Paul Turner is on sale at £45. You can buy it from:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fylde Transport Trust - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fyldetransporttrust/posts/1942240622605948">click here for how</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours <a href="https://heritagetramtours.square.site/product/blue-buses-of-lytham-st-annes/164?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=15" target="_blank">Click Here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Videoscene <a href="https://www.videoscene.co.uk/blue-buses-of-lytham-by-paul-turner-book" target="_blank">click here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">MDS Book Sales <a href="https://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/recent-titles/blue-buses-of-lytham.html" target="_blank">click here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes by Paul Turner is still available for sale from the following outlets:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the author via <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203299225315?fbclid=IwAR0kPyie3LzVQkq1muH8Rrv4FFIXbiPcF3g8Yo7PNtOdK-egKyzcHZddU7c" target="_blank">EBay</a> or by emailing <a href="mailto:bluebusesbook@gmail.com">bluebusesbook@gmail.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plackitt and Booth bookshop, Lytham (<a href="https://plackittandbooth.co.uk/product/blue-buses-of-lytham-st-annes-signed/" target="_blank">on line shop</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/buses-trolleybuses/blue-buses-of-lytham.html" target="_blank">MDS Books</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Tram Shop and <a href="https://www.videoscene.co.uk/blue-buses-of-lytham-by-paul-turner-book" target="_blank">Videoscene</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fyldetransporttrust/photos/a.1000405603456126/1942240582605952/">Fylde Transport Trust</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://heritagetramtours.square.site/product/blue-buses-of-lytham-st-annes/164?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=2" target="_blank">Heritage Tram Tours</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some feedback from early sales:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Just a quick message to say thank you and to congratulate you for creating such a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">superb publication."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think you and your father between you have written the definitive works on Lytham public transport." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I've had a quick look through it, very impressed with the quality and the excellent photographs"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Have had trouble putting it down since the memories are overflowing. A quality work to add to my collection that will be treasured."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Well what a great book. Having great difficulty putting it down. So much detail, information & unseen photographs"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"received your book this morning and have to say it’s outstanding"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Your book has just arrived. It looks absolutely fabulous. Out of the hundreds of transport books which I have, I am going to enjoy this one the most. "</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/s2048/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/w640-h446/Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">BLUE BUSES OF LYTHAM ST. ANNES has been researched and written over 25 years. It tells the story of the introduction of buses by Lytham St. Annes Corporation in 1923 right through the Fylde era to the final takeover by Blackpool Transport in 1996. It is 248 pages, 350 photos (250 in colour) and sells for £45</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-76517227093426846322021-11-07T22:14:00.003+00:002021-11-07T22:18:48.414+00:00FTT Service 14 Running Day<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIUuAeOazyBhxF-xve7Z4R0bf0txYtZJGBeWPs4SfluYFQeAgD1TbxLZcDWwurEbmGD3vbqBPUIccTfiLZOUCOdYPPF3mwbJ5HS8Hc47rhz03LCH7NhCHvqGdpvZDHcptO7dtfn9TUDOt/s1792/E8A10796-F6F7-43DA-AC96-3697E2E611F0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1792" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIUuAeOazyBhxF-xve7Z4R0bf0txYtZJGBeWPs4SfluYFQeAgD1TbxLZcDWwurEbmGD3vbqBPUIccTfiLZOUCOdYPPF3mwbJ5HS8Hc47rhz03LCH7NhCHvqGdpvZDHcptO7dtfn9TUDOt/w640-h296/E8A10796-F6F7-43DA-AC96-3697E2E611F0.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>516 passes the Castle Gardens</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Today saw the Fylde Transport Trust’s final Blackpool Bus 100 event with PD3s 516 and 529, Atlantean 334 and Swift 570 operating between Blackpool and Fleetwood over the 14 route during the afternoon. An excellent day by all accounts - a few photos from Carleton and Fleetwood. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2OX9asgQfvGSUgqeelyZzTNrOMCurd4JwZIBY4-glY5KHo8ltG6u_6esj8p9Hrpil6z1vIDDkOMzEVqqEtF7wvhuqJGN3qrNarA7ysfb8JdYoM5GLzcS0nLvoBIr9V1B5Fitrf7fN3Yu/s1024/3E7CE2A5-D067-41B1-9FA1-4B293F6BDA4D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2OX9asgQfvGSUgqeelyZzTNrOMCurd4JwZIBY4-glY5KHo8ltG6u_6esj8p9Hrpil6z1vIDDkOMzEVqqEtF7wvhuqJGN3qrNarA7ysfb8JdYoM5GLzcS0nLvoBIr9V1B5Fitrf7fN3Yu/w640-h472/3E7CE2A5-D067-41B1-9FA1-4B293F6BDA4D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>529 at the Queens hi Hotel, Fleetwood</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVp8oEtQQaK5makWF1MjXduQQ-DImMpcvanSVec3gA5UR_PBABRHMEcelGToQB8LiZrE2ol4z5ZuvmkOeKjkXMGzNhWtjb2I6oacAIhbOaRI9jHNYnWR6pCzmSJuslarRUzlVmLUzkx_G/s2048/6AA05576-A9BA-4719-B109-8A30A44F3DF6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVp8oEtQQaK5makWF1MjXduQQ-DImMpcvanSVec3gA5UR_PBABRHMEcelGToQB8LiZrE2ol4z5ZuvmkOeKjkXMGzNhWtjb2I6oacAIhbOaRI9jHNYnWR6pCzmSJuslarRUzlVmLUzkx_G/w640-h530/6AA05576-A9BA-4719-B109-8A30A44F3DF6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>529 at Carleton Crematorium </i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRY-SlvyrrJslN1y2BJYH-1B7RSO_c3iq5HoGhKUBSZdFQvQ6pp-fuBVGeV-O79MlmPE5E5WUPgwDnuulOUtbXeZdN9FiUkM0Dv53Z16zNhksWZi6uBiWUvpo07NFVuVt0RVoXGsn6NOt/s842/6C1D8F23-D914-4F65-8D50-D735A9CB9B67.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRY-SlvyrrJslN1y2BJYH-1B7RSO_c3iq5HoGhKUBSZdFQvQ6pp-fuBVGeV-O79MlmPE5E5WUPgwDnuulOUtbXeZdN9FiUkM0Dv53Z16zNhksWZi6uBiWUvpo07NFVuVt0RVoXGsn6NOt/w630-h640/6C1D8F23-D914-4F65-8D50-D735A9CB9B67.jpeg" width="630" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>334 approaching Carleton Crematorium </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-74251210621112005912021-11-07T22:07:00.004+00:002021-11-07T22:07:50.043+00:00Autumn Update<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A round up of recent news:</span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Coastal Coaches</span></b></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Having standardised on Optare Solos, Coastal acquired its first Mercedes Sprinter buses with Mellor Strata Ultra bodies. They are WO21OGH and WO21OGJ. Ex Quality Line Solos YJ62FKX and YJ62FVT have been withdrawn. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Coastliner</b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Zoo route 22 was extended to run every weekend in September and October plus Tuesdays to Thursdays in the last two weeks of October. They have been regularly working Metrolink tram replacements in Greater Manchester too. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Blackpool Transport</b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Service changes saw an uplift in frequency on 5 September much of which was undone on the 19th as a staff shortage kicked in. This grew worse in October causing the 1 to be suspended on several days and in the end it was reduced to run between Cleveleys and Town Centre only with an extension to Fleetwood on Tuesdays. This took effect on 10th September with a timetable change to coordinate with Coastliner 21 after a week. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Former Blackpool Buses</b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The last of the withdrawn Tridents finally left on 5 November - 314/5 heading to Lodge Coaches High Easter joining several others. Trainer 974 (304) has joined former 975 (339) for conversion to cafes. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">343 (H1FBT) is now YIL2805 (it’s fifth registration) and after a brief period with B&N Barnoldswick has passed to Freeway of Pinton Notts. Sister 326 has passed to Panther, Parkeston from M&M Staffing.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">358 has been withdrawn by Dekkabus and is being stripped for spares </span></div>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-18216916445527778352021-08-14T20:57:00.000+01:002021-08-14T20:57:09.108+01:00News Round Up<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport introduced revised summer services from 25 July which unusually features lower frequencies - reversing recent practise which saw frequencies increase.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 1 still runs every 30 mins, the 2 reduced to hourly. The 3, 4 and 7 are running every 30 minutes, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 14 every 20 mins. Even the Zoo service, 20, is a poor 90 minute frequency. Meanwhile BT are providing several vehicles on rail replacement in Greater Manchester currently. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fleetwise the six Centros returned from loan to Rosso after the school term ended. They are currently for sale.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coastliner buses has introduced a new 22 from Tower to Zoo every 20 minutes with the first trip starting at Marton Mere - the last one returns there too. It runs 17 July-30 August Tues to Thurs and at weekends too. V158MEV an open top Trident is now in fleet livery for this route having previously run on Sightseeing Manchester. Sister V145MEV has also seen use. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coastliner has been active on Manchester Metrolink replacement services recently. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">CK53AKO is the latest ex Cardiff Dart to join the fleet and is painted in a mainly blue livery. </span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-60990177272145287352021-07-04T19:15:00.000+01:002021-07-04T19:15:21.893+01:00Anniversary review<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uWC2B3HAkxL3qLFMDNDvUliICSoj7hfx-pJLF70YYzheST7dEVgBgmdMGrVCxlwhzhPy4n5XZGVqWw-fR0-Wu-JoH0W9x9q8aaZKOXzxm91cch0SnB-QbV-RNrNRY1Yjqq40j4xaccbQ/s2048/51288856616_284aa637a6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uWC2B3HAkxL3qLFMDNDvUliICSoj7hfx-pJLF70YYzheST7dEVgBgmdMGrVCxlwhzhPy4n5XZGVqWw-fR0-Wu-JoH0W9x9q8aaZKOXzxm91cch0SnB-QbV-RNrNRY1Yjqq40j4xaccbQ/w640-h480/51288856616_284aa637a6_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Buses cross at Stanley Park with PD3 529 and Atlantean 334 on the 21 (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This weekend saw the birthday weekend celebrations of Blackpool Buses with 19 different buses taking part. This included 6 from the </span><a href="https://fyldett.org.uk/" style="font-family: verdana;">Fylde Transport Trust</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 6 which are owned by Gary Conn and Martin Gurr as part of the Best Bus in Town collection, 5 owned by Blackpool Transport and two privately owned buses. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The events kicked off at 1400 on Friday - the birthday date - when Blackpool Transport's Olympian open topper worked the first of three tours up the Prom to Cleveleys then along the original route to Thornton and back again. Tour 2 used Preserved PD3 501 at 1600 and Tour 3 Blackpool's Atlantean 364. All three are part of the Blackpool Heritage fleet.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3Ol5LnQN7m4VNo2vf3qMPyzbBMoAc_OXJhucFnP-gk4gORQp2DEqt31Nl1fQApgDKRn5A8f-Jri-YfF_yAzeo9STJS5Qa8316umQnFOIN3SxSwej6s-DvABTtESGg9XeZOCu5djFfzei/s2048/51287336289_7e639dc107_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3Ol5LnQN7m4VNo2vf3qMPyzbBMoAc_OXJhucFnP-gk4gORQp2DEqt31Nl1fQApgDKRn5A8f-Jri-YfF_yAzeo9STJS5Qa8316umQnFOIN3SxSwej6s-DvABTtESGg9XeZOCu5djFfzei/w640-h480/51287336289_7e639dc107_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>A superb addition to the ranks of preserved buses in Solo 288 which is now part of the Best Bus in Town Collection with 501, 554, 262, 133 and 589. Outshopped last week it has been restored to as new Lifestyle Line 16 livery. It arrived on 4th April 2007 and made its debut on the first day of the 16 on 16th April. It was repainted into the new black and yellow livery in August 2010 and again in May 2014. It was withdrawn in June 2018 and has been stored locally since disposal in December 2019</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday started with a parade of buses. 17 were involved and these gathered in Blackpool's Rigby Road yard. The buses were grouped into four and ran to Squires Gate in a holding area before running from Starr Gate up the Promenade to North Pier then running to Gynn Square to turn and disperse. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXDyWbECTTS7aXY2q0YTKF94Z4nFZm2B6zaUQQjKN1Mv70pw6D2RWJJhHoVR7-cyGTsnwduifF3W319my2S6qvCSJiQWaEQmbC-_QaNu07Xwi_CRo48QTUXi17SvqkH-3TBjiWSA4X89o/s2048/51286614776_ef77cc7390_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXDyWbECTTS7aXY2q0YTKF94Z4nFZm2B6zaUQQjKN1Mv70pw6D2RWJJhHoVR7-cyGTsnwduifF3W319my2S6qvCSJiQWaEQmbC-_QaNu07Xwi_CRo48QTUXi17SvqkH-3TBjiWSA4X89o/w640-h480/51286614776_ef77cc7390_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Swifts 554 and 570 depart Rigby Road ready for the parade of buses (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Group 1 featured PD3s 501 and 516 and Swifts 554 and 570. Group 2 had Atlanteans 334, 362 and 364 with Olympian 857 and Routemaster 521 (RM1583). Group 3 was all Optare built, led by City Pacer 575 with Delta 133, Metrorider 589 and Excel 225 with Group 4 featuring Solos 288 and 292, Citaro 554 and Enviro 400 458. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the parade, ten buses went on display at the Headland, some directly after the parade, others with a visit to the depot so as to spread the arrivals for marshalling purposes. The display comprised 501, 516, 512, both 554s, 362 857, 225, 589 and 458. 512 was the 18th bus used and did not take part in the parade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At 1200 the free bus service numbered 100 started using Solos 288 - in Line 16 livery and 292 in black and yellow and now used for driver training. Atlantean 364 and Delta 133 completed the line up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the evening FTT ran 334 and 570 over the route of service 1 from North Pier to Poulton via Carleton and Castle Gardens.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEI5X0iEzhraqbSIW3-bZeIbELN0wOf15tgB7sle1BVBlRA2ddafC9OBgUbTPzPSfeGry9O26skuwDzTQ0UdCOvTAfTwzFgPFYEbZ6nsVsm47UtksnBoacu4NHUKuESXUnLvCaqievLKm/s2048/51288827230_05fb245bd7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEI5X0iEzhraqbSIW3-bZeIbELN0wOf15tgB7sle1BVBlRA2ddafC9OBgUbTPzPSfeGry9O26skuwDzTQ0UdCOvTAfTwzFgPFYEbZ6nsVsm47UtksnBoacu4NHUKuESXUnLvCaqievLKm/w640-h480/51288827230_05fb245bd7_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Night bus - 570 awaits departure from Poulton at 2300 on Saturday. (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday saw two different free services, plus another round of tours 501 at 1100, 364 at 1300 and 857 at 1500. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Service 100 used six buses. 133, 288, 362, 501, 857 and an ex Arriva Dennis Dart owned by Andy Mitchell and painted as a 'what might have been' bus in Blackpool's late 1990s livery and fleet number 296.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">FTT recreated the Zoo service 21 using Atlantean 334, PD3 529 and City Pacer 575.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This brought the events to an end - though there may be some more celebrations later in the year. With 19 buses featured, 11 of which gave rides this was the biggest bus gathering in Blackpool since the end of Totally Transport a few years ago.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKQOe-jykmwCAlHgs0-gH7FV3MGrzKKMdQtcUoZjNGyEGFx-2jMBH-dmzCGMQfyedlPPNX6TEzGdJ64zuzus8_TG7S4XSiNCTTQsqVPNx0KkwwkDtJlmpPunPJxI99lIUhOHjVK0PVCWu/s2048/51286614771_f7728f6914_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKQOe-jykmwCAlHgs0-gH7FV3MGrzKKMdQtcUoZjNGyEGFx-2jMBH-dmzCGMQfyedlPPNX6TEzGdJ64zuzus8_TG7S4XSiNCTTQsqVPNx0KkwwkDtJlmpPunPJxI99lIUhOHjVK0PVCWu/w640-h480/51286614771_f7728f6914_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Metrorider 589 was one of three Handybus vehicles in the parade (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6xIGbrU1q3_MYmTW0rVcmQvL_mKjFax51dO-G3JziHSgaD0Di4fUiLI2p3diQOFI2-cjZ-NRVlqzHycMsKgxiszsXCqzY95V5nDhZr89cXFSzSejeSeYCShniuZY1VYHYGRBCTF7eUeE/s2048/51286786693_94fe8b9fee_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6xIGbrU1q3_MYmTW0rVcmQvL_mKjFax51dO-G3JziHSgaD0Di4fUiLI2p3diQOFI2-cjZ-NRVlqzHycMsKgxiszsXCqzY95V5nDhZr89cXFSzSejeSeYCShniuZY1VYHYGRBCTF7eUeE/w640-h480/51286786693_94fe8b9fee_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">City Pacer 575 was another - returned to use for the first time since 2004 (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaqeYziiJci-uPQbIhMLc9n7d35m5IjGf34u6alfkdJ96jl7m54pPfA9iY4J0JNGNU9nmhgpJrGq2VMEFoLxlEcLCImbHLdpVS6Zg-a8fT57AEiqv0XdKMxHKGTbeCraB9N2bKl8KLrOf/s2048/51289024133_262021c1d6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaqeYziiJci-uPQbIhMLc9n7d35m5IjGf34u6alfkdJ96jl7m54pPfA9iY4J0JNGNU9nmhgpJrGq2VMEFoLxlEcLCImbHLdpVS6Zg-a8fT57AEiqv0XdKMxHKGTbeCraB9N2bKl8KLrOf/w640-h480/51289024133_262021c1d6_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">334 awaits departure on the first 21 to the Zoo (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXpKCV1pCyBfJ0huDnxFh6b1bP9LY5csVoCMiUw3zPeAIZbiHyeUnfvw-r7zHE_MxT2sMiteKV1Si-pB-_qvAXfxzcnmsI6mwaEmxbT16S4YqypZyGYCPnwTz_kCtYx7eDHE1S3b_Y2rX/s2048/51289024708_321329a1da_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXpKCV1pCyBfJ0huDnxFh6b1bP9LY5csVoCMiUw3zPeAIZbiHyeUnfvw-r7zHE_MxT2sMiteKV1Si-pB-_qvAXfxzcnmsI6mwaEmxbT16S4YqypZyGYCPnwTz_kCtYx7eDHE1S3b_Y2rX/w640-h480/51289024708_321329a1da_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Delta 133 worked the 100 service on both days this weekend (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPbck67_cGkpXU8kcqJApGTq3tKLwiAcKJyV8WcQCfq07For3XBVikzAQdmT88H-ymODf5ZMclnnviF0Pv-z7zaPFa9Hp62ce2uYCYVMF1UNX_PU9GLXS9v_y-bikRm-GgMHAUq88SvwT/s2048/51289028793_ab16048ca8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPbck67_cGkpXU8kcqJApGTq3tKLwiAcKJyV8WcQCfq07For3XBVikzAQdmT88H-ymODf5ZMclnnviF0Pv-z7zaPFa9Hp62ce2uYCYVMF1UNX_PU9GLXS9v_y-bikRm-GgMHAUq88SvwT/w640-h480/51289028793_ab16048ca8_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>334 at the Zoo terminus - this is one of the last remaining fully intact 1990s shelters. These were installed by Blackpool Transport who won the contract from Adshel, who responded by suddenly removing their shelters. This one retains all glass - including the 'tower and waves' logo. Several others exist in shell form (including one at Stanley Park) and others have been modified with new a flat roof and metal panels in place of the glazing. In a couple of places the shelters have been removed but the advertising panel survives! (Paul Turner)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tx6HillN85cmImO6GKzaLo3I-cqoYGx_ebi31iNegqzpn-3L6acYANkMxYTBp2eEivAVw6iX1x18nbaE_mzjx4PUqo06j_rbkQUQqbL9nlkgF2Enp3mrq3RtP6j1t2l0QE_3l_ib089d/w640-h480/51289726008_c4aa8c0776_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">PD3 529 negotiates the roundabout at Stanley Park on the 21 route (Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tx6HillN85cmImO6GKzaLo3I-cqoYGx_ebi31iNegqzpn-3L6acYANkMxYTBp2eEivAVw6iX1x18nbaE_mzjx4PUqo06j_rbkQUQqbL9nlkgF2Enp3mrq3RtP6j1t2l0QE_3l_ib089d/s2048/51289726008_c4aa8c0776_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-59378864073307440332021-07-02T11:23:00.000+01:002021-07-02T11:23:05.944+01:00100 years old<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Saturday 2nd July 1921 a Tilling Stevens single decker left Cleveleys Beach for Thornton Station and Blackpool Corporation became a bus operator. The Corporation itself first became a transport operator in 1892, when it took over the tram company and is believed to be the oldest council owned transport operation in Europe, if not the World.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like the trams, bus operations tended to be started by private operators - indeed William Smith, a Blackpool councillor, had started Blackpool's first motor bus route from Layton tram terminus to Bispham in June 1920 and later added routes to Poulton and Staining plus local routes in South Shore and Fleetwood. In 1926/7 Smith's business was absorbed into the Corporation network which had expanded with its first Blackpool area route from Adelaide Place to Devonshire Road via Caunce Street in December 1922.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Starting with a route outside its boundary was unusual, but it was a product of an agreement which prevented the LMS from opening a branch from Thornton to Cleveleys. This also included a coal train service on the tramway from Thornton Gate to Fleetwood. The bus service linked the tramway at Cleveleys with Thornton Station and tended to use one bus at a time, sometimes with a second bus at peak times. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It continued, with a brief extension to Burn Naze in 1927 until 1931. By this time Ribble had established a strong presence in the Fleetwood, Cleveleys and Thornton area and the Corporation had built up larger network centred on Blackpool. Route numbers had been allocated in 1927 and the pioneer service was given the somewhat dismissive number 13. It had grown to a 15 minute frequency by 1930 but ended on 20th December 1931, with Ribble taking over and integrating into its own network. Today the main link is provided by Coastliner buses 24 - though with a few diversions through residential areas that didn't exist in the 20s - and Blackpool's 75 which sticks to the main Victoria Road like the 13 did. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-14113278920869513492021-06-26T15:13:00.005+01:002021-06-26T19:50:37.454+01:00Blackpool 100 Events<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4aJnex2oRSGASRLxN8vROhCH2dKH7lGuGNG51qfHSl0JoSEs-EYt2jSIfFcmNqA9H3CEonjVDg7SXID3JP4OjNTZoytQfufzg7YzIsKJz6vdZAmqiKH5b9FWxUWImrRvKwF4uBk7yTkI/s1213/7F69EA87-4C12-4F0C-9409-B112D983131A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="1213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4aJnex2oRSGASRLxN8vROhCH2dKH7lGuGNG51qfHSl0JoSEs-EYt2jSIfFcmNqA9H3CEonjVDg7SXID3JP4OjNTZoytQfufzg7YzIsKJz6vdZAmqiKH5b9FWxUWImrRvKwF4uBk7yTkI/s320/7F69EA87-4C12-4F0C-9409-B112D983131A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">More details are now available for the Blackpool bus 100 events next weekend. Friday sees three bookable tours from Blundell Street to Cleveleys and Thornton. These cost £3 and trips are bookable on PD3 501 at 1600 and Atlantean 364 at 1800 on the Friday while the earlier trip at 1400 with Olympian Open Topper 857 appears booked up. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday at the time of writing 501’s 1100 trip is nearly booked up with seats available on 364 at 1300 and 857 at 1500. Book at </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blackpoolheritage.com/" target="_blank">Blackpool Heritage Trams Tours</a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Saturday there’s a procession at 1000 from Starr Gate to North Pier before many vehicles are displayed on Tower Headland 1200-1600.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A special free service will run from Pleasure Beach to Gynn Square on both Saturday and Sunday to the timetable below.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vuk_os8TSFghKQdZ4fiiKn9gPcMwtCHHye2fzB_zbN3m3dsdAyi5tE0N7vh_43q9dHD0zTj-e3CqWtdFrAC9tVXRBNmaiFj_PBNoBtOZxxbArLMaCqG4pc6ZEg8G0-0J4630GKbnSwA6/s1280/CE406573-01DB-4807-84EC-9E7993585F00.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vuk_os8TSFghKQdZ4fiiKn9gPcMwtCHHye2fzB_zbN3m3dsdAyi5tE0N7vh_43q9dHD0zTj-e3CqWtdFrAC9tVXRBNmaiFj_PBNoBtOZxxbArLMaCqG4pc6ZEg8G0-0J4630GKbnSwA6/w360-h640/CE406573-01DB-4807-84EC-9E7993585F00.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday night sees Fylde Transport Trust run two of their buses, one confirmed as Swift 570, on a Beer and Buses from North Pier to Poulton to over the old 1 route to the times below. On Sunday they will operate very 20 minutes Tower to Zoo over the old 21 route. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">FTT are preparing Swift 570 and Atlantean 334 for the weekend and have cosmetically altered recently acquired Excel 225 to represent the Handybus livery. Also City Pacer 575 has returned home after mechanical repairs in Stoke and now has its first MoT since back in 2004.</span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiankhoJAzMlrwXDaBHSBRB114ICHUYLH4FNP1BlPwHpKugeSsRQKrfg893-tCNavzvN89uJgqpN2cU9sUUn7tqUGw7a2I19-0OfQkRkLJaHfHSkSqUMBeApJ-KZdnKeTruOc6CI8vJXSAb/s1228/68CA343E-7942-49B7-B20E-2A556340B34A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiankhoJAzMlrwXDaBHSBRB114ICHUYLH4FNP1BlPwHpKugeSsRQKrfg893-tCNavzvN89uJgqpN2cU9sUUn7tqUGw7a2I19-0OfQkRkLJaHfHSkSqUMBeApJ-KZdnKeTruOc6CI8vJXSAb/s320/68CA343E-7942-49B7-B20E-2A556340B34A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">FTT's Saturday Beer and Buses to Poulton<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4aJnex2oRSGASRLxN8vROhCH2dKH7lGuGNG51qfHSl0JoSEs-EYt2jSIfFcmNqA9H3CEonjVDg7SXID3JP4OjNTZoytQfufzg7YzIsKJz6vdZAmqiKH5b9FWxUWImrRvKwF4uBk7yTkI/s1213/7F69EA87-4C12-4F0C-9409-B112D983131A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="1213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4aJnex2oRSGASRLxN8vROhCH2dKH7lGuGNG51qfHSl0JoSEs-EYt2jSIfFcmNqA9H3CEonjVDg7SXID3JP4OjNTZoytQfufzg7YzIsKJz6vdZAmqiKH5b9FWxUWImrRvKwF4uBk7yTkI/s320/7F69EA87-4C12-4F0C-9409-B112D983131A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>FTT's Sunday 21 service to the Zoo</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-22396993860765935612021-06-13T23:00:00.000+01:002021-06-13T23:00:16.998+01:00Fylde Transport Trust Running Day<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoUxTVDFfiUv7UoZEeQNYedNAHgsyIuDfHualmP2EznobWxKkCCz1DTW6V3VpCYpG0Waof_tY-1uN2PfdLlIduSzyFlbA4iW2VTtBTxjFaHiK9eGY4UhJhVL3Aw7gnXhjOZW4OzErt88C/s2048/516+521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoUxTVDFfiUv7UoZEeQNYedNAHgsyIuDfHualmP2EznobWxKkCCz1DTW6V3VpCYpG0Waof_tY-1uN2PfdLlIduSzyFlbA4iW2VTtBTxjFaHiK9eGY4UhJhVL3Aw7gnXhjOZW4OzErt88C/w480-h640/516+521.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">PD3 516 and Routemaster RM1583 pose at North Pier towards the end of the day</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today marked the Fylde Transport Trust's first event of 2021 a running day to mark 60 years of the end of Lytham Road trams; celebrate two new restorations and one new purchase and mark 35 years since the first Routemaster ran in Blackpool. FTT assembled a credible six buses - with plenty more in reserve. Fylde Paladin 7 kicked off proceedings at 1200 from North Pier to Squires Gate its first run with FTT. Lytham Atlantean 77 making its first passenger trip in over 20 years followed at 1230. In between Blackpool PD3 529 and RM1583 (Blackpool 521) ran between North Pier and Halfway House over the 5A route via Lytham Road, Watson Road and Lindale Gardens - the route the RM was trialed on in 1986. These four buses maintained the scheduled 15 minute departures from North Pier. A second PD3 516 ran extra trips on the 5A, finishing with the last trip of the day over the long lost 13 via Marton Drive to Lindale Gardens and back to town as a 5. Excel 225 - recently purchased by FTT from the Busman of Knutsford duplicated the Paladin - and completed its duties when a air system fault sidelined the Atlantean. Plenty came for a ride - with masks and social distancing to the fore - it is 2021 after all! </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlS2ndZhBoqsBSSt-7iJnm5eRmaz7RYbPAMVoWRnOafrKC66FO_DIUg5FbE1xBVDaTBKlOoC1dDgtjH_pGnjwVpGwXmQV38edAVOrHMXcXiPHJxZaUVa-ZqTzkP_RPcXCNOqk-J5nQL75/s2048/51243833327_1c63a7fcba_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlS2ndZhBoqsBSSt-7iJnm5eRmaz7RYbPAMVoWRnOafrKC66FO_DIUg5FbE1xBVDaTBKlOoC1dDgtjH_pGnjwVpGwXmQV38edAVOrHMXcXiPHJxZaUVa-ZqTzkP_RPcXCNOqk-J5nQL75/w640-h480/51243833327_1c63a7fcba_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Blackpool's first Routemaster RM1583 was tested on the 5/5A (Halfway House to Grange Park) from January 1986. It was later purchased and became 521. It joined the FTT collection in 2003 and after several years in Blackpool colours it reverted to London red as a wedding bus. Today it recreated its trail operation (albeit infinitely smarter) and is seen here waiting time at the Halfway House time point (all Paul Turner)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /><br /></i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNev2b93RHcoSP9eWca2QgtPUXMwFaYwIdzz8vWxHxQx3TP_Cx0f9oR-LWXEOF5mI0VDarRHu91ruVnKv8RM7pdoftb_CC41sQu8c52bnmfajCy-oh6wXKnR8udzKIZ-NidTNlI_R_HcWs/s2048/51244547216_e89c6ef171_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNev2b93RHcoSP9eWca2QgtPUXMwFaYwIdzz8vWxHxQx3TP_Cx0f9oR-LWXEOF5mI0VDarRHu91ruVnKv8RM7pdoftb_CC41sQu8c52bnmfajCy-oh6wXKnR8udzKIZ-NidTNlI_R_HcWs/w640-h386/51244547216_e89c6ef171_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Lytham 77 has recently had a restoration with a rebuilt front end and platform. Its 1998 coat of original Lytham livery has been retained for now - though it is due to revert to its 1977 Fylde Borough blue, white and yellow livery. It was last used for the farewell photos at the closure of Squires Gate Depot in April 1999 and is seen here setting off from North Pier on its first passenger carrying journey since then.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_EYMu2XTkmlu-wCcN5GEmAyFNLk-DfpzieHYN1nVb8QkndFL2cilJEtYEJa9DBgn5UfcpU__t_q2jAsT8JymsdO3TatS89VrSxH0_5T-foy6Ue2Uv6e7OyblDS6vLNN44eqGVKftMMSu/s2048/51244740633_8b0912e49f_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_EYMu2XTkmlu-wCcN5GEmAyFNLk-DfpzieHYN1nVb8QkndFL2cilJEtYEJa9DBgn5UfcpU__t_q2jAsT8JymsdO3TatS89VrSxH0_5T-foy6Ue2Uv6e7OyblDS6vLNN44eqGVKftMMSu/w640-h480/51244740633_8b0912e49f_o.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>77 has also been treated to a retrim in its original moquette - with most seats now looking as good as they did over 50 years ago when the bus first entered service.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-N_To_iX0Km0rEfW76xsXHyxY8X5Og1Z7SE4mJSIMkLcKr2jI50LSlZcTYj0C6X2-5ytk7xrwixGY65YvhxKJE5WaKstMDgT75_H7MfDG4_WXHYhMxJPpfHNisc7uq8oLFB9tOrlJtC0/s2048/51244748093_e14d03c352_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-N_To_iX0Km0rEfW76xsXHyxY8X5Og1Z7SE4mJSIMkLcKr2jI50LSlZcTYj0C6X2-5ytk7xrwixGY65YvhxKJE5WaKstMDgT75_H7MfDG4_WXHYhMxJPpfHNisc7uq8oLFB9tOrlJtC0/w640-h480/51244748093_e14d03c352_o.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">A year after 77, TKU469K was delivered to Bradford Corporation. In 1993 Fylde had it rebodied as a single decker. Today was its debut after restoration - though some issues with the air system curtailed its day.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBohwFz5K_USnMuv96g2TLkNeTvbTDpNQi3J-1ag2gb5hYvKcVP86wj-1kG3jNzPChVF_LNwyO860hG5iI4sAYK2A2Joe6dCCuy2VLY_H2LZZGuDmAtXLpNxbl0KhzYXExumywcM0m0XV/s2048/51245605185_28da354b30_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBohwFz5K_USnMuv96g2TLkNeTvbTDpNQi3J-1ag2gb5hYvKcVP86wj-1kG3jNzPChVF_LNwyO860hG5iI4sAYK2A2Joe6dCCuy2VLY_H2LZZGuDmAtXLpNxbl0KhzYXExumywcM0m0XV/w640-h480/51245605185_28da354b30_o.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>Debut number 3 - former Blackpool Excel 225 has been purchased by Fylde Transport Trust from the Busman, Knutsford. It arrived on Saturday and was pressed into service as a dupe today.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-63962882575361313802021-05-29T23:01:00.002+01:002021-06-13T22:53:14.628+01:00News Round Up<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has been a quiet few months in Blackpool. The 'survivors' page has been updated. The original batch of Solos has shrunk further. 267 is now out of use with Blackpool Council, 269, 271, 272 and 273 are on SORN. 276 remains in preservation with Matt Lodge and has recently moved storage locations. <span style="color: red;">Update: Matt Lodge has reported 271 has been scrapped and Blackpool Council sold 267 in August 2019.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Lifestyle Line examples are also now eradicated from service, with 282 last used with Huw's Caernarfon in 2020. Many of the others still operate. The six which went to Newbury & District and ended up with Reading Buses after a takeover have moved on in pairs. 251 and 260 went to Hunt's of Alford, 252 and 256 to Hulleys of Baslow and 254/8 to Chartwell Bus & Coach Sales. Sadly 256 was destroyed by fire at Hulleys a few days ago. 252 is a spares donor - they also have ex Blackpool 243 and 287.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tanat Valley have finished with their Tridents - 343 has not been traced while 344/6 are at British Ironworks, Oswestry for site tours.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport still have Tridents 314/5 in store at Rigby Road - with trainers 973/4 also on SORN. Sister 975 has not been traced since disposal to Archway - it no longer appears under its registration on the DVLA site so may well have been re-registered.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More E400s have rear end adverts with both 408 and 458 advertising Blackpool Better Start and Citaro 553 has an advert for Wyre council.</span></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-9669674541416264082021-05-29T16:16:00.003+01:002021-06-21T21:30:02.130+01:00Blackpool Bus Centenary<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport has announced a weekend of events from 2nd to 4th July to mark 100 years of Blackpool’s buses.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday 2nd July</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">75 minute heritage bus tours 1400, 1600 and 1800 from Blundell Street which covers the original route Cleveleys to Thornton £3 with pre booking required.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday 3rd July</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1000 - parade of buses from Starr Gate to North Pier with up to 20 buses involved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1200-1600 10 buses on display on Tower Headland</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1200-1800 free bus service on route 1 Pleasure Beach to Gynn Square every 15 minutes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1900-2300 Beer and Buses run by FTT between Talbot Square and Poulton via Castle Gardens (1900-2230 from Talbot Square and 1930-2300 from Poulton)</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday 4th July</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">75 minute heritage bus tours 1100, 1300 and 1500 from Blundell Street which covers the original route Cleveleys to Thornton £3 with pre booking required.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1030-1600 FTT run free bus service from Tower to Stanley Park and Zoo every 20 minutes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1100-1700 free bus service on route 1 Pleasure Beach </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">to Gynn Square every 15 minutes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-17936108024905063552021-05-09T22:53:00.002+01:002021-05-09T22:53:12.058+01:00FTT's Blackpool Heritage Bus Running Day<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MOYa425Uv6jcstuOeiK8gjEykgR_I8idQqpJQBuikOdmp-lwDIe4l1UvYT1ol8xYg8WynTKL541xsR2YyzS4t1tX7PsnEo7cNP3FWvv7irTJ1f54_ebUYRtRugQQRf5ryc3AkEkGgC5b/s2048/50780066551_99acebeae1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MOYa425Uv6jcstuOeiK8gjEykgR_I8idQqpJQBuikOdmp-lwDIe4l1UvYT1ol8xYg8WynTKL541xsR2YyzS4t1tX7PsnEo7cNP3FWvv7irTJ1f54_ebUYRtRugQQRf5ryc3AkEkGgC5b/s320/50780066551_99acebeae1_o.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday 13th June will see the welcome return of the chance to ride on some of the Fylde's heritage buses, courtesy of Fylde Transport Trust. This will showcase the recently restored Fylde Atlantean 77 and rare single decker Atlantean 7. Both will run on a 30 minute frequency between Talbot Square and St. Annes Square, while Blackpool PD3 529 and ex London Routemaster RM1583 (Blackpool 521) will recreate service 5 to Halfway House. This will mean a bus every 15 minutes from Talbot Square - both routes running along Lytham Road. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is helps celebrate 100 years of Blackpool's buses; 60 years since buses replaced trams on Lytham Road and 35 years since RM1583 was trialed on the 5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More details on FTT's Facebook page here: </span><a href="https://fb.me/e/3npKO3Zvm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Link</span></a></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-8844306422429469242021-04-05T20:01:00.007+01:002021-04-05T20:05:06.049+01:00Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes - where to buy<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes by Paul Turner is on sale at £45. You can buy it from:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fylde Transport Trust - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fyldetransporttrust/posts/1942240622605948">click here for how</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours <a href="https://heritagetramtours.square.site/product/blue-buses-of-lytham-st-annes/164?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=15" target="_blank">Click Here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Videoscene <a href="https://www.videoscene.co.uk/blue-buses-of-lytham-by-paul-turner-book" target="_blank">click here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">MDS Book Sales <a href="https://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/recent-titles/blue-buses-of-lytham.html" target="_blank">click here</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the author via <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203299225315?fbclid=IwAR0kPyie3LzVQkq1muH8Rrv4FFIXbiPcF3g8Yo7PNtOdK-egKyzcHZddU7c" target="_blank">EBay</a> or by emailing <a href="mailto:bluebusesbook@gmail.com">bluebusesbook@gmail.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plackitt and Booth bookshop, Lytham</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some feedback from early sales:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Just a quick message to say thank you and to congratulate you for creating such a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">superb publication."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think you and your father between you have written the definitive works on Lytham public transport." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I've had a quick look through it, very impressed with the quality and the excellent photographs"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Have had trouble putting it down since the memories are overflowing. A quality work to add to my collection that will be treasured."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Well what a great book. Having great difficulty putting it down. So much detail, information & unseen photographs"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"received your book this morning and have to say it’s outstanding"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Your book has just arrived. It looks absolutely fabulous. Out of the hundreds of transport books which I have, I am going to enjoy this one the most. "</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/s2048/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/w640-h446/Cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">BLUE BUSES OF LYTHAM ST. ANNES has been researched and written over 25 years. It tells the story of the introduction of buses by Lytham St. Annes Corporation in 1923 right through the Fylde era to the final takeover by Blackpool Transport in 1996. It is 248 pages, 350 photos (250 in colour) and sells for £45</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-28202144548932819032021-04-05T19:25:00.000+01:002021-04-05T19:25:31.448+01:00News Update<p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lockdown Changes</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blackpool Transport have been running reduced services during the most recent lockdown, several services changed on 10th January and will be revised again from 11th April. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Form 10th January, the 1, 3, 4 and 7 ran every 30 minutes, The 2, 2C, 17 and 18 ran hourly, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 14 every 20 minutes and the 20 continued every 90 minutes. The 1 also started later - though during February and March an enhanced service was provided due to suspension or part suspension of the tramway due to track work. The extra special school services - prefixed by an X - were suspended too, but resumed on 8th March.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From 11th April the 1 reverts to its earlier starting time, 2, 2C and 17 return to every 30 minutes, 3 and 4 to every 20 minutes, 5 and 14 to every 15 minutes. The 6 and 7 retain their reduced frequencies and 18 and 20 are unchanged too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Coastliner Buses</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday 12th April sees the restart of Beach Bus 26 (Marton Mere to Town Centre and Pleasure Beach) on reopening of Marton Mere park. Both ex Stagecoach Solos are now in use in Coastliner livery.</span></p><p><br /></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-84012763606497900442021-03-27T19:02:00.003+00:002021-03-27T19:02:56.430+00:00Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes Now In Stock<div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes is now in stock and can be ordered for collection or delivery from me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can order in four ways</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">1) Email me at </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">bluebusesbook@gmail.com for more details</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">2) Use Paypal's Send Money function to bluebusesbook@gmail.com with £50 for delivery or £45 for collection</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">3) Buy on </span><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203299225315?fbclid=IwAR0kPyie3LzVQkq1muH8Rrv4FFIXbiPcF3g8Yo7PNtOdK-egKyzcHZddU7c" style="font-family: verdana;">Ebay at this link</a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">4) Contract </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fylde Transport Trust, Blackpool Heritage Trams, Videoscene or MDS Books who also have the book in stock</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/s2048/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/w640-h446/Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">BLUE BUSES OF LYTHAM ST. ANNES has been researched and written over 25 years. It tells the story of the introduction of buses by Lytham St. Annes Corporation in 1923 right through the Fylde era to the final takeover by Blackpool Transport in 1996. It is 248 pages, 350 photos (250 in colour) and sells for £45</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><p></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844307864376715964.post-52352721630767387522021-03-09T20:13:00.003+00:002021-03-09T20:58:14.531+00:00Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes<span style="font-family: verdana;">Now taking orders for Blue Buses of Lytham St. Annes. This new book is now being printed and will be available in around 3-4 weeks. You can order direct from the author through paypal. Use the paypal 'send money' to pay £50 for the book with delivery, or £45 to collect from Poulton-le-Fylde. If preferred you can pay by cheque or I can send a paypal invoice. You can also pre-order through this <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203299225315?fbclid=IwAR0kPyie3LzVQkq1muH8Rrv4FFIXbiPcF3g8Yo7PNtOdK-egKyzcHZddU7c">Ebay link</a>. Please drop me a line at bluebusesbook@gmail.com if you have any queries. </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/s2048/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m8bmHiy36NY2mr2s_t-sbQFIZCIVmZiDts_MjuQG7TxzpBYZZpsNi0E0SrWX4pItYBia17Olj5D520-J8r6LTUxurydKGnGx4ivpTTVT4gEyILQLmwmdrBlRlct9mWFP4ybq1jc0s33W/w640-h446/Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">BLUE BUSES OF LYTHAM ST. ANNES has been researched and written over 25 years. It tells the story of the introduction of buses by Lytham St. Annes Corporation in 1923 right through the Fylde era to the final takeover by Blackpool Transport in 1996. It is 248 pages, 350 photos (250 in colour) and will sell for £45. It will be available from the author (signed and numbered) with other retailers to be confirmed. </span><p></p>Paul Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565385208462928375noreply@blogger.com