Indian Summer for Olympians

Volvo Olympian 374 contrasts with tram 016 on Bold Street, Fleetwood (both Tony Caddick)

 August has seen extensive Olympian use with the East Lancs examples likely to be replaced by Manx DAFs. 369, 371-373 and Volvo 374 all put in a turn on the once guaranteed low floor route 14 today. Meanwhile withdrawn 414 has joined 412 at Parton's Barnsley - the latter being dismantled today. (Pics 412 and 414)

Olympian 369 at Tesco terminus

The penultimate of the ten DAFs, 361, arrived on 22nd August with just 363 outstanding. 354-363 are confirmed as L50,100-900BTS

Lytham Scenes

The unusually styled Plaxton bodied Volvos are regulars on the 7 and 11 cycle. 529, colour co-ordinated with the bins, flower pots and Belisha Beacons.

Sister bus 530 passes the war memorial 

A Coastal Coaches Solo - seemingly the spiritual successor to Fylde Borough - heads  into Lytham from South Park on tendered service 78

The surviving 12 Olympians have seen frequent use during August, despite the school holidays. 374 - the last remaining Metro liveried Volvo Olympians - is seen on route 7 and even the normally dedicated school buses 375-9 have run on local routes.

Round Up

ERF 929, tows in a defective Solo on the Promenade. 929 retained the green and cream livery it received on purchase from Blackpool Van Transport in the 1990s, having avoided Metro Coastlines colours it has yet to succumb to black and yellow.

It has been a quiet month after the Golf focused activities of July. DAF 361 has been noted at Blackburn along with what is believed to be 363. Two further examples, Bus Vannin 54 and 81, are also on site for refurbishment and these may be the first of the batch on which Blackpool Transport had an option.

Olympian 412 departed for scrap on 23 August - see pictures here. Three Tridents, 324, 326 and 338 have been equipped with LED destination displays and it is likely that further examples may be fitted in due course.

Excels have appeared on unusual workings this week with 215 on route 10 on Monday followed by 211 on 20s the following day.

Market Street is rarely free of buses and here Excel 217  is on route 7 with Trident 345 behind on the 14.

Ahead of 217 is Stagecoach Trident 18155 on route 68 to Preston via Lytham

Rear Loaders

Classic Bus RML2391 takes on passengers at the Tower 

The old and the new. RML2290 is seen through the doors of one of the Flexity trams

RML2290s crew await custom as Standard tram 147 passes by on the Heritage Tram Tour

DAF Update

359 and 362 are further DAFs to have arrived - 359 on 31 July and 362 in early August (certainly by 9th). 355-360 have now been registered L100-600BTS - like the Tridents using personalised plates, albeit from 1993/4 rather than the 1987/8 series for the Tridents!  361-363 will presumably gain L700-900BTS with 354 as yet unregistered. 

Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Status
354	tbc	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	Arr Blackburn Mar 2012 RR 6/7
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	Arr Blackburn Apr 2012 RR 17/7
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	Arr Blackburn Apr 2012  RR 27/7
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	Arr Blackburn 8 May 2012  RR 27/7
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	Arr Blackburn 8 May 2012 RR 30/7
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	At Blackburn c9 June 2012 RR 31/7
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	At Blackburn c9 June 2012 RR 30/7
362	tbc	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	At Blackburn c9 June 2012 RR Aug
tbc	tbc	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	At Blackburn c9 June 2012
tbc	tbc	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	At Blackburn by c23 June 2012

Meanwhile Excel 225 is now back in service as the last of its type to receive the upgraded power pack. It retains scruffy Line 7 colours.

Classic Bus Scenes

Bristol VR DCA528X heads south with the great length of the Flexity Tram behind

RM1568 awaits a green light at Central Pier

RML2290 takes a break at South Pier

Not on Seafront 12, but Lytham 19 heads north along the Promenade

Pleasure Beach advert bus 269 awaits its next duty at Solaris

A sea of light bulbs highlight the impending start of the Illuminations as RM1568 heads north

RML2734 heads south past the horse trough at Central Pier

Solo returns to Lytham

Once a familiar sight in Lytham on the 2 and later the 7, 17 and 18, Solos are now quite rare. 247 put in a turn on the interworked 7 and 11 today. Here it passes the delapidated but still historic Corporation era shelter at Seafield Road

Alfie Boe, Olly Murs and Bananarama seem more worthy to the Lytham St. Annes Express than an unusual Solo working.

247 pulls away from Lytham Square, reprising its former role on route 7