Sunday 30 April 2017

Snippets

New buses for the 11 - 33 years apart. Sunday 29 April saw ex Fylde Borough 1984 Leyland Atlantean 45 (B75URN) operate an enthusiast tour for the Fylde Tramway Society. It was new as Fylde 75 in October 1984 and was mainly used on the trunk 11/11A service. In 2017 new Enviro 400s, such as the one behind 45, have been introduced on the current Blackpool Transport 11 (Paul Turner)
Optare Excel 221 went for scrap on Thursday 20th April - this leaves just 225 at BTS. Tridents 342 and 349 have returned to use as temporary cover for other buses which are out of use.

Preserved Volvo Olympian 374 operated at the Keighley Bus Museum Trust's Rear Engined Running Day on Sunday 29 April. Former Solo 269 has moved from Halton Transport to John's Coaches of Blaenau Ffestiniog (photo here operating a long Bangor to Barmouth service). Of the six which went to Halton:
  • 269 - their 55 LIG1621 - now with Johns Coaches
  • 271 - their 56 LIG1622 - unknown but believed sold by Halton (still taxed)
  • 272 - their 57 LIG1623 - still with Halton
  • 273 - their 58 LIG1676 - now with Star Travel, Aylesbury
  • 274 - their 59 LIG1677 - belived sold by Halton, now back as V274HEC on SORN.
  • 276 - their 60 LIG1678 - still with Halton
Yorkshire Tiger 262/4 and Blackpool Council Track Services 267 are also still active of this initial batch of 15.

Catch 22 Bus - has announced the withdrawal of service 23 (Cleveleys to Victoria Hospital) on Friday 2 June. A variation to route and timetable of service 24 (Cleveleys to Poulton) has also been registered to start on 5 June. An associated company has started a Sightseeing Tour of Manchester using ex Golden Tours V362OWC and ex Arriva W501RBB.