Brief Round Up

The first two of the second batch of DAFs have now arrived as 364/5 ex Bus Vannin 54 and 81. Sister bus 56 is now at Blackburn for refurbishment. 359-363 are expected to enter service shortly with Olympians 369 371-373 due for withdrawal.

Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	c10/9/12
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	17/7/12	5/9/12
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	27/7/12	5/9/12
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	27/7/12	5/9/12
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	30/7/12	6/9/12
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	31/7/12	awaited
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	Awaited
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	Awaited
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	Awaited
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	Awaited
364	tbc	54	FMN181P	009431	41101	25/9/12	Awaited
365	tbc	81	FMN804T	009830	41109	25/9/12	Awaited

Classic Bus North West commenced route 22 on 10 September. Four ex London Dennis Darts have been acquired as V162/3MAX (Stagecoach London) and X512/33UAT (RATP). http://www.catch22bus.co.uk/ details the route and timetable. An illustrated update will follow when time permits.

DAF and Olympian Update

Olympian 368 has become the second of the new to Blackpool Olympians to be withdrawn joining 370- and the first bus in the new livery to be laid up. It is believed to have been stored in late August. 

DAF 355-358 have now entered service - 355-357 on Wednesday and 358 on Thursday. 354 is likely to debut early next week after attending a classic car rally at Fairhaven Lake. Volvo single deckers 531 and 533 have been noted in use for the annual Bus Driver of the Year event on North Promenade

Manx DAF 354-363 Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	awaited
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	17/7/12	5/9/12
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	27/7/12	5/9/12
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	27/7/12	5/9/12
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	30/7/12	6/9/12
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	31/7/12	Awaited
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	Awaited
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	Awaited
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	Awaited
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	Awaited

DAFs emerge

After a lengthy gestation, the first DAFs entered service today with 355-357 used on school duties. Olympians have continued in use in early September with 371 noted on route 9 today with 374 on the 14. Either 368/9 has been reported in the tram depot however, suggesting it may now be stored. Work has progressed on the fitting of LED blinds to the 2004 and 2006 former Line 11 Tridents with most now treated. 322 and 330 were noted still with roller blinds, 323, 324, 326, 329 and 332 confirmed with LEDs.

Streetscene's 270 - former Blackpool 350 - still puts in regular appearances catering for the staff keeping the upgraded tramway in order

Cumfybus Solo MX05OTA carries a silver base livery from a former promotional livery for Edge Hill University

Preston Bus's Delta training bus - ex Blackpool 128 -has made on of its periodic visits back to the Fylde on driver training duties as seen here in Bispham

Donuts - a staple for Blackpool tourists - draw eyes away from Trident 336 heading south on route 1

The Manx Tridents have settled in well - here 349 heads south on a quite North Promenade

Solo 241 on Whitegate Drive contrasts with a mixture of modern and classic architecture and the archetypal British post box

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

More DAFs

358 and 360 - ex IOM 96 and 89 have now joined 354-357 at Rigby Road

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	tbc	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	Arr Blackburn Apr 2012 RR 17/7
356	tbc	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	Arr Blackburn Apr 2012  RR 27/7
357	tbc	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	Arr Blackburn 8 May 2012  RR 27/7
358	tbc	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	Arr Blackburn 8 May 2012 RR 30/7
360	tbc	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	At Blackburn by late June 2012 RR 30/7
tbc	tbc	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	At Blackburn by late June 2012
tbc	tbc	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	At Blackburn by late June 2012
tbc	tbc	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	At Blackburn by late June 2012
tbc	tbc	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	At Blackburn by late June 2012

Maybe its because they are Londoners

The archetypal London Bus, RML2391 arrives at Pleasure Beach on route 12. 

A London Trio. Blackpool Transport City Sightseeing branded Olympian 873 once London Buses L173 is followed by RM1568 at Tower with RML887 heading north in the distance

Seeing Double (or triple). The ten minute interval on route 14 has clearly gone awry as three Tridents head to Mereside together at Bank Hey Street. The two nearest the camera are 340 and 341, new to independent Blue Triangle (now part of Go Ahead) for use on Transport for London Tenders

DAF and Olympian update

Two more Bus Vannin DAFs have now arrived at Rigby Road with 356/7 joining 354/5. Sisters 360 has now been outshopped at Blackburn joining 358/9.


The end of the open golf has seen the retirement of the Olympians. On the last day (Sunday 22nd) 403, 405, 410 and 370 worked the G02 while 402 and 413 were noted on the G01 along side fleet liveried buses. The service was supplemented at the end of the event but 403 had the honour of the last to return to depot - 413 was the first having failed earlier in the day. The others dropped out of the roster during the week with 415 and 416 seeing least use and 365 and 417 lasting until 20th. 


Eight of the golf advertising buses are understood to have a future as static advertising hoardings at golf courses retaining their advertising. These are likely to be the ECW examples as 365 is understood to have been earmarked for preservation.

Stagecoach (and friends) at the Open

Stagecoach Cumbria Scania/Alexander Enviro 15729 passes Olympian 16639 under the temporary footbridge across Clifton Drive South

Unlike previous open golf events at Lytham Stagecoach managed the Park and Ride operation - previously Blackpool Transport (or earlier Fylde Borough) were responsible. Stagecoach has countrywide experience of the event having been most recently involved with the 2010 St Andrews and 2011 Sandwich events. 

15729 at the loading point on St Andrews Road South.

Taken from the footbridge, Stagecoach 15818 is one of a small batch of new Enviros for Morecambe but made its debut on the Open Golf contract. It is running on the shuttle from the former Queen Mary School site

Reminiscent of school buses from Queens Mary's - albeit with somewhat more modern buses. Enviro 15819 leads the open top Trident on the Yellow car park service 

Some of the team who provided the shuttles pose with Chorley based Olympian 16639. This is on the "Public E" shuttle to Fairlawn Road YMCA site.

Olympian 16653 at the Promenade car park

Olympian 16654 at the Leach Lane / Blackpool Road car park

One of Stagecoach Merseyside ex London Alexander bodied Dennis Tridents leaves Fairlawn Road under the control of marshals.

Another of the Merseyside ex London Tridents 17269 (RUT842 originally X269NNO) at Blackpool Road

Warrington Transport also helped out. Here one of its ex London Volvo B7TLs waits at Leach Lane before heading via Ramsgate Road car park back to the Golf

Blackpool Excel 214 swings into Leach Lane on route 17 - normally a fairly deserted area is almost overwhelmed by buses

Another Warrington Volvo at Leach Lane

Blackpool 333 was working the private contract for the car park at South Shore Cricket Club when seen here on Headroomgate Road

City Sightseeing Resumes

Slightly overlooked in view of the interest in the golf operations, the City Sightseeing tour resumed on Monday to the same timetable as last year. 818 and 873 have been noted in use.