Twelve Minutes at Tesco

Classic Bus North West Volvo B10M 899 passes Mereside turning circle on its way to Tesco on route 22

Olympian 324 departs for Cleveleys having replaced the B10M which is seen heading for depot in the background

Contrasting Island origins: Ex Isle of MAN DAF DB250 356 sets off for Fleetwood on the 14 as the Irish Olympian exits Tesco

Solo 248 - the last in red and an early repaint candidate sits on the 16 stop part way through its trip to Poulton

Trident 306 waits as the next departure on the 14

Sister 245 arrives on route 3 - 12 minutes after the Volvo started this sequence

News Update

417 departed for scrap today - the last of the ECW bodied Olympians following 410 which departed on 20th. Both have gone to Partons, Barnsley for scrap. This leaves preserved 401 and 411 as the sole survivors of Blackpool's 20 second hand closed top Olympians. A further DAF has arrived at Blackburn for overhaul. [Now confirmed as 79 FMN502T - thanks to this flickr link

Exit 270, Enter 1064

The old and the older. Metrorider 1064 and its predecessor Atlantean 270

Blackpool Transport's final Metrorider 512 (S512LHG) was delivered to Blackpool Council's Streetscene Department as the new mess bus for the Track Services team today. It is now numbered 1064 in the council series and replaces Atlantean 270 - former Blackpool 350 which has seen six years service with the council.

512 has latterly been used by Blackpool Transport's Tram Overhead department as a mobile mess vehicle, primarily during the major overhead renewal as part of the tramway upgrade. It has been painted in council livery.

J-Plates for DAFs

The first four of the second batch of ex Bus Vannin DAFs - 364-7 have been registered as J70BTS, J90BTS, J200/300BTS resp. They are likely to enter service shortly.

Solos 280 and 281 from the intial batch of Lifestyle Line Solos have been placed in store joining 267-274 - rather than the expected 275/6.

215 is nearly finished in the paint shop with Solo 260 and Metrorider 512 under treatment. 216, 248 and 277 are next in line for repaints.

Missed off last weeks report, 403, 413 and 416 have now gone for scrap.

Repaints Roll On

Following on from 242, 278 and 302 last month, November has seen Excel 212 and Solo 241 receive the new livery. Currently 215 and 260 are under treatment - the latter being the first of the Line 3 buses to receive the new livery.

Also under paint shop attention is sole surviving Metrorider 512 which is understood to have passed to Blackpool Council to replace Atlantean 270 (ex 350) as their track gang mess bus.

Solos 273 and 274 have joined 267-272 in store. More full size vehicles are now in use on the 2, 2C and 17. Minor service changes from 5 November saw the 2 and 2C retimed removing interworking, 3 and 4 retimed in the evening and additional Sunday morning journeys on the 16.

More DAFs, More Disposals

367 has become the fourth of the second batch of DAFs to arrive (on 23 October). 365 has received the registration from Olympian 365 (UWW5X).

The aforementioned Olympian departed for scrap on Friday 19th, followed by 402 on Moday 22nd. Both went to Partons and Sons of Carlton who have also acquired 403, 410, 413, 416 and 417. These have moved to Jackson's Coaches pending collection.

Classic Bus Update

"Catch 22" - a commercial half hourly service from Cleveleys to Mereside commenced in September, mainly worked by four Dennis Darts purchased from dealers but new to London operators. Olympians, Metrorider 502, an ex Stagecoach Volvo B10M and the odd Metrorider have appeared. Olympian 325 has returned to use following the regaining of the contract for Blackpool and Fylde College routes 72 and 73. It has received fleet livery red front awaiting an all-over advert to cover the former Southdown style green and cream livery. Other advert buses comprise 269 (Pleasure Beach), 324 (Blackpool & Fylde College) and 163 (Bispham High School).

Route and timetable details are here: http://www.catch22bus.co.uk/
Fleet photos are http://cbnw.blogspot.co.uk/ and on Alan Robson's blog: http://blackpooltram.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/catch-22-fleet-update.html


Classic Bus North West Fleet

No	Reg	Chassis	Body	Origins
162	V162MAX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Stagecoach East London 12/99
163	V163MAX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Stagecoach East London 12/99
269	P269PSX	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Lothian Buses 269
324	N324NHG	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Dublin Bus RA264
325	N325NHG	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Dublin Bus RA272
502	P502UFR	Optare Metrorider	Optare	Blackpool 502
512	X512UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	London United DP512 11/2000
528	DCA528X	Bristol VR	ECW	Crosville 528
533	X533UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	London United DP513 11/2000
899	R899XVM	Volvo B10M	Alexander	Stagecoach Manchester
RML887	202UXJ	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (Cummins Engine)
RM1568	BNK324A	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (Cummins Engine)
RML2290	CUV290C	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (Iveco Engine)
RCL2243	CUV243C	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (AEC Engine)
RML2391	JJD391D	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (Cummins Engine)
RML2734	SMK734F	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	London Transport (Cummins Engine)

RML2391 and RCL2243 on loan for summer season

Solos Retired and Olympians doomed

It seems that plans for the Golf advertising Olympians to be used as static hoardings around the country has fallen through as 405 departed for scrap today, with 415 booked to leave tomorrow (17th) and 365 due to meet its maker on Friday. Despite various expressions of interest in preserving one of the ex WY Olympians, 365 seems to be destined to join the other two as scrapped.

Solos 267-272 were withdrawn on Monday eradicating Line 4 livery from the active fleet. Bus repaints have resumed with Olympian 374 back in use in the standard fleet livery - the first full fleet livery repaint since April - the paintshop focusing on advert Tridents, Golf Olympians and trams since then. Solos 242, 278 and Trident 302 are now in the paint shop. 242 is the first of the final batch of Solos to be treated while 278 the oldest Solo (one of the 2002 Lifestyle Line buses).

DAF 361 entered service on Friday 12th October, sister 366 arrived on 9th.

Liveries (excluding stored buses):
Standard fleet: 210/1, 214, 221-4/6; 242, 250-7, 284-93, 301, 310, 322-363, 374-9, 520-533 (93 - 65%)
Line 2: 240/1, 243-7/9, 294 (9 - 6%)
Line 3: 258-60, 295-7 (6 -4%)
Line 5: 248 (1 - 1%)
Line 7: 212/3, 215-7, 225 (6 -4%)
Line 14: 303-309, 311, 316 (9 -6%
Metro Pool: 218-220, 273-7, 279-283 (16 -11%)
Advert: 312-5 (4 - 3%)

Last local Leylands

373, two hours into its last service duty on Bispham Road working the 1100 Cleveleys to Blackpool route 9.

Today has seen the withdrawal of the last Leyland Olympian, other than City Sightseeing open toppers. The week started with four of the six 1989 East Lancs bodied Olympians in use but only 373 lasted the week as the others suffered faults which were not worth repairing. 373 worked route 9 starting at 0930 from Cleveleys and then at 1100, 1230, 1400, 1530 and 1700 returning from Blackpool at 1018, 1148, 1318, 1448, 1618 and its final 1748 Blackpool to Cleveleys from where it ran empty to depot.

December 1991 and 368 in original livery is working a tram replacement service connecting with similarly bodied tram 646. 368-371 arrived in March 1989 and entered service usually on the 11C on 1 April. 372/3 followed in early May. 

First repaints retained the original livery but with black window surrounds applied between September 1992 and September 1993. Between November 1995 and February 1996 368/9, 371/3 received this revised livery, while 372 gained an all-over advert for Travelwise. 370 soldiered on in the old style until it too was repainted in June 1997. Further repaints in this livery followed during 1998/9 including 372 which lost its advert in May 1999

A mid life repaint was piloted on 368 in summer 2002 and it was outshopped in Line 11 colours in September  and returned to use in November. The others followed with 370-3 treated over the winter and 369 completing the batch in August 2003

As new Dennis Tridents arrived, 368-373 had their turquoise areas over painted black in May/June 2004. 369 shows the original application, soon red relief areas were applied to the front to offset the large black areas.

368 and 369 were treated to full repaints into Line 1 colours in September and November 2006 respectively.

Both were surprising repaints into the new livery in May/June 2011

A distinctive end for 370 - outshopped in this golf advert for its last week of service in July

A further final look at 373

And then there was one

372 was taken out of service this morning after a school duty leaving 373 as the sole operational Leyland Olympian. It is expected to operate on route 9 on Saturday as a farewell. Ex Trent 408 has departed for scrap today following 407 yesterday. The third of the second batch of DAFs - 366 - has been observed repainted into Blackpool livery at Bus and Coach World, Blackburn.

DAFs in, Olympians out

DAFs 360/2 entered service yesterday (Wednesday 3rd October) followed by 359 and 363 today. Olympians 369/371 have been withdrawn this morning while 407 is leaving for scrap today with 408 to follow. 372/3 are likely to be withdrawn at the end of this week and may have a final service day on Saturday.

Volvo Olympian 374 is currently being repainted into the new fleet livery for school duties. This, and 375-9, will be the only step entrance buses in the year round fleet - the City Sightseeing Olympians slightly swelling the total in the summer.

Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	10/9/12
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	4/10/12
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	3/10/12
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	Awaited
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	3/10/12
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	4/10/12
364	tbc	54	FMN181P	009431	41101	25/9/12	Awaited
365	tbc	81	FMN804T	009830	41109	25/9/12	Awaited
tbc	tbc	56	FMN498T	009617	41103	awaited	Awaited

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