Blackpool and the Atlantean

305 - one of the first batch of Atlanteans showing off the original livery at Borough Boundary

Blackpool’s affair with the Leyland Atlantean began in 1975 when orders were placed for two batches of twelve East Lancs bodied buses. This was later modified to three batches of ten each but it was not until July 1977 that the first arrived with 301-304 licensed on 5 July (as BFR301-4R) followed by 305-310 as CBV305-10S, licensed at the beginning of August. Unusually they were long wheelbase examples at 33ft (3ft longer than a PD3 but shorter than a Swift) and seated 86 with 50 accommodated upstairs.

Manager Derek Hyde told the Gazette in November 1976 that the all-over cream livery would be “too much of a good thing” on the double deckers and was planning a new livery based on green and cream. The eventual scheme of cream with green roof, top deck windows, narrow band above the lower windows and a broad band on the lower panels was influenced by Southampton Corporation.

The initial batch were deployed in OPO format on routes 7/7A (Bispham Circular) and crew form alongside PD3s on their varied duties including the 5/5A, 6, 11/11A, 11C, 14 and 22/22A.

Brand new 329 in Rigby Road Depot in September 1979. Behind is a Preston Corporation Panther on loan due to vehicle shortages

The second batch – 311-320 (JFV311-20S) entered service in July 1978 with batch three 321-330 (URN321-30V) following in September 1979. Further batches were ordered with 331-340 (AHG331-40V) entering service in June 1980 and 341-350 (GHG341-50W) arriving between 8 May (344/8) and w/e 20 June (341/2) all entering service between 25 May and 22 June. 

362 - the last bus seated Atlantean competes for attention with the mayoral car when still nearly new in December 1983

The delivery first 50 Atlanteans coincided with a reduction of the overall fleet from 143 in 1976 to 117 in 1981. They mainly replaced PD3s with 61 leaving the fleet but the period also saw disposal of the first Swifts. Another 14 Atlanteans joined the fleet in 1982-1984. 351-354 (UHG351-4Y) arrived in July 1982 and entered service in early August. They seated 85 with a single seat omitted behind the staircase. 355-362 (A355-62HHG) arrived in mid August 1983 and entered service soon after. They also seated 85 but featured two leaf rather than four leaf doors.

Finally 363/4 (B363/4UBV) arrived and entered service week ending 22nd September 1984 – only Fylde 75 (B75URN) entered service later than this pair on 1st October as one of only four B-reg Atlanteans (Merseyside 1070 being the other). Unusually for the Blackpool fleet they featured high back semi coach seats which reduced the number of seats which could be accommodated. The total capacity was 74, with 45 upstairs and 29 downstairs as the rear facing seats over the rear wheelarches were omitted in favour of luggage pens. The body design featured a single piece upper deck front window and dropped leading edge to the first side window. The livery was modified with cream with green roof and skirt with two lime green bands as illustrated.

The two coach seated Atlanteans 363/4 arrived in this unusual livery. Note the revised front. When not used on private hires they were often used on route 12

With all 64 in service out of a fleet of 109 the Atlantean accounted for over half the fleet with just 11 PD3s, 26 Swifts, 4 Lancets and 4 National 2s making up the numbers.

The Atlanteans were widely used. Prior to deregulation they were commonly found on routes 5/5A, 6, 7/7A, 9/9A, 10, 11/A, 11C, 12, 14, 21, 22/22A and 26 with buses used in crew form on the 5/A, 14 and 22/22A, plus the 6 to 1980 and 11C to 1983. Additionally they ran on school services and special work such as a free bus to Blackpool Pleasure Beach which occupied 302 with promotional lettering during June/July 1982. Occasional mishaps beset the buses – most notably 303 which was driven under Rigby Road bridge on February 21 1981 and lost its roof. This low bridge next to the depot was out of bounds to double deckers, but all buses were then banned until the bridge was raised in 1985.

An unusual exchange in 1985 saw 351 and 352 operate with West Yorkshire PTE for a few weeks in exchange for their 6299/300 (PUA299/300W). This was part of the Tramway Centenary events as they carried commemorative liveries for Huddersfield Transport buses and trams respectively. Blackpool numbered them 366/7 and 352 was swapped for 366 at an event at Crich on 9 June and returned on 1st August. 351 and 367 were exchanged between 16 June and 31 July. [Flickr link: 352 in Huddersfield]

Withdrawals and Disposals Part 1

Three Atlanteans were destined for a short life with Blackpool for on 1st October 1986 a fire started in the depot yard on 310 and spread to 335 and 342 with sisters 340 and 362 receiving minor damage as they were shunted out of the way before the fire spread. The disfigured remains were kept in store until they were removed for scrap in June 1987.

Fire damaged Atlanteans 342, 310 and 335 (left to right) stored in the depot prior to disposal

Routine withdrawals commenced in April/May 1989 when 301-307 were laid up replaced by new Olympians. Only 305 saw further use – standing in for fire damaged 350 between November 1989 and March 1990. 308/9, 311/2/4 were also withdrawn in March 1990 following the introduction of Deltas to the 23-25. 305-309 were the first to leave – to Norfolk’s Nayland in May 1990. 301/2/4 then went to Liverline, Liverpool in June with 303 going to Toxteth Community Council joining PD3s 511/38.

Also 314 was reinstated, 311/2 did not run for Blackpool again but lasted in store until sale in August 1991 to North Devon Red Bus. 313 was withdrawn in October 1990 with 314 again in May 1991 – both passing to Blue Bus, Horwich in August 1991.

315-317 came off in October 1991 but were reinstated in December to release Routemasters from route 12. February 1993 saw 315-323/5/6 withdrawn but they were reinstated in June 1993 for a few weeks. Several also ran in April for a shuttle bus contract for a Rotary International conference. 316, 317, 321-323, 325 and 326 returned to use in September while advertising liveried 324 was withdrawn. All but 326 were withdrawn once again in November. 315/6 went to Eastbourne Buses in January while 317-321 were sold to North Birmingham Busways a month later. 323/4 later returned to use but by November 1994 322-327 had moved to Fylde, joined by 328-330 in March 1995. [Flickr link 316 at Eastbourne]

The Fylde Inheritance
Fylde was purchased by Blackpool in May 1994 and at the time operated 52 Atlanteans including four rebodied as single deckers. 18 were Northern Counties example new to Fylde between 1975 and 1984 plus the sole survivor of three new to Lytham in 1970; 18 were Roe bodied dating from 1970-1973 and acquired by Fylde from Kingston-upon-Hull City Transport between 1986 and 1993; 9 were 1976/7 vintage Northern Counties bodied buses new to Greater Manchester and the last two were a 1965 built Metro Cammell open topper new to Salford and a 1978 built Northern Counties bus new to AA of Ayr. By this time Blackpool had sold 23 of its 64 buses, but attention now turned to replacing the Fylde examples as only six of Fylde’s were younger than Blackpool’s oldest.

With Fylde taken over, Blackpool adopted the Fylde livery layout but with a cream base relived by green for Blackpool buses and cream for Fylde buses. Here is former Fylde 69 in February 1997 in the Fylde version, but after Blackpool had fully absorbed its subsidiary, hence the Blackpool series fleet number 469.

Blackpool transferred 322-327 and 364 to Fylde in November 1994 which replaced four of the ex Manchester and two of the ex Hull buses. Also transferred in were 328-330 in March 1995 and 331/4 in April 1996 to cover additional contract work. Blackpool absorbed Fylde in July 1996 and inherited the 46 surviving Atlanteans – and reclaimed the 12 transferred in. The new fleet comprised:

• Single deckers 134-137 (TKU462/5/6/9K)
• Northern Counties coach seated 441-445 (HIL5341/2/5943, NJI5504/5) Northern Counties bus seated 450 (HRN100N), 458 (ATD281J), 465-9 (ONF660/9/73R, SRJ756/7R), 470 (TSD571S), 471-4 (OJI4371-4), 475 (SIB8405), 478/9/81-3 (HRN98/9,101-3N), 495 (RHG95T), 496 (XHG96V) – 465-9 being the new to Manchester buses, 470 was new to AA and 458 to Lytham
• Roe bodied closed toppers 449 (ARH314K), 456 (WRH291J), 459 (ARH301K), 486-493 (MIW8186-8, RIB4089/6590, IIL4291, NIW6492, ARH306K)
• Roe bodied open toppers 452-454/7 (TKH266H, WRH294J, ARH304K, WRH295J) plus open rear balcony 455 (ARH304K)
• Metro Cammell bodied open topper 451 (DBA227C).
• 449, 451-459, 486, 490/1/3 were type PDR1A/1 (451 PDR1/1) rather than the later AN68 type.

The buses retained Fylde numbers initially – those above being the Blackpool numbers (with 130 added to the single deckers and 400 to the double deckers). As an aside 322-331/4 kept Blackpool numbers with Fylde but 364 was renumbered 47 and surprisingly became 447 after the merger, though it regained 364 after repaint back into green and cream in May 1997. Also renumbered was 450 which became 480 in July to group it with its sisters 478-483.

Fylde had adopted a blue and cream livery which was carried by 442, 449, 451/4-6/8/9, 465/9/70, 473/8/9, 481-3, 486, 488-493 while 134-7, 443-445, 447 466/8 and 474 retained two tone blue. Adverts 441, 450, 452/3/7 471/2/5, 495/6 carried all-over adverts with the front in either blue and cream or green and cream, while 467 had been painted into Blackpool livery prior to the take-over.

Withdrawals and Disposals Part 2
331-337 were stored from April 1995, but were back in use by June 1995. Priority was to replace former Fylde buses. Between October 1996 and April 1997 449, 451, 456-459, 486/8, 490/1/3 were withdrawn. Open toppers 452-5 and damaged closed topper 487 came off in late 1998. February 1999 saw 465-470, 481, 489 and 492 withdrawn but 466/9 were later reinstated. East Lancs 322/3 also became driver trainers 922/923 that summer. These were not the first to be so used as 332/3 were used to train drivers for London General between December 1995 and September 1996 with 333 continuing to be so used until January 1997. Blackpool Transport was one of a number of provincial firms to train new local recruits for London operators who couldn’t obtain enough drivers in London.

Former Fylde 75 in its later guise as Blackpool 475 heads along the Promenade to work a school service in Lytham St. Annes in March 2004 a few months before withdrawal

Withdrawals and disposals continued in 2000 with 466, 478, 482 and 496 leaving while in early 2002 469, 479/80/3 were withdrawn. May saw nine new low floor Dennis Tridents arrived to replace Fylde 441 and 495 plus East Lancs bodied 324-7/9-332, with 328/38 following in July. The 2003 Tridents saw off 333/4, 336/7, 339-341, 343-9 and 442, while the 2004 batch replaced the last ex Fylde Atlanteans 443-445, 471-5 leaving Blackpool with just 15 Atlanteans (350-364). 

136 is one of four Atlanteans which Fylde had rebodied with Northern Counties Paladin single deck bodywork in 1993. They struggled to find a purpose with Blackpool Transport and were sold in 1999. 1998 saw a period of use on Promenade service 1 on which 136 is seen departing Pontins. 


The single deckers (134-137) were parked up at the end of October 1997 still in Fylde livery but were reinstated in December 1997. 134/6 went back into use but 135/7 were painted green and cream before use – 134/6 soon following. Despite this, they were withdrawn again at the end of March 1998, but returned to use at the start of May to release double deckers from summer services 1 (Promenade) and 21 (Zoo). December 1998 saw the quartet return to store but they emerged again in June for the summer services lasting until the end of August when they were withdrawn, departing on 30 October 1999 collected by Wacton – a Bromyard based dealer and operator.

Of the double deckers, disposals were varied with most of the East Lancs buses seeing further service, while the Northern Counties ones usually went for non psv work. Typically the older Roe bodied examples were scrapped while in May 2003, 333 became the first routine withdrawal of the East Lancs examples to be sent for scrap. Other than 333 and the fire victims all others of 301-349 saw further use.

Of the last 15, 350/1 spent several months in store in early 2005 but were not withdrawn until December 2005. More Tridents saw off 352/4-6/9 in June 2006 and 353, 357, 360-2 followed by August. A farewell event on 28/29 October saw 358, 360-2 return to use for the weekend, alongside 363/4. The latter pair remained in service while the others returned to store. Surprisingly 353 and 360 returned to use in January 2007 (though 358 soon replaced 360 in February). Final withdrawal for 353, 358 and 363 came in July 2008 with 364 soldiering on alone until October 2009. Since then it has remained in the fleet as a heritage bus for events only. Trainers 922/3 (ex 322/3) lasted until February 2007 and December 2006 respectively.

Repaints
Routine repaints commenced in July 1980 and all of 301-362 received a full repaint in the original livery except for 304 and 358 which received all-over adverts as their first repaint. The vehicles were treated:
• 301-310 between July 1980 and March 1981
• 311-320 between July 1981 and March 1982
• 321-330 between August 1982 and March 1983
• 331-340 between June and November 1983
• 341-350 between August 1985 and c Jan 1986
• 351-362 between May 1986 and February 1987
• 301-320 were treated again between November 1983 and August 1985

308 shows off the experimental version of fleet livery with green rather than cream skirt in 1984 which it retained until its next repaint July 1988

The standard livery was varied twice. Firstly 308 was outshopped with a green skirt, rather than cream in May 1984, followed by 313 in September – though this was not adopted routinely. Five more (302/3, 316/7, 321) received green skirts, but also orange and yellow stripes to promote ‘Shuttle 6’ a marketing initiative on route 6 at the end of 1984. Several buses received all-over adverts
304: Hounds Hill May 1982; Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Health Authority November 1985; Hitachi April 1987 and to new fleet livery August 1989 (as a withdrawn bus)
312: Fylde Coast Rover April 1984; Louis Tussauds April 1986 and to new livery August 1988
314: Red Rose Rambler July 1982; Lancashire Bus Pass July 1984 to original fleet livery December 1986
326: Y-Fronts March 1984; back to original livery August 1985
358: Allied Carpets September 1985; Travelcard December 1986; Mackeson Stout May 1989 and back to fleet livery

324 newly outshopped in the new fleet livery in October 1987 using the earlier shades of green and cream, rather than off-white as used on the earlier Atlantean livery and the passing Swift. (Donald MacRae see his Victory Guy photo albums for more from his collection)

A new livery of deep cream with green roof, window surrounds and skirt was adopted in 1987 – launched on Olympians 365-367 but soon rolled out onto Atlanteans. The first repaint was 316 in March 1987 quickly followed by 302/3/17/21 by June – eradicating the Shuttle 6 livery. 304 received an advertising livery in April. 301/5/6 received the new Super 6 livery in September and by the end of the year 18 Atlanteans had been treated to the new livery: 302, 303, 307, 315, 316, 317, 321, 322, 323, 324, 327, 329, 330, 332, 333, 337, 339, 340.

1988 saw attention focus on completing the second repaints of 321-340 with 325/6/8 outshopped between April and September, 331/4/6/8 between March and July. The third repaints of 301-320 progressed with 308/9, 311-314, 318-320 all treated by September. March saw 347/9 become the first of batch five to be repainted into the new livery and the nine survivors had been treated by November. 351-4 were painted between October and December 1988 while 363/4 lost their coach livery in favour of the new bus livery in December.

The 1983 batch was treated between November 1988 and April 1989. The last three (360-362, plus Travelcard livery 358 and already painted 321) were all outshopped in all-over adverts for Mackeson Stout in April 1989. This completed the programme, but surprisingly in August/September 301-307 were all repainted despite being stored in reserve – 301/4-6 received the new livery for the first time, but only 305 would wear it in service as this was reinstated for winter 1989/90 before disposal in May. Also repainted in autumn 1989 were 315-317, 322-324.

Repaints took place again from September 1990, though the Stout buses lost their advertising liveries (362 for Bonanza Family restaurant, the rest for fleet livery). 327-333, 337-340 and 354 all received routine repaints before the end of the year. This continued with 325/6, 334/6/9, 341/3/5-8, 350, 352-355 treated in 1991 and 356/7/9, 363/4 by April 1992. 324 gained Shoemarket livery but the next fleet liveried repaint – 329 again – in October 1992 saw it emerge with black window surrounds as introduced on the Optare Deltas. Over the next two years 25 Atlanteans were treated to this revised version: 316, 324, 327-334, 336-40, 344/6/9, 350/2, 356/8, 360-2 – 346 was the last treated in October 1994



Atlantean 351 puts in a turn on seasonal service 20 in 2004. When new 351-364 had recessed destination glasses, but these tended to let in water and many later received rubber mounted ones as shown here. 353, 361 and 364 retained their original apertures until withdrawal.

The takeover of Fylde saw a revised livery using their style but in green and cream for Blackpool and blue and cream for Fylde adopted. Initial repaints in October saw 351 and 353 receive fronts in the new scheme with Zone Card adverts on the rear. 345 was the first full green and cream repaint in November. 322-327 went to Fylde and 322/5-7 had their livery modified to the blue and cream variant (over-painting green with blue or cream as appropriate. 323/4 were painted white with blue/cream fronts, 323 later gaining full livery but 324 received an advert. 328-330 were similarly partly repainted into blue and cream in March/April 1995 on transfer. 364 received a full repaint in Fylde two tone blue which was retained for Seagull Coaches operations and it joined that sub fleet as number 47.

The transfers left 331-334, 336-341, 343-362 in the Blackpool fleet. Routine repaints into the new livery commenced in January 1995 with 348. 334/6/9/40, 343/4/7/50, 354/5/7/8 361/3 were also treated by the end of the year – plus 331 and 341 as all-over adverts for North West Lancashire Health Authority and Travelcard respectively. Spring 1996 saw 352 and 362 completed, but then attention turned to repaints out of Fylde colours. Ex Fylde buses 441/4 466-8 475 487 496 were treated in 1996, along with 326/8/9 and the sold repaint out of the old green and cream livery was 360. 1997 saw 443/5, 471/2 and 492 repainted before April 1997 before the livery was modified on these buses to feature a more shallow skirt. 442 453-5, 465/9, 470/3/4, 478/9, 481-3, 487/9 were so treated between June 1997 and January 1998. East Lancs 322/3/5/7, 330 also lost blue and cream in the same period while 332, 346, 351/3/8 received routine repaints – some treated for the second time.

The old livery was last observed in 1998 with 349 painted out in February, 356 in June and finally 358 in July. Several vehicles received second repaints into green/cream from then until 327 emerged in January 2001 – the last full Atlantean repaint and unusually omitting the black window surrounds. Prior to this two further ex Fylde buses received fleet livery ex all-over adverts – 495 in August 1998 and 480 in November 1999. Internally buses were rarely modified, though some had non standard seat coverings fitted sporadically. Early vehicles had leatherette trim edging to the yellow, brown and black moquette. Coach seated 363/4 were treated to full seat retrims in 1999 using an NBC style orange pattern

Only a handful of new to Blackpool Atlanteans went directly for scrap. Other than 310/35/42 in 1987 seven East Lancs examples went for scrap: 333 in July 2003, 355/9 in July 2006 323 (ex training duties) in July 2007, 352/60 in April 2009 and 363 in July 2009. Of the Fylde examples 441, 456/7/9, 469, 473, 480, 483, 486-488, 490/1/3 all went directly for scrap. A handful of examples were sold for preservation – 322, 331, 334, 337, 353, 362, 445, 454, 458, 471, 479 and 496 though 331, 337 and 454 have since been scrapped; 322 is of unknown status and 496 now in non psv ownership

306 with Hedingham Omnibuses Nayland base in June 1991 still in Blackpool livery which it retained with Norfolks who acquired 305-309 in May 1990 prior to takeover by Hedingham the following year

The 1990 to 1994 disposals were shared between Liverline Liverpool (301/2/4), Toxteth Community Council (303), Norfolks of Nayland (305-309), North Devon (311/2), Blue Bus, Horwich (313/4), Eastbourne Buses (315/6) and North Birmingham Buses (317-321). The Liverline buses moved to Sheffield Omnibuses in 1992 and the Norfolks buses were absorbed by Hedingham Omnibuses in April 1991. Their later histories are

• 301 Cedrics, Wivenhoe (5/94); Boardabus, Essex (9/94), Stuarts of Carluke (by 8/98) and disposed probably for scrap 2/99
• 302 Partridge, Hadleigh (?/94) and North Devon Red Bus (8/95), later became First Western National, w/d 5/01 for scrap
• 303 Maghull Coaches (2/92); Pilkington, Accrington (4/03) and c7/05 to A&P of Barway for spares/scrap [flickr 303 Barway]
• 304 Supreme, Hadleigh (c9/94); withdrawn by 1/99 presumed for scrap
• 305 ABC, Southport (8/96); Aintree Coachline/Helms of Eastham (10/00) sold for spares/scrap 1/01
• 306 Brentwood Coaches (8/96); Dons, Dunmow (9/99) c2004flickr link 306]w/d 2006 and for scrap
• 307-309 Thornes, Bubwith (8/96) w/d c2004 (307/8), c2007 (309) all scrapped
• 311/312 w/d by First Western National (ex Red Bus) 7/01 (311), 10/00 (312). 312 used as a store by Western National Preservation group but scrapped 3/08. 311 scrapped 2001 [flickr: 312 with Red Bus]
• 313 Wilson, Carnwath (4/96) and scrapped after low bridge accident 3/97
• 314 exported to Saudi Arabia 7/93
• 315 Philips, Penrhiwceiber 3/97, Shamrock, Pontypridd 9/97, scrapped 4/00
• 316 stripped for spares by Eastbourne Buses 12/96
• 317/9/21 scrap from North Birmingham 11/04 (317), 2/04 (319) and 2006 (321)
• 318/20 to Trailways, Sutton Coldfield (3/05 and 8/03 resp), 318 for spares, 320 for service. Both scrapped in 2007 [Flickr: 320 with Trailways]

317-321 were the inaugural fleet of North Birmingham Busways and all but 319 returned to Blackpool for refurbishment with retrimmed seating and new doors in 1997. 321 came back again in August 2000 for accident repairs and September 2004 for a depot open day

Of the later withdrawals, 322 went to preservation in Yorkshire in December 2008 but its status is unknown. 324 went to Red Kite, St Helens (6/02), Tees Valley, Redcar (10/05), KJB, Lincoln (c2/07) and was scrapped in 2009. 325-327, 329, 330 and 332 all went to Liddells of Cumnock in August 2002 but were all withdrawn by 2007. Most were scrapped, but 327/9 saw further use with Howells of Deri but have since also been scrapped. 331 was briefly owned by LTT (until replaced by sister 334) and it was sold onto Fargo Coaches of Rayne who also purchased 339/40, 343-345 in August 2003 - these all went for scrap though 343 had a brief period in preservation. 328, 338 and 341 went to GM of Bridgend for further service lasting until 2006/7, though 338 later ran with Movereturn of Pontcymmer briefly in 2007. [Flicker: 330 as a store with Liddell]

336, 346-349 went to Ayrways of Ayr in August 2003 and went for scrap after a few years on school services. 337 was preserved initially in Kent and later in Blackpool but was broken up in 2008. Sister 334 is the sole survivor of this batch with LTT.

350 as Streetscene Permanent Way Bus

 The ‘final 15’ had a more varied afterlife:

• 350 became a ‘PW Bus’ with Blackpool Council Streetscene in 2006
• 351 was used for spares by local preservationists and was stored at LTT’s depot and was later scrapped
• 352/60/3 were broken up at Inglemere Metals in Blackpool, 355/9 went to Partons of Barnsley
• 353 was preserved by Chesterfield 123 Group and is restored in the final livery
• 354/7/61 went to Scotbus, Inverness in November 2006 and they remain in use there.
• 356 became a playbus in the South West
• 358 was bought by LTT for spares, with sister 362 saved for preservation
• 364 is still with BTS.

Ex Fylde 453 in its later guise with Mac Tours in Edinburgh during 2001 (James Millington)

Of the Fylde examples, 442 went to Pilkingtons, Accrington for spares and 443 as a mobile display unit in Cambridgeshire – both have been scrapped. 444 remains in use with a Dance Troupe in Salford; 445 is preserved and restored to Seagull Guise. 451 (DBA227C) briefly ran with Halls of Kennoway and was rescued from scrap by a preservationist but eventually again succumbed to the scrapman eventually. 452 was exported to France but has not been seen recently. 453/5 went to Mac Tours – the former ending up in USA and the latter went for scrap without use despite a repaint. 458, 471 and 479 are preserved by LTT as Lytham 77 and Fylde 71/9 resp, sister 481 was used for spares. 465 ran with Archway of Poulton from 1999 and 466 with Maghull Coaches from 2001 – but were scrapped in 2004 and 2008 resp. 467 has been a static playbus on Anglesey since 1999, while 468 survives on Jersey as a commentary unit after a period with Royal British Legion.

467 in its long term home at Pilot Boat Inn, Dulais, Anglesea (James Millington)

470/8 went for use as a playbuses but only 478 survives (at Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford). 472 saw non psv use in the Manchester area and 475 became a trainer in Dundee – both are now scrapped. 474 became a mobile café in Blackburn but is now stored unused with the same owner.

482 spent several years in Bolton with A-Jay's Dance Troupe

482 ran with A Jays Dance troupe from 2000 to 2006, 489/92 were used as PW Buses from 2000 to 2002 and 2006 resp, the former spending some time at Whyndyke Farms in Blackpool before scrapping. 495 went to EST, South Wales for spares and 496 was preserved locally from 2001-2010 and it is now at Whyndyke Farm.



334 extensively stripped as part of its major restoration in 2006 (James Millington)

Current survivors are thus:
334/58/62 LTT, Preserved (358 spares)
350 Blackpool Council
353 Chesterfield 123 Group
354/7/61 Scotbus, Inverness [flickr 354 at Scotbus]
356 Playbus [flickr link]
364 Blackpool Transport
444 Irlam Royalettes Dance Troupe
445 Preserved
458 LTT Preserved
467 Playbus (Pilot Boat Inn on Anglesea)
468 Jersey (commentary box)
471/9 LTT, Preserved
474 Bedford, Blackburn (disused mobile kitchen)
478 Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford (playbus) [flickr: 478 at Haynes]
496 Whyndyke Farm, Blackpool
Also 452 and 453 may survive in France and USA respectively

In so many ways, 'the last' 364 towards the end of its long career in April 2008.

Swift Spotlight

Front and Back - first series Swifts pass at Abingdon Street corner. 548 shows how these buses originally had vents below the windscreen.

Blackpool had standardised on Leyland Titans from 1932 to 1968 and by summer 1969 had a relatively homogeneous fleet - 50 PD2s and 90 PD3s, all but five with Metro Cammell bodywork. The last of streamlined centre loader buses were retired earlier in 1969. One Man operation had not been practised since 1964 when the solitary OMO service 18 and the two specially converted buses had been withdrawn.

Traditionally new buses went on the busiest routes, but with economies needed Blackpool followed the industry route of replacing short crew buses seating 63 with long wheelbase single deckers seating 47 with standing room making up the total capacity. The buses could, of course, be worked with a driver only and this achieved economies and saw the unusual practise of the newest buses on the quietest routes.

Blackpool first inspected a Leeds Corporation Swift in January 1967. It chose to order 15 AEC Swift chassis with bodies by Marshall of Cambridge. This was not the departure from Leyland stable that it may have seemed as Leyland by then owned AEC and the Swift shared a common chassis frame with Leyland's Panther. That said it was something of a departure for the conservative operator. The new buses became 541-555 (PFR541-555H) and the first to arrive was 544 which featured in official publicity and was licensed on 20 October 1969. 545 was licensed on 3 November so its likely that these two were used for driver training. 541-3/6-8 were licensed on 1 December. They entered service on Monday 8 December operating service 7C and 25A between Blackpool and Cleveleys that required four buses between them. Service 9 (Blackpool to College) soon followed taking the requirement up to six buses with 549 licensed from 15 January.


Swifts had short lives by Blackpool standards with most withdrawn at between 10 and 14 years. 546 is in its last year seen here on service 11C which used Swifts on Sundays.

The final seven did not arrive until the spring with 550/1/3/5 licensed on 2 April, 554 on 8 April and 552 on 5 May. On 4 May routes 7 and 7A were converted to OMO operating taking the weekday requirement to ten out of the fifteen buses. On a Sunday Swifts could also be seen on route 1 to Poulton - but the Sunday service came to an end later in the year.

Further Swifts were ordered for the 1971/2 programme. AEC quoted £4,150 per bus and Marshall £4,472 for the bodies. Delivery charges were £20 from AEC and £31 from Marshalls. Deliveries started in September with 558/9 licensed on 17th and 557/60 on 21st. 562 followed on 4 October, 556/61/5 on 6 October and 563/4 on 4 November. No further bus routes were converted until 20 December when routes 6A/B (Grange Park to Midgeland Road using two buses), 15A (Bispham to Hospital with five buses) and 16 (Town Centre to Wordsworth Avenue with 4 buses) were converted. 

The second and third batches had higher driving positions and different windscreens compared to 541 to 555. 556 was the first of the 1971 batch of ten seen here in April 1980 on route 12

On Sundays Swift operation also extended to the 11C from December 1971, 6 during 1972, 5 and 23 from February 1973. During 1971 it was decided to replace the remaining PD2s with a batch of 30 further single deckers in 1973/4, though delivery delays meant that the buses did not appear until March 1974! The results of the tendering exercise were interesting:

• 1st Seddon RU - £10, 845
• 2nd AEC/Marshall - £11, 038  (28% higher than 556-565!)
• 3rd Leyland National - £11, 510.50 
• 4th AEC/Willowbrook - £12, 147
• 5th Metro Scania - £12, 774.05 

Note how the AEC/Marshall combination was not the cheapest. It was felt that the Seddon’s floor layout was not to Blackpool’s liking and the fact that 25 Swifts were already owned meant that AEC were awarded the contract as the maintenance savings from standardisation offset the extra purchase cost. The flagship Leyland National and Metro Scania were deemed “not to Blackpool’s specification in numerous ways”. 

566-579 were registered ready for 1st April 1974, 580-586 for May 587-589 in July and 590-595 in August. 6 May 1974 saw routes 2 (Blackpool to Poulton), 15 (Blackpool to Staining) and 12 (Blackpool to Airport) converted. Routes 3 (North Shore to Marton) and 26 (Town Centre  to South Pier) followed on 3 March 1975. 45 out of 55 Swifts were required for the basic service on routes 1, 2, 3/3A, 6B, 7/7A, 7B/7C, 9, 12, 15, 15A, 16, 25A and 26.

Route 25A was one of the first routes to use Swifts. Here 569 complete with original dash vent and Blackpool's added slip board holder. It is seen here on Dickson Road heading against the current one way flow of traffic in 1979

Service reductions during the 1970s saw the vehicle requirement reduce and new Atlanteans took over duties on the 7/7A and 9. Swifts were then used to convert routes 19 South Pier to Mereside (Feb 1976) and 23/23A (Hospital to South Pier and Midgeland Road) to OPO. 

By 1983 the 29 surviving Swifts (and the four Lancets) provided routes:

• 2/2A (Blackpool to Poulton) 3 buses
• 3/3A (Cleveleys to Mereside/Midgeland Road) 4 buses which incorporated the 6B and 25A
• 8 (Blackpool to Whiteholme) 1 bus
• 16 (Blackpool to Wordsworth Avenue) 3 buses
• 19 (South Pier to Mereside) 1 bus
• 23/23A (Hospital to South Pier/Midgeland Road) 6 buses
• 26 (Town Centre to South Pier) 5 buses
• Plus Sunday services 5, 6 and 16B.

The 56th Swift

Blackpool owned a 56th Swift from September 1977 in the form of ex Southampton City Transport 2 (MTR420F) with Stachans body which was purchased for spares and spent three years in Rigby Road yard being cannibalised before sale for scrap in July 1980.

Swift Liveries

The Swifts were new in all-over cream with just the wheels in green. This was distinctive but stark. A handful of buses received the later off-white shades from 1977/8 but in early 1979 581 and 582 were outshopped with green roofs following the introduction of Leyland Atlanteans in green/off white. 558 and 559 followed with a green waistband and this was adopted as the new livery. 581/2 were modified to match during 1981.


The first and last of of the 1969/70 batch 541 - in original livery and 555 in the later livery on withdrawal in 1981

All but 12 Swifts received the new livery - early withdrawals 541-7/50/1/3, 561 and 563 being the exceptions. The programme took four years to complete with 562 and then 588 as the last two to be treated. There is some suggestion that 574 and 575 received further repaints in February 1987 but this is not confirmed. The only other Swift repaint was 577 which received an all-over advert to Latusport Shop in July 1984.  

Swift withdrawals
Withdrawals of the Swifts began, surprisingly, with 561 which was parked up in early 1980 after just over eight years use while sister 558 was also parked up with accident damage. Routine withdrawals began, not surprisingly, with the initial batch. 544/5 were delicensed in August 1980 followed by 541-3/7 and 555 in March/April 1981. 552 declared its self redundant on 31 May 1981 while working service 11C when it collided with trees on Regent Road, while youthful 578 at just seven years and six months did likewise due to a collision with the depot doors on 20 September.

Accidents happen. Two 1981 withdrawals were unplanned. 552 on the right collided with trees on Regent Road while 578 hit the depot doors and was withdrawn before its eight birthday

551 - and newer sister 563 were withdrawn in September 1981, 546 came off in December. This left 548-550, 553 and 554 in use during 1982. 549/50 survived until July/August, 553/4 September/October and 548 survived as the last of its batch until April 1983. Four new Dennis Lancets in 1982, new Atlanteans purchased annually and the impact of service reductions saw off the Swifts.

In addition to 548, 1983 dawned with seven of the 1971 batch intact (556/7/9, 560/2/4/5). Inroads were soon made with 557/9/64 off by May and 562 by August along with 567/8 - the first of the final batch to succumb. Withdrawals then slowed with only 566 (of 1974) off in March 1984; 560 (of 1971) in May 1984 and 556 (of 1971) in January 1985. 

Swifts repose in Rigby Road Depot in February 1986 - most of these survived after deregulation

As at January 1986 565 of 1971 and 25 of the 30 1974 buses remained in use. 581 had been parked up in December 1985. The purchase of four second hand Leyland Nationals and six ex London Routemasters saw off 579/80/2/93 in February 1986 while 565/9/86 followed in March/April.

Deregulation saw new routes for the Swifts which appeared on the 4 (Blackpool-Mereside), 33 (Cleveleys-Marton Hypermarket) and revised services 2A, 15, 23-25 and the barely changed 26. 590 heads for the Hypermarket (now Asda on Vicarage Lane) on route 33 in October 1987. (Donald MacRae see his Victory Guy photo albums for more from his collection)

19 remained in use at deregulation (570-577, 583-585, 587-592 and 595). Buses began to be whittled down with 584 off in November 1986, 592 the following month, 595 in January and 577 in March. 572/91 also reached the end of the road in October 1987. The 11 survivors were to be replaced one for one by a batch of ex Strathclyde Buses Leyland Nationals - which were just five years younger. These entered service between December 1987 and February 1988 and 570/4 came off before the end of the year with 573/6/83 in January leaving 571, 585 and 587-590 into the final month. 571 and 590 are believed to have been the last to run, working route 4 on 29 February with 590 working the final 2300 from Bus Station to Mereside.

574 heads for Bispham on route 15 - normally the preserve of Leyland Nationals as the rota included trips to Preston on routes 180/2 (Donald MacRae see his Victory Guy photo albums for more from his collection)  

Swift Disposals

Disposals of the AEC Swifts generally fell into two categorises - pre deregulation sales direct to dealers for scrap and a post deregulation block sale to Wealden Omnibuses from where several buses went for further service.

36 Swifts were sold between 1981 and 1986 (541-569, 578-582, 586 and 593). Dealing with the exceptions first, 554 went for Preservation and 564/7/8 went to Stonier of Tunstall in 1984 via a dealer but did not operate for the firm. They were eventually sent for scrap. 562 went to Blackpool Airport in 1984 for use as part of fire brigade training exercises and was finally destroyed in 1997. 565 went to Lancashire Police for use as an exhibition unit but was out of use by 1989.  The remainder generally went to dealers for scrap. 


Leaving home - Swift 574 departs Rigby Road for the long journey to Kent in the ownership of Wealden PSV dealership

This left the 19 vehicles that were still in service at deregulation. Progressively withdrawn from service from December 1986 to February 1988 all remained in store at Rigby Road Depot at the start of April 1988. Wealden Omnibuses, a Kent based operator-dealer purchased all 19. It quickly find home for 12 buses -all of which had seen use in the last six months of operation. These were:

• 570 with Blue Saloon Guildford 5/88 - w/d 8/92.  Preserved by 5/96 (Graham Oliver and later LTT) (570 with Blue Saloon front and rear view)
• 571 with Weybus of Weymouth 5/88 then to Anglewish (Seaside Shuttle) of Portland in 10/88 w/d 5/89 and to Davies of Bridport as spares for 589 in 9/89 then scrapped 2/90
• 572/4/6 to Ogdens of St Helens 8/88 (572 briefly loaned to East Surrey Buses before the sale) all w/d summer 1989 and scrapped by end of year
• 573 Wealdens operating arm and loans to East Surrey, sold c3/90 to Raff of Gravesend then scrapped 8/90
• 583 Davies of Bridport, later back to Wealden and to Knotty, Staffs in 1993 - burnt out 1996 (583 with Knotty)
• 585 Bonner, Ongar 5/88 then to Raff Gravesend 12/89 and scrapped 7/90
• 587 to Inverclyde, Greenock 5/88 then by 9/88 to Cumbrae Coaches, Millport w/d 1/90 and scrapped
• 588 to Inverclyde, Greenock 5/88 w/d 11/88 and auctioned 5/89 scrapped 9/89 588 with Inverclyde
• 589 with Weybus of Weymouth 5/88 then to Anglewish (Seaside Shuttle) of Portland in 10/88 to Davies of Bridport 9/89, De Vinci's Nightclub, West Bay 5/90, preserved 1997 but not reported since early c2002 Flickr Picture of 589
• 590 Wealden hire fleet and loaned to East Surrey Buses. Last licensed 10/88

The rest were not fit for further use and Wealden had several moved to Fylde's Squires Gate depot for storage (Wealden used Fylde as a staging post for buses collected from Scotland). 575, 584, 591/2/4/5 all moved to Fylde - as did 583 briefly while at least 572 of the Ogdens trio called in at Fylde on prior to moving to St Helens. The six were gradually disposed of with 591/4 going in November 1988; 575/92 in February 1989, 584 around August 1989 and 595 around August 1990. 595 did move onto Wealden but the rest went straight for scrap. 

Preserved Swift 570 and AEC Routemaster 521 displayed together at the 2010 Blackpool Transport open day

Survivors
Most of the survivors after deregulation had short second lives with their new owners. Swifts were an acquired taste and required gentle nurturing. Knotty for example swore by them (others perhaps swore at them) but modified 583 to use a Leopard style air pedestal gear change to replace the automatic electric unit specified by Blackpool. Those wanting a cheap ready to run vehicle tended to be disappointed and at least one operator ceased due to maintenance problems. 1991 started with the following survivors:

• 554 (PFR554H) -with Wealden who purchased it from Graham Oliver and put it back in to bus service but by this time it had been placed in store. It was bought back by Graham in 1995 and passed to LTT in October 1996. It was restored to original cream in 1998 and but has been stored in recent years awaiting mechanical attention
• 562 (UFR562K) - shell at Blackpool Airport scrapped 1997
• 570 (OFR970M) - Blue Saloon, Guildford w/d 1992 but kept in store until sold in 1995. Preserved by Graham Oliver in 1996 it has since passed to LTT.
• 583 (OFR983M) - Davies of Bridport later to Wealden and to Knotty in 1993. Destroyed by fire in late 1996 as last Blackpool Swift in service
• 589 (OFR989M) - with Da Vinci's nightclub in Bridport, Dorset and for sale in 1995. Later bought by Graham Oliver for preservation but passed to another owner. Was under restoration, but no recent reports.

Today both 554 and 570 are in store with LTT - 554 requiring and overhaul and 570 - displayed at BTS open day in September 2010 - requiring minor mechanical work prior to recommissioning.

PD3s Depart

507 in happer times on route 22A in St. Annes

Tuesday saw the departure of the two former Blackpool PD3s stored in Rigby Road depot for the last three years. First to depart yesterday morning was 507 (HFR507E) which is understood to have gone to Ensignbus for spares. 507's claim to fame arose in February 1985 when it received an approximation of the pre 1933 red and white livery to commemorate the 1985 Tramway Centenary - a livery it just about retains today. It ran alongside its sisters until they were withdrawn in November 1988 but it was kept on for occasional use as a preserved vehicle. While it did put in occasional service duties in 1990/1, it soon saw use as a driver trainer alongside sister bus 516. This became permanent in 1995 but ceased in 1999 shortly before two replacement Atlantean trainers entered service. Sold to Mac Tours in Edinburgh in September 2000 it saw no further active use as it donated a part to another vehicle. Eventually sold to Ensign in 2002 it was stored at their then Stratford upon Avon base. Bought for preservation it then moved back to Blackpool in 2005 for storage but suffered vandalism.

Surprisingly it passed back into Blackpool Transport hands in April 2008 with a view to returning it to use for the 125th Anniversary of the Tramway in 2010. The work involved would have been considerable and the project did not progress.


506 during its PW career in Thornton Gate Yard

Sister bus 506 (HFR506E) was stored alongside it as a possible donor vehicle, but remains in private hands. After withdrawal in 1985 it was used as a Council track workers mess vehicle (aka Permanent Way Bus) from 1986 until 2000 when it was bought by its current owners as a long terms spares donor. It left Rigby Road on Tuesday afternoon and is likely now to be stripped for spares.

Photo Links: 507 Departs  506 Departs

221 returns

Excel 221 was noted in service on Line 7 this morning and is believed to have returned to use after repaint on Friday. Sister 210 is now in paint alongside Solo 254.

Back on One Site

Withdrawn Atlanteans 444 and 473 sit amongst sisters, the odd Metrorider a coach and a Blackburn Transport school Olympian

On 30 November, withdrawn Olympian 366 was towed out of Jackson's Coaches yard on Burton Road, Marton and was towed to Rigby Road for further storage. For the first time since the absorption of Fylde in 1996, the entire Blackpool Transport fleet was kept on one site. Fylde had been purchased in May 1994 but was fully absorbed into Blackpool Transport in July 1996 but most of its services and vehicles continued to operate from Squires Gate Depot until it closed on 11 April 1999.

With a fleet of 177 buses to accommodated at Rigby Road, Blackpool Transport had demolished the former canteen to make extra space having previously had a fleet of 133 buses prior to the takeover. In addition Blackpool held several other buses in store including six coaches which went for auction in April/May, 14  withdrawn Atlanteans and sundry others. Several withdrawn buses had been stored in Rigby Road yard and these moved to Squires Gate in the week after the closure. Open Toppers 452-455, Atlanteans 465-470, 481, 487, 489 and 492 and single deck Atlanteans 134-137 were kept there, generally in the centre shed. 454 was quickly sold, 134-137 were reinstated in June and 452 and 467 sold from Squires Gate in July. The remainder (453/5, 465/6/8-70, 481, 487/9/92) were removed at the end of July and moved to Blackpool Council Operational Services Department yard at Layton. Some stayed their only briefly - 466/9 returned to use in September 1999, 453, 455, 465, 468, 470 and 481 were all sold by January 2000. This left the three ex Hull buses. 489/92 were sold to Blackpool Council for conversion to Mobile Mess Vehicles for Tramway track workers and remained at Layton until they were converted in Blackpool's workshops and put into use in Autumn 2000 - ironically operating from the same Layton base. This left 487 which remained on site until July 2001 when it returned to Rigby Road to have its engine removed prior to going for scrap.

Atlantean 472 stored amongst Metroriders in June 2004

An alternative storage site had been established in Marton in the spacious yard of Jacksons Coaches. In February 2000 newly withdrawn Atlanteans 466, 469, 475, 478, 479 and 483 moved there along with redundant Optare City Pacers 567/8, 570/1/3/4/6/8/9, 582 

Since then most withdrawn buses have been stored at Marton prior to disposal. Several have escaped back into service, including several of the first Atlanteans stored there. 105 buses are known to have been placed in store at Jacksons comprising:

• At least 28 East Lancs Atlanteans (324-7 329-331 333/4/6/7/9 340/1 347 350-4 356/7/8 360-4) and possibly 343, 345, 355 and 359
• 18 ex Fylde Atlanteans (441-445, 466/9, 471-475, 478-480, 483, 495/6)
• 10 City Pacers 567/8 570/1 573/4 576/8/9/82
• 21 Metroriders 501 504 506/7/11-13/17 584-596
• 
  2 open top Metrobuses 814 and 892
• 5 Olympians 365-367, 401 and 403
• 6 Excels 212-214, 216-218
• 15 Deltas 104, 106-109, 113 115/6, 119, 122/3, 125-127 132/3

Olympians 411 412 413 and 415 await school duties in Jacksons yard in 2008 after takeover from Blackburn Transport

Jacksons was also used as a base for a small number of school contracts operated by Blackburn Transport from September 2000. Typically six or seven buses were kept there, usually second hand Olympians purchased from London or Lothian. Blackburn was taken over by Transdev in 2007 and during summer 2007 they sold the Blackpool operations to Blackpool Transport including seven Olympians which became Blackpool 411 to 417. The staff, unusually for Blackpool Transport, were part timers and they continued to operate out of Jacksons depot though the number of buses soon dropped to four. As staff or contracts ended the operation contracted and by 2010 all service buses were running from Rigby Road once more.

Road Test

SN56AWW - an Enviro 400 bodied Dennis Trident loads in Lytham Square on regular demonstrator haunt of the Metro era - Line 11

Bus manufactures tended to supply bus operators with short term demonstration vehicles to tempt them into placing orders - often with little success it seems given the high number of types tried by Blackpool. Various makers buses were inspected in 1921 prior to the introduction of bus services by Blackpool Corporation. Sometimes new innovations were evaluated with diesel engined buses tested in 1933 and an underfloor engined single decker was tried in 1950.

In 1967 Leeds Corporation GUM451D an AEC Swift was inspected prior to the orders for 55 examples which arrived between 1969 and 1975. Attention turned to double deckers and in August 1975 HUP441N - an ECW bodied Bristol VR of Northern General and KBU911P - a GMPTE Leyland Atlantean were tested - the latter at least on route 22. Use of demonstrators really took off in the 1980s as several established models were replaced or upgraded.

Double Deckers

Scania EMJ560Y contrasts with Atlantean 310 in Talbot Road Bus Station in March 1983

As the Atlantean came to the end of its life this prompted new models which operates evaluated. Blackpool tried Scania BR112DH MUT265W  owned by Leicester City Transport but used initially as a Scania demonstrator. It ran from 16 to 27 March 1981 on routes 22/22A and featured an East Lancs body and featured a blue livery with yellow, orange and red stripes. A second Scania - EMJ560Y - arrived in March 1983 operated on route 12 between Blackpool and Airport. An early digital destination display featured - as it had on the Fishwicks Nationals. They contrasted with ECW bodied Leyland Olympian A33MRN (owned by Preston Corporation) which ran on route 12 in May 1984 before a period with Fylde. A third Scania came on 21 January 1988 when A1 Service of Ardrossan E200WHS arrived for use on routes 22/22A until 3rd February.


A33MRN is seen with Fylde operating route 11A (despite the blind) having previously run on Blackpool's 12. Although used by Leyland as a demonstrator it was part of the Preston fleet and is now preserved

Perhaps the most unusual demonstrator was Routemaster RM1583 which arrived in January 1986 to evaluate the type and became the first of six purchased in the spring.

A handful of other double deckers visited on loan over the years. East Staffs Dennis Dominator FBF129T visited in August 1979 while Bus and Coach Council events saw proportionally liveried West Midlands Metrobus POG515Y and Greater Manchester Olympian B36PJA in use in September 1982 and September 1984 respectively - the latter saw two weeks service on crew routes 14 and 22. Then in September 1988 South Yorkshire Transport B361HDT - another Dennis Dominator - visited for a week to demonstrate their split step entrance layout, SYT enjoyed the delights of Blackpool Olympian 367 (UWW15X) in exchange.

Double decker demonstrators didn't bear fruit for many years with just a solitary batch of Leyland Olympians purchased in 1989 after the last Atlanteans arrived in 1984. 1994 was to see a further small batch of Olympians arrive but not before two demonstrators visited in 1993. March saw the visit of K170FYG an Optare Spectra on a DAF chassis - something of a double deck Delta - while L8YCL was an Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian from Yorkshire Coastliner which stayed for a fortnight in December.

In the low floor era there have been four double deck demonstrators. January 2000 saw V929FMS - an Alexander bodied Dennis Trident evaluated, followed by X645RDA, an East Lancs bodied Volvo B7. Both influenced the eventual order as the 2002-2006 delivery featured East Lancs bodies on Dennis Trident chassis. Since then Alexander Dennis has supplied two Enviro 400 bodied Trident demonstrators - SN56AWW in June 2007 and SN59AWX in August 2010. The former normally ran on route 11, the latter on the 14.

Single Deckers

National GCK430W was one of five Mark 2s evaluated between 1980 and 1988

Leyland's National was a joint venture with the National Bus Company and didn't live up to ambitious targets set by Leyland. Its makers were persistent in attempting to capture new markets. Blackpool tried demonstrator RRM128M for a few days in June 1975. No orders were forthcoming, partly because Blackpool chose to focus on double deckers for future orders having stocked up on AEC Swifts.

The new Mark 2 National made its first appearance with Blackpool in October 1980 when the first of no less than five arrived on loan - prompting an order for four in 1984 just prior to the end of production - providing that persistence is sometimes worthwhile. Leyland had an arrangement with Fishwick to use new Nationals intended for its operation as demonstrators and WRN413V spent a couple of weeks mainly on route 26 in October 1980, followed by GCK430W in March/April 1981 which primarily ran on the 2/2A. 1983 saw visits from two National 2s from the Halton Transport fleet - EWM630Y in April and CKC929X in May - the former normally operating on the 2/2A but the latter was not used. The final demonstrator (South Wales Transport KEP829X) visited in February 1988 to demonstrate its kneeling suspension which had been retrofitted by its owner to reduce step heights. It spent a few days on route 3. Quite surprising was the demonstration of GMB387T - a 1979 built mark1 National refitted with Gardner engine by Crosville. This was to test the suitability of the repower package for Blackpool who duly acquired four similarly modified buses from the Crosville fleet. Eventually 19 Nationals were owned - 15 purchased second hand - which is poor return from no less than seven demonstrators!

Ipswich Falcon YDX100Y poses alongside typical Blackpool bus stop infrastructure on Newton Drive while operating route 2.

The National 2s were measured against other single decker market offerings. Dennis arranged for two of its Gardner engine Falcons to visit Blackpool with Ipswich YDX100Y arriving in June 1983, followed by TWJ341Y from Chesterfield in July. Prior to this a Duple bodied Leyland Tiger KUS244Y was borrowed from Hutchinson of Overtown, Scotland in May. All three ran on routes 2/2A to Poulton.

Post Deregulation Single Deckers

Delta G785PWL was one of two tested in 1989 prior to the order for eight buses for 1990 delivery

Leyland's successor to the National - the Lynx was first seen in April 1987 when D573LSJ of AA Motor Services but it failed after a few days. Leyland's Lynx demonstrator D634BBV paid a visit in August 1987 but the desire to replace the second hand Nationals led to a beauty parade of single deckers in 1989 operating mainly on routes 3/3A (Bispham-Mereside) with evening duties on the 12 to Squires Gate. Optare's stylish Delta was first  with F792DWT visting in July 1989 and alternative spec G785PWL in August and November. Leyland Lynx F74DCW which carried West Midlands Travel colours (but was not their's) arrived in September and similar F210YHG of Preston Bus in November. The final contender was Duple bodied Dennis Dart G541JBV which visited at the start of November. The result was an order for eight Deltas for 1990 delivery.

August 1990 saw the inspection of H220TCP - an Ikarus bodied DAF SB220 (the same chassis as the Delta) while a third Delta demonstrator arrived in February 1991 as G837LWR which covered for new Delta 116 which was representing Optare at the launch event for their new Vecta single decker. The Vecta (a shorter single decker on the MAN chassis) was tried in the form of H846UUA in May 1991 and M957VMY in August 1995.

Low Floor Single Deckers

Excel P447SWX was one of several provided by Optare while it repaired faults on the pre-production batch 201-208

 Blackpool was an early conversion to the low floor bus, buying the first Excels in 1996. It didn't precede this with demonstrators - and judging by the performance of the first Excels it might have regretted this. Several Excel demonstrators later appeared, mainly to cover rectification work for the Blackpool batch. N330EUG arrived in February 1998 and lasted until May sustaining accident damage towards the end of its stay.
R98HUA visited briefly in July 1998 while P446SWX accompanied N330EUG in February 1998. P447SWX spent July to September 1998 on hire. In February 2001, damaged Excel 210 was deputised for with T790KNW which gave Blackpool example of the Mercedes engined variant. Finally in May 2003 Mark 2 Excel YA02YRP operated alongside the native examples on Line 5. With six demonstrators, the Excel gave the National a run for its money.

Route 26 saw several demonstrators including minibuses and big buses over the years. This is R739TMO a Super Pointer Dart.

Other low floor demonstrators included P10LPG, a gas powered DAF SB220 with Plaxton Prestige bodywork which ran on route 26 in October/November 1997. The same service saw R739TMO - a Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton bodywork in August 1998.

The short lived East Lancs Esteem body on the Scania was evaluated in December 2006 (YN06TGE)

In addition to the Excel 2, 2003 saw BX03BKU - a Wright bodied Volvo B7 used on Line 11 in August. From 2005 to 2009 a procession of potential Delta replacements visited Blackpool for evaluation - without luck as Blackpool eventually settled for the Plaxton bodied Volvo B7 in 2010 because of a favourable deal. December 2005 saw the Enviro 300 SN54HXG evaluated on Line 7. June 2006 saw the first of two Optare Tempos YJ55BLX operate on Line 11 which now became the test ground for single deck demonstrators. Sister YJ06FZK replaced its sister at the end of the month and stayed into July.


Tempo YJ55BLX operating Line 11 in Bispham

 Mercedes Citaro BX05UVX visited in early November 2006, followed by MCV Evolution bodied MAN AE06OPG later in the month, YN06TGE - an East Lancs bodied Scania 230UB in December. January 207 saw SN56AYB a Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 completed the quintet in January 2007. August 2007 saw Wright bodied Volvo B7 BX07AXJ tested some time before five similar buses were purchased from Anglian Buses in 2010. A second Citaro (BN09FWS) was tested in September 2009 also on Line 11.

The MCV Evolution AE06OPG in Lytham Square in November 2006

Minibuses

D898NUA on arrival in August 1987 in demonstrator guise before purchase when it became Handybus liveried 566

Blackpool did not road test the market prior to adopting the Optare City Pacer but did make use of a few demonstrators later. Its second batch of City Pacers were delayed so demonstrators D854MUA and D898NUA were supplied by Optare in August 1987 and later purchased as 565/6. When service 26 started at the beginning of September, sister D81NWW was also on short term hire. A further City Pacer demonstrator arrived in July 1988 as E749CWT while January 1989 saw F934AWW on loan. The latter returned in December 1989 having been purchased as 583.


E749CWT spent time on hire in July 1988

 Other makers included Iveco with Carlyle bodied E485ONX in December 1987, followed by an unidentified Star Rider Optare's Mercedes Benz based longer minibus later in the month. A further Star Rider E216UWT visited in July 1988. PMT Ami bodied Merecedes G495FFA was reported on hire on routes 9 and 26 in July 1990 and also visited in November when it ran on the 26. Optare's Metrorider H844UUA was used on the 26 in May 1991 before a period with Fylde.

September 1993 saw London Buses Dennis Dart K112SRH evaluated on route 26. Optare's Metrorider had been the preferred choice for replacing City Pacers and ex Fylde Renaults after the success of seed vehicle 584 (M924TYG) in summer 1995. A long wheelbase demonstrator P507NWU operated on routes 2/2A/2B in January 1997 but the next order was for more short wheelbase examples. In March 1999 Optare's new low floor Solo minibus S794XUG spent a few weeks on route 26 and this lead to orders for 57 examples between 2000 and 2009. A second demonstrator YJ56APY ran on the 2C in January 2007.

Other visitors have been SN03LGA - a Mini Pointer Dart which ran on Line 5 in November 2003 and MX60GXB a Wright Streetlite which spent some time in March 2011 operating service 10 (see here)

Very few of these loans have generated orders, but they continue to generate interest amongst enthusiasts.


16 November 2006 saw the first Citaro demonstrator (BX05UVZ)



BX07AZJ - a Wright bodied Volvo leaving Starr Gate on Line 11 in August 2007

Enviro 300 SN54HXG operating Line 7 in St. Annes on 21 December 2005

More Tridents and Christmas services

Two Isle of Man Tridents have been noted at Bus and Coach World in Blackburn, one confirmed as 51 (EMN51Y) and the other is believed to be 48 (EMN48Y).

Blackpool Transport Boxing Day and New Year's Day timetables are now out and appear similar to last year save for the operation of service 1 through from Starr Gate to Cleveleys rather than last year's split operation. The services comprise:

1 Starr Gate to Cleveleys every 30 minutes (4 buses)
5 Hospital to Halfway House, hourly (2 buses)
7 Cleveleys to Lytham hourly (2 buses)
9 Blackpool to Cleveleys every 30 minutes (3 buses)
11 St. Annes to Grange Park every 60 minutes (2 buses)
14 Mereside to Fleetwood every 30 minutes (5 buses)

343 or is it 131?

Ex Isle of Man Dennis Trident 343 was noted at Rigby Road today displaying registration H1FBT! This was the cherished plate carried by Delta 131 (new as Fylde 1) and held on retention after it was burnt out in 2004.

Excel 222 has returned to use following repaint as has Solo 253. Excel 221 is the current paint shop project. Olympian 406 has been withdrawn following accident damage.

Baths Bus

Solo 285 waits time on route 4 as Olympian 377 awaits passengers from Stanley School on the Baths Contract duties for which these buses have been fitted with seatbelts.

Introducing 343

Trident 343 was noted outside Bus & Coach World at Blackburn this afternoon following refurbishment and repaint. This is understood to be former Bus Vannin 53 (EMN53Y), though 343 has the newer style front end and it is understood this has been fitted at Blackburn. 53 was the first of up to 11 from this source to arrive. Sister bus 50 (EMN50Y) was noted at Heysham Harbour earlier this month and is understood to be the vehicle involved in an incident with a low bridge in Laxey which has prompted its early withdrawal. Further new buses are expected in the Isle of Man before the remainder are to be released.

Volvo Olympian 374 has returned to use as the final example of its batch to be repainted in the new livery. [correction it retains Metro pool livery!]

Adverts - Just the Ticket

304, the first all-over advert Atlantean in 1982 and carried this attractive scheme for Hounds Hill

Blackpool's trams are (in)famous for their varied all-over adverts. The first was applied in 1975 and to date around 200 have been applied. Perhaps less well known is that Blackpool Corporation's first all-over advert was on a bus, with PD3 398 painted for Greenall Whitley in May 1972 and lasted until February 1973. Two further PD3s followed in 1973 (537 for WH Smith and 521 for Empire Pools)- and a fourth (507) received a wrap round advert on the upper deck for a year in May 1974. A total of 49 all-over adverts have featured in the Blackpool fleet, on 41 buses. 16 new to Blackpool and 11 ex Fylde Atlanteans carried the majority of schemes with 3 PD3s, 3 Routemasters, 3 Olympians and solitary Swift, National, Metrorider, Renault and Delta make up the numbers.

The Red Rose Rambler bus pass was valid across Lancashire and each participating operator painted a bus to promote it - most used Atlanteans apart from Preston which chose a single decker

35 schemes were for commercial customers, 14 for transport related schemes - mainly tickets but also including Lancashire County Council's Travelwise scheme and Seagull Coaches. All-over adverts returned to the bus fleet in May 1982 when Atlantean 304 was repainted for Hounds Hill Shopping Centre. It was soon joined in July by 314 which promoted the Red Rose Rambler bus ticket.

The Fylde Coast Rover was a leisure ticket valid on Blackpool and Fylde buses and was promoted by Atlantean 312.

 

Y-Fronts sponsored 326 which was painted in base white with vinyl "Y"s covering the bulk of the bus with a simple message in the normal advertising space. 314 and 312 are behind it.

 Further new adverts appeared in 1984 326 was outshopped in March 1984 for Y-Fronts, followed by 312 for the Fylde Coast Rover ticket. July saw 314 repainted in a revised scheme for the rebranded Lancashire Bus Pass. The fourth advert outshopped was Swift 577 for Latusport - the only one of the 55 Swifts so treated.

After a base coat repaint in the Paint Shop, buses tended to be sign written by Bryan Hamer at the back of the depot. Here he has two together with 577 being transformed for Latusport while 314 gains a revised livery for Lancashire Bus Pass (the former Red Rose Rambler) with a hint of fleet livery on the upper deck.

1985 dawned with the appearance of six month old Leyland National 2 541 in a scheme for Agri Electrics. August saw 326 return to fleet livery while September saw 358 promote Allied Carpets. The year concluded with 304 receive its second advert - for the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Health Authority. 312 lost its Fylde Coast Rover livery in April 1986 in favour of a scheme for Louis Tussauds Waxworks.


304's Health Authority livery was very vibrant and was the forerunner of sister schemes carried by 331, 472 and 495

 

312's Tussaud's scheme matched a livery on a Brush tram and it is seen alongside 358 in its Allied Carpet scheme



541 was a surprise choice for an all-over advert as it was only six months old at the time of its repaint. Agri Electrics sponsored this blue and white scheme.

Deregulation dawned with six all-over advert buses; Atlanteans 304 (Health Authority), 312 (Tussauds), 314 (Lancashire Bus Pass), 358 (Allied) and single deckers 541 (Agri Electrics) and 577 (Latusport).

Volvo Olympians Return

Volvo Olympians 376 and 379 returned to use for the first time yesterday after the fitting of seat belts and were used on School Baths contracts. Solo 253 has now joined sister 252 in the paint shop for a full repaint. Once completed this will mean that 15 carry the new livery (250-253, 255, 284-293). Of the 51 Solos:

• ten remain in Line 2 green (240-247, 249, 294)
• six remain in Line 3 blue (258-260, 295-297)
• five remain in Line 4 Cadbury Blue (267-269, 271/2)
• four remain in Line 5 red (248, 254, 256/7)
• eleven remain in the old pool Black/yellow (273-283)

Excel 222 has left the paint shop - the fourth Excel treated and the first to lose pool livery. Eight retain Line 7 livery, five retain pool livery