News Round Up

Blackpool Transport has disposed of further Excels this week with 212 and 215 now collected by Partons. This leaves 214 in store and just 216-218 of the new to Blackpool buses in service.

The new Mercedes Benz Citaros are expected in late March and are understood to be for service 5 with an enhanced level of quality including passenger announcements, leather seating, free wifi and dedicated drivers. It is believed a customised livery will be used too.

Catch 22 Bus has purchased one of the Darts recently returned to a leasing company, 512 X512UAT. Ex Diamond 658 has returned from repaint and will enter service dedicated to route 6, as is sister 657 which awaits repaint. 

More Excels reach the end

Excel 210 was collected by Partons on Thursday, with 212/5 expected to follow next week. Sister 214 has now been withdrawn with effect from 13 February, though it is believed to have been out of use with faults already.

Routemasters stand in while Darts arrive

Catch 22 Bus operated Routemasters RML887 and former Blackpool 521 (RM1583) on service 22 regularly during the last week or so, as its fleet is stretched following the departure of leased vehicles. The recently acquired ex Cardiff Darts have now been joined by two from East Yorkshire Motor Services (latterly with their Whittle's fleet) as W466/8UAG and two from Diamond Bus, Kidderminster (V657/8HEC) which started life in Blackburn. 468 has entered service in Whittle's green and white, while 657 is expected to run in Diamond's blue livery - the other two are currently under repaint.

Catch 22 Bus Fleet List February 2015

No	Reg	Chassis	Body	Livery	Origins
69	F69SYE	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML81 11/88
139	W139EON	Volvo B7TL	Alexander	Red/Grey	London United 3/00
143	T143AUA	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
147	T147DAX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Orange/Green	Cardiff Bus 8/99
186	X186CTG	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Cardiff	Cardiff Bus 9/00
326	F326UJN	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML77 10/88
356	R356LER	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Stagecoach new 10/97
466	W466UAG	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	New Catch 22	East Yorkshire 4/00
468	W468UAG	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red/Grey	East Yorkshire 4/00
617	X617JCS	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Stagecoach 2/01
657	V657HEC	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Blue	Blackburn 1/00
658	V658HEC	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Blue	Blackburn 1/00
898	R898XVM	Volvo B10M	Alexander	Red	Stagecoach Manchester
RM1583	583CLT	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	Red	London Transport
RML887	202UXJ	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	Red	London Transport

Blackpool Disposals and Repaints

Parton's ERF wagon tows Olympian 379 on its farewell trip on Blackpool Promenade (Jono Niblock)

This week has seen Parton's of Barnsley visit Blackpool to collected stored buses for scrap. On Monday, 211 was the first of the Optare Excels to be disposed of, while Olympian 379 became the first of its type to go today (Tuesday). Excel 213 departed on Wednesday morning (11th)

The new Citaros are expected in late March and are likely to replace the six remaining non DDA complaint Excels 214, 217, 218-220 and 222. What else will depart is not yet known - though the Olympians may have a stay of execution until 2016.

Trident 341 has been repainted following 286 and 340 in January. 287 is now currently being treated.

updated 11/2/15

Preserving the Past (Part 1)

The bus display for the 2010 Blackpool Transport open day featured three contrasting restored Blackpool PD3s. On the left is 501, recently restored to its 1980s livery, in the middle is LTT's 529 in original scheme and on the right 390 in its experimental livery

As a follow up to "You Can't Save them All"  this article charts the status of the currently preserved former Blackpool Buses, over two posts.

Luff Era 
As noted in the earlier post, 7 (FV9044) of 1937 is the oldest surviving Blackpool Bus. It was preserved in the 1950s and purchased by its present owner in Sussex in 1977. It was restored to its latter day tow vehicle condition and was rallied from the late 1990s though has not been reported recently.

One of two surviving centre entrance PD2s, this is 246 being shunted at the former LTT premises on Brinwell Road. 

Two of the iconic postwar streamliners survive, both owing their current existence to post service use as tramway 'Permanent Way' buses. LTT owns 246, which spent over a decade as a site hut at the premises of Lister of Bolton - a well known dealer. In 1989 it was rescued and temporarily stored at Blackpool Transport depot by a local enthusiast, but LTT took it on the following year moving it to Burscough then St. Helens. 25 years on and the bus remains stored, back in Blackpool awaiting extensive restoration.

In February 2012 I was fortunate to view sister bus 300 at its then storage site in Huddersfield. Restoration is stalled while the owner works on a Sentinel single decker, but the bus has since been reassembled for towing to a new storage site near Wakefield

More complete is sister 300. Purchased by John Hinchliffe of Huddersfield, it was cosmetically restored and rallied during the 1980s. Since then structural work has commenced, but stalled while other projects took precedent. After many years stored under a railway arch in Huddersfield, 300 was moved to a new storage site still in West Yorkshire in July 2014.

Rear Loaders
Just two of the 80 full fronted rear loaders purchased from 1957 to 1964 remain. PD2 346 spent its first retirement as a mess bus for the Illuminations gangs. In 1985 it passed to North West Museum of Transport, then at Burtonwood, but soon moved to St. Helens. A collection downsizing saw it pass to LTT in 2005 where it remains in the restoration queue.

PD2 346 in its Illuminations Department yellow, at the former LTT Depot

Pioneer PD3 351 was preserved in 1992 after use as a playbus. Periods of outdoor storage and ownership changes saw it deteriorate. LTT stepped in to purchase it in 2000, but in 2013 passed it to a Blackburn based preservationist for restoration.

No less than eight half cab PD3s survive in preservation. The oldest is 390 (CFR590C) which represents the original 1965 batch. It is preserved in its experimental 1982 livery carried prior to withdrawal in 1983 when it was preserved by its current owner in Cheshire.

501 under restoration in Glasgow in 2007 - the lower panels have been replaced, all glazing removed prior to a full repaint and reglazing with new window rubbers (Gary Conn)

501 (HFR501E) was preserved back in 1985 straight from service by David Hunt and moved to his native Edinburgh. After a brief period of use, it deteriorated in store eventually moving to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust premises. A group of enthusiasts purchased the vehicle in 2007 and began a restoration to its as withdrawn condition in the 1980s green and off-white livery which was completed in 2008. It is still owned by Martin Gurr, Gary Conn and Bill Thomson.

511, seen at Maghull Coaches depot in 2004 retains the faded Blackpool livery applied in 1985! (Keith Till)

511 (HFR511E) was one of the ten PD3s that survived until the type was withdrawn in 1988. It then passed to a driver training school in Liverpool with sister 538. The latter was scrapped following accident damage, but 511 survived until purchased by the owner of Maghull Coaches in Bootle, it is believed to be still in store there.

512 back on the road for the first time in over ten years at Fleetwood on 25 June 2014

Sister 512 (HFR512E) joined London & Country as a driver trainer in 1989 but was withdrawn a few years later. After a couple of further owners it was purchased by LTT in early 1998 from Danesbury Freight, Congleton. A quick restoration into 1970s all-over cream was completed in time for the summer. Mechanical problems sidelined the bus around 2003. In 2013 it was purchased by Bill Thomson and David Wilson and has been overhauled, returning to road last summer. 

516, as restored as a driver trainer on Ashfield Road in 2004

516 (HFR516E) was the last PD3 to operate with Blackpool Transport, as a driver trainer until 1999. It was purchased by Graham Oliver on withdrawal and restored, retaining its driver trainer configuration, but with a full set of seats reinstated. Sister 518 (HFR518E) was purchased by a Glasgow based preservationist in 1989 and even spent a Christmas operating in service with Stagecoach's Magicbus operation! It later passed to Chepstow Classic Buses were it forms part of their vintage fleet.

Only two of the 1968 batch of 15 PD3s survive. LTT owns 529 (LFR529F) withdrawn as early as 1980. Initially bought by Graham Oliver, it later passed to Mike Brady, before passing back to Graham and onto the LTT. It was restored over a number of years and returned to use in 2008. 

Last but by no means least, 540 (LFR540G) is the sole survivor of the three G-reg PD3s. These were licensed at the start of August 1968 when the registration year changed from F-G. At the time Blackpool's registration office started a new three letter series (eg CFR-C, HFR-E, LFR-F, PFR-H) and it is believed MFR/NFR were issued with G-suffices. 538-540 were allocated LFR538-40F, but with their late arrival, it was simply decided to change the last letter, rather than allocate new registrations! Throughout their life the front plates on these had a "G" in a different letter style than the rest of the plate. Even the surviving registration ledgers have the "F" crossed out and a pen written "G" inserted. All very informal by today's standards.

540 in a modified, but faded version of 1980s livery stored in St Helens Transport Museum in 2003

In 1988 540 was withdrawn along with its final sisters. Last painted in 1982 it was one of the scruffiest PD3s. A preservation attempted failed as the batch was in demand for training duties and 540 headed to London, working in the former Middlesex area, still mainly in BT livery. It was bought for preservation in the 1990s and moved to Huddersfield where parts from sister 510 were rescued for its restoration. This did not progress despite a move to the owners native Staffordshire. LTT had chosen to preserve two PD3s to display in different eras, 512 was initially joined by 515, but 540 became available and relegated 515 to spares. It was duly purchased and moved to St Helens Transport Museum and later the LTT depot at Brinwell Road, Blackpool. The availability of 529 from Graham Oliver meant that this usurped 540 which was relegated to a further spares donor. Thankfully others were determined this last of the breed should survive and David Wilson stepped in to secure the bus. It is currently dry stored in Cheshire, awaiting its turn for restoration.

Part two of this story will start with the surviving AEC Swifts.

News Round Up

Blackpool Transport Excel 215 was withdrawn on Monday 19th January, but sister 221 is expected now to return to service. Withdrawn Solos 281/2 have been sold to a private owner locally with one expected to be preserved. Sister 268 was scrapped on 20 January.

Solos 286 and 340 currently occupy the paint shop.

Catch 22 Bus has placed two more Darts into service. Both were new to Cardiff, T147DAX has had orange relief applied over the cream part of its former Cardiff livery green/cream livery as seen here on Alan Robson's flickr page while X186CTG retains the Cardiff orange and green livery which inspired the Catch 22 scheme.

As a result of the recent intake most of the buses inherited from Classic Bus North West have been returned off lease. This includes Olympians 269 and 325, Volvo B6BLEs 601/11, Mercedes Artics MAL41/53 and Darts 145, 162/3, 512/33 and 652.

This leaves five Darts (143, 147, 186, 356 and 617), Volvo B10M 898 and Volvo B7TL 103 for services 6 and 22 with RML887 as the spare bus.

You Can't Save Them All

7 is the oldest surviving Blackpool Bus - one of three 1937 single deckers bought for preservation, but the only one to survive - it retains its modified condition after withdrawal with the rear end cut back.

Centre Loaders
Three of the 12 1937 Leyland Tigers were purchased by David Ellor in 1964 after use as works vehicles having ended their passenger career. 6 was bought for spares for 7 and 8. 7 survives today having been sold on to Les Burchell in Sussex and was rallied in "Engineering Car" condition from 1999. 8 has was scrapped, but when, why and by whom seems lost to history.

Two of the 100 post war Centre Loader PD2s are preserved, but two more of the 1951 batch stood a chance. 298 was bought by a group for a world tour and preservation in 1970. It was taken through some remarkable territory on a trip to Karachi between 1970 and 1972 but on its return to the UK its preservation attempt ended in scrapping in 1979. Meanwhile in 1984 a surprising report emerged of 287 existing in Hampshire but a rescue attempt failed due to lack of storage.

Rear Loaders

PD2 309 survived thanks to disposal to Lytham St. Annes Corporation and use until 1982 by successor Fylde Borough as a trainer. Here at Tram Sunday 1988 it makes its debut after restoration, but sadly that winter lost its dome on a filling station canopy.  Eventually a replacement was found, but the bus was never fully repaired and eventually went for scrap (Brian Turner)

Today just one of the 50 rear entrance PD2s survives (346) plus full fronted PD3 (351) and eight half cabs  (390, 501, 511, 512, 516, 518, 529 and 540) in the preserved 'fleet'. A further PD2 was preserved. 309 of 1957 was unusually sold to Lytham St. Annes in 1970 and served as a driver trainer from 1975 to 1982 with Fylde Borough. Preserved locally on withdrawal, it was restored and rallied during 1988. Sadly that winter it suffered roof damage with the front dome destroyed. Eventually a replacement dome was fitted from sister 337 but 309 suffered from outside storage and didn't return to its former glories. After changes of owners it ended up with 351 on a farm in Westhoughton. A further new owner took it north to Carlisle but the trail went cold and its believed the bus was scrapped.

PD3 530 comes close to meeting its maker, derelict outside a scrapyard near Bacup in 2009. Converted as a caravan, 530 appeared at Totally Transport 2005 partially painted back into Blackpool colours, perhaps signifying a long term future that did not materialise (Paul Turner)

Of the half cabs:

• 394 of 1965 saw service with Porthcawl Omnibuses and had a brief period of use as a driver trainer than went into preservation in the early 1990s. This was shortlived as it ended up as a static cafe at Alton Towers. It has since been scrapped
• 505 was purchased by Blackpool and Fylde Sub Aqua group in 1983 and after six years was sold for preservation. Kept at Easyway depot in Blackpool with 309 it was soon sold onto a dealer who converted it to open top and exported it to Japan!
• 507 of 1967 was retained by BTS on the withdrawal of its last sisters in 1988 as a semi preserved bus. Demoted to training duties from 1995-1999, it was sold onto Mac Tours in 2000. Never used it passed with much of the Mac fleet to Ensign in 2002, but moved back to Blackpool for preservation in 2005. Sadly vandalised in open storage it was taken on by BTS again in 2008 but eventually was sold back to Ensign for spares - it was too far gone to restore
• 510 was preserved in 1982 and briefly rallied but it suffered damage in a fire which destroyed a nearby bus while stored in Huddersfield. After several years in store it was scrapped in 1998 having donated parts to sister 540. 
• 515 was used by London & Country as a driver trainer in 1989 then (with 512) saw several different owners until Graham Oliver purchased it in 1998 and moved it back to Blackpool. Sister 516 became available the following year, so 515 donated its seats and passed to LTT in 2000 for spares. In 2012 it was dismantled having donated parts for 512, 529 and 540.
• 522 and 527 both had brief spells in preservation after use as a Playbuses in Skelmersdale and Ireland respectively. 522 was destroyed by vandals after a few months, but 527 was found to be in a poor condition and eventually was used for spares around 2006.
• 530 was another playbus which was reportedly preserved in 1992, but was then converted to a caravan. A later owner started to paint it into BTS livery and it appeared unannounced at the 2005 Totally Transport event. By 2010 it was derelict outside a scrapyard between Rawtenstall and Bacup.

Single Deckers
Single deckers have generally been in the minority in the Blackpool fleet. The first post war examples were the Swifts bought from 1969 to 1975. Two are preserved, but a third (589) was secured by Graham Oliver from a nightclub in Dorset in 1997. It changed hands a few years later and was reportedly under restoration, but in the end donated parts to a restored West Midlands example and has now been scrapped.

Lancet 597 was restored before preservation unusually. Enthusiast Graham Oliver purchased it for his Thames Valley Training fleet in London and brought it to Blackpool to receive its original livery. He sold it in 2000 for preservation but sadly it saw little or no active use. In 2004 it was parked outside deteriorating and has not been reported since (Paul Turner)

Four Lancets followed in 1982. Of these 597 was bought by Graham Oliver for his "Thames Valley Training" business in 1995 and repainted into its original Blackpool fleet colours - these were adopted by TVT as a fleet livery. In 2000 it was sold to a North East enthusiast for preservation and was last seen in 2004 in outside storage. It was available for sale but with no interest is assumed scrapped. [Now confirmed thanks to investigations by John Docherty]

Four new and 15 second hand Leyland Nationals were purchased from 1984 to 1987. 542 and 543 were preserved, 542 by LTT and 543 by Kells Museum in Ireland. The latter is believed still extant in store, but 542 has recently been disposed of for scrap having donated parts to other vehicles in view of its parlous condition. One of the ex Strathclyde examples, 156, was bought by a Glasgow based enthusiast but restoration did not take place and the vehicle has now been scrapped.

Delta 101 was purchased for preservation in March 2011 but it believed to have since gone for scrap.

Minibuses

Metrorider 502 was never officially preserved, though when LTT disposed of sister 590 it was expected that 502 would replace it once Classic Bus had no further use for it. Sadly a seized engine put paid to that - here it is being rescued after its last ever journey (David Umpleby)

Both of the City Pacers preserved, 575 in Blackpool and 560 in Reading - survive, but Metroriders seemed to suffered a degree of attrition. LTT acquired 590 with a failed rear axle in 2009 but it was sold for scrap in 2012 as sister bus 502 was expected to replace it after service with Classic Bus North West. Sadly this suffered an engine seizure and it too was scrapped. Private owners have purchased 509 and 510 but both are believed now scrapped. This leaves just 589 preserved, 505 on the Isle of Scilly and 512 as the Council PW Bus.

Atlanteans

331 was bought by LTT in 2003, but replaced by sister bus 334 soon after. Sold to a dealer it saw further service with Fargo, Braintree in  who's yard it is seen on Boxing Day 2005 (Paul Turner)

There are four preserved Atlanteans, 334, 353, 362 and 364, but three, possibly four was preserved. 331 was bought by LTT in 2003, but was replaced by 334 the following year. It passed to Fargo of Essex for further service and was later scrapped. 337 was bought for preservation in Kent in 2003, but reappeared in Blackpool in 2005 but was scrapped in 2008. 343 was purchased by an Essex based enthusiast in 2009 and repainted into the late 1980s livery but was sold for scrap in 2011 after a failure. The fourth possibility is 322, reportedly preserved after use as a driver trainer, but without trace ever since.

Three of the Atlanteans purchased from Fylde were preserved for a while. New to Salford Open Top 451 ran with Hall's of Kennoway briefly but was bought for preservation in 2001 in Glasgow after a few years in a scrap yard. Sadly restoration did not commence and a proposed sale fell through so the bus was scrapped.

Ex Fylde and Hull open topper 454 was briefly preserved and is seen here at Freckleton.

Ex Hull open topper 454 was briefly preserved in 1999 but was sold to an operator in Hull who then sold it on for scrap. Finally 496 was bought locally for preservation and restored to Fylde livery, later replaced by a fictitious scheme. Sold a few years ago it has now been sold on again for spares and is expected to be scrapped in 2015.

Buses to the Caravan Park

Fylde's "Baby Blues" minibuses were the first services buses to operate into the Marton Mere Park in 1988. Here in 1990 Renault 115 departs for Blackpool (Brian Turner)

In 1988 as part of its expansion in competition with Blackpool Transport, Fylde Transport introduced a number of new minibuses services in Blackpool. In June 1988 it started "Fastlink 1" - a direct service from Blackpool to Mereside via Park Road and Preston New Road.  It ran every 20 minutes with two journeys per hour into Mereside estate and one (service 1A) running to Marton Mere Caravan Park. Prior to this the par was only served by Ribble service 158 which passed by hourly o Mythop Road - though residents could walk up to the Clifton Arms and enjoy the hourly 154 too.

The Fastlink routes changed in August 1988 with new service F4 running from Town Centre to Marton Mere via Whitegate Drive and Great Marton every 30 minutes with an hourly evening service added and Sunday service. With the park closed for the winter the F4 terminus moved to Mereside estate. Seasonal operation resumed from 1989 but under number 44. 

From March 1990 route 33 (the former F1, but now via Newhouse Road not Preston New Road) became the Caravan Park service - now operating every 20 minutes. The evening and Sunday service became the X44 via Whitegate Drive and Preston New Road - every 45 minutes. This lasted just a few months as in May 1990 the 33 was diverted to the new Mereside Tesco and a new daytime X33 via Park Road and Preston New Road serving Marton Mere every 20 minutes. The X44 continued unchanged. If this is hard to follow see "Line 4 Baby Blue to Cadbury Blue"

For 1991 it was the 33 which served Marton Mere and this now became a year round operation. Evening and Sunday saw circulars 333/444 run Gynn Square to Marton Mere every 30 minutes. May 1992 saw the route split into 33A/33B with the latter serving Marton Mere every 30 minutes. March 1993 saw a further recast, the 33A/B combined as 33 and the 44 split as 44A/B! The 44B now became the Marton Mere service again half hourly. It was extended cross town to Cleveleys in February 1994.

A second service was added from August 1996 when evening and Sunday journeys on service 23 (Staining to Tesco) was extended to Marton Mere on an hourly basis giving a link, albeit indirect, to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and South Pier.

The success of the Fylde minibus services was evident when they became the town's first low floor bus route. 8 early production Optare Excels were purchased for the 44A/B in 1996 just as Fylde was absorbed by its new parent Blackpool Transport. They proved troublesome a demonstrators regularly appeared on loan while Optare tried to rectify problems under warranty.  In September 1998, P447SWX departs for Cleveleys (Brian Turner)

A period of stability then ensured, until year round operation ended with the closure of the park for the winter in November 1999. This ended the 23, 44B and 333/444 era.

Route 20, from 2000, solved two problems. Firstly it served the Promenade, improving access to the main tourist destinations, and seconly provided extra capacity. At times, especially on Sunday, the previous routes could struggle with peak loadings. Atlantean 349 leaves the camp in August 2000 (Brian Turner)

April 2000 saw a brand new route introduced with summer only service 20 from Marton Mere via Preston New Road, Waterloo Road, Station Road to South Pier and then Promenade to Blackpool Town Centre. This used two double deckers - usually Atlanteans.  The 20 continued with minor changes each summer until 2006 when it was extended to Blackpool Zoo via Stanley Park and Model Village replacing service 21. 

Despite being a seasonal service, the 20 did not escape the Metro route branding. From 2004 it gained this lilac identity with three ex Trent Olympians painted (401-403). Sister bus 404 joined the roster for the 2006 season following an extension to Blackpool Zoo. City Sightseeing open toppers took over for the 2007 - 2010 seasons (Brian Turner).

This lasted one season, a complete revision took place from 2007. Buses now ran from Marton Mere along Preston New Road but then served the Model Village, Zoo, Stanley Park and Blackpool Town Centre then via the Promenade right through to Pontins Holiday Camp. The service became the City Sightseeing operation using Leyland Olympian open toppers - and this continued until the end of the 2010 season.

2011 and 2012 saw the 20 operate Marton Mere to Town Centre only, in 2013 it once again continued along the Promenade though only to Pleasure Beach, but this was dropped for 2014 again. For 2013 five Optare Solos received a dedicated livery promoting the 20 as the "Resort Hopper Bus" reflecting a new resort wide tourism pass, however they proved to be hopelessly inadequate capacity wise and after a brief use, the standard Tridents or DAFs resumed. 

Change here for Tesco: Town Centre redevelopment work caused disruption to most serves between February and August 2009. This included Line 15 (Poulton to Tesco) which passed Marton Mere on Mythop Road  and for the duration it turned short at Marton Mere to give more running time so as to cope with the Town Centre diversions. Service 4 was terminated in Great Marton so a shuttle service numbered 4A ran from Stanley School to Tesco via Marton Mere. Here Solo 264 on the shuttle overtakes 513 on the access road to Marton Mere (Brian Turner)

The East Lancs Olympians occasionally operated the 20. Here is 369 newly painted into Metro pool black and yellow. The dark appearance on this soon prompted some additional yellow and red stripes on the front.  (Brian Turner)

2004 saw an Indian Summer (well Spring) for the remaining ex Fylde Atlanteans which were normally used on school services. Here 27 year old 471 loads on the 20 on 8 May 2004 - three weeks before it was withdrawn. (Paul Turner)

A somewhat scruffy 471 turns onto Mythop Road, note the direction sign for services 33 and 444 on the lamppost - a legacy of the Fylde services of the 1990s. (Paul Turner)

The seven Olympians bought from Lancashire United with their Blackpool school operation in 2007 were sought after buses by enthusiasts as they rarely worked local routes. The six Lothian buses began to appear on the 20 in 2010/1, but new to London 411 seemed to be very elusive - this appearance on 25 July 2011 was quite rare

Having failed to locate a photo of an open topper at Marton Mere - here is 818 at Town Hall awaiting departure on an early season working to Marton Mere in May 2008 (Brian Turner)

This is new to Lothian Buses 414 departing from Marton Mere in July 2011 (Brian Turner)

January Round Up

Blackpool Transport

Excel 221 is the first second hand examples to be withdrawn

Not previously reported was the formal withdrawal of Solo 283 on 26 November after several weeks out of use. This leaves just 277-279 and 284 of the 2002/3 Lifestyle Line buses in service. It has been joined by Optare Excel 221 which was withdrawn on 9 January. 

Routine repaints are continuing slowly with Solos 289 and 340 completed during January. 520 has also been repainted recently, noted with new logos on 11 January.

Catch 22 Bus
This is the new name for Oakwood Travel (since 1 December). Two further Dennis Darts have been purchased, both new to Cardiff Bus. T147DAX was purchased from Aimee's Travel of Leek in December and X186TSG direct from Cardiff Bus in January. Olympian N325NHG is now withdrawn.

Lancashire County Council
December saw a flurry of press activity following reports that local bus service contracts were again under threat as part of a budget review, however this was dropped from plans and tendered service such as the 74, 75, 76, 80, 87 and parts of the 2C and 16 will remain for the foreseeable future.

News Round Up

One time Blackpool Transport 401, latterly Oakwood Travel Olympian 701 has been sold for preservation after 18 years in Blackpool (David Umpleby)

Blackpool Transport repaints
After something of a hiatus, Volvo B7RLEs 522, 523 and Optare Solo 290 were repainted during November. 

Boxing Day and New Years Day services
As is common Blackpool Transport will operate a special service on both days with a PVR of 21:

• 1 Starr Gate to Fleetwood every 30 mins
• 5 Halfway House to Victoria Hospital every hour
• 7 Cleveleys to Lytham Square every hour
• 9 Blackpool to Cleveleys every 30 mins
• 11 Grange Park to St. Annes Square every hour
• 14 Fleetwood to Mereside every half hour

Also on Boxing Day Catch 22 bus will run its service 6 and 22 to Saturday timetables with 3 buses on each service. On New years day a Sunday service will operate on the 22 using two buses.

Oakwood renamed
At the start of December Oakwood Travel Ltd was renamed Catch 22 Bus Ltd to reflect its brand name.

Olympian returns home
Catch 22 Bus has sold its Leyland Olympian 701 (XAU701Y) for preservation in Derbyshire. New in 1983 as Trent 701 at Derby - it was one of ten purchased by Blackpool Transport to replace ex Fylde Atlanteans. It arrived in Blackpool on 11 December 1996 - its new home for the next 18 years. Numbered 401 it entered service on 5 February 1997 in its new green and cream livery. It kept this through several repaints until it gained Metro livery pool livery very briefly in January 2002 being quickly modified into Line 11 turquoise. It later moved onto Line 20 (lilac) and finally Line 1 (orange). 

Withdrawal took place on 28 October 2010 as part of the rundown of the Leylands. It was bought for preservation the following year. It was taken on by Classic Bus North West during 2013 and returned to service on 31 July 2013 in an allover advert for Hot Ice Show. After a summer of service on the 12, it was a common performer on service 22 over the winter, but in the spring suffered a gearbox failure at Mereside Tesco and it has not run since. 

Oakwood Update

Former London United VA103 (W139EON) has entered service with Oakwood Travel on route 22. This 2000 built double decker was acquired via Ripley, dealer in March (David Umpleby)

Oakwood Travel has placed its Volvo B7TL double decker into service on route 22. Its second ex Stagecoach Alexander bodied Dart has also entered service (617). The open top Metrobuses have been withdrawn for the winter, joining two of the three Olympians (325 and 701) in store.

The Red Rocket Manchester express restarts with a single return trip weekends only from 22/23 November to 27/28 December leaving Blackpool Coach Station at 1030 and Manchester Chorlton Street at 1630.

Oakwood Fleet List November 2014

No	Reg	Chassis	Body	Livery	Origins
69	F69SYE	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML81 11/88
139	W139EON	Volvo B7TL	Alexander	Red/Grey	London United 3/00
143	T143AUA	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
145	T145AUA	Dennis Dart	Alexander	Red	Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
162	V162MVX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red	Stagecoach East London 12/99
163	V163MVX	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	New Catch 22	Stagecoach East London 12/99
269	P269PSX	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Pleasure Beach advert	Lothian Buses 269
325	N325NHG	Volvo Olympian	Alexander	Gazette advert	Dublin Bus RA272
326	F326UJN	MCW Metrobus	MCW	Pleasure Beach advert	China Motor Bus ML77 10/88
356	R356LER	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Stagecoach new 10/97
512	X512UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	New Catch 22	London United DP512 11/2000
533	X533UAT	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red/Grey	London United DP513 11/2000
601	W601CWX	Volvo B6BLE	Wright	New Catch 22	Harrogate & District 6/2000
611	W611CWX	Volvo B6BLE	Wright	Harrogate	Harrogate & District 6/2000
617	X617JCS	Dennis Dart	Alexander	New Catch 22	Stagecoach 2/01
652	Y652NLO	Dennis Dart	Plaxton	Red	Metroline, London DLD182 6/2001
701	XAU701Y	Leyland Olympian	ECW	Pleasure Beach advert	Trent 3/83
898	R898XVM	Volvo B10M	Alexander	Red	Stagecoach Manchester
MAL41	BD52LNU	Mercedes Citaro	Mercedes	Red	Go Ahead London
MAL53	BL52ODK	Mercedes Citaro	Mercedes	Red	Go Ahead London
RM1583	583CLT	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	Red	London Transport
RML887	202UXJ	AEC Routemaster	Park Royal	Red	London Transport

69, 325, 326, 611, 701, MAL41 all currently stored

Volvo Olympians at 20

Two contrasting products of Northern Counties - Volvo Olympian 374 of 1994 passes 136 - a 1993 body on a 1971 Atlantean chassis inherited from Fylde

The 1990s was a famine for new double deck buses. Between the 1989 Leyland Olympians and 2002 Dennis Tridents, just one batch of six new Volvo Olympians arrived in 1994. Volvo had taken over Leyland Bus in 1988 and its Olympian chassis was relaunched under the Volvo mark in 1993 and unusually for Volvo still featured the Cummins L10 engine.

374-379 arrived in November 1994, the first non Leyland double deckers since the Guy Arabs of the 1930s. They were also the first, and only, Northern Counties bodied buses bought by Blackpool - perhaps slightly influenced by Fylde's preference - Blackpool having purchased its neighbour earlier in 1994. They were also the only buses delivered in the 1994 "green stripe" livery. 

The interior of 379 - individual moulded seats were fitted, initially in a grey moquette but some were later retrimmed in "black magic" as just visible here on 379. The rear few rows of seats upstairs were replaced by conventional bus seats - with the originals used on Balloon tram 719! 

The sextet allowed Atlanteans 322-327 to be cascaded to Fylde to displace some of its older examples. The Volvos entered service on route 6 (Mereside to Grange Park) on 14 November alongside Atlanteans but soon suffered vandalism, so were quickly moved onto the 22/22A (Cleveleys-Lytham) alonsgide Optare Deltas. Evening and Sunday work included the 14/14A (Fleetwood to St. Annes). 

The Palatine 2 bodywork suited the Line 11 livery well - here 376 crosses Station Road in Lytham at the start of another long run to Cleveleys

The 22/22A ceased with the Metro network in April 2001, so the Volvos moved onto the new Line 14 (Fleetwood to St. Annes). Form here they were displaced onto Line 11 (Cleveleys to Lytham) by the 2002 Tridents. 374 was the first to be repainted out of its by now faded original scheme into the 11's turquoise and yellow scheme entering service on 23 January 2002 - the rest followed during the year (375/6 March, 377 April, 378/9 August). New Tridents would be the scourge of the Volvos. The 2004 batch for Line 11 saw 375 deposed to the pool fleet in June with a part repaint in black. 374/6/7/9 followed suit in 2005 while the 2006 Tridents saw 378 join the pool fleet - the six strong batch were matching once more. This lasted until November 2007 when 379 was returned to Line 11 livery.

Even in pool livery, the Volvos were regulars on Line 11 - this is 374 on Commonside, Ansdell

During the Roberts era a solitary batch of Volvo B7RLEs in 2010 was the sole intake of new buses, investment was spread over second hand double deckers to rid the fleet of its remaining step entrance buses - primarily Leyland Olympians - save for the Volvos. 374-379 were increasingly consigned to school services. July 2011 saw 379 repainted out of Line 11 colours into the new fleet livery, followed by 375-378 in October. All five were then fitted with seat belts to work school baths contracts - 374 retained pool livery and still regularly ran on local services. It was repainted to match its sisters in October 2012. Occasionally the belted examples escaped onto local service work - mainly in the school holidays - but 374 kept the flag flying. 

378 in its current livery - which seems to suit the vehicles well. It is working a swimming baths contract from Stanley School

379 selected itself as the first for withdrawal in May 2014 with an electrical fault. Its belted seats were transferred to 374 to maintain fleet strength. It seems likely the Volvos will survive until the end of 2016 when the all buses will need to meet the standards set out in the Disability Discrimination Act. Next year's new buses should replace Optare Excels so further investment will be needed to finally eradicate the Volvos. Hopefully, as Blackpool Transport's last step entrance buses, one will find a place in preservation.