Archway Travel's new 83 seater School Buses

Recently repainted ex-Lothian SN09CVD returning from an afternoon school run on 13th May

Archway Travel of Fleetwood took delivery of four ex-Lothian (Edinburgh) Volvo B9TLs with 11.4m Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork in February. The recently acquired buses are SN09CVD, SN59BGF, SN59BGV & SN59BHA, and Archway claim that these 83 seaters will be the largest capacity vehicles on the Fylde Coast. The Volvos were received in Lothian Buses traditional madder and white livery, which dates back to the days of Edinburgh Corporation Transport, and were pressed into service straight away, rather than waiting for them to be repainted into Archway's colours. The first bus of the four to be repainted in the red and yellow school bus livery was SN09CVD, and this has recently been noted in service operating local school contracts.

Former Lothian SN59BGF in Cleveleys on an afternoon school contract on 25th March

Former Lothian SN09CVD parked up after a days work in the yard of Archway Travel at Fleetwood

Twin door 10.6m Wright Eclipse Gemini LJ03MLZ on 13th May, new to Arriva London North in 2003 as VLW182

Former Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 319 (PN04XDE) heading out for an afternoon school run on 11th May

W757DWX, a Volvo B7TL with Alexander body, new to Yorkshire Rider, leaving Archway's yard on 5th March

Former Stagecoach Scotland Volvo East Lancs ST52NTU on a morning school run on Bourne Way in Thornton

Ex Metroline London Volvo B7TL Plaxton President X635LLX on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton

Queen's Platinum Jubilee Flexity

Platinum Jubilee Flexity 010 at Fleetwood Ferry on the afternoon of 10th May

In addition to the two buses that are already wearing purple stripes to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year, Blackpool Transport have also given Flexity 010 the purple treatment too. Sadly an opportunity has been missed to give the tram an imaginatively designed overall vinyl wrap, instead the two end sections of the Flexity simply have a purple banner along the roof with text on, and the centre section is purple with more text and a crown logo. What's worse is that a Flexity has been used with cabs ends that have faded from their original purple into a drab shade of plum.

Flexity 010 heading north on Lord Street in Fleetwood on 10th May

The centre section of Flexity 010 with a simple crown logo applied

Arriva Southport 4579, showing what can be achieved with a bit of creative flair

Queen's Platinum Jubilee Bus

Platinum Jubilee Enviro 422 turning right out of New Bonny Street on 16th April

Blackpool Transport have given two of their ADL Enviro 400 City buses purple stripes and special adverts to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year. Enviros 422 and 423 have both been noted working on route 17 that operates between Blackpool town centre and Lytham.

Enviro 422 heading south on Bank Hey Street on its way back to Lytham

Enviro 422 passing Coral Island on route 17 to Blackpool town centre

Standard 143 on the Promenade

Standard 143 heading back north off the Pleasure Beach loop

Standard 143 was taken out onto the Promenade for a further period of testing on Friday 8th April, following its first outing a month ago. 143 trundled up and down the prom between Foxhall and the Pleasure Beach for an hour and a half during the morning. The growling noise from the motor gearing was unfortunately still evident, but the tram looked superb in the full sunshine.

Standard 143 heading south with Central Pier in the background

Standard 143 heading off down Hopton Road for its Promenade testing

A long zoom shot down Lytham Road of 143 passing through Manchester Square

Flexity 002 and Standard 143 passing at Foxhall

Standard 143 passing South Pier

143 turning from Lytham Road into Hopton Road at the end of the testing

Standard 143 heading north at Manchester Square

143 heading back into the fitting shop after the test runs on the prom

Standard 143 stopped at Foxhall Square

Spring at Anchorsholme Park

Flexity 005 passing the daffodils in Anchorsholme Park on Friday 25th March

This weekend saw the annual display of daffodils alongside the tramway at Anchorsholme Park in full bloom. Here is a small selection of tram and daffodil photos taken over the weekend.

Balloon 715 returning from a Coastal Tour to Fleetwood on 27th March

Flexity 006 descending the hill from Little Bispham turning circle

Balloon 717 climbing the hill at Anchorsholme on Saturday 26th March

Flexity 002 passing a bank of white daffodils near Anchorsholme Crossing

A head on view of Flexity 017 ascending the hill next to Anchorsholme Park

Railcoach 279 returns to Rigby Road

Railcoach 279 approaching Blundell Street on the back of Reid Freight's low loader

Railcoach 279 was moved from the Fylde Transport Trust's depot at Brinwell Road in Marton to Rigby Road tram depot on Thursday 17th March. The recreation of English Electric Railcoach 279 from former trailer towing car 679 had progressed as far as it could at the FTT's premises, so on Thursday morning Reid Freight Services arrived with a low loader to transport 279 the short distance to the centre of Blackpool. After a tricky extraction from the Fylde Transport Trust's depot into the narrow confines of Brinwell Road, 279 was transported to Blundell Street, where the Railcoach was quickly unloaded and then moved into the tram depot by Engineering Car 754.

Railcoach 279 being winched onto Reid's low loader in the FTT depot at Brinwell Road

279 is nearly in position on Reid Freight Services low loader

279 securely chained down on the back of Reid Freight's low loader

The low loader carefully reversing out of the FTT depot into Brinwell Road

The low loader struggling to manoeuvre its way out of the FTT depot due to the restricted access

Railcoach 279 sat in the sunshine for the first time in several years

Railcoach 279 sitting in Brinwell Road ready to make the journey home to Rigby Road tram depot

Reid's low loader reversing out of Brinwell Road onto Clifton Road in Marton

Railcoach 279 on Lytham Road as it approaches the tram depot

Reid's low loader overshooting the correct left turn into Blundell Street

BTS Enviro 222 on staff bus duty passing 279 in Blundell Street

279 being winched down the low loader rail ramp onto Blundell Street

Engineering Car 754 towing Railcoach 279 along Blundell Street

Engineering Car 754 propelling 279 along Hopton Road into the tram depot

279 departing Rigby Road depot for further restoration with the FTT in August 2018

Railcoach 279 in September 2015, while being stored in the fitting shop at Rigby Road

279 leaving the old Lancastrian Transport Trust premises in Brinwell Road in October 2013

Trailer Towing Car 679 (279) in 1980s style green and cream livery at the Tower in March 2004