New Darts for Catch22Bus

Former Manchester Airport Dart SN55 HSZ at Cleveleys Bus Station on the service 24 to Poulton

Catch22Bus have recently taken delivery of several more long Dennis Darts, to replace some of their older short MPDs. Noted in service this week was SN55 HSZ, new to Manchester Airport in 2005 and still wearing their full all-over advertising livery. Spotted in service today was orange Dart Y381 GAX, new to Cardiff Bus in 2001.

Ex Cardiff Bus Dennis Dart Y381 GAX on the Coastliner 21 service in Cleveleys

Former Manchester Airport SN55 HSZ on Fleetwood Rd South in Thornton on service 24

Tram Sunday

Brush Car 40 after arriving in Fleetwood with the Civic Party, shadowed by Railcoach 680

The annual Fleetwood Transport Festival was held this year on Sunday 16th July. The event, more commonly known as Tram Sunday, saw an enhanced tram output from Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, who operated an all day service from the Pleasure Beach through to Fisherman's Walk in Fleetwood. Trams in use on the Sunday were Bolton 66, Brush 623, Railcoach 680 and Balloons 715, 717, 718 and 723. A static display of trams was parked up in Pharos Street throughout the day, these being Box Car 40, Balloon 711 and Trawler 737.

The Civic Party posing in front of Brush 623 at Fisherman's Walk in Fleetwood

Balloon 723 heading along Copse Road in Fleetwood towards the Pleasure Beach

Bolton 66 departing from the Fisherman's Walk stop in Fleetwood

Fleetwood bound Balloon 717 passing through Rossall Square

Southbound Balloon 715 approached Rossall Square

Recently repainted Balloon 718 heading south at Broadwater

737, 711 and 40 lined up on static display in Pharos Street

Brush Car 623 launch tour

Brush Car 623 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours ran an evening tour of wartime liveried Brush Car 623 on Friday 14th July, to celebrate its launch back into passenger service in the resort. Brush 623 is currently on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway in Manchester, to coincide with the 80th Anniversary of the Blackpool Brush Car event which is taking place over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of September.

Brush Car 623 at Fleetwood Ferry during its launch tour on 14th July

Brush Car 623 heading south along Lord Street in Fleetwood

Flexities at the Pharos

Flexities 004 & 009 passing each other near the Pharos Lighthouse in Fleetwood

A chance meeting of two of Blackpool's Flexity 2 trams passing each other at Pharos Street in Fleetwood provided an opportunity for an interesting photograph on Friday 14th July.

Theatre Bus visits Blackpool

The theatre bus outside the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool ready for an afternoon performance tour

A rather strange looking bus was seen on the streets of Blackpool this week. The vehicle is the Rear View open-top theatre bus, which is currently touring the streets of Blackpool with daily performances being given by poets from the LeftCoast arts group. The theatre bus was converted from Alexander bodied Volvo B10M Citybus G91 PES, new as Tayside 91 of Dundee in 1989.

A rear view of the theatre bus showing the headphone equipped tiered seating arrangement

A profile view of the theatre bus outside the Grundy Art Gallery

The theatre bus near the Metropole Hotel during an afternoon performance tour

A front view of the former Tayside Volvo B10M Citybus outside the Grundy Art Gallery

Is it a Tram or is it a Bus?

ACTV Translohr 20 arriving at Piazzale Roma in Venice from Favaro

It's a combination of a tram and a bus called a Translohr, a rubber tyred articulated tram style vehicle, guided by a single steel rail that's recessed into the carriageway, but with the wheels running on the road surface. The system was originally developed by Lohr Industrie of France and is currently in use in France, Italy, China and Columbia. The line illustrated here is part of the Tranvia de Mestre system, operated by Venice ACTV public transport and opened in 2015. The system is comprised of two lines, T1 and T2, which serve parts of the Venice commune, line T1 running from the mainland via a long causeway bridge to the island city of Venice.

ACTV Translohr 20 at the Piazzale Roma terminus of line T1 in Venice

ACTV Translohr 09 departing from the Piazzale Roma terminus in Venice

ACTV Translohr 01 leaving the Piazzale Roma heading for Favaro on the mainland

ACTV Translohr 01 at Piazzale Roma in Venice, ready to depart for Favaro on the mainland

ACTV Translohr 01 arriving in Venice, having just crossed the lagoon via the causeway

Two days of tram moves

Brush Car 623 seen on Lytham Road after making the journey from Heaton Park on 6th June

On Tuesday 6th June, Scotts Heavy Haulage moved Brush 623 from the Heaton Park Tramway to Blackpool, where the tram will be on temporary loan in order that it can take part in the 80th Anniversary of the Brush Car celebrations on 23rd & 24th September. The following day Scotts were involved in two more tram moves, these being Brush 625 and Balloon 726 which were both transported the relatively short distance from the Port of Fleetwood to Rigby Road. 625 and 726 are privately owned, and are being stored in Rigby Road tram depot by a mutual agreement.

Brush Car 625 in Hopton Road after making the short journey from Fleetwood on 7th June

Balloon 726 leaving the Port of Fleetwood late on in the afternoon of 7th June