Virgin Pendolinos reach Blackpool

Pendolino 390011 at Blackpool North on the 13:02 service to London Euston on 12th June

Monday 21st May was the first day of electric train services on the newly upgraded and electrified Preston to Blackpool North line. As well as local electric trains a regular Virgin Pendolino service commenced operation between London Euston and Blackpool North on the same day. The following photos were all taken on Tuesday 12th June.

A Virgin Pendolino passing through Poulton-le-Fylde on its way to Blackpool North

Pendolino 390012 passing through Poulton on the 10:53 from Blackpool North to London Euston

Virgin Pendolino 390011 at Blackpool on the 11:56 arrival from London Euston

Pendolino 390011 on Platform 1 at Blackpool North after arriving from Euston

Heritage Trams in Fleetwood

147 on Lord Street in Fleetwood on a Fylde Tramway Society private hire on Saturday

The May Day Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool was blessed with some glorious sunny weather, here are a few shots of the heritage trams in action at the northern end of the line in Fleetwood on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of May.

Bolton 66 turning into Pharos Street in Fleetwood on Saturday

Brush Car 621 at Fleetwood Ferry on Saturday

Brush 623 heading south along North Albert Street on Sunday

Balloon 715 passing Fleetwood Library in North Albert Street on Sunday

Box 40 passing St Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Lord Street in Fleetwood on Sunday

Standard 147 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood on Sunday

64th UK Coach Rally in Blackpool

Tyrers brand new Van Hool TDX25 Astromega that was voted Coach of the Year in Blackpool

The 64th UK Coach Rally took place in Blackpool over the weekend of the 28th & 29th of April. The event consisted of a road run, driving tests and judging over the course of the two days. When the coaches weren't participating in an event, they were parked up on either the Tower Headland or the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel near the North Pier. The Coach of the Year award was won by the recently delivered double deck Van Hool TDX25 Astromega of Tyrers Coaches from Adlington near Chorley.

A very colourful Neoplan Tourliner of Johnson Brothers from Worksop

A York Pullman Volvo B8R with Plaxton Panther 3 bodywork

A recently delivered Van Hool TX16 Acron of Yorkshire Rose Coaches from Barnsley

A Volvo 9700 belonging to Excelsior Coaches of Bournemouth

Marton route tram tracks revealed in Talbot Square

Track from the former Marton tram route leading off towards Clifton Street

The current road remodelling work at Talbot Square in Blackpool has recently revealed some old tram track. A set of points and short stretch of track from the former Marton tram route has been dug up in front of the Town Hall. The old track is due to be cut up and disposed of before the road is resurfaced.

Track from the former Marton tram route in front of the Town Hall

The recently revealed tram track at Talbot Square

Trains return to Blackpool North

156469 at Poulton-le-Fylde on the 1245 service to Manchester Airport 

Monday 16th April saw a limited train service resume on the Preston to Blackpool North line, after being closed for several months due to upgrade and electrification work. An hourly service is currently being operated between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, with rail replacement buses still running to supplement the trains. Driver training trains were noted running in between the hourly passenger service.

156472 passing at speed through Layton towards Blackpool North

156491 at Blackpool North, note that platform 1 is still a fenced off work area

150220 leaving Blackpool North on driver training

40s at 60 event on the ELR

Visiting locos 40012 "Aureol" and D213 "Andania" at Bury Bolton Street Station

To mark the 60th anniversary of the English Electric Type 4 (Class 40) entering service with British Railways, the East Lancashire Railway held a special three day diesel event from 13th to 15th April. The 40s at 60 event saw five Class 40s in service, supported by a Deltic and Class 50 also. Resident 40s 40106, 40135 and 40145 took part plus 50015 "Valiant", along with visiting locos 40012 "Aureol", belonging to The Midland Railway Trust, D213 "Andania" from Barrow Hill and D9009 "Alycidon" courtesy of the Deltic Preservation Trust. Pioneer Class 40 D200 was on loan from the National Railway Museum at York, and was displayed at Bolton Street Station at Bury throughout the event.

D213 "Andania" departing from Bury on the 1616 service to Heywood

The noses of D213 "Andania" and D200 at Bolton Street Station, Bury

40135 and 40012 double heading the 1056 from Bury to Heywood

40012 and 40135 double heading the 1056 Bury to Heywood service

40106 "Atlantic Conveyor" at Bury on the rear of the 1315 train from Heywood

40135 waiting at Ramsbottom with 40145 arriving on the 1250 from Bury to Rawtenstall

D9009 "Alycidon" at Ramsbottom on the 1447 service to Heywood

50015 "Valiant" at Ramsbottom Station on the 1322 shuttle to Bury

D200 from the National Railway Museum on display at Bury

147 on midweek Heritage Tours

Balloon 715 and newly repainted Standard 147 passing each other near Manchester Square

Thursday 5th April dawned bright and sunny in Blackpool, and as newly repainted Standard 147 was rostered to be one of the two trams on the midweek Heritage Tours that day, the chance had finally arrived to get some some sunny shots of this tram in action.

147 at Gynn Square returning from the Cabin and heading for the Pleasure Beach

147 at Gynn Square on the first Cabin service of the day

Standard 147 southbound at Central Pier

147 heading south at Talbot Square past the junction for the new line to North Station