Coronation 663 returns to Rigby Road

663 on Scotts low loader with the trailer wheels on full lock as it reverses out of the former LTT depot at Brinwell Road

Coronation 663 became the last tram to leave the former Lancastrian Transport Trust premises at Brinwell Road in Marton on 9th December, when it made the short journey to Rigby Road depot to become part of the growing heritage fleet of Blackpool Transport. 663 had only days to go until a deadline for it to be removed from the former LTT depot (now Heatons Engineering Ltd), so it was with great relief that Scotts Heavy Haulage extracted the tram from the building and transported it the short distance to Blundell Street ready for unloading. Coronation 663 has had a nomadic existence for the last 37 years since it departed Rigby Road for preservation back in 1976, residing at various locations around the country, and even suffering flood damage to the bogies while being stored at Lytham. 663 will now join Coronations 304 and 660 at Rigby Road depot. For more photos of 663's move see Blackpool Trams on Flickr.

Coronation 663 on Scotts low loader on Lytham Road in Blackpool on its way back to Rigby Road tram depot

Coronation 663 on Scotts low loader making the turn from Hopton Road into Blundell Street

The front bogie of 663 finally touches down again on Blackpool rails, 37 years since it left for preservation in 1976

Balloon 716 for £8000 ono

Balloon 716 in its last full year of passenger service, seen on the core Fleetwood to Starr Gate route in July 2002

Balloon 716 has unexpectedly turned up for sale on a well known auction site. The tram was withdrawn from service in summer 2003 due to corrosion problems with its underframe. 716 was then stored in the depot for several more years, being used as a spare parts tram, before it was purchased by Ptarmigan Transport Solutions of Perth, and transported to Scotland where the intention was that it would be used as a site office. Unfortunately Ptarmigan Transport Solutions has recently gone into liquidation and there is now an urgent need to dispose of the tram, either for reuse or scrap. The asking price for 716 is £8000, although offers will also be accepted.

Balloon 716 for sale on eBay on 8th December, the auction end date is 17th December. Get your bids in quickly!

Storm Damage in Blackpool

Flexity 012 heading for Fleetwood on 6th Dec, past promenade surfacing ripped up by the sea along the Golden Mile

Severe gale force winds together with a high autumn tide caused a tidal surge which breached the new sea defences along Blackpool Promenade on 5th December. Much of the Central Promenade was completely overwhelmed with water, which covered the road and tramway to a depth of several inches, and was even lapping at the fronts of the hotels on the other side of the carriageway. Tram services were curtailed on the tramway south of North Pier, and later in the day they were restricted to the section betwen Bispham and Ash Street in Fleetwood. Neither buses or trams were able to use the Central Promenade for majority of the day. The sea was so powerful that it tore up a large section of paving surface from the new promenade, between Central Pier and the Lifeboat Station, rolling it up like it was a large carpet. The day after the flood there were still piles of seaweed left in front of Rigby Road depot, that had been washed all the way down Lytham Road and Hopton Road by the sea and into the depot.

A large area of rubberized promenade paving surface that had been ripped up by stormy seas on 5th December

Looking north towards the Lifeboat Station, showing the large area of paving that had been ripped up by the storm

A large sheet of the promenade paving surface that had been ripped up and wrapped round one of the large pebbles

Piles of sea washed seaweed sat in front of snowplough equipped Balloons 701 & 723 at Rigby Rd on December 6th

The gale lashed sea overwhelmed the new sea defences, the flooded prom seen at Waterloo Rd tram stop on 5th Dec

Snowploughs at the ready

Balloons 701 and 723 both now fitted with snowploughs for the winter, seen at Rigby Road depot on 26th November

Balloons 701 and 723 were noted in the main running shed at Rigby Road depot today, both fitted with snowploughs in anticipation of any rare winter snowfalls that may hit the Fylde coast.

Red Rocket Variety

Ex Stagecoach Volvo 899 was rushed into service to replace failed Volvo 611 on the 10:30 Red Rocket on 25th Nov

Classic Bus North West's Red Rocket express service is going from strength to strength in passenger loadings on the morning runs to Manchester, but increasingly the Mercedes-Benz Citaros are being replaced by other vehicles in the CBNW fleet. The 10:30 morning run from Blackpool has regularly been operated by the ex Transdev Harrogate and District Volvo B6BLE 611 (W611 CWX) for the last few weeks, and other vehicles have also been noted standing in for the Citaros, either due to mechanical problems or there has also been talk of heavy fuel consumption with the bendy buses. This morning (Nov 25th) even the 10:30 ex Harrogate Volvo 611 broke down, being swifty substituted by former Stagecoach North West Volvo B10M R899 XVM, which is normally seen in use on the local Catch 22 service. Two of the Mercedes-Benz Citaros (MAL41 and MAL53) were noted laid up out of service in CBNW's storage yard at Marton on 25th November, leaving only MAL49 available for use on the Red Rocket.
 

Former Dublin Bus Volvo Olympian N325 NHG running along the Red Rocket route on Seasiders Way on Nov 25th

MAL41 on the 10:30 departure on 7th Nov, these buses are becoming an increasingly scarce sight on the Red Rocket

Ex Transdev Harrogate 611 on the 10:30 Red Rocket on 10th Nov, displaying "Sorry Not in Service" on the indicator

Two Mercedes-Benz Citaros and four Dennis Darts were noted in CBNW's storage/demic yard at Marton on 25th Nov

Classic Buses on Route Diversions

Ex Transdev London Dennis Dart X533 UAT on a March 19th diversion up Albert Rd due to promenade road works

During the course of the year, bus routes that normally operate along parts of the promenade have had to be diverted around the back of the town, both northbound and southbound routes, due to various road closures. Here are a selection of views of Classic Bus North West vehicles on temporary route diversions during 2013.
 

Former Metroline Dennis Dart Y652 NLO, new to CBNW this year, crossing Church St on a 10th November diversion

Ex Dublin Bus Olympian N324 NHG on a Dickson Rd diversion due to the Remembrance Day service on Nov 10th

Ex Stagecoach Olympian P915 RYO crossing Church St due to the Remembrance Day service on the promenade

Ex Metroline Dennis Dart T145 AUA proceeds inland along Albert Rd on a northbound route diversion on 19th March

Ex Lothian Buses Volvo Olympian P269 PSX on a route 22 diversion via New Larkhill Street on 21st March

Former Stagecoach London Dart V162 MVX on a diversion up Springfield Rd near the Metropole Hotel on 19th June

The Tiger Returns

Tiger striped 622 looked like it had taken a detour via the jungle, as it was seen carrying tree branches on Lytham Rd!

Brush car 622 made an unexpected return to the rails of Blackpool Tramway on the afternoon of 7th November. The former Tigerrific all-over advert tram had to vacate its home of the last three years in Marton due to a change of ownership of the premises, and has been moved to Rigby Road depot in Blackpool for temporary storage. 622 was unable to be moved directly to its final destination of Anchorsholme Primary School, as they were not yet ready to receive the tram.

Scotts low loader juggling its way out of the former LTT depot at Brinwell Road in Marton

Scotts low loader making the turn from Hopton Road into Blundell Street

Scotts low loader manouevring into their unloading position shortly after arriving in Blundell Street

An end on view of 622 before it was unloaded, still with the tree branches that it collected tangled in its trolley tower

Shortly before 622 was unloaded there was a torrential downpour of rain, the wet tram is seen glistening in the sun

622 is pulled off the trailer by Unimog 939, being braked by the hydraulic arm of Scotts MAN tractor unit

622 finally touches back down on Blackpool rails, three years after it departed to the LTT depot in September 2010