Whittle Dart enters service in Blackpool

Ex Whittle Dennis Dart W468 UAG arriving in Blackpool town centre along Talbot Road on service 6 on 11th February

Former Whittle of Kidderminster Dennis Dart W468 UAG has now entered service with Catch22Bus Ltd. The bus made its entry into passenger service still in its previous Whittle livery, apart from an orange panel on the front which carries the Catch22Bus logo.

Former Whittle Dennis Dart W468 UAG on Clifton Street in Blackpool town centre on the service 6 on 11th February

Driver Trainer Pictorial

Balloon 700 crossing the road junction at Manchester Square after its short outing on driver training duties on Feb 6th

Here are a selection of photos from last Friday's heritage driver training day that used Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 and prototype Balloon 700.

Box Car 40 southbound at the Gynn while on a driver training run on 6th February

Balloon 700 just south of Central Pier on driver training duties on 6th February

Box Car 40 at Bispham as Flexity 003 passes by on the way to Fleetwood Ferry

Box Car 40 on the turning circle at Little Bispham as it returns south to the Pleasure Beach

Flexity 013 heading north at Bispham, passing Balloon 700 taking a short break on the centre siding

Balloon 700 sitting on the centre track at Bispham, as Box Car 40 passes by on its way back from Fleetwood

RML887 on Blackpool Promenade

RML887 turning from the Promenade into Adelaide Street on the service 22 on 5th February.

One last shot of RML887 working the service 22 of Catch22Bus, taken on Thursday 5th February.

Former Whittle Dennis Darts for Catch22Bus

Former Whittle Dennis Dart W468 UAG on a test run with its new owner Catch22Bus Ltd on 6th February

Catch22Bus Ltd have just taken delivery of two former Whittle Dennis Dart SLFs with Plaxton Mini Pointer bodywork. The two vehicles are W466 & W468 UAG, new to East Yorkshire Motor Services in 2000, they last operated with the EYMS subsidiary Whittle in Kidderminster.

Heritage Trams on Driver Training

Balloon 700 sitting on the centre track at Bispham on 6th Feb, as Box 40 passes by on its way back from Fleetwood

Friday 6th February saw two of the heritage fleet being used on driver training duties. Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 was the first tram out, heading to Little Bispham then back to the Pleasure Beach before running to Fleetwood Ferry and back to the depot. Prototype Balloon 700 also came out on driver training later in the morning, the two trams were spotted together briefly at Bispham just after midday.

Routemasters in action on the 22

RML887 heading south at Bispham Village on the service 22 to Mereside on 3rd February

This week saw both Routemasters from the Catch22Bus fleet in action on the service 22 between Mereside and Cleveleys. Monday 2nd February saw former Blackpool Transport Routemaster 521 (RM1583) in use, while from Tuesday it was the turn of all red RML887 to take over the reins.

RM1583 turning right from Langdale Road onto Clifton Road in Mereside on 2nd February

RML887 heading for Mereside along the bus contra-flow lane on Central Drive in Blackpool

RM1583 stopping to pick up passengers on Cherry Tree Road in Marton

RML887 approaching the southern terminus of the 22 route in Mereside

RML1583 heading south on Kelso Avenue in Cleveleys

RML887 pulling into the service 22 bus stop on New Bonny Street in Blackpool

RM1583 passing Mereside Primary School on Langdale Road in Mereside, on the way to Cleveleys

RML887 on the service 22 to Mereside, turning left into Anchorsholme Lane in Cleveleys

RML887 westbound on Anchorsholme Lane in Cleveleys on service 22

Cardiff Darts in Action

Ex Cardiff Dennis Dart X186 CTG on Westcliffe Drive in Layton, on service 6 heading towards Blackpool town centre

Some sunny photos of the ex Cardiff Dennis Darts that were recently acquired by Catch22Bus Ltd, 1999 Dennis MPD T147 DAX and 2000 built X186 CTG.

Former Cardiff Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart T147 DAX on service 22 in Cleveleys, turning into Anchorsholme Lane