Blackpool 130th Day One

The highlight of the weekend for many was probably freshly repainted Twin Set 675/685 in a 1960s style livery

The weekend of 26th and 27th September was chosen for Blackpool Tramway's 130th anniversary celebrations, with as many trams from the heritage fleet as possible being used over the two days. The landmark event of the weekend was the re-entry into service of Twin Set 675/685 freshly repainted into a 1960s style green and cream livery, complete with an orange trolley tower. The other debut of the day was Balloon 723 newly stripped of its black overall advertising vinyls, revealing the green and cream colour scheme that was underneath the advert. In addition to the aforementioned trams, 66, 227, 600, 680, 706, 715, 736 and 272/T2 were operating the normal Heritage Tours, with Centenaries 642 and 648 on a Starr Gate service. Two 'B' fleet Balloons were also out for the day, with 711 operating a Hopton Road to Starr Gate shuttle, including a trip through the working tram wash for those people who were booked on the depot tours, and 719 stationed on the siding at North Pier being used as a 130th memorabilia shop. In addition to the action on the Promenade there was also a line-up of trams on Blundell Street, consisting of Brush Car 632, Trawler 737 and Jubilee Car 761. Within the depot confines Coronation Cars 663, 660 and 304 were parked alongside each other on the track fan.

Twin Set 675/685, Bolton 66 and Balloons 715 and 706 waiting to enter service at the Pleasure Beach

Centenary 648 near the Burlington Road tram stop on a Heritage Tour service to Starr Gate

Railcoach 680 and Balloon 723 stationed at the Pleasure Beach waiting their call to service

Balloon 711 just south of the Pleasure Beach while working on the Rigby Road to Starr Gate shuttle service

Boat 227 passing the Sandcastle Waterpark with a good passenger load bound for the Pleasure Beach

706 Princess Alice turning onto the loop at the Pleasure Beach

Balloon 719 in use as the 130th Anniversary souvenir shop at North Pier, with southbound Boat 600 passing by

Balloon 723 southbound at Manchester Square, looking a bit tatty after the removal of its vinyl overall advert

Centerary 642 at Manchester Square while working on the Starr Gate heritage service

Balloon 715 northbound at Manchester Square on a Heritage Tour service to Little Bispham

Twin Set 272/T2 at Central Pier on its way north to Little Bispham

Frigate 736 returning to the depot after spending the day on Heritage Tour service

Open Top Balloon 706 had to be recovered to the depot by Unimog 939 after losing its trolley head

Brush Car 632, Trawler 737 and Jubilee 761 were lined up for display all day in Blundell Street

Illuminated Trawler tram 737 on display in Blundell Street

Jubilee Car 761, belonging to the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, on display on the Blundell Street track

Coronation Cars 663, 660 and 304 displayed together on the depot track fan at Rigby Road

Football Tram Unveiled

641, now complete with its pantograph tower, after it had been officially unveiled opposite to the Pleasure Beach

Centenary 641, which is now located in the centre of the Pleasure Beach turning circle, has had the temporary sheeting removed that was covering the sides of the tram. 641 is part of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust collection and was unveiled at an informal event on the evening of Friday 18th September, this being attended by representatives from the Supporters Trust which included former players from Blackpool Football Club.

723 back in green and cream

Balloon 723 seen on Lord Street in Fleetwood in 2009 after it had been painted into 1980s livery the previous year

Balloon 723 has had its black based overall advert vinyls for The Sands Venue removed to reveal the former green and cream livery. 723 was painted into 1980s livery in 2008 as part of an advertising contract, after the contract had expired the tram ran in the plain green and cream colour scheme the following year. 723 was noted on the track fan at Rigby Road depot on 22nd September devoid of the black advertising vinyls that it has worn until recently.

Balloon 723 on the depot track fan at Rigby Road after having its black overall advert vinyls removed

Balloon 723 seen in heritage service at Cleveleys on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend in 2013

The Blackpool FC Tram

Centenary 641 sat on its display track at the Pleasure Beach on the afternoon of Thursday 17th September

After the recent removal of Brush Car 627 from the short display track in the centre of the Pleasure Beach turning circle, the spot has now been filled with another tram from the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust collection. Centenary 641 was transported from the fish docks at Fleetwood by Calkeld Heavy Haulage and unloaded at the Pleasure Beach in the early hours of Thursday 17th September. 641 has been decorated with pictures and information celebrating the history of Blackpool Football Club, the windscreens are protected with covers to protect the glass, and the pantograph tower was reunited with the tram later that day in the afternoon. 641 currently looks very scruffy with various bits of plastic sheeting temporarily covering up parts of the sides of the tram, however these are due to be removed at an unveiling ceremony on the evening of Friday 18th September.

Blackpool Atlantean on the Zoo Bus

Former Blackpool Corporation Atlantean 334 turning into Reads Avenue on its way back to the Tower on service 21

Another former Blackpool Corporation Transport vehicle made its debut on the heritage bus operated Service 21 to the Zoo today. 1980 East Lancashire bodied Leyland Atlantean 334 (AHG 334V) made its first outing on the 21 to Blackpool Zoo, resplendent in full Blackpool green and cream livery. Atlantean 334 has been owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust for 10 years, and is a welcome addition to the varied collection of preserved buses that are being used on the Zoo service.

Former Blackpool Atlantean 334 turning from Adelaide Street West into Bank Hey Street on its way to the Zoo

Former Blackpool Corporation Atlantean 334 heading along Mere Road on its way towards Stanley Park

New Solo Track Gang Bus

Blackpool Council's new mobile mess room for the track gang, Optare Solo 1114 (formerly BTS No. 267)

Blackpool Council's Engineering Services department have begun to use a new track gang mess bus. The new mobile mess room has been converted from former Blackpool Transport Optare Solo 267 (V267 HEC)), delivered new in 1999.

Flexity 004 passing Blackpool Council's new Optare Solo mobile mess room at Norbreck

Blackpool Council Optare Metrorider track gang bus 1064 was still in use on 21st August (seen at Little Bispham)

Blackpool Council's first track gang bus to carry the purple and white livery was Atlantean 270 (ex BTS No. 350)

Lytham Hall Running Day

Brush bodied Leyland Cheetah LZ2 No. 1568, new to Ribble Motors in 1936 and completely restored in 2013

The highlight of the local transport events on the Fylde Coast on August Bank Holiday Monday was undoubtedly the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust's annual running day at Lytham Hall. This was the second year that this event has been held, and it gives a unique opportunity to photograph and ride a large selection of preserved buses from a variety of local operators. A regular free bus service was operated all day between Lytham Hall, Lytham town centre and Fairhaven Lake. As well as a large selection of buses from the Ribble group's own collection, there were preserved buses that formerly operated with Lytham St. Annes Corporation, Blackpool Corporation and Fishwick's of Leyland to be seen and sampled. This rally is quickly becoming an event not to be missed for local transport enthusiasts, and as well as seeing the buses around the very picturesque setting of the grade 1 listed Lytham Hall and its grounds, many of them were also in use on the frequent circular bus service that ran throughout the day.

From L to R, 1954 Leyland Tiger Cub, 1965 Leyland Leopard and 1961 Leopard with Harrington Cavalier coach body

1934 Lytham Leyland Lion LT5A No. 24, this bus had been exported to Canada but was repatriated and fully restored

A 1958 Leyland Titan PD2 with lowbridge Weymann bodywork, new to local operator Fishwick's of Leyland

Former Blackpool 512, a 1967 Leyland Titan PD3 in front of Lytham Hall and about to take part in the running day

Ribble 1939 Leyland Titan TD5 No. 2057, this bus was rebodied with Alexander bodywork in 1949

Leyland Lion 1161, the oldest restored bus in the RVPT's collection, new to Ribble Motors in 1931

Former Lytham St. Annes Corporation No. 10, a 1948 Leyland Titan PD2/1 with Leyland bodywork