A Plethora of Palladia

Enviro 402, Trident 973, Citaro 559 and Centro 527 lined up in the yard at Rigby Road

A chance encounter at Rigby Road on 6th October found an example of each type of BTS bus that carries the Palladium livery lined up in the bus depot yard. From left to right are Enviro 402, Trident 973, Citaro 559 and Centro 527.

2016 Wirral Bus & Tram Show

Liverpool Baby Grand 245 passing the Egerton lift bridge on its way towards Woodside Ferry

The annual Wirral Bus & Tram Show took place on Sunday 2nd October. During the morning there were only two trams in operation, these being Hong Kong built cars 69 and 70, after midday a four car tram service was provided, with open-top Birkenhead 20 and Liverpool Baby Grand 245 joining the two Hong Trams for the rest of the day. As usual the main participants of the event were static displays of preserved buses, with a further selection of buses offering demonstration rides to visitors. The day was blessed with glorious sunshine, and as usual the event was a credit to the organisors, volunteers and visiting vehicle owners.

Hong Kong built tram No 60 crossing over Canning Street near the Egerton lift bridge

Hong Kong built tram No 70 passing the Pacific Road building

1900 Birkenhead Milnes open-top car 20 leaving Woodside Ferry

Crosville open-topper DLG 950, a 1958 Bristol Lodekka LD6G with ECW bodywork

1967 Birkenhead Leyland Titan PD2 No 152 turning out of Shore Road

Liverpool Guy Vixen tower wagon GKD 317, 1953 AEC Regent III A36 and 1957 AEC Regent V A267

1951 Wallasey Leyland Titan PD2/1 No 54 on Canning Street

Mersey ferry Snowdrop painted in a WW1 dazzle camouflage inspired colour scheme

Four Class 40s at the ELR Diesel Gala

Visiting Class 40 locomotive D213 'Andania' arriving at Ramsbottom on the 11:50 train from Bury

The 2016 Autumn Diesel Gala at the East Lancashire Railway took place over the weekend of 24th & 25th September. The highlight was undoubtedly the rare spectacle of four operational preserved Class 40 locomotives making an appearance at the same event. The locomotives in question were 40106 'Atlantic Conveyor', 40135 and 345 (40145), based on the ELR and belonging to the Class 40 Preservation Society, and the immaculate D213 (40013) 'Andania', which was making a guest appearance for the weekend. Also in use over the weekend were Sulzer powered Peak 45108 from the Midland Railway Centre, Class 37 37109, Class 50 50015 'Valiant', Warship D832 'Onslaught', Hymek D7076 and former EWS Class 31 31466. The photographs accompanying this report are a selection of the first generation BR diesels that were in use on the Saturday.

40135 passing over the level crossing at Ramsbottom ready for the 11:34 shuttle service to Bury

40106 'Atlantic Conveyor' pulling into Ramsbottom station for the 15:04 shuttle to Bury

Class 40 No 345 (40145) at Ramsbottom station on the 14:30 from Bury to Rawtenstall

45108 departing from Ramsbottom on the 11:18 service to Rawtenstall

37109 on the 12:24 shuttle from Bury, moving to the siding north of the station at Ramsbottom

New Enviro 400s begin to receive Advertising

Enviro 400 City bus 401 seen in Cleveleys with side advertising for the mobile network EE

Blackpool Transport Services new Palladium branded ADL Enviro 400 City buses have begun to appear in service with side advertising. 401 was noted recently carrying a side advert for the mobile phone company EE.

The Hovertram Returns Home

735 travelling along the Promenade on the low-loader of Calkeld Heavy Haulage

Hovertram 735 has returned to Blackpool for a period of extended loan. The tram was transported from its former home in Sunderland by Calkeld Heavy Haulage on 22nd September, arriving in the resort shortly after 6pm. The unloading process took around an hour, and later that evening the Hovertram was shunted into Rigby Road depot by Unimog 939. The North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust (NEETT) have agreed that 735 can become part of the Blackpool Heritage Trust fleet for a minimum period of 20 years.

735 approaching the road junction at Manchester Square

 735 waiting to turn right at the traffic lights at Manchester Square

735 crossing over the tram tracks into Rigby Road at Manchester Square

735 making the turn into Rigby Road

735 negotiating the tight junction between Rigby Road and Blundell Street

735 being hauled off the low-loader trailer by Unimog 939

The Hovertram being shunted into Rigby Road depot by Unimog 939

Hopefully one day the Hovertram can appear again on the promenade, as seen here in 1981

Heritage on Hire

Balloon 715 negotiating the rarely used crossover near the Tower

Railcoach 680 and Balloon 715 were used for a private hire on Monday 19th September. In the morning 680 made a tour of the system from Rigby Road depot to Pleasure Beach, Fleetwood and Starr Gate, before returning to the depot for a crew break. After lunch it was the turn of Balloon 715 which made various runs, venturing as far south as Starr Gate and Cleveleys to the north. Marton 31 was also hired for an evening run through the Illuminations.

A future Heritage Tour destination? Balloon 715 with "North Station Blackpool" displayed on the blind

Balloon 715 at Cleveleys with one of the new Enviro 400 City buses passing by

Railcoach 680 at Starr Gate terminus during its morning charter on 19th September

30th Anniversary Livery

BTS Volvo B7RLE 524 carrying its new 30th Anniversary green and cream livery, seen at Cleveleys

Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE No. 524 has been painted in a 1990s style green and cream livery to commemorate 30 years passing since Blackpool Transport Services was formed. 524 has been in use on the service 7 between Cleveleys and Lytham for the last couple of days.