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

Harrogate Volvo on the Red Rocket

Ex Transdev Harrogate 611 on the longest Park & Ride service in the NW, the X70 from Blackpool to Manchester!

Classic Bus North West recently took delivery of two former Transdev Harrogate and District Volvo B6BLEs with Wright Crusader bodywork, 601 (W601 CWX) and 611 (W611 CWX). Volvo 611 was noted operating the 10:30 Red Rocket express service from Blackpool Central Coach Station to Manchester on Wednesday 30th October.

Ex Transdev Harrogate Volvo 611 with a queue of passengers waiting to board the X70 express service to Manchester

Fat Balloon Weekend

700 & 719 parked alongside each other on the Pleasure Beach loop, mid-afternoon on Sunday 27th October

Saturday & Sunday, 26th & 27th October, saw widened Balloons 700 and 719 in use as specials on both days, to supplement the normal Flexity car service at the start of the traditionally busy half-term school holidays. The trams mainly shuttled backwards and forwards between the Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham, with the occasional short working to intermediate destinations also. 
Little Bispham seemed to be rather a strange northern destination for the specials as very few day trippers wish to travel this far, using North Pier or Cabin as the turnaround point would have provided a more intensive service over the busiest section of the tramway. It's as if 700 and 719 were still in "Heritage Tour" mode, rather than purely operating as specials to shift the crowds on the prom. The trams were both well patronised over the weekend, with many passengers keen to sample the rare opportunity of a top deck tram ride in Blackpool. For more photos of the widened Balloons in use during the weekend see Blackpooltrams on Flickr.  

Balloon 700 departs south from Bispham tram station, with 719 visible in the distance taking its crew break

Balloon 719 heads off north towards Little Bispham after picking up passengers at North Pier

Balloon 719 stops to unload passengers at the Pleasure Beach before turning onto the loop

Balloon 700 has just pulled up on the Pleasure Beach loop while Flexity 004 continues on south in the background

Balloon 719 taking its mid-shift crew break on the centre track at Bispham is passed by Flexity 008 heading south

Balloon 700 loads up at the Pleasure Beach while Flexity 011 arrives on the core service heading for Starr Gate

Balloon 719 and Flexity 002 sat together at the Pleasure Beach, both ready to depart on short workings to the Tower

Olympian on the Red Rocket

CBNW Volvo Olympian P269 PSX departing Central Coach Station in Blackpool on the X70 at 13:30 on 25th October

Classic Bus North West Volvo Olympian P269 PSX was noted standing in for one of the usual Mercedes-Benz Citaro bendy buses on the 13:30 Red Rocket departure from Blackpool Central Coach Station to Manchester on Friday 25th October.

Volvo Olympian P269 PSX heading along Seasiders Way ready for the 13:30 Red Rocket departure to Manchester

Mercedes-Benz Citaro MAL41 heading down Seasiders Way on the 13:30 Red Rocket to Manchester on 15th October