Birkenhead 20 leaves Blackpool

The depot fork lift truck shunted 20 from the depot into Blundell Street

Birkenhead open-top tram 20 left Blackpool on 28th November to return to its home on the Wirral Tramway. 20 originally arrived on loan to the heritage fleet on 27th July 2017, but spent most of its time unused in the tram depot awaiting attention to its wheels, only seeing limited use during the last two months of its visit. Scotts low loader arrived in Blundell Street shortly before 08:00 on Wednesday morning, by 10:30 the tram was loaded onto the trailer and had departed for its relatively short journey back to Birkenhead.

Birkenhead 20 being pushed up the ramp by the fork lift truck

Birkenhead 20 being winched onto the trailer

Birkenhead 20 safely winched onto the low loader trailer

A rear view of Scotts low loader with 20 safely loaded

Birkenhead 20 loaded up and chained down ready for departure

Scotts low loader turning into Lytham Road for the trip south to Birkenhead

BTS remember the fallen

Flexity 016 on the Orion Curve in Cleveleys wearing its Remembrance Day poppy

Now becoming an annual tradition, many of Blackpool's trams and buses wore large poppies in the days and weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on Sunday 11th November.

Trident 309 wearing a Remembrance Day poppy at Anchorsholme

Flexity 004 at Anchorsholme with its Remembrance Day poppy

ADL Enviro 233 showing off its Remembrance Day poppy in Cleveleys

Flexity 014 at Cleveleys tram station with its Remembrance Day poppy

Volvo 524 with its Remembrance Day poppy in Cleveleys

Plaxton Centro 531 showing off its Remembrance Day poppy at Anchorsholme

New Dart in service with Catch22Bus

Dart KP04GZM in the centre of Cleveleys on its first day of service with Catch22Bus

Former Stagecoach Midlands Dennis Dart KP04GZM entered service with Catch22Bus this morning in their smart fleet livery of green and blue. KP04GZM's debut into service was on route 24 between Fleetwood and Poulton.

New Overall Advert for Catch22Bus

Dart GX54DWO on the Coastliner 21 service at Gynn Square on 1st November

Former Stagecoach Midlands Dennis Dart GX54DWO has entered service with Catch22Bus carrying an all-over advert for the HoundsHill Shopping Centre in Blackpool. GX54DWO was noted in service on the Coastliner 21 route to St Annes this morning.

Unusual working on Service 24

Olympian P534EFL at St Chad's Church in Poulton on 31st October

Passengers using the service 24 of Catch22Bus, that runs between Fleetwood and Poulton, will have been in for a surprise this afternoon. Due to two buses suddenly becoming unavailable for use, an open-top Volvo Olympian was pressed into service at short notice to meet the vehicle shortfall. Olympian P534EFL is normally to be seen running on the Coastliner 21 service between Cleveleys and St Annes, but had a rare outing on this inland route today. (Photo used by courtesy of Catch22Bus Ltd)

Birkenhead 20 on Timetabled Tours

Birkenhead 20 at the Gynn on the last trip of the day on Sunday

On the weekend of the 27th and 28th October, open-top Birkenhead tram 20 operated several special tours in addition to the normal Heritage Tour service. The tours ran at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on each day, consisting of a round trip from the Pleasure Beach to Bispham and return for the price of £5.50. Most obligingly the weather remained sunny throughout the weekend, although rather chilly, especially on the top deck of Birkenhead 20.

Flexity 006 passing Birkenhead 20 at Bispham on Sunday

Birkenhead 20 heading south at the Imperial Hotel on the last special on Saturday

Birkenhead 20 at the Pleasure Beach after the first run on Saturday

Boat 227 named Charlie Cairoli

The official party on their way to the naming ceremony at North Pier

Boat 227 was relaunched at a naming ceremony at North Pier this morning. 227 has been restored by Blackpool Transport in conjunction with Blackpool Civic Trust. The tram's new name is "Charlie Cairoli", who is best known for being a clown at Blackpool Tower Circus for many years. The unveiling was undertaken by Charlie Cairoli Junior, the son of the famous clown. After a short ceremony and speeches, the official party and guests were treated to a ride to Bispham and then back to Hopton Road, onlooking members of the public were also invited along for the ride.

Charlie Cairoli Junior unveiling the name of his father on Boat 227

The official party and guests were treated to a ride to Bispham in Boat 227