The Rough and the Smooth on the Irish Sea

The IOMSPC ferry Manxman seen from Cleveleys beach on its way to Heysham on 14th Oct

Two photos of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry Manxman taken two days apart, from the same location, showing vastly different sea states. The top photo shows the Manxman about to pass Fleetwood on its way to Heysham on the 0845 sailing from Douglas in the Isle of Man on Saturday 14th October, with rough seas and at high tide. The photo below shows the Manxman on the 1415 sailing from Heysham taken two days earlier on Thursday 12th, with the sea like a mill pond and hardly any wind (unusual for the Fylde Coast). Both photos were taken from the sea front at Cleveleys over five miles distant from the ship. The third photo was also taken on Saturday 14th, showing the ferry still over the horizon making its way through the distant wind farms.

The ferry Manxman on the 1415 sailing from Heysham on 12th Oct with very calm seas

The Manxman (still over the horizon) threading its way through the wind farms on 14th October

Former Blackpool Routemaster makes a comeback

Former Blackpool Routemaster 525 purchased for London heritage service (photo courtesy of Philip Higgs)

A former Blackpool Transport Routemaster will be making a comeback on heritage services in London soon. RM1650 (650 DYE) was one of the original Silver Jubilee buses that were repainted in an all over silver livery by London Transport for the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. The bus was subsequently part of a batch that were sold on to Blackpool Transport in 1986, and ran for several years in the resort as fleet number 525. 650 DYE has been purchased for use on the Londoner Buses heritage route and LondonBus4Hire, and was collected from Cornwall on 5th October.

Routemaster 525 heading down Talbot Road on Service 12 to St Annes in 1987

Rigby Road Tram Depot Closed

One of the closure notices attached to the fence in front of the tram depot

It was noticed over the weekend that the heritage trams at Rigby Road tram depot have become barricaded in the running shed behind a line of steel fencing. Attached to the fence are notices saying "Pending survey results, the Tram Shed will be closed until further notice. Access may only be obtained with written permission from Jess Brown, Head of Safety & Facilities. Unauthorised access will be classified as a breach of Health and Safety rules and will therefore be treated as gross misconduct". Perhaps an inkling of the impending closure was the appearance of several heritage and illuminated trams down at Starr Gate depot over the last few days. Tramtown tours have also been cancelled at short notice, which is a further clue as to what is happening. The fitting shop, and presumably paint shop, are similarly out of bounds with prohibition notices posted on the doors. In the absence of any official announcement (as of Monday 2nd October) read into this what you will at the moment.

The heritage trams barricaded in the running shed at Rigby Road

There will be nobody queuing up for Tramtown tours for the foreseeable future

Even the red heritage plaque is obscured by the steel fencing

The closure notice on the Fitting Shop door

Presumably the depot cat will be able to wander around the depot unchallenged

September Heritage Trams

Bolton 66 was the last heritage tram of the day to Fleetwood, seen here passing the Pharos Lighthouse

The September heritage tram weekend took place on the 23rd and 24th of the month. The scheduled output for Saturday was Railcoach 680, Balloon 718, Boat 600, Bolton 66 and Boat 227. The day started out dull with occasional spells of sunshine in the afternoon. The weather on Sunday was lousy for photography, being mostly miserable and wet, so all the photos shown here were taken on the Saturday.

Railcoach 680 at Bispham, with a BTS ADL Enviro400 City passing by

Boat 277 at Bispham, heading north to turn around at Little Bispham

Boat 600 approaching Bispham tram station

Balloon 718 pausing at Bispham on its way north to Fleetwood

Railcoach 680, Balloon 718 & Boat 600 meet at Bispham tram station

2023 Bus Driver of the Year Final

First Eastern Counties Scania N250UD ADL Enviro400 City 36918 at Gynn Square

The National Final of the 55th Bus Driver of the Year competition took place in Blackpool on Sunday 3rd September. Bus drivers from all around the country compete to be the top driver, and this year saw 12 buses being used, with 10 of them travelling from various parts of the UK to take part in the event. The competition commences from the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel, before proceeding along Middle Walk where a series of tests are set out for the drivers. The buses then navigate the roundabout at Gynn Square before returning south down the Promenade, where drivers are allowed to pick up and set down passengers at temporary bus stops positioned along the route. The winner of the 2023 Bus Driver of the Year competition was Lee Grantham from National Express, based at Acocks Green depot in Birmingham.

First Potteries low height Wright Streetdeck 35944, leaving the Metropole Hotel heading for Middle Walk

Stagecoach Manchester ADL Enviro400 MMC 11719 passing the Spitfires at Gynn Square roundabout

Lothian Buses Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 445 leaving Middle Walk at Gynn Square

National Express West Midlands ADL Enviro400 MMC 7541

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire open top Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 13804

Go North West Volvo B5LH MCV EvoSeti 3061

McGill's Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0295 G3340 leaving Middle Walk at Gynn Square

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 411 taking part in the event at Gynn Square roundabout

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire ADL Enviro400 MMC 11637, based at Preston

McGill's 3359, a Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0295 heading south on the Promenade

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 450 at Gynn Square, one of the early runners in the event

This tiny Subaru Sambar (with a VW body kit) could be a contender for the smallest bus at the event

The bus that has never been a bus visits Blackpool

Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC at Bickerstaffe Square on 23rd August

A Scania double-deck bus branded 'Your Heart Matters' visited Blackpool on Wednesday 23rd August. The bus was parked on Bickerstaffe Square, opposite Blackpool North railway station between 10am and 3pm, enabling people to be checked to see if they had heart valve problems. Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC was delivered new in 2006 to Newcastle Council, and has never seen use as a public service vehicle. The bus was built from new for use as a mobile showroom to promote council housing in Newcastle.

An offside view of Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC in Blackpool

A rear view of Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC in Blackpool

First Day in Service for Isle of Man Ferry Manxman

Manxman approaching Heysham on its inaugural passenger sailing from Douglas on 17th August

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's new ro-ro ferry Manxman made its first passenger sailing on Thursday 17th August. The Manxman was timetabled to leave Douglas at 08:45, but the departure was delayed for half an hour due to loading problems, the delay meant that the ferry arrived at Heysham somewhat later than advertised. The ship was scheduled to sail from Heysham on the return journey to Douglas at 14:15, but its departure was delayed until 15:00. The Manxman was constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, having been ordered in July 2020. The ship was launched in June 2022 and commenced sea trials in December of that year. The delivery voyage to the UK of approximately 12,000 miles started on 13th May, 2023.

Manxman passing the remains of the wooden South Jetty at Heysham Harbour

Manxman approaching the harbour entrance at Heysham

Manxman passing the South Pier Lighthouse at the entrance to Heysham Harbour

A rear view of Manxman entering Heysham Harbour with a truck on the upper car deck

Manxman turning around in Heysham Harbour

Manxman about to reverse into its berth

Manxman berthed at the loading ramp in Heysham Harbour

Manxman setting sail for the return voyage to Douglas in the Isle of Man

Manxman passing though the harbour entrance at Heysham on its way to Douglas