Brush 637 Then and Now

Brush Cars 637 and 622 at the Fleetwood Ferry terminus on 27th September 2003

Brush Car 637 was scrapped at Wyre Dock in Fleetwood on the morning of Saturday 2nd December. Here are a couple of before and after photos taken 20 years apart. The first shot was taken in September 2003 at the Fleetwood Ferry terminus, the second shot was taken this morning at Wyre Dock, showing all that remains of 637 are its pair of Brush EMB L6 trucks.

All that remains of 637 now are this pair of EMB L6 trucks seen at Wyre Dock on 5th December

Twin cars 683 and 673 are the only complete trams still in open storage at Wyre Dock

Farewell Brush Car 637

Brush Car 637 passing Carousel Amusements near Central Pier in May 2004

One of the last remaining trams stored at Wyre Fish Dock in Fleetwood met its demise at the weekend. Brush Car 637 was cut up on site on Saturday 2nd December, all that remained visible of the tram a couple of days later were the bogies. The body of 637 was apparently in a very poor state, with plants growing inside the tram. Fortunately many spare parts including the motors and bogies have been saved in order to assist in the restoration of other preserved trams.

Brush 637 southbound at Manchester Square in June 1972

Brush 637 passing Standard 40 from Crich on display at Talbot Square during Centenary Year (1985)

Brush 637 during its storage at Wyre Fish Dock in February 2023

More photos of Archway Travel's new 12.8m Volvo B8L

Archway Volvo B8L AC73WAY leaving Fleetwood along Amounderness Way heading for Poulton

A few more photos of Archway Travel's brand new tri-axle Volvo B8L with Egyptian built 12.8m MCV eVoSeti single door double-deck bodywork. The bus was delivered new to Archway a month ago, and is currently being used on route 607 that operates between Thistleton, Elswick, Great Eccleston, Singleton and high schools in Poulton-le-Fylde.

Volvo B8L AC73WAY turning out of Archway's depot on Copse Road on 28th November

Archway Volvo B8L AC73WAY on Amounderness Way in Fleetwood on 1st December

Archway Travel's new tri-axle School Bus

Archway Volvo B8L AC73WAY leaving Fleetwood for the afternoon route 607 school run from Poulton

Archway Travel of Fleetwood have recently taken delivery of a brand new tri-axle Volvo B8L with 12.8m MCV eVoSeti single door bodywork. The monster school bus is fitted with 98 leather seats, and is equipped with a Euro 6 compliant Volvo D8K engine running at 350hp through a ZF Ecolife gearbox. This new acquisition is the largest capacity bus in the Archway fleet by some margin, and is similar to twin-door Volvo B8Ls with the same body style that are currently operating in Hong Kong with Kowloon Motor Bus.

AC73WAY leaving Archway Travel's yard in Fleetwood for an afternoon school run on route 607 to Elswick

Kowloon Motor Bus V6X128 (YE893) Volvo B8L 12.8m MCV eVoSeti (Wikimedia Commons)

The Terror Tram heads east to Lowestoft

Reid's low loader leaving the bus yard at Rigby Road with Brush 634

The Terror Tram left Blackpool this afternoon at the start of a long journey to the opposite side of the country. Brush 634 is the latest Blackpool tram to make the long cross country trip to the east coast, where it is to be homed at the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, alongside several other expat Blackpool trams. A low loader of Reid Freight Services arrived at Rigby Road depot shortly after midday. The weather couldn't have been worse for the move, as Blackpool was being battered by wind and rain from Storm Debi, which passed right over the resort, bringing gusts of up to 73 mph, driving rain and sea spray in from the Irish Sea. After an efficient loading process, the transporter headed off along Rigby Road at 3pm with Brush 634 onboard.

Brush 634 being towed out of the body shop by Unimog 939

Brush 634 being towed across the bus yard with Reid's low loader on the right

Brush 634 being winched up the rail ramp onto the low loader

Reid's low loader about to depart the depot with 634 securely chained down

Brush 634 heading inland down Rigby Road at the start of its very long journey

Former Blackpool Plaxton Centro spotted in Bury

A former Blackpool Transport Volvo B7RLE at Bury Interchange (photo courtesy of Philip Higgs)

Former Blackpool Transport 530 was spotted at Bury Interchange at the weekend. BF60 UVO is a Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE, and is now owned by Transdev Blazefield subsidiary Rosso for use on their Irwell Line services.

Volvo B7RLE 530 and Enviro 400 City 409 at Cleveleys Bus Station in Aug 2016

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