New Overall Advert on Dennis Trident 313

Trident 313 at the Fisherman's Walk bus stop in Fleetwood showing its new advert for Legends at The Sands Venue

Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 313 entered service today with a colourful new overall advert for 'The Sands Venue', which is located opposite the Tower tram stop. The vinyl wrap advertises the Legends show at the Sands on the offside and rear of the bus, and a general advert for the Sands restaurant and entertainment venue on the nearside.

A rear offside view of the Legends advert on Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 313, seen as it was leaving Freeport

Blackpool Dennis Trident 313 seen leaving Freeport, showing off its new overall advert for The Sands Venue

The Heritage Fleet returns from Starr Gate depot

With heritage trams shunting on the depot track fan, Flexity 001 arrives at the Starr Gate terminus while 016 departs

The majority of the Heritage Tram fleet have departed from their temporary home at Starr Gate and returned to Rigby Road depot. The morning of the 29th May saw nine of the heritage trams depart from Starr Gate depot beginning at 1030. The trams left from Starr Gate depot in the following order, 600, 717, 147, 230, 272+T2, 631, 706, the Western Train & Bolton 66. Heritage trams still remaining at Starr Gate are Boat 227 and Pantograph 167. While all these tram moves were taking place, the refurbished bogies off Box Car 40 were delivered to the fitting shop at Rigby Road depot.

Boat 600 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot, with Balloon 717 in the background

Balloon 717 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

Standard 147 departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

Boat 230 leaving the confines of the depot at Starr Gate at the beginning of its journey back to Rigby Road

Twin Set 272+T2 leaving the confines of the depot at Starr Gate at the beginning of their journey back to Rigby Road

Engineering Car 754 and Pantograph 167 were moved onto the depot head shunt during the exodus of heritage trams

Brush Car 631 departing from Starr Gate depot on its way back to Rigby Road depot

The Western Train departing from Starr Gate on its way back to Rigby Road depot

The Western Train about to cross the Promenade at Manchester Square as Flexity 006 heads off north

Bolton 66 and 706 heading down Lytham Road, the last of the heritage trams to return from Starr Gate on 29th May

Box Car 40's bogies that were refurbished at Crich being delivered by lorry to the fitting shop at Rigby Road depot

Routemaster 521 enters service on the Seafront 12

Former Blackpool AEC Routemaster 521 at the Cliffs Hotel, with Flexity 007 departing from the adjacent tram stop

Former Blackpool Routemaster 521 (583CLT) entered passenger service on the Oakwood Travel operated Seafront 12 route today. 521 (formerly RM1583 with LT) has been in preservation with the Lancastrian Transport Trust since 2003, and was one of a batch of six ex London Transport AEC Routemasters that were purchased by Blackpool Transport in 1986 for use on their crew operated routes, 521 being the first to enter service. The fleet of Routemasters were used on various routes thoughout Blackpool during the 1980s and 90s, but were all sold off to Reading Mainline in 1997. 
See The Blackpool Routemaster by Paul Turner for a full history of the Routemasters in Blackpool.

Routemaster 521 and ex Lothian Buses Volvo Olympian P269PSX with Blackpool Transport Trident 348 at North Pier

Routemaster 521 laying over at the northern terminus of the Seafront 12 service outside the Cliffs Hotel

Routemaster 521 passing through Gynn Square heading for the northern terminus of the Seafront 12 route

Routemaster 521 at Talbot Square with southbound Flexity 005 passing by on the way to Starr Gate

Routemaster 521 passing St Annes sandhills in 1987 on the Blackpool to St Annes route 12

Routemaster liveried Balloon 701 at the Tower in 1992, this tram is due to receive the same livery again this year

Spring Bank Holiday Monday

Boat 600 and Pantograph Car 167 pose side by side at Fleetwood Ferry on the morning Heritage Tour to the port

Monday 26th May was the last of three days of Heritage Tour operations in Blackpool. Pantograph Car 167 again featured in the proceedings, the morning tour to Fleetwood being operated by 167 and Boat 600. Open Boat 230 was the third car used on the Heritage Tours, and open-top Balloon 706 Princess Alice was brought out later on in the afternoon and used for the early evening Heritage Tour run through to Fleetwood.

Pantograph Car 167 passing Prime Cuts the butchers (the oldest shop in Fleetwood) in North Albert Street

Pantograph 167 rounding the curve from North Albert Street into Lord Street on its way back to Blackpool

Boat 600 passing St Andrew's Church on Lord Street in Fleetwood while on the morning Heritage Tour run to the port

Pantograph 167 at Anchorsholme Crossing, returning from the morning Heritage Tour run to Fleetwood

Pantograph 167 and Boat 600 waiting at the Pleasure Beach for their next duties after arriving from Fleetwood

Open Boat 230 "George Formby" at Central Pier heading south for the Pleasure Beach

Pantograph Car 167 heading south at Central Pier early in the afternoon

Pantograph 167 passing College Farm at Rossall on a Heritage Tour to Ash Street in Fleetwood in the afternoon

706 Princess Alice operating the late afternoon Heritage Tour run through to Fleetwood

Spring Bank Holiday Sunday

A fully loaded Western Train arriving at the Pleasure Beach as it returns from the morning Heritage Tour to Fleetwood

Sunday 25th May's first Heritage Tour was met by a grey, dismal and wet Fleetwood when the morning tour operated by the Western Train arrived in the town. The day also ended the same way in Fleetwood, when Pantograph 167 and Brush 631 had to endure torrential rain on their return run down Lord Street on the way back to Blackpool during the late afternoon Heritage Tour to the port. Fortunately in between these extremes the weather was a bit kinder, with the afternoon in Blackpool seeing considerable amounts of sunshine along the Promenade, although just inland from the coast the weather was rather dire. The Heritage Tour output for the day was provided by the Western Train, Pantograph Car 167 and Brush Car 631, with the Western Train being replaced by Twin Set 272+T2 during the afternoon.

Pantograph Car 167 passing northbound Flexity 005 at North Pier

Brush Car 631 on a run to North Pier passes southbound Flexity 011 at the Pleasure Beach tram stop

The two remaining Pantograph Cars displayed side by side on the Pleasure Beach loop shortly after midday

Brush Car 631 pauses at the Heritage Tour stop at North Pier on a northbound run to Bispham in the afternoon

Brush Car 631 and Pantograph 167 both taking their crew breaks on the centre track at Bispham during the afternoon

The Western Train on its way back to Starr Gate depot after first unloading its passengers at the Pleasure Beach

Twin Set 272+T2 replaced the Western Train during the afternoon, seen here arriving at Bispham tram station

Brush Car 631 passing the former Miner's Convalescent Home at Bispham with heavy skies in the background

Pantograph Car 167 heading south at Lowther Avenue, with heavily laden skies providing a dramatic backdrop

Spring Bank Holiday Saturday

Pantograph Car 167 and Standard 147 pose alongside each other at Fleetwood Ferry on the morning Heritage Tour

Saturday 24th May saw the start of three days of Heritage Tour operations in Blackpool. The star of the day was undoubtedly Pantograph Car 167 on loan for the summer season from the National Tramway Museum at Crich. The morning tour to Fleetwood was operated by Standard 147 and Pantograph 167. Open-top Balloon 706 Princess Alice was the third car to be rostered for Heritage Tour use. 706 was replaced by 717 during the afternoon due to heavy rain.

Standard 147 and Pantograph 167 at Fleetwood Ferry with the Pharos Lighthouse visible behind them

Pantograph Car 167 at Fisherman's Walk, with Flexity 016 behind and northbound Flexity 010 unloading passengers

Standard 147 and Pantograph 167 on the Pleasure Beach loop after returning from the morning tour to Fleetwood

Standard 147, Pantograph 167 and Balloon 706 Princess Alice laying over on the Pleasure Beach loop

Pantograph Car 167 on the loop track at North Pier after arriving from the Pleasure Beach

Pantograph 167 crossing over to the southbound track at North Pier on its return journey to the Pleasure Beach

Pantograph 167 heads out onto the Prom

Pantograph Car 167, having just left Rigby Road depot, heads along Lytham Road towards the Promenade

Pantograph Car 167 was moved from Rigby Road depot down to Starr Gate depot on Friday morning, ready to take part in the upcoming Heritage Tram Tours this weekend. Preceding 167 on the journey down to Starr Gate was the Western Train which is also going to be in Heritage Tour use over the weekend.

Pantograph 167 passing the road works at Manchester Square as it heads out onto the Promenade

Pantograph 167 passing Flexity 011 at the Starr Gate terminus platforms

167 having just run around the loop track through Starr Gate depot confines manoeuvres onto the head shunt

Swinging the trolley pole of 167 on the head shunt just to the north of Starr Gate depot

Pantograph 167 entering the depot confines again at Starr Gate