2014 Santa Special

The Western Train parked on the siding at North Pier as the sun slowly sets below below the horizon

On Saturday 20th December the Western Train was parked on the siding at North Pier from 1000 to 1600 with Santa and his helpers onboard so that children could pay him a visit and also receive a present. After a very busy day, Santa Claus and his elves rounded off the proceedings with a well patronised return trip to Little Bispham and back.

The Western Train on the siding at North Pier where it was parked all day in order that children could visit Santa Claus

The Western Train preparing to depart from North Pier with nearly a full load of passengers on board

The Western Train departing from North Pier just after 1600 on its return trip to Little Bispham and back

The Western Train at Bispham tram station on the return leg of the journey from Little Bispham to North Pier

The Western Train heading back to North Pier, with Santa and his elves on the rear platform of the carriage

Routemaster Snowplough

Snowplough equipped Balloon 701 at the front of Rigby Rd depot on the 7th Dec, with 700, 723 and 754 also in view

Balloon 701 was noted carrying its usual seasonal snowplough at the front of Rigby Road tram depot on 7th December, despite the tram now being classed as part of the heritage fleet. It will be very interesting to see if 701 is still fitted with the snowplough when it operates the Fylde Tramway Society's 2014 Christmas Tour on 28th December.

Oakwood Travel Has Ceased To Be

Ex Lothian Buses Volvo Olympian P269 PSX southbound on the service 22 to Mereside on 2nd December 2014

When is a bus not a Classic Bus, that's the Catch 22 question. Former Lothian Buses Olympian P269 PSX was still operating with the Classic Bus North West logo on the upper deck windscreen on 2nd December, over a year after the company ceased to exist and a day after its successor company was renamed. Classic Bus North West Ltd ceased trading in December 2013, with their buses coming under the umbrella of Oakwood Travel Services Ltd. It was announced earlier this week that with effect from 1st December, Oakwood Travel Services would henceforth be known as Catch22Bus Ltd. Several of the single deckers have already been repainted and rebranded into the new Catch22Bus orange and turquoise livery, hopefully the rest of the fleet will receive the corporate livery in the not too distant future before another name change takes effect.

Former Metroline of London Dennis Dart T143 AUA in the full Catch22Bus livery and branding on December 2nd

Oakwood's former London United Volvo B7TL

Ex London United Volvo W139EON passing Coral Island on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 service on 2nd December

Former London United Volvo B7TL W139 EON (ex VA103) with two door Alexander ALX400 bodywork made its debut on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 service three weeks ago. 139 has also been noted operating on the seasonal Red Rocket service to Manchester, which is running a single daily round trip on Saturday and Sundays during the run up to Christmas.

Former London United Volvo W139EON heading for Mereside on Oakwood Travel's service 22 on December 2nd

Oakwood's Volvo B7TL W139EON leaving Blackpool on the Red Rocket service to Manchester on November 29th

Brush 631 on Driver Training

Brush Car 631 heading south on driver training duties at Thornton Gate on 18th November

In scenes more reminiscent of the days of traditional tramcar operation, a Brush Car has been seen running with training vehicle 'L' plates on for the first two days of this week. On Monday November 17th, Brush Car 631 from the heritage fleet was noted out on the tramway wearing 'L' plates, and the following day 631 was again seen on driver training duties. Note, the photo of 625 below illustrates how the bumpers have been fitted in the incorrect position on 631 during its restoration, they are too far inboard and should have been positioned further back around the sides of the cab.

Brush Car 625 on driver training at the same location but 11 years earlier, on 11th April 2003

Brush Car 636 northbound at the Cabin on driver training duties in May 2003

Brush Car 631 on Private Hire

Brush Car 631 at North Pier while being used for filming on November 13th, with Flexity 006 passing by southbound

Brush Car 631 was noted in use on a private hire on the Promenade on Thursday 13th November. A film crew were planning to capture the tram passing the Tower.

Jail Break for Fleetwood Trams

Calkeld Heavy Haulage manoeuvring Centenary Car 641 around at tight corner as they leave Kirkham Prison

The Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust had been given notice that the remaining trams that they had stored at Kirkham Prison in Lancashire needed to be removed from the premises. Beginning on Monday 10th November the trams began to be transported away to other storage facilities. Twin Set motor car 673 and Centenary 641 were both moved to the groups open compound within the private port complex at Fleetwood Fish Dock. The two trams would then be reunited with the other FHLT trams, Balloons 710 & 726, Railcoach 678, Twin Set trailer 683 and Centenary 643. All the photos used in this report are by kind courtesy of Colin Macleod and the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust.

Centenary Car 641 all loaded up on the trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage and ready to depart Kirkham Prison

Centenary Car 641 after it had been unloaded at Fleetwood Fish Dock, the tram being reunited with sister car 643

Twin Set motor car 673 being loaded onto the trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage at Kirkham Prison

Twin Set motor car 673 safely stowed on the low loader trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage at Kirkham Prison

Twin Set motor car 673 on the back of the low loader of Calkeld Heavy Haulage, ready to depart Kirkham Prison

Brush Car 621 bound for Beamish

Brush Car 621 on the M55 slip road at Kirkham bound for Beamish on 11th November (courtesy of James Millington)

As part of the reappraisal of their assets, the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust have agreed to allow a consortium of like minded tram enthusiasts to purchase Brush Car 621 from them, the tram will in turn be joining the ranks of preserved trams at The Living Museum of the North at Beamish in the North East of England. This move confirms the long term security of 621, with the transfer to Beamish ensuring that the tram will have a long future in preservation, operating on their tramway that runs around the museum. 621 left its temporary home at Kirkham Prison in Lancashire on the morning of 11th November and headed for the North East. Brush 621 will initially go into storage when it arrives at Beamish, and will take a back seat behind other projects that are currently in the pipeline for the next 12 to 18 months. Current thinking is that 621 will be restored into the 1950s style of green and cream livery when it eventually reaches the top of the restoration queue.

Brush 621 southbound at Victoria Street in 2003, before it was withdrawn and put into storage the following year

Brush 621 being pushed onto Scotts low loader by Engineering Car 754 in Dec 2011, leaving Blackpool rails for good

Brush Car 621 departing Blackpool for pastures new at Kirkham Prison on 15th December 2011

Brush Car 621 entering Kirkham Prison in December 2011 where it was to remain a captive for the next 3 years

Volvo decker makes its debut on Catch 22

Former London United Volvo W139EON making its debut on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 service on 11th November

Former London United Volvo B7TL W139 EON (ex VA103) made its debut on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 service between Mereside and Cleveleys today. 139 is fitted with two door Alexander ALX400 bodywork, the original plan was to convert the bus to single door configuration before it entered service, but the conversion will now take place in 2015 instead along with a fresh repaint. The bus entered service still wearing its London United livery, but with new Catch22 logos applied.

Ex London United Volvo W139EON arriving in the centre of Cleveleys on Oakwood Travel's Catch 22 service

Six to Grange Park

Ex Stagecoach Dennis Dart X617 JCS on the Plymouth Road roundabout in Layton heading for Grange Park

Oakwood Travel's new bus route from Blackpool town centre to the Grange Park Estate via Layton began operating on Monday 3rd November. The service is operated by three buses which maintain a 15 minute frequency on the route. Here are a selection of photos taken around Layton and Grange Park on November 5th.

Ex Metroline of London Dennis Dart T143 AUA on Poulton Road in Layton heading for Blackpool town centre

Ex Stagecoach London Dennis Dart V163 MVX on the Plymouth Rd roundabout in Layton heading for Grange Park

Ex Metroline of London Dennis Dart T143 AUA entering the Grange Park Estate along Chepstow Road

Ex Metroline of London Dennis Dart T143 AUA on Gateside Drive next to Grange Park

Ex Stagecoach Dennis Dart X617 JCS on Dinmore Avenue on the Grange Park Estate

Ex Stagecoach London Dennis Dart V163 MVX on Poulton Road in Layton heading for Blackpool town centre

British Legion adverts on Blackpool Buses

BTS Trident 301 at Cleveleys Bus Station on Route 9 to Blackpool carrying a new overall advert for the British Legion

Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 301 and Volvo B7RLE 524 have both received topical new overall adverts for The Royal British Legion's poppy appeal.

Blackpool Volvo B7RLE No 524 at Manchester Square on Route 11 to Lytham with a new British Legion overall advert

304 Birthday Bash

Birthday boys Alan Kirkman and Harold Hull pose in front of Coronation 304 at the Pleasure Beach

Coronation 304 was chartered for a private hire on Monday 3rd November to celebrate the 65th Birthdays of Alan Kirkman and Harold Hull. 304 picked up the birthday guests in Hopton Road outside Rigby Road tram depot, before proceeding to North Pier to collect more passengers. The tram then ran north to Little Bispham turning circle before heading back south to the Pleasure Beach, where a short photo break was taken. After departing the Pleasure beach, 304 ran all the way to Fleetwood Ferry, with a short photo call at the Cabin. On departing Fleetwood, Coronation 304 headed south to Bispham where a crew break was taken. After the break at Bispham the party headed back to the Pleasure Beach and north again to Little Bispham. Lastly a round trip to Starr Gate and back was made through the Illuminations, before the tram finally headed south to North Pier to drop off its passengers, then back in to Rigby Road depot.

Coronation 304 at the northbound heritage tram stop at the Cabin on the north Promenade

Coronation 304 taking a photo break on the turning circle at the Pleasure Beach

Coronation 304 heading up North Albert Street towards the terminus of the tramway in Bold Street

Coronation 304 posed for photographs on the loop at Fleetwood Ferry

As 304 left Fleetwood in increasing darkness, the weather turned and the rain began to fall

New Oakwood Travel Service 6

Ex Stagecoach Dennis Dart X617 JCS approaching Blackpool town centre along Talbot Road on the new service 6

Oakwood Travel began operating a new bus route on 3rd November between Blackpool town centre and the Grange Park Estate via Layton. The new Service 6 operates on a 15 minute headway between approximately 0730 and 1800. Former Stagecoach Dennis Dart X617 JCS was noted making its service debut on the new route.

Ex Stagecoach London Dennis Dart V163 MVX heading for Grange Park on Oakwood Travel's new service 6

Ex Stagecoach Chesterfield single door Dennis Dart R356 LER inbound towards Blackpool on the new service 6

711 & Box 40 being unloaded in Blackpool

Balloon 711 still sat on its trailer in Blundell Street in Blackpool waiting to be unloaded

Further to the news item showing Balloon 711 and Box Car 40 en-route in Preston while being transported back to Blackpool after being on loan to the National Tramway Museum, here are a few views of the trams being unloaded at their destination.

Box Car 40 being pulled of Scotts low loader by Blackpool Transport's Unimog 938

Box Car 40 being pulled of Scotts low loader by Blackpool Transport's Unimog 938

Balloon 711 being pulled of Scotts low loader by Blackpool Transport's Unimog 938

Balloon 711 being pulled of Scotts low loader by Blackpool Transport's Unimog 938