RM1583 in service on the 22 to Cleveleys

Former Blackpool Transport 521 (RM1583) in use on the 22 service on Anchorsholme Lane in Cleveleys on 30th Jan

Catch22Bus's other AEC Routemaster was in use on the service 22 to Cleveleys on 30th January. Former RM1583 (583 CLT) was being used in passenger service, this bus having previously been Blackpool 521 in a former existence. It had been planned to repaint RM1583 into London Transport red again to make it more attractive to clients for wedding private hire use, but currently the bus is still wearing its former Blackpool Transport Routemaster style livery, minus fleet numbers.

Twin Set Motor Car 671 returns to Rigby Road

Calkeld Heavy Haulage on Burton Road in Marton with 671 securely fastened to the low loader trailer

On the morning of 26th January a low loader from Calkeld Heavy Haulage arrived at Jackson's yard in Marton to collect trailer towing car 671 to transport it the short distance to Rigby Road depot. 671 had resided in the open at Marton for three years, since Scotts Heavy Haulage first moved the tram there in February 2012. This now means that all the former Lancastrian Transport Trust trams have found new homes again. The primary reason for the return of 671 is so that its leaf sprung bogies can be used under 279, to help in the recreation of an English Electric Railcoach, 279 is currently sitting on inauthentic rubber sprung Metalastik bogies from an OMO car. Calkeld handled the move with great efficiency, the whole operation taking less than 3 hours from start to finish.

671 in the yard at Jackson's Coaches of Marton before the loading operations commenced

671 being winched onto Calkeld Heavy Haulage's low loader in the yard of Jackson's Coaches in Marton

671 safely loaded onto the trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage in the yard at Jackson's Coaches of Marton

Calkeld Heavy Haulage making a three point turn in the yard at the rear of Jackson's Coaches in Marton

Calkeld Heavy Haulage turning right from Burton Road in Marton onto Vicarage Lane

671 heading off down Vicarage Lane in Marton bound for Rigby Road

Calkeld Heavy Haulage turning from Lytham Road into Hopton Road on the last leg of the journey

671 making the tight turn from Hopton Road into Blundell Street

Calkeld Heavy Haulage's transporter and escort vehicle parked up in Blundell St after the short journey from Marton

671 being lowered down the rail ramp using the electric winch on the rear of Calkeld's tractor unit

671 being lowered down the rail ramp using the electric winch on the rear of Calkeld's tractor unit

Unimog 939 pulling 671 off the low loader trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage

671 back on Blackpool rails again after a three year absence

Cardiff Darts join Catch22 Fleet

Former Cardiff Bus Dennis Dart 186, showing the livery that inspired the paint scheme used on the Catch22Bus fleet

Two former Cardiff Bus Plaxton Mini Pointer Darts have recently entered service with Catch22Bus Ltd. The vehicles concerned are 1999 built Dennis MPD T147 DAX and 2000 built X186 CTG, both buses entering service in their Cardiff liveries, although 147 has had orange vinyl applied above and below the windows first.

Former Cardiff Dennis Dart T147 DAX turning from Abingdon Street into Talbot Road on the 22 to Cleveleys

Former Cardiff Plaxton Mini Pointer T147 DAX on service 22 to Cleveleys at Clifton Street in Blackpool

Former Cardiff Mini Pointer Dart X186 CTG on Poulton Road in Layton on service 6 to Blackpool town centre

RML887 in action on the Catch22

Routemaster RML887 Cleveleys bound on Anchorsholme Lane at lunchtime on 21st January

Former London Transport Routemaster RML887 was spotted in use doing a bit of stage carriage work on the Catch 22 service in Cleveleys on the afternoon of 21st January.

RML887 about to cross the tram tracks at Anchorsholme Lane on its way to Cleveleys town centre

RML887 heading for Mereside along Kelso Avenue in Cleveleys

Balloon 715 to be used on Heritage Tours

Balloon 715 during the golden years of the tramway, seen with 708 in Bold Street in October 2004

Former Lancastrian Transport Trust Balloon 715 has been moved into the workshops for an assessment of the amount of work that will be required to return the tram to use this year. It has been determined that it will be feasible to return 715 to active heritage service without too much travail. Some of the more obvious rectifications required will be to the broken windows, panelling and some attention to the paintwork (possibly a repaint), all suffered as a consequence of its outdoor storage in Marton. With 715's return to use it will be possible at last to ride on a traditional Balloon in heritage service, as 701's body was modernised and 717 is really a modern interpretation of what a Balloon would have looked like, but in reality the tram was heavily modified during the course of its rebuild into 1930s appearance.

715 in probably its most controversial livery (although some people did like this scheme), at Central Pier in April 2011

Balloon 715 on the last weekend of traditional tramcar operation, northbound at the Tower on 5th November 2011

Balloon 715 on the very last day of traditional tramcar operation, at North Pier at dusk on 6th November 2011

Flexity service terminates at Pleasure Beach

Flexity 004 approaching the temporary southern terminus, as 002 waits for any passengers on the northern platform

Due to the wind damage that was inflicted to the roof of Starr Gate tram depot on the morning of Saturday 10th January, the tram service was truncated at the Pleasure Beach until the loose panels on the roof of the tram depot could be secured. Southbound trams layed over on the Pleasure Beach turning circle before running round to the northbound stop as departure time approached, not that there are many people around at this time of the year on a wind swept promenade next to the closed Pleasure Beach.

Flexity 004 turning onto the Pleasure Beach loop in order to reverse direction before heading back to Fleetwood

Flexity 004 stops on the Pleasure Beach turning circle to await its departure time for returning to Fleetwood Ferry

Flexity 012 leaving the northern terminus at Bold Street in Fleetwood bound for the Pleasure Beach

Starr Gate depot damaged by wind

The damaged roof cladding on Starr Gate tram depot being secured with safety netting on Sunday 11th January

A gust off wind lifted the roof cladding off part of the new tram depot at Starr Gate on the morning of 10th January. Although the weather on Saturday morning was nothing exceptional, just a reasonably strong wind, a sudden gust lifted several roof sheets from over the engineering bay and office side of the depot. With the roof panels missing, vast volumes of fibreglass insulation were ripped out and blown all over the garden area and crazy golf course adjacent to the depot precincts. In view of the precarious state of the roof, the adjacent promenade roadway was closed for safety reasons, and the southern tram terminus moved north to the Pleasure Beach. On Sunday 11th January the tram service was still only operating between the Pleasure Beach and Fleetwood Ferry, although all the Flexities were based at and operating from the depot at Starr Gate as normal.

Flexity 014 leaving the confines of  Starr Gate depot to enter passenger service early on the Sunday morning

Starr Gate terminus remained unused for most of the weekend while the panels on the depot roof were secured

Flexity 015 leaving the depot to enter passenger service, surrounded by blowing insulation from out of the depot roof

Vast amounts of roof insulation were blown all over the area immediately surrounding the depot

Due to the roadway adjacent to the depot being closed, the number 1 bus service had to begin from Abercorn Place

The garden area around Starr Gate depot took on a strange appearance as it was 'decorated' with roof insulation

Balloon 717 on Driver Training

Balloon 717 heading north at Ash Street in Fleetwood on driver training

Heritage fleet Balloon 717 was in use on driver training on Monday 5th January and made a run right through to Fleetwood Ferry.

Balloon 717 at Fleetwood Ferry while in use on driver training on Monday 5th January

Balloon 717 heading south on the tramroad at Rossall while returning from a driver training run to Fleetwood

Twin Set receives new destination blinds

Twin Set 272+T2 pose in the late afternoon sunshine at Cabin displaying the new black & white blinds to good effect

Twin Set 272+T2 was hired by a group of tram enthusiasts on Sunday 4th January. The tour covered the whole tram system from Starr Gate to Fleetwood, with two trips being made to the fishing port and a lunch break being taken at Bispham. Since the Twin Set's last outing it has been fitted with a custom made set of brand new black and white destination blinds, which look much better on the heritage tram than the previous high visibility yellow on black blinds.

Twin Set 272+T2 sitting on the centre track at Thornton Gate while overall advert Flexity 016 passes by heading north

Twin Set 272+T2 exiting Bold Street at Fleetwood Ferry

Twin Set 272+T2 rounding the curve from Fleetwood Ferry into Pharos Street

Twin Set 272+T2 in Pharos Street at Fleetwood

Twin Set 272+T2 pausing for a photo stop at Cabin

Twin Set 272+T2 heading north at the Pleasure Beach

Twin Set 272+T2 on the loop at Bispham during the lunch break, while Flexity 013 heads north to Fleetwood Ferry

Twin Set 272+T2 on the turning circle at the Pleasure Beach

Flexity 010 heading south at Cabin while 272+T2 wait at the heritage stop on the northbound track

Twin Set 272+T2 heading along Lord Street on its second visit to Fleetwood on the tram tour