August Bank Holiday Monday

Railcoach 680 heading north towards Bispham at Coral Island on its second day of use on Heritage Tour service

August Bank Holiday Monday saw the gold timetable in use again, with Box 40, Twin Set 272+T2, Brush Car 631, Railcoach 680, 706 Princess Alice and Balloon 717 operating on the Heritage Tour service. Fat door Balloon 711 was used in normal passenger service again on specials.

Balloon 717 waiting at the southbound Heritage Tour stop at North Pier while Fleetwood bound Flexity 016 passes by

Brush Car 631 heading north past Central Pier on a Heritage Tour run to Little Bispham

Twin Set 272+T2 and Box Car 40 taking a break on the outer loop at the Pleasure Beach

Box Car 40 southbound at Coral Island

Open-top Balloon 706 Princess Alice approaching the Pleasure Beach on a morning Heritage Tour service

Balloon 711 heading south at the Pleasure Beach on a special to Starr Gate

August Bank Holiday Sunday

Railcoach 680 on its first day of operation in Heritage Tour service, heading south at North Pier

The second day of the August Bank Holiday weekend saw the gold heritage timetable in use, with Bolton 66, Twin Set 272+T2, Boat 600, Centenary 642, Railcoach 680 and Balloons 701 & 715 operating. Railcoach 680 was making its debut in Heritage Tour service at Blackpool, having only arrived on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway just over a week ago on 21st August. Centenary 642 was an extra untimetabled heritage car, in use due to spare crew being available. Fat door Balloon 711 was in use on specials again, and Boat 230 had to substitute for Boat 600 during the day, the latter was suffering from problems with its trolley pole.

Balloon 715 arriving at the Pleasure Beach with a good passenger load on Heritage Tour service

Southbound Boat 600, seen from Fleetwood bound Centenary 642 at North Pier

Bolton 66 waiting for its departure time at North Pier on an early morning Heritage Tour working

Railcoach 680 departing the Pleasure Beach for the Cabin passes Boat 230 taking a crew break on the outer loop

Twin Set 272+T2 at North Pier on a Heritage Tour working to the Cabin

Balloon 701 heading north to Fleetwood passes Balloon 715 parked on the centre track at Bispham

Centenary 642 was in use as an extra heritage car during the day due to a spare driver being available

Balloon 711 was being used in normal passenger service on specials, seen here bound for Cleveleys at Central Pier

August Bank Holiday Saturday

Boat 227 heading south at Norbreck on Heritage Tour service

The first day of the August Bank Holiday weekend saw the green heritage timetable in use, with Boats 227 and 230, Twin Set 272+T2 and Balloon 701 operating the service. Fat door Balloons 700 and 711 were also noted out and about, working on specials.

Boat 230 approaching the southbound Heritage Tour stop at the Cabin

Twin Set 272+T2 pausing to pick up passengers at North Pier

Balloon 701 northbound at the Cabin

Balloon 700 was noted working on specials, seen here passing southbound Flexity 007 at the Cabin

680 back in Blackpool

Calkeld Heavy Haulage's low loader shortly after arriving in Blundell Street while transporting 680 from Heaton Park

Railcoach 680 arrived in Blackpool on loan from the Heaton Park Tramway on 21st August. 680 has been repainted back into the 1990s green and cream fleet livery by the specialist contract company Heritage Painting in the Middleton Road tram depot at Heaton Park, the work having only just been completed two days prior to the move! 680 has returned in time to take part in the 130th anniversary celebrations of the Blackpool Tramway in September.

Railcoach 680 still tied down on the low loader trailer after the tractor unit has been uncoupled

680's trolley tower being lifted off the trailer with a fork lift truck from Rigby Road depot

Railcoach 680 being winched off the low loader trailer of Calkeld Heavy Haulage in Blundell Street

Railcoach 680 touching down again on Blackpool rails as it is winched off the low loader trailer

Unimog 939 towing Railcoach 680 along Blundell Steet towards the tram depot

Unimog 939 pushing 680 into the electrical compound so that it can be reunited with its trolley tower

The Tigerrific Bus

Former Blackpool Corporation Leyland Titan 516 making its debut on the service 21 Zoo bus at Stanley Park

The ex Blackpool Corporation Leyland PD3 No 516 (HFR 516E) belonging to Catch22Bus Ltd has made its first run in stage carriage service, making its passenger carrying debut on Service 21 on 19th August. PD3 516 is also carrying colourful new "Tigerrific" themed adverts for the heritage bus service that runs to Stanley Park and the Zoo.

Ex Blackpool Corporation Leyland PD3 516 making its way along Mere Road towards Stanley Park

Ex Blackpool PD3 516 on East Park Drive returning from the Zoo, passing by the boating lake in Stanley Park

Routemaster on Service 21

RML 887 southbound on East Park Drive on it's way back from the Zoo, passing the boating lake in Stanley Park

Routemaster RML 887 was in use on Catch22Bus Ltd's service 21 between Blackpool Tower and the Zoo on 18th August. RML 887 is carrying new side adverts for the Apadmi Summer Roadshow.

RML 887 heading towards Blackpool Zoo along Hornby Road

Former London Trident on the Catch22

Former Stagecoach London Dennis Trident LX51 FNJ at Bispham village on the service 22 route to Mereside

Former Stagecoach London Dennis Trident 17506 (LX51 FNJ) entered passenger service this week with Catch22Bus Ltd. The ex London Trident has already seen use on the Seafront 12 service and route 22 between Cleveleys and Mereside. The current plans are for the vehicle to keep its red London fleet livery in order to fulfill some private hire contracts that require this colour scheme.

Former Stagecoach London Dennis Trident LX51 FNJ in Cleveleys on the Seafront 12 service on 12th August

Ribble VRT on the Zoo Bus

Former Ribble Bristol VRT 1997 on the 21 Zoo bus service at Stanley Park with a healthy load of passengers

Former Ribble Bristol VRT 1997 (OCK 997K) has been in use during the last week on Catch22Bus's service 21 between the Tower and Blackpool Zoo. This service seems to have become very popular with visitors to the resort since it commenced operation in June.

Former Ribble Bristol VRT 1997 turning from Central Drive into Hornby Road on its way towards Blackpool Zoo