Coastliner 21

RM 1583 on New South Promenade in Blackpool on the Coastliner 21 service to St Annes

Catch22Bus Ltd discontinued their service 21 journeys to Blackpool Zoo on 17th July. From Monday 18th July the coastal service began operating between Cleveleys and St Annes Square, and was rebranded 'Coastliner 21'. The new route operates on an approximate 20 minute frequency, and when observed on 19th July there were 5 buses operating the service. The 21 was being operated with a mixture of both heritage and normal service vehicles on Tuesday 19th, with RM 1583, former Blackpool Corporation PD3 516 and Atlantean 334, Dennis Trident LX51 FNJ and Dennis Dart W363 VHB running along the prom between Cleveleys and St Annes.

Former Blackpool Corporation Atlantean 334 passing the sandhills on Clifton Drive in St Annes

Former Blackpool Leyland Titan 516 turning from Clifton Drive into Beach Road in St Annes

Former Stagecoach London Dennis Trident LX51 FNJ turning out of Beach Road in St Annes

Former Cardiff Bus Dennis Dart W363 VHB at Starr Gate on service 21 to St Annes

New Overall Advert on Trident 331

Dennis Trident 331 in Cleveleys showing its new overall advert for Blackpool and The Fylde College

Dennis Trident 331 has recently received a new overall advert for Blackpool and The Fylde College. The new advert on 331 replaces the previous one for The Blackpool Tower Dungeon which was applied in spring 2015.

A rear view  of the new Blackpool and The Fylde College advert on Trident 331

Trident 331 at Central Pier with its 2015 overall advert for The Blackpool Tower Dungeon

The Ghost Tram

Balloon 718 heading south at the Fisherman's Walk stop in Fleetwood during the special tour

Flat fronted fat-door Balloon 718 operated a special tour on Friday 15th July to welcome it back to the operational fleet. 718 was last used in passenger service back in 2013, at that time it was still sporting a very colourful overall advert for Madame Tussauds waxworks. As the contract for the overall advert had expired, the vinyls have recently been removed leaving the tram in its all white advert base coat. 718 operated a full system tour during the late afternoon and evening of 15th July which cost participants £10 a head.

Balloon 718 laying over at the Pleasure Beach while working North Pier specials on 5th May 2013

Heritage Trams and Buses

Heritage Tour trams 717 and 648 passing preserved Blackpool PD3 501 near the Tower

As part of the local Bus Driver of the Year heat being held in Blackpool on 10th July, there was a small display of buses parked up on the Tower Headland alongside the competition arena. The buses taking part in the display were 1987 open-top Leyland Olympian 857 (D257 FYM), in use as the commentary vehicle, 1967 Leyland Titan PD3 No. 501 (HFR 501E), 1970 AEC Swift 554 (PFR 554H) and 2015 Mercedes Citaro 554 (BJ15 UVW).

Former Blackpool Corporation 1967 Leyland Titan PD3 No. 501 (HFR 501E)

Former City Sightseeing open-top Leyland Olympian 857 in use as the commentary vehicle

The old and new Blackpool fleet number 554, a 1970 AEC Swift and 2015 Mercedes Citaro

Blackpool's new Enviro 400 City Bus

Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA) on the Tower Headland

Blackpool Transport held the local heat of the Bus Driver of the Year competition on the Tower Headland today, in order to find their best drivers to put through to the National Bus Driver of the Year event which will be held in September. Of special interest was the bus being used for the competition, which was the first of the recently delivered batch of 10 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City buses. The bus chosen was Palladium branded 401 (SN16 OVA), due to enter service on route 9 between Cleveleys and Blackpool later in July.

An offside view of Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA) showing the glazed staircase

A rear three-quarter view of Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA)

Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA) reversing into a coned parking bay

A left-hand profile shot of Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA)

A rear view of Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 City No. 401 (SN16 OVA)

ELR Summer Diesel Gala

Warship D832 at Bolton Street Station in Bury, waiting to depart with the 13:48 to Heywood

The East Lancashire Railway at Bury held their annual Summer Diesel Gala from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th July, and while there was a great selection of diesel locomotives to sample, the weather was decidedly un-summer like for July, with Friday seeing heavy grey clouds interspersed with occasional showers for much of the day and the Saturday set to be even worse, with rain forecast all day. Despite the dismal weather there was much to enjoy over the weekend, with one of the highlights being the return of the ELR's own Class 42 diesel-hydraulic Warship locomotive D832 Onslaught, which had been away on long term loan at the West Somerset Railway. 

(The photos on this blog posting were taken on Friday 8th July)

Class 56 freight locomotive 56098 at Ramsbottom with the 14:48 train for Heywood

Class 14 diesel-hydraulic D9537 arriving at Ramsbottom on the 12:47 from Rawtenstall

Peak D182 pulling into Ramsbottom station with the 10:17 shuttle train to Bury

Peak 45108 at Bury Bolton Street station with the 11:04 shuttle train to Ramsbottom

40135 at Ramsbottom station with the 10:02 departure for Rawtenstall

40106 Atlantic Conveyor at Ramsbottom on the 14:31 shuttle arrival from Bury

Class 31 loco 5580 arriving at Rawtenstall with the first train of the day from Bury

Class 33 locomotive 33109 approaching Ramsbottom with the 11:34 to Heywood

Metropolitan-Vickers Co-Bo D5705, now reunited with its refurbished bogies, in the bay platform at Bury