Unusual working on Service 24

Olympian P534EFL at St Chad's Church in Poulton on 31st October

Passengers using the service 24 of Catch22Bus, that runs between Fleetwood and Poulton, will have been in for a surprise this afternoon. Due to two buses suddenly becoming unavailable for use, an open-top Volvo Olympian was pressed into service at short notice to meet the vehicle shortfall. Olympian P534EFL is normally to be seen running on the Coastliner 21 service between Cleveleys and St Annes, but had a rare outing on this inland route today. (Photo used by courtesy of Catch22Bus Ltd)

Birkenhead 20 on Timetabled Tours

Birkenhead 20 at the Gynn on the last trip of the day on Sunday

On the weekend of the 27th and 28th October, open-top Birkenhead tram 20 operated several special tours in addition to the normal Heritage Tour service. The tours ran at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on each day, consisting of a round trip from the Pleasure Beach to Bispham and return for the price of £5.50. Most obligingly the weather remained sunny throughout the weekend, although rather chilly, especially on the top deck of Birkenhead 20.

Flexity 006 passing Birkenhead 20 at Bispham on Sunday

Birkenhead 20 heading south at the Imperial Hotel on the last special on Saturday

Birkenhead 20 at the Pleasure Beach after the first run on Saturday

Boat 227 named Charlie Cairoli

The official party on their way to the naming ceremony at North Pier

Boat 227 was relaunched at a naming ceremony at North Pier this morning. 227 has been restored by Blackpool Transport in conjunction with Blackpool Civic Trust. The tram's new name is "Charlie Cairoli", who is best known for being a clown at Blackpool Tower Circus for many years. The unveiling was undertaken by Charlie Cairoli Junior, the son of the famous clown. After a short ceremony and speeches, the official party and guests were treated to a ride to Bispham and then back to Hopton Road, onlooking members of the public were also invited along for the ride.

Charlie Cairoli Junior unveiling the name of his father on Boat 227

The official party and guests were treated to a ride to Bispham in Boat 227

JD Flexity now has fleet numbers

Flexity 014 southbound at Manchester Square, with fleet numbers now applied

The JD Sports overall advert Flexity has now had the fleet number 014 applied to its cab sides.

Birkenhead 20 on Tour

Birkenhead 20 on a private hire on the Golden Mile

Birkenhead 20, a 1900 Milnes built open-top tram, originally arrived in Blackpool on loan way back in July 2017. Thursday 18th October 2018 finally saw its first outing on the tramway carrying passengers. The trials and tribulations of Birkenhead 20's unproductive time in Blackpool are well documented, but rather belatedly it has at long last been used. The tram's first outing was on a private hire for the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society, who normally operate the tram on the Wirral Tramway in Birkenhead. Unfortunately it seems likely that Birkenhead 20 will be making its way back home to the Wirral after the end of the Illuminations, which is rather a shame as it has been unused for most of its 15 month visit.

Birkenhead 20 being brought out of the depot ready for its private hire

Birkenhead 20 beginning its afternoon tour at Manchester Square

Birkenhead 20 using the crossover at Foxhall to return to the Pleasure Beach

Catch22Bus Optare Versa Round-up

Versa YJ61JHH crossing Victoria Square in Cleveleys on service 24 to Fleetwood

Catch22Bus repainted their 11.1m Optare Versa YJ61JHH into an eye-catching livery of lime green and monsoon blue earlier this year. A fourth Optare Versa has now been added to the fleet, this being YJ10EYZ, a 10.4m example formerly operated by Helms of Eastham, the bus is currently running in a plain white livery until it receives a repaint.

10.4m Versa YJ10EYZ at Victoria Square in Cleveleys on service 24 to Fleetwood

Versa YJ61JHH exiting Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys on service 24 to Poulton

Versa YJ61JHE on the Coastliner 21 service in Cleveleys

10.4m Versa YJ10EYZ on Meadows Avenue in Cleveleys on service 24 to Fleetwood

Teal liveried Versa YJ10MGU on Alexandra Road in Thornton on service 24 to Poulton

JD advert on Flexity 014

Flexity 014 southbound at Anchorsholme Crossing

Flexity 014 has entered service this week carrying an overall advert for JD Sports. The advert is on a black background with the "JD" logo in large white discs on the tram ends and sides, with contravision in use on three sections of the tram. Again similar to 003 & 016, the tram has entered service without any external fleet numbers.

Flexity 014 departing from Cleveleys tram station

Flexity 014 approaching the Broadwater stop in Fleetwood

Flexity 014 heading north at the Gynn

An end view of 014 at the Bold Street terminus in Fleetwood